With back-to-school time right around the corner, I was joined on the July Financial Friday Community Panel by Local Civic Leader Fred Nesta to talk about his partnered Back-To-School drive and Horry County School's Teacher of the Year, Emma Lyn Cain, to give parents and students advice for starting a new school year. 

It's been three years to the week since I purchased my first home. With buying a house came the responsibility of so many things I had never had to think about while renting. I was now responsible for maintenance or repairs, lawn care, pest control, taxes, insurance, etc.

With any new purchases, there is typically some type of warranty, and for me, with new construction, I had a one-year window on many of the different systems within my home. My contractor and I became great friends over the year because I called him with a million questions and issues with anything warranty-related.

As I was nearing that one-year mark, I began to worry about what I would do and what it might cost to fix things after my year. Fortunately, I stayed alert and was able to avoid any extended warranty scams, where people tried taking advantage of that worried feeling. Check out the blog post below with some of the tips I used to avoid falling victim to warranty scams:

I just returned from a fantastic weekend getaway to the beach in North Carolina. My boyfriend and I wanted to go somewhere smaller and keep things budget friendly and low-key for a relaxing long weekend. If you're like me, you can't plan for the perfect vacation without a million lists. There's always a packing list, an "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. 

Living in an area that experiences hurricane season for six months out of the year, we need to be prepared. A great way to do a bit of pre-planning so that you're not panicking when a hurricane is on its way is to put together a Hurricane Preparedness Kit. 

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.

Investing in an energy efficient home improvement has never been more important. We all want to do our part for a clean environment and energy efficient upgrades help reduce our carbon footprint. But some people feel held back by the upfront investment needed to make repairs or enhancements, even though they tend to increase property values.

At Carolina Trust Federal Credit Union, we offer low-rate Smart Home Loans of up to $25,000, so our members can make energy efficient home improvements that lower utilities, reduce emissions, and raise property values. We hope the following 10 cost-effective tips prove helpful.

Smart technologies offer homeowners wonderful conveniences, improved safety, and lower utility bills. While many property owners would like to enjoy the benefits of these technological advancements, the initial costs tend to hold them back. That’s why Carolina Trust Federal Credit Union provides the Home Smart Loan program with low rates and flexible terms. We hope the following information about smart technology will inspire you to invest in the peaceful enjoyment of being at home.