Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union NewsletterBudgeting Tips for Holiday Gift-Giving The best ways to keep your personal finances in check this season AAACU Donates Over $4,000 to United

Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union Newsletter Volume Issue • November 2016

In This Issue:

Our Gift To You This Holiday SeasonBalance Transfer Your High Interest Credit Card DebtInteresting Facts about the Federal ReserveHow much do you know about the U.S. central bank?

Getting a Loan with Bad CreditHow you can still be approved

Budgeting Tips for Holiday Gift-GivingThe best ways to keep your personal finances in check this season

AAACU Donates Over $4,000 to United Way of Northeast Michigan.Holiday Hours5 DIY Green Beauty SwapsMake your beauty routine greener with these DIY hacks

Vehicle Details: Best Family Cars for TravelingGet ready for the holiday season

4 Steps to Take to Reduce Your Risk of DiabetesSimple but effective measures that can help you avoid a diabetes diagnosis

Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union Newsletter


Our Gift To You This Holiday Season

To celebrate the season of giving we are giving you break from your VISA payment in December.

Our Gift to you this Holiday season is a break from your December VISA payment. However, if youchoose not to utilize this Skip a pay you may still make your December VISA payment.

Alpena-Alcona Area Credit Union • 989-356-3577 • http://www.aaacu.com/



Balance Transfer Your High Interest Credit CardDebt

5.99% APR for the life of the balance. To get started email [email protected] or contact any officelocation




Interesting Facts about the Federal ReserveHow much do you know about the U.S. central bank?

According to the Federal Reserve System’s website, “the Fed”—as it is often called—is the fiscalagent for the U.S. government, created by Congress to provide the nation with a more flexible yetmore stable and therefore safer monetary and financial system.

Below are just a few of the interesting facts about this little-known sector of our government:

It’s been around for more than100 years — The Panic of 1907—a three-week period in Octoberwhen the New York StockExchange fell almost 50 percentfrom its peak the year prior—ledAmericans to call for a centralbank. On Dec. 23, 1913, PresidentWoodrow Wilson signedthe Federal Reserve Act into law.Today, the organization is taskedwith maintaining the U.S.Treasury’s checking account andprocessing payments such asSocial Security, among many otherroles and responsibilities.

It doesn’t create money — “Withits monetary tools, [the Fed] caninfluence the money supply, while[the] U.S. Treasury actually printsmoney,” Kim Porter of Bankrate.com wrote.

In reality, new money is created when private banks (which are all technically stockholders, or partowners, of the Fed) make loans, said Morgan Housel, investment expert with The Motley Fool.

“And the Fed doesn’t really have any control [over] that,” she continued. “They can try to influencethat with lower interest rates and changing the amount of what’s called bank reserves, which is theamount of money [financial institutions] hold at the Fed. So, they can try to influence it, but they reallydon’t have any power over it.”

It doesn’t determine interest rates for your car or home loans — This is another commonmisconception. In fact, the interest rate that you would pay on your car loan or mortgage is set by thefinancial institution that is lending you that money. As with the creation of money, the Federal Reservedoes influence financial institution’s rates with the rates it is moving around, but there are also manyother factors at play that are totally removed from the Federal Reserve, such as your credit score andthe housing market.

It’s extremely trustworthy — It’s typical to be skeptical of both the banking system and thegovernment, especially in a volatile economic environment, but they know what they’re doing. Tobegin with, there is a strong system of checks and balances in place.

“The financial statements of the Board of Governors and the 12 Reserve Banks are audited annuallyby public accounting firms,” says the Fed website.

Furthermore, the organization is led by some of the brightest minds in the nation. For example,Bankrate.com said that Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve from 2006 to 2014, taughthimself calculus in high school and also earned a near-perfect score of 1590 on his SAT.

You can follow the Fed on social media — The Federal Reserve, in and of itself, is one big,profitable financial institution. And like you would with your community bank, you can follow the Fedon social media to see what it has been up to in the financial world. Chairman Bernanke held the firstFed press conference following a meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (a group comprising

seven members of the Board of Governors and five of the 12 Reserve Bank presidents, whichdetermines the direction of monetary policy) on April 27, 2011, disclosing minutes and answeringquestions. The Fed also has a Twitter account, a YouTube channel and its own mobile application,and the Board of Governors has a Facebook page.

