December is National Human Rights Month. This is something that holds great meaning for NorthRidge. The credit union philosophy is “People Helping People.” What better way to celebrate that, than by acknowledging and recognizing human rights? Everyone deserves to be treated with respect, dignity, and kindness without regard to gender, race, age, social status, or political and religious beliefs. We are all people; it is a plain and simple concept. And people help people.

We challenge you this month to educate yourself on a culture that is unfamiliar to you; perhaps one that has made you hesitant in the past. Research their triumphs and struggles, their customs, and their language, and come out with more understanding than before! Remember, people help people.

December 10th is Human Rights Day, the day the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) took place by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. The UDHR preserves the rights and freedoms of all human beings and marks when all humans, no matter any differences, were formally recognized as equals in rights and dignities. While December 10^th is a great day of remembrance, there is still so much work that needs to be done to break through the challenges that prevent true equality for all humans. Stand up for someone’s rights today.

“Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home – so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person; the neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm, or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerned citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.”

-Eleanor Roosevelt

Finally, from everyone at NorthRidge, we wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season. Stay healthy, safe, and warm. We look forward to continue serving you into the new year! Remember, we will be closing at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, December 24 and at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, December 31.

While you work on recovering from your Halloween candy coma, let’s chat about some end of year finances! This time of the year can fly by, and it’s easy to get caught up in a spending tornado when it comes to buying gifts and traveling for the holidays. Here’s a few tips to help keep your budget in check during “the most wonderful time of the year!”

1. Get a solid game plan for holiday shopping. This year is likely going to be a little wonky with the recent supply issues, so make sure to plan ahead and start early enough to ensure any online orders arrive on time (shipping times have slowed down, too!). To make sure you’re not over-spending, be picky with your purchases. Even with Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, do your research in advance so you know which deals are real, and which deals are just the regular price made to look like a deal. Also, avoid just browsing when you shop. Write down what you need before shopping to prevent making unnecessary impulse purchases.

2. Consider the rising prices of gas when you plan your traveling. If you’re driving, use an app like “GasBuddy” to help track the prices of gas in the towns and cities you’ll be traveling through. The national average price per gallon of gas is approximately $3.36 right now (it was around $2.16 this time last year). If the higher costs put you over your budget, consider spending less on gifts this year, or having virtual visits with family instead!

3. Check on open enrollment for employee benefits and healthcare benefits. November is typically open enrollment season for benefits that may be offered by your employer. Open enrollment on Healthcare.gov or any state-run health marketplace runs from November 1 to January 15, 2022. If you currently have a plan and take no actions, you will be re-enrolled for the same plan and coverage. But you may be able to save some money by reviewing what you did or didn’t use in the last 12 months and revising your plan based on your review!

4. Get a seasonal part-time job to help recoup some cash! The job market is hurting for workers right now, and they need even more employees to prepare for holiday consumerism. There are so many options for seasonal jobs from UPS to local retailers, to restaurant bartending and serving. If you have a couple nights a week or weekends to spare, it might be worth it!

5. Consider a NorthRidge Holiday Loan! Now through December 15, you can borrow up to $1,200.00 at 15% APR* for 12 months. No credit check is required for current NorthRidge members** and you can typically plan on getting your cash within a few business days of applying! The cash is yours to use on anything you’d like – holiday gift shopping, traveling, bills, whatever you need. Just bring in your last 30 days’ of paystubs! You can fill out an application here. (Please allow up to 48 to 72 hours to hear from a loan office. They are working as fast as the can to reach out in a timely manner, but we have experienced a high volume of loan applications.)

We are thankful.

Finally, as we move closer to the end of the year, November gives us the opportunity to be thankful. NorthRidge has many things to be thankful for this year: our members, our team members, and the successful purchase of the property at 4125 9^th Avenue West in Hibbing for our new Hibbing building. Our credit union continues to grow with our communities, and we are so excited to provide even better service and support for our communities!

But, mostly, we want to thank YOU. Our members. Thank you for your continued support and trust in us as your financial institution!

October is a big month for credit unions, and it certainly is for us! October 11 is CU Forward Day and October 21 is International Credit Union Day. We will be observing both days throughout the month in various ways. In addition to observing these credit union holidays, we also want to acknowledge World Mental Health Day on October 10.

