As an Alumna of Coastal Carolina University, it's only natural for me to cheer for the Chanticleers. Luckily, I joined an employer who loves Coastal athletics as much as I do. However, cheering on my favorite team wouldn't be possible without the Chanticleer Athletic Foundation (CAF), otherwise known as the Team Behind the Team.

I don't know about you, but May is always like the kick-off to summer for me, and there's no better way to enjoy the summer than getting outdoors. I love being outdoors, mainly because some of my favorite hobbies are outdoor activities.

In 2020, many businesses, both local and big corporations, took major hits due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Even those that were able to stay afloat were not left unscathed. Everyone had to make significant adjustments to how they were operating their businesses, and online presence became a MUST to continue generating revenue.

So, here we are now, almost a year since Governor McMaster reopened all non-essential businesses. Like everything else, businesses adjusted to the new way of life; but, what does that look like? How have these adjustments affected the way we do business, and how businesses in our area are growing?

When a borrower wants to refinance car loan terms and payments, the process involves applying for a new car loan to pay off the existing one. Most automobile loans are secured with the vehicle serving as collateral and the borrower making fixed payments over several years.

One of my goals at the beginning of 2021 was to trade in my Jeep. As much as I enjoyed my Jeep, I was ready for a change and wanted something a bit more practical, fuel-efficient, and technologically advanced. I'd never traded in a vehicle before, so I had a lot of questions and uncertainty. With the help of a few of my Carolina Trust co-workers, I navigated my way through the trade-in process and got a new car that met all my criteria.

Improving the financial literacy in our area is one of the key ways that Carolina Trust tries to live out the credit union philosophy, "people helping people." To truly help our community, we have to go beyond providing them with financial services; we have to teach them healthy financial practices and help them implement them into their lives. Like learning anything, the earlier you start, the better off you'll be, which is why we put such a significant emphasis on financial literacy resources for our youth.

April is CUNA Youth Month, and Carolina Trust is celebrating in a lot of different ways. We're sharing financial content geared towards youth all month long, including activities, story time, and even a giveaway contest. You can visit our website for more information, and be sure to check back each week for new content.

If you're looking for a great way to start the conversation about finances with your child, bringing them into the credit union and opening a Goal Club account is a great place to start. Check out the BALANCE blog post below, "Is it time to open a checking or savings account for your children," for more information about the benefits of introducing your child to the world of personal finance at an early age.

Every April, bright, colorful puzzle pieces begin to appear all around us on social media, television, and storefront advertisements. World Autism Month is a great time to spread awareness for a disorder that affects so many. With 1 in 54 children being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), it has touched most of us in one way or another.

Hippity Hoppity Easter's on its way! I can't believe that Easter Weekend is already here. I feel like Easter sneaks up on me every year. Maybe it's because Easter is never on the same day each year, so I never know exactly when to expect it. However, it could be because I don't celebrate the holiday with the same enthusiasm that I did as a child. I always looked forward to Easter because there were so many fun activities surrounding the holiday. This year, I plan to bring back a little bit of that excitement by checking out some of the area's Easter events.

Welcome, Spring! Aside from all the pollen, springtime is one of my favorite times of the year. Every spring, the world transforms from winter's dull gloominess into a warm, bright, colorful landscape of flowers and sunshine.

Spring always gives me the feeling of a fresh start. Like the world around us, we can grow and bloom into something bright and beautiful. To start fresh, though, you have to do a little spring cleaning and get rid of the old.

Have you already filed your taxes? If not, now is the time to start gathering your information because May 17th will be here before you know it. Finances were a little trickier in 2020, so if you plan to do your own taxes, make sure you have all the necessary information about the 2021 tax season. If you plan to take your taxes to a professional, try not to wait until the last minute and make sure you have all of the necessary documents to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible. For more information on how you can prepare yourself for tax time, check out the BALANCE blog below.