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of what the Federal Reserve System actually does,and perhaps you can impress your friends with a few fun facts.




Getting a Loan with Bad CreditHow you can still be approved

If you have poor or minimal credit, your chances of getting approved for an auto or personal loanaren’t necessarily poor or minimal too. Here is what you can do to increase your chances of loanapproval:

Don’t assume you will be denied— One surefire way not to get aloan is to never apply. But if youwant to try, you first need todetermine your credit score foryourself and go from there. If it’snot where you would like it to be,don’t be discouraged; there is stillhope, according to John Van Alst,staff attorney for the NationalConsumer Law Center. Even twocandidates with an identical scoremight not be the same in the eyesof a lender, he told Dana Dratch ofBankrate.com.

Furthermore, aim high. Dependingon the type of loan, a certain creditscore would be considered for aprime loan in some instances andfor a subprime loan in others. Don’tlowball yourself.

Shop close to home — Start your loan search in the confines of your area, perhaps at a localfinancial institution. While they are similar to larger institutions in terms of services, smaller financialinstitutions tend to have more flexible lending standards than big banks or online institutions.

“A [smaller financial institution]—especially one affiliated with your employer or one that iscommunity-based—may be willing to look beyond a poor credit history and make a judgment aboutwhether it will loan you money based on your character and your promise to repay, regardless of ifyou have bad credit or not. Think of them in the way you would a small community bank from yearsago,” said the debt specialists at Debt.org.

If you’ve been banking at the same place for years, that’s another good place to look, as they canattest to your character. However, don’t settle for the first loan for which you get approved. Shoparound to make sure you are finding the best option for you.

Limit your number of applications — While you want to remain open to options, you also need tobe vigilant about how many loans you actually apply for.

“Each loan application that you submit triggers an inquiry into your credit. And each inquiry lowersyour credit score by a little bit,” Lucy Lazarony of Credit.com explained.

Therefore, apply for a loan only from a lender that you trust with principled lending standards.

Get a co-signer — Ask a person with whom you have mutual trust to co-sign on your loan. With aco-signed loan, the responsibility lands on both of you; if you default, it will hurt you both in the creditdepartment, but if you stay current, it will help both your individual scores.

Go a different route — There are numerous ways you can go about acquiring a loan: borrow fromfriends or family; tap into your home equity; try a secure loan; look into peer-to-peer lending (an onlineplatform that allows you to borrow directly from another individual rather than from an institution); orresearch personal loan lenders, who generally work online and offer competitive loans for debtconsolidation, home repairs and other necessities.

In the end, your best option would be to improve your credit score, but until that is possible, these tips

In the end, your best option would be to improve your credit score, but until that is possible, these tipsprovide a good place to start.




Budgeting Tips for Holiday Gift-GivingThe best ways to keep your personal finances in check this season

It’s no secret that the holiday season costs people a large chunk of money, what with all the spendingon decorating, traveling, meal planning and more. One of the biggest sources of spending isgift-giving. The following are five tips for staying in budget:

1. Make a detailed list.

Write down the names of everyone you’d like to get gifts for and what you have in mind for them.According to Kerry Sherin, asavings expert for Offers.com andcontributor to U.S. News & WorldReport, it also helps to include anestimated dollar amount you’d liketo spend for each person, as areminder not to overspend andsend your whole budget off track.

2. Pre-shop online.

“Do some research before you hitthe stores. Call around and goonline to find better deals. Youshould also try to consolidate to afew stores to cut down ontransportation costs,” said MellodyHobson, president of Ariel CapitalManagement and personal financeexpert at Good Morning America.

3. Look for additional discounts.

Comparison shopping for traditional sales isn’t the only way to get the best deals. Browser extensionssuch as Ebates and mobile applications like RetailMeNot compile available coupon and discountcodes for you based on your location or the product for which you are looking.

You can also create your own discount by simply being aware of various stores’ price-matchingpolicies. Many people don’t know that stores like Target and Toys “R” Us will match Amazon’s andother online retailers’ prices online and in store.

4. Start early.

This tip applies to both saving and shopping. Set money aside early so that holiday expenses don’tblindside you and your bank account.