Credit unions are known for being deeply rooted in their communities, and NorthRidge follows that principle closely. We have been serving the Iron Range since 1957 and are continuing to grow with our communities. CU Forward Day is a day for credit unions to give back to their communities, and we will do just that! While October 11 will actually be utilized as an all-team training day, October 12 we will be conducting some fun “Pay it Forward” services around our communities to recognize CU Forward Day. You might run into one of us at the grocery store, gas station, or even the laundromat!

To celebrate International Credit Union Day, we are hosting a week-long member appreciation event from October 18 to October 22. All our members are encouraged to join the fun! Find out all the details here.

And finally, last but not least, we are also conducting a food and winter clothing drive from October 8 until October 22 to donate to food shelves in Aurora, Virginia, Hibbing, and Ely. Clothing donations will be made to local Salvation Armies and local schools with students in need of warm clothes. Please consider donating a non-perishable food item(s), or new waterproof winter hats and gloves, or a new or gently used winter coat. Monetary donations can be made with any of our frontline staff as well.

If you are looking for other ways in which to give back this fall and into the holiday seasons, here is an excellent resource you can turn to for volunteer ideas and opportunities! Just enter your City, State or Zip Code and you will see a list of opportunities on how you can help.

HIBBING: We are moving! Spring 2022!

We have purchased the parcel of land at 4125 9th Avenue West in Hibbing for our branch’s new location. The new building will allow us to serve members even better by providing more space, a lounge area, a drive-thru, an ATM, and more on-site staff.

“We are excited and happy to be able to invest in the community of Hibbing and our members located there,” NorthRidge President, Nicholas Mathiowetz, talks about the new building, “This new office will bring services that our current office does not have, and will have much more space. We hope this will stimulate some additional new development along the Highway 169 corridor in Hibbing.”

Looking for some yummy treats to make for Halloween?

Try out these yummy pumpkin rice crispies!

What you need:

• 6 Cups Rice Cereal
• 3 Tbs Butter
• 1 Bag Mini Marshmallows
• Red and Yellow food coloring (To make orange!)
• Tootsie Rolls
• Green/Blue Fruit Roll Ups (For leaves, optional)

How to make them:

First, melt your butter in a large saucepan over low heat – the lowest you can go!

Add in the mini marshmallows and stir constantly until melted, not stopping until its all melted and creamy. Then remove the marshmallow mix from heat and add about 4 drops of red food coloring and 2 drops of yellow food coloring. You may need to add more red or yellow to get a nice bright orange.

Mix in the rice cereal.

Form small to medium sized rice balls, it is up to you how large you want your pumpkins! (Tip: Add a non-stick cooking spray to your hands before forming your balls)

Cut Tootsie Rolls in half and while your pumpkins are still warm, add the half Tootsie Roll to the top.

Finally, cut small leaves from the green portion of your Fruit Roll Up and lay on the top of your pumpkin next to the Tootsie Roll stem!

Enjoy!

Autumn is coming fast! The air is cooling, and the leaves are already changing. This fall, we are focusing on financial wellness and what that means for you: our members and our communities.

What is financial wellness?

A formal definition of financial wellness is that it is the outcome of effectively managing your money and economic life. It means spending less than you make, managing some type of a budget, being financially prepared for emergencies, and having a financial plan for your future.

To us, it goes much deeper than a quick dictionary definition. The financial wellness of our members and our communities is a driving purpose for NorthRidge. Your financial wellness effects your mental and physical health as well, which is why is it so important to find harmony with your finances.

If you feel uncertain or are struggling with your finances, you are not alone. Recent surveys from the Financial Health Network show that 1 in 5 American adults feel financially vulnerable. Almost half of American adults do not have enough liquid savings to cover 3 months of expenses, more than half are not confident about their long-term financial goals, and 1 in 4 have more debt than they believe is manageable. The stress that financial vulnerability brings onto a family can be devastating to mental and physical health.

It can be a vicious cycle: Stressing about finances can lead to anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression can lead to further financial struggles by making it more difficult to effectively manage money and spending, and can affect work performance, leading to a threat of losing an income. 86% of those that have mental health issues and debt say that their debt worsens their mental health issues.

NorthRidge wants to create positive financial futures for our communities, and we are here to provide the guidance and tools you need to feel confident in your finances. Most of our staff are Credit Union Certified Financial Counselors and can help you set a budget and plan for your future.

The point is, do not struggle in silence. We are all in this together.

