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Sticking to a budget during your holiday shopping can be a nightmare, but it is doable. The trick to it is to have a bit of foresight, and planning. If you're just buying whatever, whenever, then of course you're going to over spend. Now, let's go over some tips for sticking to your holiday spending budget that will help you to not only not overspend, but to also manage your purchasing habits more wisely going forward.


Ways to Trim Your Holiday Expenses

The holidays can put an emotional and financial strain on families, and American consumers know all too well, how just a bit of overspending can have consequences long after that holiday spirit has worn away. With that in mind, here are a few ways to reduce your holiday spending before, during, and after the holiday season.


business_financeGrowing a business is an exciting and demanding experience. Business owners are generally determined and studious, and this dedication can help them learn the ropes about how to handle a company’s books. When the business begins to grow, things get a little more challenging. Taking and making payments at various locations can become more important, and you may also be required to manage larger amounts on a regular basis. Business banking programs like the one at First Reliance Bank offer features that most organizations need during expansion.

Features of Business Banking
Companies that have moved beyond the startup phase need to upgrade their bank account. Luckily, business options come pre-loaded with the perks growing organizations need. The first is 24/7 access to money. Business owners often work odd hours and find themselves handling tasks from multiple locations. Constant access to accounts, combined with a wide network of ATMs, makes it easier ...


Whether you have actively thought about it or not, you have built a credit history and a credit score that is reviewed constantly by lenders, credit card companies, financial institutions and even employers. Your credit score not only affects the rate you will be charged for credit, but also affects the financial products and services you will be able to obtain. A poor credit score can mean that you may be turned down for even a basic account such as checking.

Understanding how this score affects your financial life is critical, but it doesn’t take much time to learn the basics and even start correcting a bad score. Information on how credit scores are calculated and what lenders look for when you apply for credit is further down in this article. But first, here are some easy steps you can take towards a better credit score:
  • Make payments on ...


Taking control of your money is an important step toward having the freedom to reach your goals. At First Reliance Bank, we are here to help you manage your money and build a plan to reach your goals. As part of our commitment to helping you, we are proud to offer several Managing Your Money Educational Courses.

Money Talks Newsletter

The Money Talks newsletter series contains tips, practical advice, thought-provoking ideas and age-appropriate activities to bring lessons alive for young children, tween, teens and young adults. This newsletter is designed for parents, grandparents and other caring adults to help them teach children and young adults about money. Visit the FDIC Website.

FREE Money Smart™

Developed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Money Smart™ is a free online website featuring easy-to-learn educational courses. These courses are specially designed to help adults learn the key things they need to know in ...


The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an independent agency of the United States government that protects the funds depositors place in banks and savings associations. FDIC insurance is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government. Since the FDIC was established in 1933, no depositor has ever lost a single penny of FDIC-insured funds.

FDIC insurance covers all deposit accounts, including checking and savings accounts, money market deposit accounts and certificates of deposit. FDIC insurance does not cover other financial products and services that banks may offer, such as stocks, bonds, mutual fund shares, life insurance policies, annuities or securities. The standard insurance amount is $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category. The FDIC provides separate coverage for deposits held in different account ownership categories. Depositors may qualify for more coverage if they have funds in different ownership categories and all ...