“Want to make it almost painless? Set up an automatic deposit to a savings account or Christmas clubfund,” advised Dana Dratch of Bankrate.com.

By shopping ahead, you can make the most of sales and seasonal pricing trends, picking up certaingifts at bargain prices.

“For people you know you’ll be buying gifts for, like parents, siblings or children, keep a running list ofthings they express interest in. Then, acquire them whenever you can find a good deal or have someextra room in your budget,” said personal finance expert Amy Fontinelle on Investopedia.com.

5. Don’t use credit cards.

Take advantage of that saved-up money and make your purchases in cash or debit rather than on acredit card. You will spend only what you have available and avoid interest charges.

“When you pay with cash, you have a finite amount of it in hand at any one time. A cash transactioncan feel more real, making us spend less freely,” The Motley Fool’s Selena Maranjian told USA Today.

In fact, Maranjian quoted a Dun & Bradstreet study that found that people spend 12-18 percent morewhen using charge cards than when paying in cash.

The holidays are about spending time with and celebrating loved ones, not about spending your lifesavings on presents for them. With a little planning and patience, you can have a happy andmemorable season without breaking the bank.




AAACU Donates Over $4,000 to United Way ofNortheast Michigan.

Alpena, Michigan, November 4, 2016 - Through the hard work and dedication of its employees andthe generosity of its membership, Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union (AAACU) raised $4,412.74 forUnited Way of Northeast Michigan.United Way of Northeast Michigan helps meet the health and human care needs of thousands ofpeople through thirteen difference agencies across Alpena, Alcona, and Montmorency Counties.

AAACU employees select four community or charity organizations to raise money for each year.During the third quarter of 2016, staff at Alpena Main, Alpena North, Atlanta, Lincoln, and Ossinekeoffice combined their efforts to raise funds for United Way of Northeast Michigan. Each office soldcandy bars, held a trophy buck hunt raffle, and along with member donations, staff members wereable to donate $2.00 to dress down in jeans on Fridays.

AAACU serves members primarily in Alpena, Alcona, Montmorency, and Iosco counties with 8locations: a main office located in Alpena, with branch offices in Ossineke, Lincoln, a Tiger Branch inAlcona Community Schools, Atlanta, Oscoda, Tawas, and an additional branch in Alpena. As ofSeptember 30, 2016, AAACU provides service to 27,896 members with total assets equal to$324,414,024.




Holiday Hours




5 DIY Green Beauty SwapsMake your beauty routine greener with these DIY hacks

Going green has many benefits, from a lower impact on the environment to a healthier impact on yourwellbeing. Perhaps you’ve already ditched the chemical cleaners in favor of more natural options, butif you’re still using mainstream beauty products, you could be negatively affecting your health. Giveyour bathroom a makeover and make these five green beauty swaps now.

Swap your makeup remover for coconut oil

If you’ve already made steps to go green in other aspects of your life, chances are you have coconutoil on-hand. One of the easiest beauty swaps is to throw out your current makeup remover in favor ofplain and simple coconut oil. According to Allure.com, coconut oil is able to break up water-resistantsubstances, so even waterproof mascara and eye shadow will come off easily. Simply warm a smallamount of coconut oil using your fingers, then apply it to your skin and wipe it off with a dry cottonball. Your makeup will be gone, and your skin will feel silky smooth.

Ditch your lotion for this DIY version

It’s important to moisturize your skin regularly to keep it smooth and healthy, but store-bought lotionsoften contain hidden ingredients like petroleum and sulfates. Instead, make this DIY lotion assuggested by WellnessMama.com. Combine a half cup of almond or olive oil, a quarter cup ofcoconut oil and a quarter cup of beeswax in a pint-size or larger glass jar. Fill a medium saucepanwith 2 inches of water and place the jar in the pan with its lid loosely fitted. Once the ingredients havemelted, shake or stir to combine and use in place of your regular lotion. You can personalize thisrecipe with your favorite essential oils.