Come in and tell us your story; to us, you are not defined by your credit score, we care about YOU.

And finally, in closing, September is observed as National Suicide Awareness Month. Below are some resources if you or someone you know needs help.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, immediate support when you’re in a crisis or distress, additional help to finding resources. Available 24/7: Call 800-273-8255

Suicide Prevention Lifeline Online: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Crisis Text Line, the 24/7 emergency service is available if you or someone you know is experiencing a psychiatric or mental health crisis. Text: “MN” to 741741

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Minnesota, connect for help, to navigate the mental health system, get support, and find resources: Call 888-626-4435

Minnesota Warmline, talk to a specialist who has firsthand experience living with a mental health condition: Call 651-288-0400 OR Text: “Support” to 85511

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Disaster Distress Helpline, offers crisis counseling and support if you or a family member is experiencing emotional distress related to a disaster. Call 800-985-5990

Peer Support Connection Warmlines, peer-to-peer telephone support that’s safe and supportive. Open 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. Call or text: 1-844-739-6369

Iron Range Area Local Therapists/Counselors/Psychologists/Psychiatrists:

Alcohol Detox/Range Treatment (Virginia): 218-741-9120

Calm Waters (Virginia): 218-404-9611

Ely Behavioral Health Network (Ely): 218-235-6104

The Guidance Group (Virginia): 218-576-5757

Heartwood Center (Hibbing): 218-263-1347

Insight Counseling (Virginia and Hibbing): 218-481-7660

Kind Mind Counseling Center (Hibbing): 218-263-5949

Lakeview Behavioral Health (Hibbing): 218-293-4789

MosaicSelf Counseling (Ely): 218-216-8467

Range Mental Health Center (Virginia): 218-749-2881

Range Mental Health Center (Hibbing): 218-263-9237

Speare Psychological Services PA (Virginia): 218-741-3740

With the recent announcement from T-Mobile regarding a data breach that compromised personal information of over 40 million customer records, we thought it would be a good time to discuss best practices when it comes to your personal cyber security. The following are some best practice tips to stay pro-active and protect yourself:

• Change your passwords to logins and PINs for debit cards several times throughout the year.
• Review your financial statements monthly to look for errors or suspicious activities.
• Review your credit bureau credit report (this is free to review annually) at AnnualCreditReport.com
• Set up alerts for your financial accounts and credit bureaus to track your activities and catch any fraud right away.

Scammers are becoming more advanced at appearing to be legitimate organizations and companies. Never trust unsolicited calls, texts, or emails that are not typical communication between you and your billers. Find a legitimate website or phone number to contact the agency directly and ask about the inquiry.

You can never be too cautious!

The key to finding financial wellness does not lie with how much money you make. It is all about how you manage your money and use the income you have. To reiterate – more money does not make you more financially well, learning how to manage your money does. If you don’t know how to manage $1,000, how would you effectively manage $10,000?

Money management skills start here:

Step one: Start with a realistic vision for your financial situation. Set immediate, short term goals (such as save $25 this month) that will fit within your budget. Then set longer-term goals (such as save $25 every month this year and don’t touch it). Finally, set an end goal: Financial freedom. Not worrying or thinking about money every day. Taking a family vacation. Retiring. Create your vision – start small and grow.

Step two: Create your budget. This is sometimes the part where people struggle, and that’s okay! A budget doesn’t mean sacrificing, it means learning. Learning about your spending habits and where you can make small changes to accommodate your goals. Remember: Your immediate, short-term goals can fit with any budget.

Step three: Create a fun weekly ritual to regularly check on your finances and your budget and make changes where necessary. The idea here is to make this regular check-in more enjoyable and take the stress out of it. Set one hour aside to make your favorite beverage, a yummy snack, light a candle, play your favorite music, put your feet up, and check in on your budget and financial goals.

Measuring financial health has four indicators: Spending habits, saving habits, borrowing, and planning. Your spending habits should include spending less than you make and paying your bills on time. Your saving habits should cover short-term goals (emergencies) and long-term goals (vacations and retirement). Borrowing should be manageable, not borrowing more than you can afford to repay and taking steps to keep your credit score prime (read more about your credit score here!). Planning should include having adequate insurance (house, vehicle, medical) to support you in case of emergency.

For additional help with budgeting, set up an appointment with our educated team to complete a budget sheet! We also have debt consolidation options to help save money on higher interest debts.