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.

As we kick off the month of December, the feeling of Christmas is starting to SHINE all around us. Everyone seems to have an extra GLOW about them; they're practically BEAMING. The excitement from the holiday season always gets to me each year; it's like I hardly know how to CONDUCT myself. There's just so much to do and see, and the idea of missing a single opportunity to celebrate HERTZ my heart.

You may have caught on to all my light puns by this point. With so many fantastic holiday light shows in our area, I figured a round-up blog post would be a BRIGHT idea.

With the holidays right around the corner, you may do more shopping than usual. In the blog post below, you'll learn some of the most costly mistakes shoppers make and how to avoid them so that you don't fall into a trap while doing your holiday shopping.

Holiday décor and music are filling department stores, Starbucks and Dunkin have released their holiday drink menus, and some people have already started putting up their trees. Although I'm not quite in the holly jolly spirit yet, I have begun financially planning for the holidays so that my debt doesn't outweigh my cheer. Below are the tips I'm using to keep myself in check as I kick-start my holiday spending.

When it comes to Halloween, are you a fan of being scared? It may be the optimist in me, but I hate being scared. I'm much more of a Casper the Friendly Ghost or Charlie Brown and The Great Pumpkin kind of girl. However, many people love Halloween's spooky décor, haunted houses, and scary movies. If you're a lover of all things scary, watch your back for the most frightening thing of all this Halloween season, High-Cost Lending.

With Halloween a little over a week away, we're running out of time to do all the fun Halloween activities. Luckily, the City of Conway, or should I say Halloween, has a little bit of everything for folks to enjoy. 

If you follow me on my brand ambassador Instagram account, successinthebag, you may know that I've recently been having car troubles. Pulling money out of my emergency savings account for recent repairs has made me think about trading in my vehicle for something new. Because I've already had to spend quite a bit of money repairing my current car, a big down payment on something new isn't ideal, making me consider the possibility of leasing.

Since I've never leased any of my previous vehicles, I didn't have much prior knowledge of the ends and outs of a car lease. I've been doing a lot of research recently about typical leasing agreements and options for when your lease is over. During my research, I found the BALANCE article below, which gave me all the information I needed about potentially buying a car you're leasing once the lease is over.

One of the most complex parts of sticking to a budget is breaking unhealthy spending habits and creating new healthy ones. Evaluating your spending and determining which aspects prevent you from sticking to your budget is an excellent place to start.

Check out the BALANCE blog post below for 5 Habits Every Budgeter Should Develop:

Fall is officially here, although it may not seem like it with 80-degree weather and palm trees instead of falling leaves.

Growing up in the mountains of Virginia, the arrival of fall was always seen and felt. It didn't take much to really get into the fall spirit. However, when I moved to the beach, I found that embracing the fall season required more effort on my end.

Since there isn't a major transition in the environment around me to help get me excited about fall, I've relied on the following things to get me in the spirit.

Want to plan the perfect date night without breaking the bank? Check out the BALANCE blog post below for a few great ideas.

When you and your partner are focusing on paying down debt, it’s easy to put relationship fun on hold. After all, dining out is a sure-fire way to blow the budget. Expensive vacations? Entirely out of the question!

But you can still keep the spark alive with regular date nights, even on a budget.

First, schedule the time into the calendar. Often, busy couples find that if it doesn’t get scheduled, it doesn’t happen. If you have young children, consider coordinating with another family to swap babysitting duties. This way, each set of parents gets an evening out without paying for a babysitter.

Now that you’ve got the date set and the sitter lined up, here are some frugal date night ideas so you and your partner can make great memories without spending much money.

Go on a hike

A hike (or a leisurely walk) in a beautiful location is a great way to spend some distraction-free time with your spouse. Enjoy the scenery, get some fresh air, and get your blood pumping. Websites like AllTrails and Outdoor Project are good free resources for local hikes.

Play Tourist

If a friend or family member was coming to visit your city, where would you take them? Often, the most impressive or entertaining spots get overlooked by locals. Pretend you’re just visiting the area and hit up some of the top tourist destinations and local landmarks. The local Chamber of Commerce is an excellent resource for inspiration.

Star Gazing

You don’t need a telescope to take your honey stargazing! It’s best to choose a night when you’ll have clear skies and a new moon. Pack up a blanket and some snacks and head out of town to a place with dark skies and little light pollution. Spread out the blanket, look up at the stars, and bask in the awe of a starry sky.

Eat Cake

If you miss going out to restaurants while you’re tightening the budget, you can get that restaurant enjoyment without having a full sit-down meal. Coffee and dessert at your favorite restaurant still feel like a splurge. Who said you can’t have your cake and eat it, too?

Have a Picnic

A picnic doesn’t have to be a fancy (read: expensive) affair. A lunch sack will do just fine if you don’t have a dedicated picnic basket. Cheese, crackers, fruit, and your favorite drinks require almost no prep and taste even better at a local park or wilderness area.

Visit a Farmers Market

You might be amazed at how much is happening at your local farmer’s market! Of course, you’ll find farmers selling their freshly grown produce, but there’s likely also baked goods, meat and eggs, crafts (like handmade candles and soap), and ready-to-eat food. Wandering around the farmer’s market is a great way to spend a few frugal hours. You might even come home with local produce and inspiration to try a new recipe.

Hit up the Yard Sales

If you like the thrill of the hunt, it’s worth getting up early on a Saturday morning and hitting the yard sale circuit. Decide how much money you’re willing to spend ahead of time and bring it in small bills. This helps to ensure you stay within your budget. You never know what you might find at a yard sale—and sometimes you’ll come home empty-handed! Not knowing is all part of the fun.

Gather Fruit

Nearby orchards or berry farms can make for great frugal dates. The “u-pick” fruit farms are typically less expensive and tastier than the comparable fruit at the grocery store, and you get to spend some quality time outside with your partner. Make sure to research the right time to go for ripe fruit and bring some containers from home.

Wrapping it Up

Date nights are so important in relationships. Time to talk without the day-to-day stressors and sharing new experiences help keep the romance alive. These things don’t have to be expensive. Keep your budget on track with frugal date nights and watch your relationship and savings account grow.