In January, U.S. Census data showed that Americans were flocking to the Sun Belt states and according to a new report from moveBuddha that trend is still going strong.

The relocation tech company used proprietary data collected from 2020 through October 1, 2025, to analyze move trends. moveBuddha calculated the rates using an in-to-out ratio equation, based on the number of queries to move in divided by the number of queries to move out, using the company’s moving cost calculator.

The report found that four of the top 10 states people are looking to move to most are located in the South.

“The pattern is unmistakable: Americans are trading square footage for quality of life, megacities for mid-markets, and high costs for breathing room,” the report states.

Ryan Carrigan, founder of moveBuddha, tells CNBC Make It that the report confirms this trend that’s been established for a while: People are moving South.

“It’s just a very popular place to move. I think there’s a lot of affordability and housing availability. Those things are pretty big factors in terms of people moving,” he says.

Carrigan also said the report shows that some of the covid-19 trends are starting to reverse, as evidenced by California not seeing as high a rate of people moving out. Despite that, California remains an exit state with one of the lowest in-to-out ratios in the country.

“At some point, it had to reverse, but you don’t really see anything improving in California. They still have a lot of challenges, including cost of living, unemployment, and natural disaster challenges too. Everyone who was going to leave has left, but they are also benefiting from the AI boom, particularly in Northern California right now,” he adds.

In-to-out-ratio: 1.97

South Carolina is the most popular state to move to for the sixth year in a row. Movers have shown more than double the interest in moves in than out.

According to the report, one big reason for that trend is that the state still offers affordability and access to nature, which boosts job growth. South Carolina was one of the five states with the highest net volume of move-related searches, at 13.7%.

Carrigan says another reason South Carolina came in at the top of the list is that it’s a major retiree state. According to a 2021 Population Reference Bureau report, 18.7% of South Carolina’s population is age 65 and over.

“Younger people aren’t really moving and moving has been generally slower since covid-19,” he says. “South Carolina benefits from being a retiree state, which is still a good portion of people moving, and it’s also the story that there’s still affordability and housing availability.”

South Carolina is the 27th-cheapest state to live in, according to data from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center gathered in 2024. The cost of living in South Carolina is 9% lower than the national average, according to RentCafe. Housing is 18% lower than the national average but utilities are 10% higher.

The average South Carolina home value is $302,294, down 0.8% over the past year, according to Zillow.

1. South Carolina
2. North Carolina
3. Idaho
4. Alaska
5. Tennessee
6. Maine
7. Delaware
8. South Dakota
9. Alabama
10. Arkansas

North Carolina ranked second among the most popular states to move to, according to moveBuddha. The state had a 1.61 in-to-out ratio. North Carolina also had the highest volume of net searches in 2025 for people moving into the state from other states.

Carrigan says similar to South Carolina, North Carolina ranked highly because of the number of retirees continuing to move there. Florida was a popular state to move to during the covid-19 pandemic, but North Carolina remains affordable while Florida has not, he says.

“North Carolina is still a strong candidate to move to and it has a beautiful coast too,” he adds.

North Carolina ranked as the No. 1 state for business in CNBC’s annual study. This is the third time it’s been at the top in the last four years. It was No. 1 in 2022 and 2023 and then No. 2 in 2021 and 2024.

The study states North Carolina’s biggest strengths are in the categories of economy, workforce and business friendliness. The state’s gross domestic product grew by a healthy 3.7% last year, the fifth-strongest in the country. The state added more than 60,000 jobs last year.

The cost of living in North Carolina is the same as the national average. Housing is 14% lower than the national average, while utilities are 2% lower, according to RentCafe.

Want to level up your AI skills? Sign up for Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course, How To Use AI To Communicate Better At Work. Get specific prompts to optimize emails, memos and presentations for tone, context and audience. Sign up today with coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 20% off. Offer valid Oct. 21 through Oct. 28, 2025.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and peers.

Money isn’t everything. As Sahil Bloom discovered, the high-paying career, the job title, the house, and the car — all the things he thought he needed to be successful — didn’t make him happy. 

“I had spent years with my head down, embracing the long hours, believing that the idyllic land of success was well within reach. At every step along the way, I told myself that I was just one bonus, one promotion, or one fancy bottle of wine away from arriving in that land,” Bloom writes in his book “The 5 Types of Wealth: A Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life.” 

“Then, one day, I realized I had achieved all of it, and all I could think of was: Is this it?”

Not long after he had this unsettling realization, he decided to ask a dozen 80- and 90-year-olds a few questions, including: What advice would you give your younger self? What do you regret? What’s brought you lasting joy and fulfillment? 

