Green Bay’s Big Event For Little Kids was a Big Hit with Families

It was wonderful to see all the children, parents, and grandparents at this year’s Big Event For Little Kids in Green Bay. The fun-filled educational fund-raiser is geared to children 10 and under and their families. Not only did kids get to decorate their own coin bank, but Seymour Savings was on hand to greet everyone.  View more photos from the event.

Get organized: Brenden McDaniel answers your de-clutter questions.

Brenden McDaniel, owner of Action Organizing Services, took some time to answer a few organizational questions that were submitted to us in the week leading up to our sixth-annual Community Shredding Day.

How long should I keep my bank statements?

I save bank statements for one calendar year at most. When tax returns have been filed, the tax year bank statements get shredded.

What items do I need to shred?

Destroy all sensitive information including junk mail and paperwork that includes:

• Account numbers
• Birth dates
• Passwords and PINs
• Signatures
• Social Security numbers

To protect your privacy, you should also consider shredding items that include:

• Names
• Addresses
• Phone numbers
• E-mail addresses

How long do I need to keep tax statements?

So keep in mind that even though your return is filed, you always need to keep copies of your returns and you should hold on to your supporting documents for at least six years.

Do I need to worry about my child’s identity being stolen?

Though youngsters seem like unlikely victims, identity thieves consider children easy targets. Their squeaky-clean credit histories make them appealing to criminals who want to open new credit accounts. And because children don’t normally review their credit reports, identity thieves can hide criminal behavior for years. Some children learn they have years-old collection debts when they apply for their first credit card, automobile loan, or student loan.

Is it better to pay my bills online or by mail?

With Online Banking you can manage all of your accounts — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s secure access to your money anytime, anywhere. Paying Bills online takes longer for the payment to be received and the mail could be tampered with but that usually doesn’t happen. So all in all both are safer but paying online is faster and much more convenient.

Is it safe to use my smart phone for online banking?

Most mobile banking apps don’t actually store your bank details directly on your phone, but instead access it from a secure data center. This means your mobile phone will never hold your personal bank information. So all in all, yes.

How long do I keep my insurance policies?

Keep policies that you renew each year, such as those for your home, apartment, or car, until you get new policies, and then shred the old ones.

What is the best way to store important papers?

Items such as passports, birth certificates and insurance policies should be kept in a fire proof safe. Consider using a safety deposit box at North shore Bank.

How long do I keep receipts?

That depends on what kind of receipt or statement. Items that are tax related should be kept for 7 years for personal and 10 for business. If the item is out of warranty and there is no tax related info let it go now.

If I lose my spouse, how long do I keep related paperwork?

The same as your tax information seven years or until the estate is settled.

Do I need to shred photos?

Only if you are worried about what is on them. Perhaps you can recycle old family photos by passing them along to family members who may be interested in having them.

Highlights from Brenden’s Shredding Day Seminars

Here are takeaways from our recent de-clutter seminar with Brenden McDaniel:

• Why keep an item if you’re not using it.
• We might keep things because of emotional attachment, but don’t use those items.
• You can rent shredding bins to use at your home, which saves on time and your own equipment.
• If you need a copy of a cancelled check, you can get one at your bank.  Better to let things go that you no longer truly need.
• Use a dehumidifier in your basement to reduce humidity and damage to stored items.
• Use a paper towel roll to use as a spyglass to focus on an area of your home to clean. Make it fun!
• Take cleaning and organizing in smaller doses.
• Try to put like items together. This will help you as a starting point.
• The desired result is storing things where you can find them.
• Don’t blame yourself or anyone else. Accept the situation and start.
• The situation didn’t happen in one day & it will take time and patience to fix.
• Categorizing: Best friends, acquaintances, and strangers.  What possessions would you consider to be your “best friends”?
• If you’re going to start with your closet, don’t try to tackle it at once.
• Hint: Try putting clothes in the closet backwards.  When you wear it, put it in ‘”regularly”.
• If you work better in the morning, then schedule your organization then. Do what works for you.
• Think “Star Trek” and find a “Neutral Zone”. Be patient.
• If you’re going to get rid of something, get rid of it. Don’t second guess yourself.
• Reward yourself! Believe it or not, even organizing can be fun and rewarding!
• Backsliding. Don’t beat yourself up, just keep working on it and the project will go well.
• Give old magazines to others, nursing homes, dentist office, etc. Remember to remove your home address.
• Store and discount cards can cause clutter. Most stores can look up your account with a phone number so you can leave the cards at home. Apps are available too.
• If you have something that you collect and you see & enjoy it, that’s great. If it’s hindering your life, time to let it go.
• Instead of taking on one large project, break it down into sections.
• Save the humidity-absorbing packets from shoe boxes and use them again to help preserve stored items.
• Think outside the box about how to deal with unwanted items.
• The worst thing, when it comes to clutter, is valuing your things more than your time. You can’t get time back.
• Be non-judgmental when working with someone else on an organizing project. Be patient!
• When you open a drawer or a closet and smell cedar, it helps on a psychological level.

Additional information:

• North Shore Bank Presents Brenden McDaniel’s Clear Out the Clutter seminar (Pt. 1) – Video
• North Shore Bank Presents Brenden McDaniel’s Clear Out the Clutter seminar (Pt. 2)  – Video
• North Shore Bank’s Community Shredding Day 2012 – Photos

Families enjoyed North Shore Bank’s KidsFest and Baby Expo with MetroParent

Thousands came out to State Fair Park April 14 and 15 to participate in fun-packed activities. We were thrilled to meet so many families at our booth where our guests took free pictures in our photo booth, created and took home coin banks, and played the Scoop-n-Save game. Big thanks to all who stopped by to see us!

Quilts, blankets, hats donated to the Children’s Hospital CICU Heart Unit

The North Shore Bank branch in Pulaski and Catholic Financial Life Chapter 299 teamed up to collect and donate more than 150 items to Children’s Hospital CICU Heart Unit. The items included quilts, fleece blankets and hats made by the bank’s staff in Pulaski, as well as headbands and miscellaneous toiletries.

In Your Community: Join us at an upcoming event near you.

May 5 North Shore Bank’s Free Shredding Day

Bring in old documents to any office for free, secure shredding between 9am-Noon. If you have a larger amount of papers (up to two boxes), please find a nearby office with on-site mobile shredders to assist you. Look for truck locations and details at shredit.northshorebank.com.

May 11, 18 North Shore Bank Family Night with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Enjoy a night at the ballgame in Appleton. Kids 12 and under eat free and can stay after the game to run the bases!

May 19 Pewaukee Community Fair

Join us at the Pewaukee Lake Elementary School where the PTO and Chamber of Commerce are bringing local businesses, organizations, and the surrounding community together for a day full of fun family activities like: games for kids, silent auction, demonstrations, and food. Admission is free.

May 20 North Shore Bank Hat Giveaway Day with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

First 1000 fans at the Fox Cities Stadium get a Timber Rattlers’ hat.

Discover more events on our community calendar.