Financial literacy is essential as it helps students manage their money wisely, avoid debt, and build a strong foundation for future financial stability. By understanding budgeting, saving, and student loans, students can make informed decisions that support both academic and personal goals. Developing these skills now, will help ease financial stress during and after college. Learn about financial aid basics on our website here.  

Ion Tuition is a student loan counseling management system that will guide you through various repayment plans. Here you can manage all your federal student loans in one place, all you need to do is create an account. IonTuition is available to you for free from Bellingham Technical College.  Once you create an account you will experience stress free student loan repayment management and can access the help of live expert student loan counselors.  The counselors are available to answer all your student loan repayment questions in a professional and supportive environment. To create your free account sign up here. 

Budgeting is a skill that allows students to effectively manage their finances while attending school. Start by tracking your income (financial aid, job income, etc.) and list your monthly expenses, such as rent, groceries, transportation, and personal costs. Using budgeting worksheets or apps to stay organized can help you to be mindful and track where your money is going each month. As your income or expenses change, reevaluating your budget will help to keep you on track. Budgeting can help build financial stability and good habits for the future.

You can use this Budgeting worksheet as tool to track your income and expenses. While this worksheet may not include every category you require it is a good starting tool to build your own personal budgeting worksheet. Should you need additional resources, we encourage you to visit and review the resources on our Basic Needs page.

• Episode 1: How We Learn About Our Finances with Jaylyn Boydon

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  Jaylyn Boyden is a BTC student in the dental assisting program. In 2018, Jaylyn was a STAR (Success Coaching, Tutoring, Academic Support, & Resources) peer-coach and Money$marts peer-mentor. She discusses her passion of helping students be successful and she delves into the topic of how we learn about our finances. Jaylyn shares stories of how she learned to manage money and what role models she has had growing up.

• Episode 2: Understanding Credit with Anastasia Polda

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  Anastasia Polda is the Financial Stability Coordinator at the Opportunity Council – a local nonprofit community action agency. Anastasia explains how to build credit, why it is so important to pull a credit report, and how good or bad credit can affect your future financial stability. Anastasia teaches the Financial Literacy and Renter’s Education (FLARE) classes at the Opportunity Council. To sign up for the FLARE classes, call Anastasia at (360) 734-5125 ext. 223.

• Episode 3: Budgeting and Saving Tips for Students with Leanne Harris

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  Leanne Harris, BTC Student and Director of Administrative Affairs for ASBTC (Associated Students of Bellingham Technical College), discusses her personal strategies for saving money and living on a budget. She gives personal examples as to how managing her money with her fiancé has helped them feel a sense of control of their finances.

• Episode 4: Renter’s Education with Adrienne Solenberger

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  Adrienne Solenberger is the Landlord Liaison for the Opportunity Council. In this episode, Adrienne explains what a Landlord Liaison does, how Adrienne can help tenants and landlords understand their rights and responsibilities, and provides information about Housing Lab – a free service from the Opportunity Council which can help resolve and prevent rental disputes.

• Episode 5: Navigating Financial Aid and the FAFSA with Brian Johnson

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  Brian Johnson has been working at BTC to help students access funding for nine years. In 2018, he was the Interim Director of Workforce Funding and Student Support and has worked with the Financial Aid department at BTC for years. In this episode, Brian addresses the common financial aid questions that students have, including challenges with the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Brian also addresses navigating student loans and provides helpful advice for planning for repayment.

• Episode 6: Childcare Capacity in Whatcom County with Josh Peck and Kori Olsen

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  On this episode of the Money$marts Podcast we interview two guests on the topic of childcare, Josh Peck of AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), and Kori Olsen a WorkForce Funding Coordinator at BTC. In 2018, Josh served as an AmeriCorps VISTA with the Opportunity Council to build capacity for childcare in Whatcom County. Kori Olsen provides information about the Basic Food Employment Training program – which offers childcare stipends for eligible students.

• Episode 7: Worker Retraining and Basic Food Employment and Training with Brandi Johnson

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  Brandi Johnson, a Radiologic Technologies student shares her experience as a part of the Worker Retraining and Basic Food Employment and Training Programs. Brandi shares how these funding programs work; how she found out she was eligible for these programs, and how they have helped support her educational goals.

• Episode 8: How to Get a Scholarship with Laura Doss

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  Laura Doss is a STAR (Success Coaching, Tutoring, Academic Support, & Resources) Completion Coach at BTC. She helps students reach their academic and career goals. One way she does this is by helping students access and apply for scholarships. Laura explains how the BTC Foundations Scholarship works and how this scholarship can help students be successful at BTC and within their future careers.

• Episode 9: Community Resource: Whatcom Literacy Council with Katherine Freimund

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  This episode we are going to spotlight the Whatcom Literacy Council, a nonprofit which provides education services for ABE students, ABE standing for Adult Basic Education, as well as ESL students that standing for English as a Second Language. We’re here today with Katherine Freimund.

• Episode 10: Budgeting with Reid Frederick

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  Our guest today is Reid Frederick from Whatcom Educational Credit Union, better known as WECU

   

• Episode 11: How to talk about money with your kids with Kori Olsen

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  Today we’re here with Kori Olsen who works at the WorkForce Funding department which is a series of grant funded programs that help students with support with their tuition, tools, books, childcare, transportation. Anything beyond traditional financial aid

• Episode 12: Identity Theft with Carmen Marttila - Part 1

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  Today, we have the first half of an interview all about identity theft. This is a two part episode because our guest is offering up a lot of helpful and important information about how you can protect your identity.  We are here with Carmen Marttila from Junior Achievement of Washington. She is the Northern Washington Regional Director of Junior Achievement of Washington.

• Episode 13: Identity Theft with Carmen Marttila - Part 2

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  Today, we have the second half of an interview all about identity theft. This is a two part episode because our guest is offering up a lot of helpful and important information about how you can protect your identity.  We are here with Carmen Marttila from Junior Achievement of Washington. She is the Northern Washington Regional Director of Junior Achievement of Washington.

• Episode 14: Accessibility at BTC with Mary Gerard

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  Today we’re here with Mary Gerard the Director of Accessibility Resources at Bellingham Technical College.

• Episode 15: Food Pantry with Matthew Santos

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  Today, we’re talking to Matthew Santos, involved with BTC’s food pantry program

• Episode 16: Veteran’s Resources with Elizabeth Harmon-Craig

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  Today, I am here with Elizabeth Harmon-Craig, Whatcom County Veteran’s Specialist.

• Episode 17: Accessing Healthcare With Jennifer Burgess

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  Today, we’re here with Jennifer Burgess from the Whatcom Alliance for Health Advancement.

• Episode 18: Buying your First Home with Jodi Litt and Susan Burke

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  Today we are here with two guests, Jodi Litt a Money$marts Financial Wellness Mentor and Susan Burke

• Episode 19: Employment with Michele Waltz

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  Today we are here with Michele Waltz, the Vice President of Student Services here at BTC