Carolina Trust FCU Blog

There's only a week left in 2021, and there's no better way to end the year than by giving back. I know the holiday season can be busy, but I encourage you to make time to volunteer or donate before the year is up.

The holidays are always one of the busiest times of year for me. I typically get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and wait until the very last minute to get everything done. By the time I get around to buying gifts for loved ones and giving to holiday charities, I'm in a total rush.

Last-minute shoppers like me are a dream for holiday scammers. The Grinch isn't the only one trying to steal this Christmas, so check out the BALANCE blog below for a few tips and tricks to avoid seasonal scams during the holidays.

It happens every year, without fail, someone brings me a Christmas gift, and I have nothing to give them in return. So, of course, I'm immediately filled with guilt, make up a story about how I left their gift at home, and run out and buy them something last minute.

With Christmas just a few weeks away, you've probably made your list and checked it twice to make sure that you have the perfect gifts for all of your loved ones. Or, if you're like me, you're just now starting your holiday shopping. Either way, if you still have gifts to buy, local holiday markets are the perfect place to look.

One of my favorite things about holiday markets is having all of my favorite local shops in one place. I love shopping locally and try to do it year-round. However, if I'm looking for many different items, it can be time-consuming to drive from shop to shop when a mall or department store has everything under one roof. That's the beauty of holiday markets; they're like the malls of local businesses.

Although sometimes it's easy when you're in a time crunch to load up your Amazon cart with everything you need and have it on your doorstep in two days, I would encourage you to head over to a local holiday market before you do. They may have the perfect gift that you've been searching for, and by shopping with them, you get to help a neighbor provide for their family.

Below is a list of some great holiday markets popping up in the area this season. Be sure to set a budget before you go, though, because there will be so many phenomenal goodies, and it'll be easy to overspend.

Holiday Market in Valor Park
Each Saturday in December, 12pm - 4pm
Farrow Parkway in Market Commons

Inaugural Wicked Holiday Market
Each Saturday in December, 12pm - 5pm
Wicked Tuna

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.

It's officially the most wonderful time of the year! However, as wonderful as the holiday season is, it can bring about many expenses that can cause you to bust your budget. If you need help saving on holiday gifts, travel, and meals, check out this recent segment of Living Local Carolina Financial Friday, where I share a few of my holiday saving tips.

Halloween is right around the corner, and if you don't already have a costume, this is your sign to make your own. If you're not super crafty, no need to worry, these costumes are super easy to make; plus, they're also super cheap.

Halloween can get pretty expensive once you've bought a costume, accessories, candy, treat bags, etc. Save some money this year and make one of the creative costumes below:

Everyone loves a good showdown; It's why we're all so plugged into football season right now. But what about a financial showdown, credit cards vs. debit cards.

Most Americans carry several different payment cards in their wallets; some debit, some credit. Maybe you have a system in place for which card to use when, or perhaps you use one type all the time. But do you really know the difference and when it is more beneficial to use one over the other?

Check out the BALANCE blog below, where they put debit cards and credit cards in a one-on-one showdown to see where and when using them may be best for your finances.

Have you grabbed your copy of the October Grand Strand Magazine? You'll definitely want to grab one and check out the Women in Business Edition, featuring profiles of some of our area's most prominent businesswomen.

One of my favorite things about being a homeowner is decorating my house for each season. With the first day of fall being next week, I figured it was about time to get started on my fall décor. Unfortunately, the décor had been picked over everywhere I looked or was super expensive, so I decided to make my own.