Hi there,

Bangor, Portland, Boston and beyond may have larger population numbers, but Aroostook County is home to many small, tight-knit communities where members are family, friends and neighbors. The credit unions in Northern Maine know their members and can then anticipate their needs, which only strengthens the relationship between the people and their cooperatives. The people in The County truly embody and represent what credit unions are all about. They hold onto traditions that have lasted the test of time and pool their resources to remain strong. Stronger together. People helping people.

The musicians in the 2017 Sound Off Music Competition showed their dedication to Maine’s independent music scene by waking up early and arriving at the Next Generation Theatre in Brewer by 9:00 AM on Thursday, March 23 despite many living hours away. After a quick sound check, they gave it their all on stage with an original song. The Young & Free team and Maine’s Credit Unions were so impressed with the entrants this year, and even more so after hearing their performances live. The winners were crowned, and we had a lot of fun along the way!

The school year ends in a few months, and high school students around the state will be entering the summer having gained knowledge of financial literacy. With five Financial Fitness Fairs already on the calendar for the month of April, the next few weeks will be busy. However, it will be time well spent. It’s so important for the students to learn about financial literacy, as they will ultimately become the future community leaders of our state. The students get a great insight into what life is like after high school at the Financial Fitness Fairs. They are given a career, a monthly income and of course, expenses. They get to live life like they’re in their twenties without actually having to put a dent in their wallet. They experience what it’s like to pay for transportation, housing, clothing, food, insurance, student loans and more. And just like in real life, they have the choice of what they do and don’t buy. Ultimately, their goal is to have a monthly budget that doesn’t exceed their monthly income. 38,000 students have become fiscally fit since 2004, and we aim to continue to grow that number!

Maine’s Credit Unions have raised $7.2 million for Ending Hunger since 1990, with $675,000 raised last year alone. Whenever an Ending Hunger event presents itself, I’m happy to help out! I recently teamed up with HOT 104.7 in giving away hams at the Wells IGA to support the Campaign for Ending Hunger. We gave away 25 hams to store customers, and asked them to spread the word. HOT 104.7 set the mood with some great music, and I even hopped on air to talk about the campaign. It’s so amazing to have partnerships like this to show how Maine’s Credit Unions care about the community. We’re eager to continue the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger, with 2017 marking the 28th straight year! Check out HOT 104.7’s recap!

In this It's a Money Thing video, Jen learns about the main differences between federal and private student loans.

Thanks for stopping by! Have you been working on your fiscal fitness?

Jake Holmes
Young & Free Maine Spokester