In January 2017, Trellis launched the Financial Security Study (FSS) to shed light on a broad set of questions related to students’ basic needs and academic experiences. Working with 11 institutions in Texas and Florida from late January to October of 2017, researchers interviewed 72 students every 30 days or so to discuss their recent experiences with academics, finances, work, meeting basic needs, and anything else identified as significant in their lives. This brief contains key findings and take-aways from these discussions as they relate to observed changes in students’ mid-month financial and dietary habits.