I love living in the south; life is slow, and the people are friendly, but boy, IT IS HOT. It's almost impossible to beat the heat without blasting the a/c unless you catch a breezy day at the beach (my personal favorite way). But having the a/c blasting from May to October can get pretty pricey. Check out the BALANCE blog below for Ways to Reduce Summer Cooling Costs.

I just returned from a fantastic family vacation to Tybee Island, Georgia. My sister is living in Savannah for the summer, so we killed two birds with one stone by visiting her and checking off a beach vacation.

If you're like me, you can't plan for the perfect vacation without a million lists. There's always a packing list, a "places to see" list, and if I'm really on top of things, there's normally even a full itinerary. 

Thankfully, I had the budget checklist below to help me think of everything I might have to pay for and keep myself in check. Because otherwise, unexpected expenses that we hadn't prepared for could have made our budget-friendly weekend getaway quite expensive. 

The time has come for you to do like Katy Perry said and "own the night like the Fourth of July," because this weekend, there will DEFINITELY be fireworks. 

With the extreme temperatures and sweltering heat we've been having, you may have been spending a lot more time indoors the past few weeks with the A/C cranked up. Although this is a great way to beat the heat, it's a surefire way to break the bank. 

Below are ten helpful tips to help you reduce electricity costs, even in the hot summer months:

Tips for Scoring Cheap Summer Getaways

Everybody likes a summer vacation, but travel can be expensive. If you’re looking to squeeze a getaway into your budget this summer, here are some tips for traveling on the cheap and getting the best deals.

Summertime has finally arrived at the grand strand, and unfortunately, hurricane season came right along with it. Living near the coast, we are in hurricane season from June 1st to November 30th. Thinking about a potential hurricane can be somewhat stressful. However, being educated and prepared can help relieve a bit of that anxiety.

You've just graduated high school; what a major life accomplishment! Before you do anything else, pat yourself on the back. 

After the initial excitement of finishing up a chapter of your life ends, it's time to start planning for your next big adventure, college for most. One of the biggest things that people worry about when starting college is how they'll pay for it, which is why it's so important to understand the different options that are out there. In part one we talked about understanding student loans and in part two we're discussing other options that can help deal with the student loan crunch. 

You've just graduated high school; what a major life accomplishment! Before you do anything else, pat yourself on the back. 

After the initial excitement of finishing up a chapter of your life ends, it's time to start planning for your next big adventure, college for most. One of the biggest things that people worry about when starting college is how they'll pay for it, which is why it's so important to understand the different types of student loan options that are out there. 

As an Alumna of Coastal Carolina University, it's only natural for me to cheer for the Chanticleers. Luckily, I joined an employer who loves Coastal athletics as much as I do. However, cheering on my favorite team wouldn't be possible without the Chanticleer Athletic Foundation (CAF), otherwise known as the Team Behind the Team.