“No one mentioned money,” Bloom writes. “Your wealthy life may be enabled by money, but in the end, it will defined by everything else.” Namely, “time, people, purpose, health.”

Drawing on the wisdom of elders, his own experiences, scientific research, history, and successful people, Bloom’s debut book redefines wealth and helps readers design a “dream life” that truly fits them. (His upcoming “The 5 Types of Wealth Planner,” out in November, translates those ideas into practice.)

CNBC Make It chose “The 5 Types of Wealth” as our October book club pick because we know our readers are striving to be happier, smarter, and more successful — whatever that looks like to each one of them.  

If you haven’t read Bloom’s book, or just want a refresher, here are some key takeaways ahead of Wednesday’s discussion in our private LinkedIn group.

Bloom breaks his book down into sections about:

1. Time wealth: Another catalyst for Bloom was the night a friend told him, “You’re going to see your parents 15 more times before they die,” given the distance between them and frequency of visits. Becoming aware of the limited time you have is the first step in “investing in your time wealth.” Next is directing “your attention to the things that truly matter (and ignoring the rest),” Bloom writes. And finally, “it is achieving control over your time — how you spend it, where you spend it, and whom you spend it with.”
2. Social wealth: One of the best decisions Bloom says he and his wife made was to move across the country to be near their families and closest friends. “Proximity to people you love is worth more than any job will ever pay you.” Social wealth is about that small circle of your most meaningful bonds, the larger circles of community you feel a part of, and “the lasting respect, admiration, and trust of your peers that you receive on the basis of earned, not acquired, status symbols.” 
3. Mental wealth: This type of wealth is all about embracing the curiosity that comes naturally to children. “It is through curiosity that you go on the journey to uncover and live by your purpose, unlock new insights and lifelong growth, and seek out the space necessary to think, reset, wrestle with questions, and recharge,” Bloom writes. It’s about finding what creates meaning for you, and knowing that your purpose doesn’t necessarily have to be tied to your career. 
4. Physical wealth: The 80-year-old father of a friend told Bloom: “Treat your body like a house you have to live in for another 70 years.” Physical wealth is about investing in your body and health through “regular movement, proper nutrition, and thoughtful recovery,” Bloom writes. “If you take care of it today, it will take care of you for years to come.”
5. Financial wealth: Money isn’t everything, but it is something. Bloom covers a few basics about how to generate income, manage expenses, and invest for the long term. Most importantly, however, he urges readers to stop chasing “more” and to start pursuing “enough.” He quotes Mark Twain: “It isn’t what a man has that constitutes wealth. No, it is to be satisfied with what one has; that is wealth.”

We’re all familiar with setting goals. But Bloom encourages readers to set both goals and anti-goals, “the things we don’t want to happen on our journey to achieve our goals.”

“For example, if your long-term goal is to become a CEO, your anti-goals might be spending more than 10 days away from your family per month, allowing your health to suffer from stress and travel, and loosening your moral standards to achieve profit targets,” Bloom writes. “You want to achieve your goal, but not if it means having these three negative outcomes.”

For every goal you set, consider the worst possible outcomes you want to avoid as you pursue it. 

Ultimately, “The 5 Types of Wealth” is about measuring your life and making decisions based not just on financial wealth, but all the types of wealth. “You have it within you to go and craft the priorities you truly care about, and then go and take action to build your life around those things,” Bloom says. 

For him, it was worth it. “I’m sure I gave up money by leaving the track I was on, but as far as I’m concerned, I’m the wealthiest man on the face of the earth,” he writes. “Now it’s time for you to do the same” — but in your own way. 

Ready to dive in? Start reading, request to join our LinkedIn group, and come chat with us and Bloom on Wednesday, October 29, at 10 a.m. ET, at our next CNBC Make It Book Club discussion. 

Any questions for the author? Drop them in the comments of this LinkedIn post (you’ll need to join our private group first, which you can do here). Or email them to us in advance at askmakeit@cnbc.com, using the subject line “Question for Sahil Bloom.”

Have suggestions for future picks? Send them to us at askmakeit@cnbc.com, using the subject line “Make It book club suggestion.”

Want to level up your AI skills? Sign up for Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course, How To Use AI To Communicate Better At Work. Get specific prompts to optimize emails, memos and presentations for tone, context and audience. Sign up today with coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 20% off. Offer valid Oct. 21 through Oct. 28, 2025.

This story is part of CNBC Make It’s Millennial Money series, which details how people around the world earn, spend and save their money.

Sebastian Marquez was in high school when he took his now wife out on their first date to a local junior league hockey game.

