This Saturday, the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers will have their first home game of the 2024 football season. As an alumnus of the university and a huge college football fan, I've been waiting for this moment since our last season ended.
It’s a tough reality of living in a computer-driven world: scams will always find their way into popular technologies. Digital payment apps are no exception. With their use becoming increasingly a part of our everyday life, knowing the steps for safeguarding your information and maintaining control of your money is essential.
Help Your Child Acclimate to a New School Year With These Tips From a Local Teacher
The start of the new school year can be exciting for kids. They get a new teacher, start seeing their friends again daily, and get all new clothes and supplies. However, beginning a new school year is also a big change and may require a bit of an adjustment period.
Topics: Personal Finance, Home, Life & School
Back to School Shopping: Delayed Gratification and Other Tricks to Trim Your Spend
If you’ve procrastinated over doing your child’s back-to-school shopping because inflation has made the task seem about as fun as a trip to the dentist, you might be in luck. That’s because waiting until after the summer back-to-school sales may help you save. Below you’ll learn why and get some additional tips for making your shopping experience as joyful as graduation day.
Topics: Personal Finance, Seasonal
With the start of a new school year right around the corner, it's time to start filling the cart with back-to-school items. If the rows and rows of school supplies at Walmart and Target haven't already sucked you in, then Tax-Free Weekend is the perfect time to grab some of the key items on your list.
Topics: Home, Life & School, Seasonal
There is no better time of year to live at the beach than the summer. I love spending time outside by the ocean or the river and soaking up the UV rays, with sunscreen, of course.
Topics: Personal Finance, Home, Life & School, Seasonal
Understanding the True Costs of Homeownership: Beyond the Down Payment
Buying a home is a huge milestone and perhaps the largest purchase most of us will ever make. It's important for those who are interested in homeownership to understand the benefits of buying a home versus renting and what a smart investment this decision is for your future. It's also important to understand that homeownership is a lifestyle choice and one that will impact your financial status.
Topics: Real Estate & Home Buying, Home Loans
I love living in the south; life is slow, and the people are friendly, but boy, IT IS HOT. It's almost impossible to beat the heat without blasting the a/c unless you catch a breezy day at the beach (my personal favorite way). But having the a/c blasting from May to October can get pretty pricey. Check out the BALANCE blog below for Ways to Reduce Summer Cooling Costs.
Topics: Personal Finance, Home, Life & School, Seasonal
Renting vs. Buying: 5 Factors in Making the Right Housing Decision for You
Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions many of us make in our lives. But how do you know if you should continue renting vs. buying a home?
There are pros and cons to each of these housing options, so it's important to do some research about both to help you decide if renting or buying a home is the right decision for you.
Topics: Real Estate & Home Buying, Home Loans
Vlog: Would Your Bank or Credit Union Benefit from a Brand Ambassador with FI Grow Solutions
I recently sat down with Meredith Olmstead, CEO and Co-Founder of FI Grow Solutions, a marketing and sales team that works with financial institutions, for an episode of their podcast, Hit Record. In the episode, Meredith and I talked about the benefit to credit unions in having a Brand Ambassador, what the role looks like, and some of the challenges. Check out the episode below: