Meet Our Money Matters Fall All-Star, Rachel Geier!
With our Money Matters spring series up and running, we thought we’d take a look back at our Money Matters “poster child” from the fall! Rachel Geier took home a lot more than a TV at the end of our fall Money Matters sessions--she took home some serious financial knowledge. We asked Rachel to give us the low-down on her experiences with Money Matters and why she thinks it’s important. Thinking about participating in our spring series? We have a feeling her answers will seal the deal!
Who is our Money Matters all-star, Rachel Geier?
I’m a third-semester nursing student, working to graduate sometime this year. I work in Academic Services as a peer tutor and provide students help as a PASS (Peer Assisted Study Sessions) leader. I mainly provide one-on-one appointments for nursing and health students. Along with tutoring, I work as a CNA for hospice at Tomah Memorial Hospital. I commute about an hour and a half two to four times a week for school. When I’m not on the road, working, or studying, I enjoy spending time in the great outdoors. I’m especially fond of hunting and fishing with my dog, Duke!
How did you find out about Money Matters fall series?
I initially found out about Money Matters via an email sent out to students. I also follow Student Central’s Facebook page and continued to see information regarding the series.
Why did you want to participate?
I initially wanted to participate because I wanted to learn more about money management. I’m a firm believer that everyone should be somewhat educated when it comes to finances, as it’s applicable to anyone’s everyday life. While I feel like I’ve always had a fairly good grasp on money management, I was interested in getting more help with student loan repayment and being smarter about everyday costs.
What did you learn while attending the sessions?
I learned a lot about goal-setting and saving. In particular, I learned the importance of setting short-term, midterm, and long-term goals that are specific and achievable. I also gained a better understanding of managing credit cards and the difference between good and bad credit. Finally, I learned the importance of a monthly budget and how to update it based on lifestyle and circumstantial changes.
What would you say was your favorite part of the Money Matters series? Which presentation was your favorite?
I definitely enjoyed Budgeting the Benjamins the most. I found the hand-outs with information on building a basic budget to be applicable and understandable. I learned different ways to reduce spending by $5 a day for a full month and how it ultimately saves you a ton of money per year. That’s as easy as avoiding a Starbucks run or purchasing food every day at school. Through the Budgeting the Benjamins session, I gained a much better understanding of how all these little things add up. We also learned about shopping for generic or off-brands instead of brand name items and how it can help me save during trips to the grocery store. While I enjoyed this session the most, I definitely took away just as many tips and saving tricks from every other session I attended!
We know you took away a TV, but what else would you say you’ve been able to apply to your budgeting and finances since participating in the series?
I took away a lot of great information from the Money Matters series! I went into the sessions hoping for ways to save, and I was definitely not disappointed! I gained helpful tips on ways to pay my debt and feel much better about my daily spending now. With all the knowledge I gained, I will likely be able to pay off my debt sooner than originally expected!
Would you recommend the Money Matters series to other students?
Yes, I would definitely recommend it! I think everyone could benefit from the information it provides because everyone works with money! I’m excited to participate in the Money Matters spring series as well – especially the Frugal Foodies session! I find that I’m always being wasteful with food at home with my busy schedule and I’m excited to learn some new, time-saving recipes!
We want to thank Rachel for participating in our Money Matters series and for telling us all about her experience. We know that between work and school, many students have little time to dedicate to our sessions, but if Rachel can do it, so can you!
Want to know about our upcoming sessions for spring? Make sure to like and follow our Facebook page, or stop into Student Central in room 113 of the BEC. You can also check out our Money Matters page by clicking “Money Matters – Financial Coaching” under the “Pay for College” tab on MyCVTC.