For many students, financial aid is a looming cloud of questions and confusions. Penn State financial literacy manager, Dr. Daad Rizk, is taking time to show students just how to navigate the surrounding financial world with “MoneyCounts: A Financial Literacy Series.” Despite other resources for students regarding financial literacy like classes and online sources through the library, these free seminars are the first of their kind.

“The MoneyCounts workshops are aiming to fill gaps in financial education knowledge and skills so that students leave the workshops with the ability to make informed financial decisions and apply what they learned for better overall well-being,” said Lauren Reiter, a business librarian at Penn State.

These seminars will take place in the Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, at 5:30 p.m. on the following Wednesdays:

Feb. 17, 2016: FAFSA and Scholarships
Students all over miss out on chances to have their education costs paid for or reduced, but you can take advantage of all your opportunities with the right information. This seminar will focus on the ins and outs of the financial aid process through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid — better known as FAFSA. Dr. Rizk will also cover the different resources a student can use while searching for funding through federal, state, and college resources.

March 16, 2016: Spring Clean Financial Clutter
Say goodbye to your overwhelming, and disorganized financial paperwork. Dr. Rizk will take the time to walk through the steps to successful financial record keeping, give a how-to on organizing year-end tax information. The first step to being organized is to get organized. This seminar will help to tidy up financial disorder and teach good habits for the future.

April 20, 2016: What is Financial Literacy?
Financial stability can be easy to maintain with the right knowhow and tools. This specific workshop aims at encouraging good money management and lets students in on tips and tricks to maneuver a stable financial life.

May 18, 2016: Student Loan Repayment
As graduation dates loom, many of us will need to start thinking about our subsidized and unsubsidized loans. Whether you graduate this May or in the upcoming semesters, it is always a good time to start budgeting and preparing for an exceptional financial record while repaying loans. Dr. Rizk will walk through how to get started.

If you cannot attend these seminars, there are additional resources online for student use.