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. 

We're coming up on Memorial Day Weekend, which to most, is like the official kick-start to the summer. Schools are starting to get out for summer break, people from all over head to the beach for vacation, friends and family join together for cookouts, and everyone breaks out the fireworks and red, white, and blue. Although Memorial Day is a great time to gather with friends and family and celebrate the start of the summer, it's important that we all take time to remember the true meaning of the holiday and the individuals who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. 

Below are some of the different Memorial Day events happening in our area that you can attend with loved ones and acknowledge those fallen soldiers:

If you didn't quite get your art fix at the recent Artfields festival in Lake City and want to discover more public art, you must check out the beautiful murals in Downtown Conway. All within walking distance from each other, or a quick peel scooter ride if you want to make it a bit more interesting, Historic Downtown Conway boasts nine gorgeous murals with unique backstories.

Is it just me, or do you, too, succumb to the pressure of retail therapy? Have you had a bad day? Browsing the aisle of your favorite store will help. Were you not feeling great? Splurge on your comfort food; it's sure to work its magic. Did you get a promotion at work or find out your child got an A on a test at school and want to celebrate over a fancy dinner? 

Whether for happy reasons or sad, emotional spending is easy to do and can easily throw you off your budget. Check out the blog post below for tips to help you control your emotional spending and stay on track to achieving your long-term financial goals.

April is CUNA Youth Month, a time when credit unions around the country join together to promote youth financial literacy. When looking for literacy material for kids, there tends to be a lot of material for younger kids, including activities and stories similar to what we've shared on our CUNA Youth Month page. However, there's not a lot of material for older kids, who are reaching the age where they're starting to manage their own money and have to consider things like bills, credit, and taxes. 

Below is a BALANCE blog post with things your teen should know about their first job (but they probably don't). If you're looking for additional literacy resources for your teen/young adult, BALANCE offers entire tool kits for teens and those just starting out. 

Every April, credit unions around the globe join us in celebrating CUNA Youth Month. Youth Month is a great annual opportunity to engage with our young members and show them that Carolina Trust is here to help them throughout their financial journey.

The official theme for this year's National Credit Union Youth Month is "Unleash the Power of Saving at your credit union™." This theme makes saving for the future fun and encourages younger members to create financial dreams and work hard to see them through.

We know that talking to children about financial concepts can be challenging, as it's not always the most exciting topic, and they don't yet have money of their own to truly understand how to manage it. Here are a few tips that you can try to start the conversation about finances with your children at an early age and help prepare them to be financially literate adults. 

With school spring breaks in the next few weeks and summer right around the corner, you may be planning upcoming travel with your kids. 

In honor of Women's Month, I was joined on the March Financial Friday Community Panel by special guest, Henrietta Golding. 

This weekend is the 2nd Annual Waccamaw Sportsmen's Expo in Downtown Conway. The Expo focuses on the outdoor lifestyle along the banks of the Waccamaw River. 

The event kicks off on Friday, March 24, as DockDogs bring their high-flying competition to Conway's Town Green at 200 Laurel Street. On Saturday, March 25, the DockDogs events continue all day, and the full Expo opens at the Conway Marina at 4 Elm Street. Saturday's busy schedule of activities includes vendors, music, cooking demonstrations, a reptile program, an outdoor quick draw event, a wildlife rehabilitation session, and much more.

As a self-proclaimed "SportsWOMAN," I'm super excited about the event and wanted to give you all tips to navigate it if you decide to attend.