Financial Wellbeing

Financial Wellbeing is grounded in our values, realities of investment risk & reward, as well as societal context. You are invited to educate yourself on how your values, however tacit or latent, to the nature of student debt, financial planning, career and salary expectations, and more. WSU has a variety of services available to students.

Satisfaction with current and future financial situations

— Korbin, n.d.

  • Fun On A Budget

    Adventure On a Budget

    Traveling is great for your social, spiritual, and intellectual wellbeing, but don't let a trip damage your financial wellbeing. Kaitlin Hennessy shares her DIY travel tips with you in the webinar above. 

    Webinar Highlights:
    • Research
    • Budgeting
    • When, where, why?
    • Creating an itinerary
    • Shared economy
    • Accommodations
    • Food
    • Transportation
    • Traveling with kids
    • Hacks and resources

    Travel Abroad

    Learn how to have a rewarding time, and avoid common pitfalls, during your international travel experience. Find ways to explore countries and communities you might not have thought possible.

    Get outside of your comfort zone and hear advice from seasoned travelling experts on how to make the most of your trip.

  • Financial Aid

    Money Talk

    Navigating financial aid can be daunting and frustrating. Take care of your financial and emotional wellbeing and keep your stress down by watching the webinars throughout this page. Above, Maja and Andy, financial aid advisers, walk you through all you need to know when it comes to:

    • aid disbursement
    • scholarships
    • satisfactory academic progress
    • census date

    *The preview of what your package looks like in MyWSU is outdated because the system is different now. Don't hesitate to contact the financial aid office if you have questions. 

    Financial Aid Quick Links

    Tuition and Fees

    Special Scholarship Opportunity!

    The Associated Students of Washington State University's Online Degree Programs

    ASWSU offers several scholarship options:

    • General: $1000 offered each semester (eligibility based on academic merit and financial need)
    • Internship: $1000 (eligibility: pay S&A fees and work in an internship that carries WSU credit)
    • Reimbursements:
      • offered for technology, hygiene products, mental health care, child care, cap and gown rentals, travel, and gym memberships
      • You don't need to be a full-time student but must pay S&A fees. 
      • See the link for specific requirements for each program. 

    Budgeting

    Your Options

    Awareness

    Summer Session

    Enrolling in a summer session can benefit your education by putting you ahead of the game. See the webinars below for tips on budgeting for this time of year. 

  • Assistance and Security

    Poor financial wellness affects your:

    • stress
    • anxiety
    • blood pressure
    • sleep

    So it's important to take care of your finances before they can damage other areas of your health. The webinar here discusses how finances determine mental health and what you can do about it. Be sure to check out all of the pages on financial well-being to learn how to manage your money. 

    Food Security

    Not knowing where your next meal will come from or not having access to proper nutrition causes mental and physical health to suffer. However, there are resources that you and your family can utilize to make the most of your situation. 

    Check out the pages under physical wellbeing for information about how to eat balanced on a budget.

    Housing Stability

    “At the individual level, housing instability is associated with mental health problems (such as depression and anxiety/stress), hypertension, and the destruction of protective health factors such as social bonds. At the communal level, displacement and neighborhood instability contribute to community fragmentation and social network disruption.”

    Not worrying about your living situation is essential for academic performance and overall well-being, but unfortunately, finding affordable housing is becoming more difficult. Luckily there are resources available that can help you avoid homelessness if you are already homeless. 

    Housing Resources By City (WA)

    Olympia

    Homes First

    Pullman

    Community Action Center

    Seattle

    Seattle Housing Authority

    Spokane

    Tri-Cities

    Vancouver

    Second Step Housing
    Housing Resources
  • Spending

    Habits for Responsible Spending

    An unwise spending habit can create a lot of stress for you and negatively affect your well-being. This lifestyle may be full of instant gratification, but it is detrimental to achieving long-term financial goals. Spending needs to be managed to prioritize your needs and save for your future over your immediate wants. You must consciously substitute responsible spending for the out-of-control spending habits that may have gotten you into debt. While responsible spending may not prove to be immediately gratifying, it will allow you to reach your financial goals.

    Introduction to Financial Literacy

    In this webinar Kelly Demand, director of WSU’s Office of Academic Engagement (OAE), discusses the basics of financial literacy to make informed decisions that lead to financial wellbeing and self-efficacy!

    Webinar highlights!
    • The connection between money and other aspects of our life
    • Creating a relationship with finances
    • Reflecting on values that shape financial wellness
    • Behaviors and financial wellness
    • Money Personality
    • And more!
    Resources from the Webinar
    • CougarMoneyMatters – A comprehensive site with financial resources for all Cougs across campuses.
    • iGrad – a personal finance platform that can help you better understand how to manage your money.

    Use These Tips To Help Develop A Responsible Spending Habit

    Have a Plan

    • Develop a realistic short- and long-term budget to know what you need to spend on necessities (food, tuition, housing) and what you will have left over for the fun stuff.
    • Look at the timing of when bills are due and make sure your cash flow meets those bills. Late fees will result in big trouble for your budget. 

    Give Yourself an Allowance

    • It's easy to spend a lot of money on extras- lattes, convenience foods, and entertainment. Ensure you give yourself an allowance for these non-essentials and stick to your limit.

    Use Credit Cards Wisely

    • Credit cards are only beneficial if you pay off the monthly balance. Otherwise, high-interest rates will make for the debt if you let your balance roll over to the next month.
    • Keep credit spending to a minimum to avoid these charges.

    Keep Track of Your Spending

    • Track every dollar you spend in one month. Did you really need everything you bought?
    • Remind yourself that you can't have everything while you are in school. You don't want to live so largely in college that you risk your financial future.

    Borrow Sensibly

    • Remember, any money you borrow now must be repaid later. Ensure you understand the terms of your loans, and don't take out more than your need.

    Protect Your Identity and Monitor Your Credit

    • Ensure that your personal information is safe from identity theft.
    • Always check your credit report annually to ensure your information is correct and has not been compromised.
    • You can order a free copy of your credit report once a year from each of the three national credit bureaus.

    Money Management System

    Budgeting App Tips