If you’ve ever picked up plants while running errands at a big box store like Lowe’s, you’re not alone. It’s convenient, quick, and often feels budget-friendly. But if you’ve also spent time at a local nursery, you know it’s a very different experience. Where you buy your plants can impact not just how they look the day you bring them home, but how well they actually grow. 

There’s something about spring that makes everything feel new again. The weather warms up, the days get longer, and suddenly you start noticing all the little things around your home that could use some attention. The good news is, refreshing your space doesn’t have to mean a big renovation or a large budget. A few simple, affordable updates can make your home feel clean, cared for, and ready for the season.

With St. Patrick’s Day this week, it’s hard not to think about the idea of a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It’s fun to imagine—something lucky, unexpected, and effortless. But when it comes to your finances, most of us would prefer something a little more dependable than luck. The good news is that building your own “pot of gold” doesn’t require perfect timing or luck. It just takes a plan and a little consistency.

When daylight saving time rolls around, most of us remember the usual checklist: change the clocks, check the batteries in the smoke detectors, and adjust to losing an hour of sleep. It’s a small seasonal reset that happens almost automatically. But it can also be a helpful reminder to check in on something else that benefits from occasional maintenance—your finances.

Commonly called a CD, a Certificate of Deposit is a savings-based investment that produces a higher return on investment than many others in its class. Considered a sound, reliable investment, CDs are generally part of a well-balanced portfolio. By understanding how they work, as well as their benefits and disadvantages, community members can make informed decisions about adding CDs to their mix of financial holdings.  

If you’ve spent time on social media lately, you’ve probably heard the phrase “girl math.” It’s the playful logic we use to justify purchases in a way that somehow feels correct in the moment. If something is on sale, we’re saving money. If we wear something enough times, the cost practically disappears. And if we return something, that money suddenly feels “free” to spend somewhere else. It’s funny because most of us recognize ourselves in it.

Last November, I married my best friend. It was joyful and beautiful — but somewhere between planning the wedding and starting our life together, we had some of our most important conversations about money. Not because it’s romantic. But because it’s real.

The grocery delivery. The $14 salad because you’re tired. The subscription you forgot about. The “buy now, pay later” because it’s only $40 today. Convenience isn’t bad. Sometimes it’s survival. It reduces friction in an already full life. But there’s a quiet cost we don’t always notice.

Maintaining a diverse financial portfolio helps reduce investment risk and generate greater returns. Part of that balanced approach involves including assets that can be quickly leveraged. Basically, things such as money market accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs) are akin to having cash on hand. The major difference is they generate better interest rates than passbook savings accounts.

If you are considering adding a money market or CD as part of your portfolio strategy, it’s essential to understand the choice is not necessarily either-or. Money markets and CDs are both valuable assets with slight differences. Those CD vs money market distinctions could be simplified by just saying one provides steady returns while the other offers flexibility. But a deeper understanding could help you better prepare to build an actionable portfolio that achieves your financial and quality of life goals. 

February is all about love — flowers, candy hearts, date nights — but it’s also Heart Month, and February 6th is National Wear Red Day, which is basically your reminder to show your heart a little extra love (and maybe wear a cute red outfit while you’re at it).