Sep 4, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness
By Charlestien Harris, Retired Financial Counselor at Southern Bancorp Managing your finances during college can be a significant source of stress. For many students, this is the first time they’ve had to take personal responsibility for their financial decisions....
Aug 22, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness
By Charlestien Harris Eventually, what goes up must come down…right? Well, sometimes yes, and sometimes no – especially as it relates to inflation. Inflation is the rate at which prices increase over a given period. It can also be described as the decline in the...
Aug 1, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness
By Charlestien Harris, Retired Financial Counselor at Southern Bancorp Financial literacy is a critical skill that benefits every member of the family, regardless of age. For many parents, setting a good example and providing the tools and knowledge children need to...
Jul 25, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness
By Charlestien Harris ATTENTION – July is National Military Consumer Month! I discovered this little-known fact while conducting research for my weekly article. We enjoy our freedom in this country thanks to the dedicated service members who protect it with honor. In...
Jul 14, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness
By Charlestien Harris, Retired Financial Counselor at Southern Bancorp Did you know that July is designated as National Savings Month? I didn’t know that fun fact either. It was established to encourage individuals to focus on saving, budgeting, and...
Jul 11, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness
By Charlestien Harris, Retired Financial Counselor at Southern Bancorp If you ask the average young adult whether they’re ready to leave the comforts of their parents’ home, they will most definitely say, “Yes!” I know this because, when I was that age, I once said I...
Jun 27, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness, Homebuying
By Charlestien Harris One of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a home is affordability. Affordability can look different for each person considering homeownership. Homeownership affordability is defined as the ability to purchase and maintain a...
Jun 12, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness, Homebuying
By Charlestien Harris, Retired Financial Counselor at Southern Bancorp June is commonly known as National Homeownership Month – a time to celebrate the American dream of owning a home and to promote the benefits of homeownership. National Homeownership Week began in...
Jun 6, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness
By Charlestien Harris June is a very popular month for weddings – often considered the third most popular month after September and October! You’ve probably heard the phrase “tying the knot” used to describe a wedding ceremony. This week, I want to share some thrifty...
May 30, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness
By Charlestien Harris May is National Moving Month, which kicks off one of the busiest moving seasons of the year. It’s also when home sales begin to rise, and people start making big changes. Moving can be a hassle and a chore, and it often brings more change than...