Buying your first home is an exciting time full of many emotions. You are ready to strike out on your own and become a homeowner! This time is also full of lots of important information, and sometimes you can feel a little overwhelmed.

You have been saving and planning, and now it is finally time to start shopping for your first home! We are thrilled for you! But before you hit the real estate listings or start interviewing agents, you have a little math to do.

It's almost time for my favorite holiday, Black Friday. Of course, I'm kidding, but as someone who loves to shop, I do look forward to Black Friday and Cyber Monday each year.

Shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday can be a great time to score deals on items that you've wanted to purchase, but you can also get easily sucked into overspending if you're not prepared. Check out the BALANCE blog post below for tips on how to avoid overspending on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Art Alexakis once said, "Living isn't a simple thing... no one said it's supposed to be."

We can all probably agree that life isn't simple; it's filled with ups and downs, stressors, problems, and situations that make it complicated. However, if we know that life isn't simple, why do we constantly try to simplify it? We come up with one size fits all solutions and expect them to simplify our issues.

Do you know what a credit union is and how it differs from a bank? If not, hopefully, by the end of this blog post, you'll have a little more insight into what a credit union is and why it may be the right financial choice for you.

If nobody could see the things you have, would you still want them?

Preparation is key when you live in an area that experiences hurricane season for six months out of the year. You may already have a plan for home preparation and evacuation, but do you have a plan for your finances in the event of a natural disaster?

We've all heard the saying, "put your money where your mouth is," but what if we started trying to put our money where our heart is instead.

So, you've worked hard to get to a good place financially; you're paying your bills on time, you're able to buy a few extra things that you want, and if an emergency happens, you always find a way to cover the expense.

Financial security is a major accomplishment, especially after the financial toll that the last year has taken on all of us. However, once you've gotten to a secure place, evaluate your spending habits and make sure you're exercising preparation spending instead of reaction spending.

Love might not have a price tag, but dates most definitely do. How do you treat that special someone to a great date when even "dinner and a movie" breaks the bank?

Here are a few date ideas that are creative, unique, and less than $20.