What Financial Literacy Month Means to You

Tax time. Nobody enjoys it very much, especially when you end up owing the IRS. Still, it makes April the perfect month to train our minds on becoming more financially savvy. Perhaps this is why April is specifically set aside as Financial Literacy Month. The aim is to teach us all to be more financially responsible and “achieve financial wellness.”

At Career College of Northern Nevada, we fully support the idea of learning more about getting the most out of your finances and avoiding unnecessary debt. It’s one of the reasons an education at CCNN is so affordable compared with a conventional university setting, which can often saddle students with the lifetime burden of never-ending debt. Whether you’re studying welding and fabrication, Information Technology, medical assisting, HVAC or any number of other degrees, CCNN aims to make your studies affordable so you can graduate with confidence that the money you earn in your new career stays in your pocket.

If you are considering a new career and if CCNN is on your radar, it pays to look at the big picture as you make your decision. Ask yourself:

• What does my current income look like? How will this be positively impacted by a career change?
• Am I willing to pay the short-term cost of attending school to exponentially increase my skillset and lifetime earning potential?
• Does my current employer offer services such as tuition reimbursement or other tuition assistance? Ask. You might be surprised to find that they do.
• What are the economic benefits of a CCNN education? This can range from assistance with job placement to advanced training that you simply can’t get on the job.
• How will I fund my education? Most students find that a mix of external scholarships, financial aid and working a part- or full-time job is enough to cover costs and take them into the next stage of their career.

CCNN Financial Advisor Eric Cadenhead understands the importance of financial literacy, because he works with students on a daily basis, helping them with everything from Pell Grants and other financial aid options. He recommends setting up a one-on-one meeting with CCNN’s financial aid department so you get a real feel for all your options.

“Financial literacy is important because, as with anything else in life, the more you know, the better equipped you’ll be,” Cadenhead says. “With an investment as significant as your education … it’s really important to be as knowledgeable as possible.”

Get CCNN Financial Aid Officer Eric Cadenhead’s take on financial literacy here

In the end, financial literacy can be broken up into several stages, based on your current situation in life, as we described in a blog post last year. We highly recommend you give it a read to see if you’re in the survival stage, the want stage, the saving stage or the wealth-building stage. Once you understand that you’re not meant to merely survive – but thrive – you’ll be well on your way to financial literacy. And that’s something everyone should want to achieve.

Ready to see if you’re a good fit for one of the degree programs at Career College of Northern Nevada? Take the Career Readiness Quiz or contact us today.