Revive your mane with a homemade hair mask

Deep conditioning treatments might leave your hair looking shiny and feeling soft, but most are filledwith chemicals and other potentially dangerous ingredients that are best left off your body. Instead,use some kitchen essentials to make a DIY hair mask. InStyle.com suggests mixing five strawberrieswith a cup of yogurt and an egg and applying it to your hair for 15 minutes to strengthen weak strands.For dry hair, combine 2 tablespoons olive oil and 2 tablespoons coconut oil with an egg, then apply tohair for 20 minutes.

Replace your lipstick withnaturally tinted lip balm

Lipstick is a beauty staple for manywomen, but some lipsticks containharsh dyes and chemicals that areeasily ingested due to the product’sclose proximity to the mouth.Luckily, it’s fairly easy to make yourown version. WellnessMama.comrecommends combining 1teaspoon beeswax pastilles, 1teaspoon shea or coconut butterand 1 teaspoon coconut oil, thenadding your chosen color add-ins.For red, add 1/8 teaspoon beet rootpowder; for brown or tan, use 1/4teaspoon organic cocoa powder ora pinch of cinnamon or turmeric.You can increase or decrease theamount of dye for a more or lessintense hue.

Rid your armpits from aluminum with natural deodorant

Deodorant is a must for anyone who doesn’t want to worry about excessive body odor, but most

store-bought versions contain aluminum and a number of nasty chemicals. Make your ownaluminum-free deodorant instead, using the following recipe from DrAxe.com. Combine half a cup ofcoconut oil with half a cup of baking soda and add 40 – 60 drops of your favorite-smelling essential oil.Store in a glass jar and apply as needed with your fingers. Do note that your body might go through astinky detox period as it rids itself of aluminum, but if you persevere you can wean yourself offstore-bought deodorant for good.

Going green doesn’t need to be complicated, especially when it comes to your beauty routine. Makethese five simple swaps and say goodbye to the chemical-laden products lurking in your bathroom.




Vehicle Details: Best Family Cars for TravelingGet ready for the holiday season

It’s nearly that time of year again when everyone packs into the family vehicle to head to wherever theholiday celebrations take them. Here are some vehicles that can help make your travels moreenjoyable:

Chevrolet Tahoe — Ranked the No. 1 large SUV by U.S. News & World Report, the Tahoe hasseating for up to nine people and the capability to get through even the nastiest of weather in comfort.A potent 5.3-liter V-8 makes 355 hp and 383 lb/ft of torque, allowing for 8,600 pounds of towingcapacity that can help you bring even the largest of presents to Grandma’s house. The ChevroletMyLink system, push-button start, wireless charging and OnStar vehicle telematics are only a handfulof the amenities you can add to the big SUV. A high-strength safety cage, seven airbags and availableSide Blind Zone Alert and Lane Keep Assist help keep everyone safe.

“The 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe continues the tradition set down by its 4-wheeled forefathers with a newlevel of refinement and luxury elevating the entire Chevrolet brand,” Autotrader noted. “The Tahoe hasbeen a best-seller and is a favorite with American families due to its tough construction, massiveinterior space and powerful V8 engine, allowing it to tow far greater loads than any car-basedcrossover”.”

Chrysler Pacifica — As the newest minivan on the market, the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica has quicklyshot to the top of the U.S. News & World Report rankings and it’s easy to see why. In addition to itsaffordable $28,595 starting MSRP and seating for up to eight, the Pacifica is available with some ofthe most family-friendly features, including the Uconnect Theater system, which can keep kids busyon even the longest of drives. The 3.6-liter V-6 engine produces a best-in-class 283 hp and 262 lb/ft oftorque and is paired with an advanced nine-speed automatic transmission that helps it earn anunsurpassed EPA-estimated 28 mpg highway. Other highlights include Parallel and PerpendicularPark Assist, the Stow ’n Go seating and storage system, and Stow ’n Vac™ powered by RIDGID®.

“But what I love most about the Pacifica,” added CNET, “is its unabashed van-ness in a world whereeverything is a crossover, ‘wagon’ is a four-letter word and telling your friends that you’re consideringa minivan is tantamount to announcing that you’ve given up on life. It warms my heart to see there’sstill innovation and competition to be found in this shrinking class, and that the form and function canwork together.”