After the date, he asked if she wanted to stop by his house. She said sure, expecting a family home — not a small, rundown house, gutted and “in absolute shambles,” Sebastian, now 28, tells CNBC Make It.

“I thought I was going to get murdered in the basement,” his wife Julia, 26, says.

The house — the second smallest in his town of Hanover, Ontario — was an investment property he had purchased with help from his mom. At 16, Sebastian was balancing school with stocking shelves at Walmart, working on a chicken farm and remodeling the home with the goal of selling it for a profit, he says.

Today, the couple has built a net worth of just over $1 million — largely from real estate and cryptocurrency investments, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It. All figures have been converted from CAD to USD.

Neither Sebastian nor Julia have ever held jobs that have individually paid over six figures, Sebastian says. 

This year, Sebastian expects to earn about $57,500 from his day job as a business advisor at a local bank, and Julia, a nurse, will bring home around $64,500. The couple also expects to make $14,500 off of a rental property they own, bringing their total projected household income for 2025 to approximately $136,500.

Originally, Sebastian didn’t really want to buy a house at 16. He had around $8,000 saved from working various minimum wage jobs, and his heart was set on buying himself his first car, he says.

When his mom suggested he would be better off spending that money on flipping a rundown house, he was initially confused. Then he did some research and realized flipping a home was probably going to be a better investment, he says.

In 2013, Sebastian says his mom used all his savings and covered the remainder to make a $9,800 down payment on a $48,800 home. His mom also contributed another $14,000 toward the remodel, he says.

Other than hiring specialists for plumbing and electrical work, Sebastian says he remodeled the house entirely on his own, using YouTube to teach himself tasks like putting in flooring and installing a toilet.

Six months later, the pair sold the home for $82,200, and from there, Sebastian says he caught the house flipping bug.

After paying his mom back for her expenses, he used the profit from his first home to purchase and flip another. From 2013 to 2022, Sebastian says he flipped a total of nine properties, totaling an estimated $343,700 in profit, all while working at Walmart and attending college.

Today, the couple still owns two properties: his current home — the eleventh home he’s bought — and a rental property with two units.

In 2022, Sebastian stopped flipping houses after accepting an offer from Walmart to manage a larger store in London, Ontario, which required him to move about two hours south of his hometown to Strathroy, Ontario, he says.

He left his role as an assistant store manager in March, after nearly 13 years at Walmart, for a more stable 9-to-5 job advising small businesses. When he started at Walmart, he says he was earning $7.62 an hour. By last year, his salary had grown to $43,000.

“Walmart has seen every side of me from when I was a young teen,” Sebastian says, so much so that he even jokes with his wife that “Walmart always came first.”

Despite his modest income, Sebastian, who has always had a “geekish, nerdish passion” for spreadsheets, says he was able grow his savings through frugal, diligent budgeting and the houses he flipped in his early 20s.

He has kept a budget spreadsheet since 2018. He has a spreadsheet to track his net worth, one for how much he spends on fuel and one that tracks his health. He even remembers creating a spreadsheet to track how much the couple spent on dates before they were married — just to make sure everything was equitable, he says.

“It’s just fun for me,” Sebastian says. “Most of the time, my wife will find me on the couch, on my laptop, fidgeting around with spreadsheets.”

Just under half of Sebastian and Julia’s total net worth comes from their crypto investments, worth about $400,000 as of Sept. 30. The rest comes from investment accounts, their properties and two cars the couple own.

In 2019, Sebastian was looking to diversify his assets, so he invested around $25,000 in bitcoin and ethereum — about 10% of his net worth at the time — on yet another one of his mom’s suggestions. Because cryptocurrencies are highly volatile, that was the amount he was comfortable risking and willing to hold onto for the long term, he says.

“It was a gamble that we had taken at the time, and it’s definitely paid off, fortunately,” Sebastian says.

Between May 2019, when Sebastian says he made his first investments, and the end of September 2025, bitcoin’s value in Canadian dollars has grown by around 2,000% and ethereum’s has grown by around 2,500%.

In September, Sebastian and Julia brought in a total of $9,500 — $7,900 from their day jobs and $1,400 in rental income. They also receive $180 a month from the Canadian government to help cover expenses for their 6-month-old daughter, most of which they invest in an account set aside for her future.

Sebastian and Julia combined their finances in 2020 before getting married in 2022, and they sit down about once a month to talk through their budget and track their net worth, Sebastian says. He says the couple currently puts 15% of their income into index funds.

“At the end of the day, we’re working on the same goal,” Sebastian says. “We’re very similar minded when it comes to spending money.”

