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...
May 23, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness
By Charlestien Harris, Retired Financial Counselor at Southern Bancorp Some people may look for pennies – especially if they’re on the ground – and pick them up. Others may carry a found penny for good luck or put the first penny they receive in their pocket. Either...
May 2, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness
By Charlestien Harris Last week, we talked about May being National Mental Health Awareness Month and how your mental health can affect your finances. This week, I want to also celebrate the month of May as National Recommitment Month. Making a commitment can often...
Mar 21, 2025 | Blog, Financial Fitness
By Charlestien Harris Even though we celebrated St. Patrick’s Day this past Monday, it is never too late to work on keeping your finances “in the green.” Some of us are all too familiar with the term “in the red” when it comes to our finances; nevertheless, some...