Subaru Forester — If you don’t need a larger vehicle, the five-passenger 2017 Subaru Forester is theperfect companion. Thanks to standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, the Forester can handle nearlyanything you throw its way withvirtually no penalty to fueleconomy, which is rated up to 32mpg highway. You can choosefrom two SUBARU BOXER®engines: a 170-hp, 2.5-literfour-cylinder or a 250-hp,turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder.Depending on the model, you canequip the Forester with theSUBARU STARLINK™ Multimediasystem, EyeSight® Driver AssistTechnology and even a HarmanKardon audio system. The Foresterearned a five-star overall ratingfrom the National Highway TrafficSafety Administration.

“Long known as a roomy,sure-footed but slightly dowdycompact crossover, the Forester ismore stylish and commodious than before, and it’s also much improved in an area that’s increasinglyimportant to a majority of buyers: fuel efficiency,” summarized Left Lane News.

Regardless of which model you choose, we have the right financing for your needs. Stop by today andlet us help you get started.




4 Steps to Take to Reduce Your Risk of DiabetesSimple but effective measures that can help you avoid a diabetesdiagnosis

November is National Diabetes Month, meaning it’s as good a time as ever to learn what preventativemeasures you can take to help reduce your risk of a future diagnosis. Not only is there no cure fordiabetes, but having the condition can also put you at risk of other diseases, including heart diseaseand kidney disease, as well as stroke and blindness.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take now to improve your chances of a healthy future.

Don’t wait to lose weight

Type 1 diabetes, which is causedby problems with one’s immunesystem, is impossible to prevent.However, the most common type ofdiabetes, type 2, typically affectspeople who are overweight.Therefore, losing weight canreduce your chances of contractingthe disease.

If you are obese or overweight, youshould figure out what your targetweight is and work toward thatgoal. But according to theAmerican Diabetes Association,even the loss of just 10 or 15pounds can make a big difference.So set realistic weight loss goalsthat you can tackle with diet andexercise, knowing that each pound lost is a step in the right direction, and that a slimmer figure meansslimmer chances of type 2 diabetes.

You are what you eat

Shedding excess pounds is the first step towards reducing your risk of type 2 diabetes, but changingyour fundamental eating habits may also be necessary. The Harvard School of Public Health says thefour most important changes you can make are choosing whole grains over highly processedcarbohydrates, reducing your intake of sugary drinks such as sodas and some juices, picking chickenand fish over red meat and processed meat and cutting back on trans fats, which are found inmargarines, packaged baked goods and most fried foods.

It may be hard to choose grilled chicken, veggies and unsweetened tea over a burger, fries and a cola,but choosing heart-healthy meals over fast food at lunch and dinnertime can have a huge impact onyour health.

Get a move on

In addition to a more balanced diet, increased physical activity is another lifestyle change that candrastically reduce your future risk of diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommendsinjecting a mix of activity, aerobic exercise, strength training and flexibility exercises into your dailyroutine.

You can increase your regular physical activity in many little ways—taking the stairs instead of theelevator, or parking further away from your office building or the grocery store so that you have towalk more. Aerobic exercise is not too taxing on your schedule either, as the ADA recommends just30 minutes a day five days a week spent walking briskly, swimming or bicycle riding. And you don’tneed to be a gym rat to gain the benefits of strength training or flexibility exercises, which can takethe form of lifting light weights at home and stretching gently for 5 to 10 minutes a day.

Choose your vices wisely

The Harvard School of Public Health reports that smokers are about 50 percent more likely thannonsmokers to develop diabetes. So if you are a tobacco user, it is strongly recommended that you tryand quit now.

However, it is a different case entirely when it comes to alcohol. Harvard also argues that a growingbody of evidence links moderate alcohol consumption (a drink a day for women, up to two drinks a dayfor men) to an increase in the efficiency of insulin at getting glucose inside cells, therefore potentiallyreducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. The trick, of course, is to keep alcohol consumption moderate, asexcessive drinking can actually increase your risks.

Though genetics play a role in the development of diabetes, our own lifestyle choices are the mostimportant factor. Weight loss, good eating habits, regular exercise and the occasional cocktail are allpositive steps toward a healthy future.


Documents

Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union NewsletterBudgeting Tips for Holiday Gift-Giving The best ways to keep your personal finances in check this season AAACU Donates Over $4,000 to United