Southern Blog
How to Make Back-to-School Shopping Less Stressful
By: Charlestien Harris The back-to-school season has already begun for some students, and many stores are already selling backpacks, notebooks, and other school supplies. According to the National Retail Federation, families with school-age children are expected to...
How to Create a Spending Plan for College
By: Charlestien Harris So, you have graduated from high school. Congratulations! Many of you are now college bound, which means leaving the family nest for the first time and becoming responsible for your financial well-being. College means paying for tuition and...
Your Credit Report: The Impact of Medical Debt Removal
By: Charlestien Harris Your credit score is very important when it comes to how you interact with the financial world around you. One of the main areas of concern for many people is how medical debt has been negatively affecting their credit scores for years....
Personal Finance Tips to Survive in a Changing Economy
By: Charlestien Harris Living through a possible recession requires more than just cutting back on your personal spending. But first, let’s define “recession” so we can fully understand why managing our personal finances during this time is so important. A recession...
Give Yourself a Mid-Year Financial Checkup
By: Charlestien Harris We are now halfway through 2022, which is the perfect time to do a mid-year financial checkup. Review what progress you've made since the beginning of the year, and make plans for the rest of the year to reach your goals. Without regular...
Are You Ready to be a Homeowner?
By: Charlestien Harris All month, we have been talking about homeownership topics in observation of National Homeownership Month. But we don’t want to overlook that all-important question: Are you ready to become a homeowner? Sometimes, the excitement and...
Homeownership: What Pre-Qualification and Pre-Approval Means
By: Charlestien Harris Realizing the American dream can be a tedious task sometimes, especially when trying to get financing for that new home you desire. But, before you begin searching for your dream home, you should know or have some idea of how much you will be...
The Benefits of a HUD-Certified Housing Counselor for Homebuyers
By: Charlestien Harris As a HUD-Certified Counselor, I often hear my clients say that they wish they had sought out the services of a HUD-certified housing counselor before they started the process of purchasing their home. I then asked them why, and their response...
Six Required Components to Buying a Home
By: Charlestien Harris Buying a home can be overwhelming, but if you understand what you need before you start the process you can be better prepared for it. Every person that plans to purchase a home has to complete each of these steps to become a homeowner. Let’s...
Realizing the American Dream Yesterday and Today
By: Charlestien Harris Is it June already?! Time flies when you’re working towards healthier financial fitness. Not only is it the halfway mark of our calendar year, but it is also National Homeownership Month. During this month we celebrate the joy that owning...