Here’s a look at how Sebastian and Julia spent their money in September 2025:

• Annual insurance payments: $4,279 for their rental property and primary home
• Housing and utilities: $2,276 on their mortgage, phone, internet, water and other utilities
• Savings and investments: $1,478 toward various savings and investment accounts
• Rental unit expenses: $928 for the mortgage, landscaping and electricity
• Discretionary: $875 on personal care, recreation, entertainment, toys for their daughter and supplies for their dog
• Food: $772 from groceries and eating out
• Transportation: $420 on gas, car repairs and a speeding ticket
• Subscriptions and memberships: $130 on nine subscriptions including SleepWatch Premium, Netflix, iCloud and Google Nest for home security cameras
• Life insurance: $18 monthly payment

The couple’s September spending was higher than average largely due to two insurance payments he prefers to pay annually, Sebastian says. In a typical month, Sebastian says his family spends closer to $4,300 to $5,700 on personal expenses, while setting some of their income aside to prepare for these large annual payments.

The couple doesn’t have any outstanding debt other than their two mortgages.

Sebastian estimates he could probably afford to retire around 35 due to his early and consistent investments. However, “I don’t really like to think of it as retirement, but more so as financial independence,” he says.

He may jump back into real estate in the “near future,” but for now, he says he’s focused on enjoying time with his family.

“It’d be nice to obviously make more money,” Sebastian says. “However, at the end of the day, I think it has to do with what you do with your money.”

All amounts are in U.S. dollars, converted from Canadian Dollars at the OANDA exchange rate of 1 CAD to 0.71824 USD on Sept. 30, 2025.

What’s your budget breakdown? Share your story with us for a chance to be featured in a future installment.

Sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and peers.

Often in relationships, opposites truly do attract. Differences can add novelty and spark, and they’re often what draw us to each other at the beginning.

But as a psychologist who studies couples (and as a husband), I can say with confidence: Long-term relationship health depends less on how different two people are and more on what they actually have in common. Shared ground is one of the most important ways for partners to build a rhythm together, and that rhythm can determine how long a relationship lasts.

Here are five things people in the happiest relationships share in common with their partner.

You don’t need to have the same favorite comedian or comedy movie to share a sense of humor. What matters is that you laugh together — and regularly.

Healthy couples usually find the same kinds of things funny in everyday life. They often use humor to their advantage: turning frustrating moments into something manageable, and building a shared bank of inside jokes and references.

Over time, that humor becomes a lighthearted but powerful reminder of everything they’ve endured together.

The healthiest couples tend to approach hard conversations in sync. For some, that means talking things through as soon as problems come up. For others, it means giving each other space to process before regrouping.

Either approach works. What matters is that both partners are on the same page.

No one feels caught off guard or ignored, because they’ve aligned on when and how to revisit tough issues. Shared expectations like these are the only way two people can trust each other not to disappear when things get hard.

Not every couple is made up of two perfectly matched extroverts or two homebodies. But usually, healthy couples are in sync when it comes to how much social interaction feels right.

They rarely argue over whether to go out or stay in because they have similar limits. They’re often on the same page about how much energy they want to spend at parties, dinners, or family events.

DON’T MISS: The ultimate guide to using AI to communicate better

And when they do want different things — say, one wants to see friends while the other needs to recharge — they handle it without guilt or frustration. There’s no dragging each other along, no passive-aggressive comments, no punishment for needing different things.

This sense of balance keeps their social life from becoming a recurring source of tension.

Another thread that runs through strong relationships is shared curiosity about art and culture. Happy couples don’t need to have identical playlists or favorite authors, but they do value exploring together.

They’ll go to concerts, try new restaurants, or watch films neither has seen before. Even when their tastes differ, they’re still curious about each other’s opinions.

That openness means cultural experiences are never met with a dismissive “Why would you like that?” Instead, they’re a source of connection and even healthy debate.

This one is straightforward, but often overlooked: Healthy couples stay genuinely interested in one another.

There’s no “chasing,” no games, no imbalance in who’s keeping the affection alive. The attention just flows both ways. They keep flirting, keep complimenting, and keep asking each other questions, even when they already know the answers.

This pervasive and loving sense of curiosity is what makes them feel both seen and wanted. No one has to vie for the other’s affection; they love each other freely and frequently. Opposites may attract, but shared values and curiosity are what help a relationship last.

Mark Travers, PhD, is a psychologist who specializes in relationships. He holds degrees from Cornell University and the University of Colorado Boulder. He is the lead psychologist at Awake Therapy, a telehealth company that provides online psychotherapy, counseling, and coaching. He is also the curator of the popular mental health and wellness website, Therapytips.org.

