Financial Literacy Month

Get empowered and take control of your finances

November 2021

Let’s talk about money! Financial Literacy Month is your chance to take your money management skills to the next level. Attend live webinars, learn about your money personality, access informative resources and more. Your future self will thank you.

Win your textbooks for next term 📚💸

Attend one of the webinars listed on this page or complete the money personality quiz for a chance to win your textbooks for the next term! Plus, the first 100 students to complete the money quiz get a Mac’s Money Centre “Dream Big” hoodie. Financial wellness has never been so cozy!

Take the quiz

Financial Empowerment with Rob and Roma

November 4, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET (recording available)

It’s no secret that many Canadian post-secondary students are undereducated on personal finances. As a student, you’re spending (and maybe borrowing) big bucks to attend school, but you may not have the financial habits or confidence to stick to a budget and make informed decisions. The Globe and Mail’s finance team can help. Personal finance and investing columnist Rob Carrick and personal finance editor Roma Luciw have been visiting Canadian campuses since 2014, helping students develop crucial money management skills they’ll use their whole life.

Topics

Student loans as investments
Banking
Credit cards and scores
Salary negotiations
Housing after university
Finding work
Investing
Life milestones

Attend this event for your chance to win a copy of How Not To Move Back In With Your Parents by Rob Carrick.

Recording: Financial Empowerment

Money Talks with Ratehub and MoneySense

November 9, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET (Instagram live)

Get your finances in order with easy-to-follow financial tips from experts. Join Mika Castaldo, General Manager of Everyday Banking at Ratehub.ca and Lisa Hannam, editor of MoneySense, for a casual chat with Mac’s Money Centre money coach Gina Robinson. Ask questions and participate in the conversation on Instagram (@MacSSC).

Tune in on Instagram

Credit with PennyDrops

November 15, 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. ET

Credit is about more than just your credit card. Come join PennyDrops McMaster, in partnership with the Credit Counselling Society, as our mentors guide you through loans, grace periods, credit reports and more.

Finance Jobs Panel Discussion

November 16, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET (recording available)

Did you know that the financial sector is booming in Ontario, with Toronto becoming the second-largest financial centre in North America in 2020? Do you want to learn what finance jobs are in demand? Join the panel discussion to learn from McMaster alumni who work in finance. They’ll share their career journeys and provide you with useful insights about what it’s really like to work in the industry.

Recording: Finance Jobs

Crypto 101: Bitcoin, Blockchain, Geniuses and Scoundrels

November 17, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET

Cryptocurrency seems to be on almost everyone’s mind — from small-time investors hoping to strike it rich to government officials worried that it could destabilize the economy. But, despite all the buzz, many are still unsure what crypto is all about. Who’s behind it? What’s the difference between Blockchain and Bitcoin?

In this webinar, author Jeff John Roberts will cut through the hype and hyperbole surrounding crypto and explain the most important ideas in everyday language. He’ll cover the basics of blockchain technology, show how crypto is transforming finance and culture and introduce you to the people who’ve shaped the crypto world, from the CEO of America’s biggest crypto company to Bitcoin’s anonymous founder, Satoshi Nakamoto.

Housing: Part One

November 18, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET

For most people, buying a first home is the biggest financial event in their life to date. It’s a big deal, both financially and emotionally. This session is the first of two webinars designed to give you the basics of the housing market. Join the webinar to learn what financial institutions require from you, what criteria they use in their decision-making process and what you need to consider when making the decision to buy. Learn about all the associated costs and find out which financial options are available to you.

Recording: Housing (Part One)

Banking with PennyDrops

November 23, 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. ET

Learn how banks make money to how you can make money through banks! Come join PennyDrops McMaster, in partnership with the Credit Counselling Society, as our mentors guide you through a variety of topics from investing, bonds, mutual funds, TFSA and RESPs and more.

Housing: Part Two

November 24, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET (Zoom)

There are people and resources who can help you navigate the home ownership process. Attend this session to meet the professionals who can help and ask questions. Plus, avoid common mistakes by learning from common questions and considerations for all first-time homeowners. Learn from experienced experts who are familiar with the current market.

Recording: Housing (Part Two)

Investing with PennyDrops

November 25, 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. ET

PennyDrops wants to help you make that “bank,” and our mentors are ready to do just that! This workshop will focus on investing and other topics such as bonds, stocks, mutual funds, EFTs and more.

Budgeting and Money Hacks with PennyDrops

November 29, 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. ET

Managing your finances as a student can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be! PennyDrops is here to help you learn more about budgeting and effective ways to manage your money. This workshop will cover topics such as ways to save, make and spend money wisely while keeping the future in mind.

Investing basics

Did you know that you can start building your investments now? Well, you can — take it from Michelle Hung, AKA the Sassy Investor. Catch up on the whole series by viewing the recorded sessions.