UMassFive is dedicated to advancing financial well-being for its members and the broader community through education and access to trusted resources. For more than a decade, UMassFive has offered free financial wellness workshops designed to help individuals build knowledge, confidence, and long-term financial stability—covering topics such as managing debt, preparing for homeownership, and planning for the future.
This fall, UMassFive will offer the following Financial Wellness topics from late September through November 2026:
Merry and Mindful Holiday Shopping
The holiday season can bring joy and generosity—but it can also bring financial stress. Join our partners at GreenPath for an engaging webinar exploring how emotions, habits, and past experiences shape our holiday spending decisions. Learn more about your money personality, understand your spending tendencies, and discover practical strategies to help you approach the season with greater confidence, balance, and intention.
9/30/26 - 2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Paying Down Debt
Debt is a burden that many would like to lighten, but it can be tough to come up with a plan to do so. Attend this session to learn useful tips on paying down debt quicker while avoiding late fees and keeping your budget on track. You’ll also receive resources related to student loan repayment.
10/13/26 - 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. 10/14/26 - 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
FAFSA 2027- 2028 - Key Updates for Students and Families
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens each year in October and is the key to unlocking funding for college. While the 2027-2028 FAFSA process should be similar to last year’s, financial aid options have been impacted by the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), especially for graduate students.
10/14/26 - 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. 10/14/26 - 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Holiday Shopping Trap
The holiday season is filled with sales, limited-time offers, emotional advertising, and shopping pressure—but many of these experiences are intentionally designed to influence consumer behavior.
10/14/26 - 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Homebuying 101
This workshop, sponsored by Member Advantage Mortgage, takes a step-by-step approach to home buying, so you fully understand the buying process. It includes locating and working with a real estate agent, understanding your financing options, tips on searching for a home, the value of inspections, and how to make an offer. You will also learn what closing costs are associated with getting a mortgage.
10/15/26 - 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Budgeting 101
No matter what your financial situation is like, managing your money can be overwhelming. Attend this judgment-free session to get some tips on how to simplify the process. Learn how to analyze where your money is going now, how you can make changes to that, and how to make sure that you spend and save money strategically.
11/16/26 - 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. 11/17/26 - 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Specific financial wellness topics are typically offered multiple times per year to allow multiple opportunities for community members to be able to attend subjects that interest them.