Want to level up your AI skills? Sign up for Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course, How To Use AI To Communicate Better At Work. Get specific prompts to optimize emails, memos and presentations for tone, context and audience. Sign up today with coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 20% off. Offer valid Oct. 21 through Oct. 28, 2025.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and peers.

Introverts often grow up feeling out of place. After all, we live in a noisy, fast-paced world. But while life may seem to revolve around extroverts, the introverts’ contribution are equally important. 

I’m a brand and storytelling expert, the author of “Personal Branding for Introverts,” and a speaker who’s worked with major corporations and C-level executives from LEGO, Adobe, Microsoft, and more. I’m also an introvert myself — a fact that often surprises people. 

A lot of advice for introverts in the workforce says to fake extroversion to succeed — but that’s not the answer.

Introverts possess many highly coveted qualities that benefit both themselves and those around them. Here are a few of my favorite superpowers that can help introverts excel.

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize and manage your emotions to communicate well, deal with stressful situations, empathize with others, and overcome challenges. It is the building block that allows introverts to grow healthy relationships, reach career goals, and connect with their feelings so they can make good decisions.

As introverts, we’re able to understand cues in conversations and identify people’s strengths. When we choose to interact with people, we often connect deeply with them. 

Introverts are frequently labeled as quiet and shy, but these traits don’t apply to everyone. In fact, several of my introverted friends are powerful public speakers, hosts, and presenters who can easily command a room of hundreds or thousands of attendees. I’ve seen it happen! 

Introverts may find icebreakers, small talk, and networking challenging, but they can have meaningful conversations with the people they’re close to. Most are good listeners, pay attention to detail, and respond admirably. 

I believe introverts can thrive independently. Independence is different from loneliness. It reflects a fulfilled existence. Although relying on others and socializing are important parts of life, overdependence on others can hinder growth and success. In my experience, introverts often prefer to work quietly and independently to achieve their goals.

When I was very little, I liked to play in a part of the playground that had a flat hubcap. I pretended it was a cooking station and would host an imaginary food TV show using it as a prop. Introverts often enjoy getting lost in our imaginations through reading (I liked to read comics and fantasy books), writing, arts and crafts, and fantasizing. 

Psychologist Hans Jürgen Eysenck has said that creativity and introversion often go hand in hand. During his acceptance speech as winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Ernest Hemingway said that in order for writers to produce their best work, they must spend time in solitude. 

Self-awareness is a rare skill that’s only developed through deep introspection. Research suggests that self-aware people are more self-confident, are better decision-makers, and have better relationships.

I excelled in high school and earned a degree from a prominent university. I used deep focus to achieve success, and if I had been more interested in meeting people and going out, I’m unsure if I would have had the time or resources to accomplish these things. 

In a 2012 study, Avram J. Holmes and other prominent researchers found that introverts have thicker grey matter in their prefrontal cortexes. This area of the brain is linked to abstract thought processes and decision-making, which helps explain why introverts, like myself, spend so much time thinking. Introverts often enjoy spending time alone, which gives them the freedom and space to think deeply and come up with new insights and ideas.

Introverts are naturally great problem-solvers, with an innate ability to consider and process multiple solutions while identifying potential pitfalls. They can frequently see the broader perspective, synthesize information from multiple sources, and connect the hidden dots of a problem, ultimately reaching a clear solution. 

It’s a common misconception that leadership positions are better suited for extroverts. But introverts possess many characteristics that make them highly effective and compassionate leaders. 

Compassion helps develop trust, loyalty, and rapport among team members. Empathy allows them to tune in to the needs and emotions of others. And deep understanding from leaders fosters a welcoming environment where team members feel appreciated, valued, and supported. 

Goldie Chan is a creative, keynote speaker, author, and cancer survivor. She was named the “Oprah of LinkedIn” by Huffington Post and her creative video channel won LinkedIn Top Voice for Social Media. In 2018, Goldie founded Warm Robots, an award-winning social media strategy and creative agency based in Los Angeles with global clients. She wrote a column for Forbes and writes for Archie Comics. She is the author of ”Personal Branding for Introverts.”

Want to level up your AI skills? Sign up for Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course, How To Use AI To Communicate Better At Work. Get specific prompts to optimize emails, memos and presentations for tone, context and audience. Sign up today with coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 20% off. Offer valid Oct. 21 through Oct. 28, 2025.

Adapted from ”Personal Branding for Introverts.” Copyright © 2025 by Goldie Chan. Available from Basic Venture, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, Inc.