Follow these simple steps to assess the pros and cons of different credit card offers.

So you are in the market for a new credit card, but with the seemingly endless options available, how do you choose the best one? Use the steps listed below to evaluate what credit card may best support your spending habits and needs.

Review your credit rating.

If you already have a credit card, check to see if they provide your credit score for free. If not, the big three credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion are federally mandated to provide you with a free credit score once every twelve months. You can access your free score through the federally approved website, AnnualCreditReport.com.

If your score isn’t quite what you hoped, you can either adopt healthier financial practices to boost your credit, or dispute an error if you believe there has been a mistake.

Choose ...

Beat the heat without breaking the bank with these helpful energy saving tips.

Now that the long, hot days of a South Carolina summer are in full swing, homeowners are depending on their air conditioning to keep their homes comfortably cool. With increased energy use comes higher energy bills, so how do you strike the balance between comfort and cost during the summer? Use the ten tips below to help reduce your energy consumption and costs while also keeping your home cool for you and your family.

Keep your shades drawn.

Close your blinds in windows that receive direct sunlight and in rooms you are not using to help keep your house cool.

Raise your thermostat when you aren't home.

Increase the temperature on your thermostat when leaving for work or going out of town so that you don’t continue to cool your home to comfort while you’re away, wasting ...

Learn more about the steps to finding a quality home contractor in this week’s blog.

When it comes to finding a competent, reliable, and trustworthy contractor, it is essential that homeowners perform due diligence and search out professionals with a proven record for quality work delivered in a reasonable time. If you just go with the first person you contact, or depend on a friend of a friend, you may find yourself with a poor quality, half completed renovation project, and money lost. To find the best contractor for your renovation project, use these six steps to ensure the greatest likelihood of a project completed to your satisfaction.

Seek out referrals - Talk to friends and family who have done renovations and ask for recommendations, as well as contractors to avoid if they have had a negative experience. Not only can they provide valuable insight into the process and experience ...

Here are the things roofing professionals consider when quoting you a new roof.

One of the largest expenses that homeowners encounter through the course of maintaining their home is replacing a roof. Whether from storm damage or age, replacing a roof is no small task. The average homeowner will spend between $4,793 - $9,371 for a new roof. When consulting a roofing professional to provide a quote for replacing your roof, expect the cost to be based on the square footage of your roof. Rather than provide a detailed, itemized invoice, roofers give you an estimate for supplies and labor based on each square foot of your roof.

Roof Cost Considerations

Factors that can affect your quote include:

• Materials costs (shingle type and quality, flashing, etc.)


• Protective roof products (weather and temperature protection)


• Waste transport and disposal


• Labor.

Refinancing your vehicle for a lower interest rate can save you money in the long run.

If you are looking for ways to reduce expenses each month, consider refinancing your car or truck for a lower monthly payment. While homeowners are likely familiar with refinancing a house for lower mortgage payments, people often overlook that the same can be done with their vehicles for more competitive rates and incentives.

Reasons to Refinance

Reasons why refinancing might be a good option for you include:

• Reduced Rates: If there have been changes in the market since you first purchased your vehicle, or you have had obtained a higher credit rating, then refinancing can offer you an improved interest rate, resulting in lower payments each month.


• Convenience: Rather than have your checking account, mortgage payment, and car payment managed by three different financial institutions, refinance with your preferred bank for greater convenience and ...

When it comes to advertising your business on Facebook, it may seem like a piece of cake while walking in the park. Post a few fun photos, share a couple memes for good fun, maybe even advertise your big event this weekend, all without spending a dime. Besides, think of all the people using Facebook compared with costly advertising alternatives like television, newspaper and radio, right?

While there is no disputing the marketing power of Facebook, it will take more than the occasional “share” to build a following and convert leads into customers. To get the most from your social media marketing, use these five simple tips, and watch as your “likes” turn into sales.

Create Engaging Content: First and foremost, you must have quality content that will catch people’s eye in the midst of the always changing social feed. Rather than share other people’s posts that will only drive ...

It’s never too early to educate your kids about the value of a dollar.

One of the most important life skills you can teach your children is how to responsibly manage money. By beginning their education while they are young, you can instill a healthy understanding of money that will serve them for a lifetime. Sharing the lessons listed below can help your kids avoid mistakes that contributed to major financial challenges in our country, including the mortgage crisis, the $1.1 trillion student loan debt, and $845 billion owed in credit card debt.

1. Sometimes you have wait for something you want.

Perhaps the most valuable lesson you can teach your child early on is that sometimes, you have to wait for things you want. Small children need to learn that you can’t always have everything you want right now. This is especially true when it comes to money. As ...

Written By David Slade dslade@postandcourier.com Apr 30, 2017,  Post and Courier A little help with downpayments and closing costs could make all the difference for lower-income home buyers. For potential homebuyers with lower than average incomes, there's a South Carolina bank offering down payment and closing-cost assistance that could make the difference necessary to make ownership a reality. This may sound familiar, because I've written recently about homebuyer assistance from the S.C. State Housing Finance and Development Authority, but these homeownership programs are offered by Florence-based First Reliance Bank, using funding from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta. There are a few variations of First Reliance's programs, but each of them offers thousands of dollars in financial help to buyers with incomes that don't exceed 80 percent of the area's median income, depending on family size. So, the income limits vary depending on where the applicant lives, and the ...

These simple improvements could mean the difference between a quick sale and months on the market.

Appearance matters when it comes to purchasing a house. Not only do prospective buyers want an attractive space to call home, they also want to get the most for their money. If your house is dirty, or the exterior needs work, that could communicate to prospective buyers that they are not getting the value for the price. By simply cleaning, organizing, and depersonalizing your home, you improve your chances for selling your home sooner.

Here are our tips for prepping your home for sale:

Update your landscaping: Prospective buyers care about curb appeal, and your yard offers a dramatic first impression of your home when people come to tour. Be sure to mow the grass, trim the hedges, weed, and plant new flowers. Prospective buyers would rather maintain a beautiful yard than start from ...

Don’t wait for the roof to spring a leak before you think about replacing it.

With the recent number of severe storms we’ve had with damaging winds and hail, you may have noticed that your roof is a little worse for wear, and wondering if it is time for a new roof. After all, roofs aren’t exactly cheap, but remain necessary, unless you enjoy sleeping under the stars. To help make your decision a little easier, here are our seven signs that it may be time to replace the roof.

Start with the Attic: A sure sign that it may be time to call a roofer is if you see sunlight through the ceiling of your attic, or you find water damage caused by rain leaks.

Review your Records: How long has it been since the roof was last replaced? Consider the time that has passed since the last replacement, ...