Many people look for ways to slim down when the new year rolls around. They flood the gyms and fill up the parking lots, all in an effort to shed those holiday pounds.

If you've been looking to make positive changes in your life or just looking for a fresh start, there's no better time than the beginning of a new year. Starting now, you have 365 days to make changes in your life and work towards new goals. I encourage you to reflect this week about areas of your life that you want to improve and set attainable goals to make positive changes.

If you're looking to improve your financial health in 2026, check out the BALANCE blog below for a few tips. Also, be sure to subscribe to my weekly blog posts for encouragement and tips to keep you on track throughout the year. 

Can you believe it's almost Christmas? I feel like there are still so many things left to do. Luckily, I was able to cross baking cookies for Santa off of my to-do list. Growing up, we'd make a big batch of Christmas cookies a day or two before Christmas to take to different Christmas gatherings, and we would always save a few to set out for Santa. Santa wasn't the only one who got a treat; we always made sure to leave carrots for the reindeer too! We may have even left carrots for Santa instead of cookies a few years because my mom insisted that Santa was dieting.

This year, I requested cookie recipes from Carolina Trust employees at our annual cookie exchange so that Santa could have a new variety. I'm not going to lie this close to Christmas, I may have snuck a few cookies, but they were specifically for taste testing purposing. I wouldn't want to give Santa a nasty cookie. He would put me on the naughty list for sure!

With the holiday season right around the corner, you'll be asked to give more than ever.. giving to charity, giving of your time, giving gifts to love ones, etc.

The holidays are always one of the busiest times of year for me. I typically get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and wait until the very last minute to get everything done. By the time I get around to buying gifts for loved ones and giving to holiday charities, I'm in a total rush.

Last-minute shoppers like me are a dream for holiday scammers. The Grinch isn't the only one trying to steal this Christmas, so check out the BALANCE blog below for a few tips and tricks to avoid seasonal scams during the holidays.

It's almost time for my favorite holiday, Black Friday. Of course, I'm kidding, but as someone who loves to shop, I do look forward to Black Friday and Cyber Monday each year.

Shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday can be a great time to score deals on items that you've wanted to purchase, but you can also get easily sucked into overspending if you're not prepared. Check out the BALANCE blog post below for tips on how to avoid overspending on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

It's officially the most wonderful time of the year! However, as wonderful as the holiday season is, it can bring about many expenses that can cause you to bust your budget. If you need help saving on holiday gifts, travel, and meals, try my tips below:

There's no better way to spend the holiday season than spending time with those you love, and there's no better way to enjoy each other's time than with a home-cooked meal. However, cooking at home can often add up if you're not prepared. Check out the BALANCE blog post below for six ways to save on homemade meals.

On Veterans Day, we close businesses, post on social media, and acknowledge and glorify our Veterans; But how are we thanking them on the other 364 days of the year? Are we celebrating and acknowledging just during the special occasion, the way we do with most other holidays, and then moving on as soon as the decorations come down? How can we continue to honor the men and women who have served our country in our day-to-day lives?