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Welcome to State Bank of Countryside (SBC) eNews!

Welcome to State Bank of Countryside (SBC) eNews! This edition includes information about holiday budgeting, toy safety, avoiding phishing scams, a pumpkin fluff dip recipe and more! We hope you will enjoy SBC eNews and find the information useful.

With the holiday season in full swing, chances are you'll be spending money on things that are outside your regular budget. Here are some spending tips to help you manage your finances this holiday season:

• Create a budget and stick to it. Set a dollar amount based on what you can afford this holiday season considering your current savings, income and other expenses. Be sure to include a $20 to $100 cushion for unexpected expenses.
• Make a list. Write down the names of the people you plan to buy gifts for and how much you can afford to spend on each person. Don't forget to save some of your budget for expenses other than gifts including decorations, food, wrapping paper, cards and postage.
• Bake instead of buy. That's right, if you can't afford to buy gifts for everyone on your list, bake some holiday goodies and wrap them in cellophane with a holiday bow. Handmade gifts are a special way to say 'Happy Holidays' without overspending. Be sure to include these costs in your budget.
• Use credit wisely. Your credit card balance shouldn't be a complete surprise when you open your statement in January. Take only the credit cards you need when holiday shopping and try to use the card with the lowest interest rate.
• Save your receipts. Keep track of your expenses and add them up weekly to be sure you're sticking to your budget. Recording what you used to pay for items will help with returns and with planning for next year.
• Shop around. Make sure you comparison shop. Take time to do some research before you hit the stores by going online or looking at your local newspaper circulars.
• After the Holidays. Buy next year's holiday decorations on clearance as soon as the holidays are over. Keep your eyes open for bargains throughout the year and stash them away.
• Save all year. Make holiday saving a year round commitment. Set up an account just for holiday savings. Have a set amount of money direct deposited into this account from every pay check. Or when you pay bills every month, send a check to this account as if you were paying another bill.

It's the most wonderful time of the year...to buy toys and gifts for children. Here are some tips to consider before and after purchasing a new toy, to be sure you are making safe choices for the children in your life:

• Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may be safety hazards for younger children.
• Toys that need to be plugged in pose the risk of electrical shock or burn; choose battery-operated toys instead.
• Store toys properly after play to avoid trips and falls.
• Keep older children's toys away from younger children.
• Before buying a toy or allowing your child to play with a toy that he or she has received as a gift, read all warnings and instructions carefully.
• Buttons, batteries, magnets and small parts contained in toys or games can be very dangerous if swallowed. Keep them away from young children.
• Children under age 8 can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Remove strings and ribbons from toys before giving them to young children.
• Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches in length. They could be a strangulation hazard for babies.

Did you know that 20% of all ties are sold in December? Here are some other facts about ties from The Protocol Institute in Washington, DC.

• There are three ways to tie a tie: The Windsor Knot, the Half-Windsor Knot and the Four in Hand Knot.
• The proper length for wearing the everyday tie, whether for business or social events, is just to the bottom of the belt, never above or below it.
• "White Tie" attire means wearing a black tailcoat with a white vest, white shirt (wing-tip only) and white bow-tie. NEVER wear a black bow-tie with this attire. This attire is only for an invitation that says "Formal."
• "Black Tie" attire means wearing a black formal jacket with a black bow-tie, white shirt (wing-tip or turn-down collar), and black vest or cummerbund. NEVER wear a white bow-tie with this attire. This attire is only for an invitation that say "Semi-Formal," which is also referred to as wearing a "tuxedo" or "dinner jacket."

"Phishing" refers to unsolicited emails that look like they are from a trusted company or institution but are really from Internet fraudsters. These types of emails, pop-up messages and bogus websites are attempts at luring you into providing the fraudster with your personal information, such as bank account information and other sensitive information. Here are some tips to follow to avoid becoming the victim of a phishing scam:

• Never give out your personal or financial information in response to an unsolicited phone call, fax or email, no matter how official it may seem.
• Do not respond to email that may warn of dire consequences unless you validate your information immediately. Contact the company to confirm the email's validity using a telephone number or Web address you know to be genuine.
• Check your credit card and bank account statements regularly and look for unauthorized transactions, even small ones. Some thieves hope small transactions will go unnoticed. Report discrepancies immediately.
• When submitting financial information online, look for the padlock or key icon at the bottom of your Internet browser. Most secure Internet addresses, though not all, use "https".
• Report suspicious activity to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, a partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center, at www.ic3.gov.
• Note that State Bank of Countryside will never request your confidential information through email. If you receive an email pretending to be from State Bank of Countryside that asks for your personal or financial information, please contact us immediately.

Bacon Cheese Dip

By: Mary Gibson

• 1 cup of sour cream
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1 bunch chives
• 1 package of shredded swiss cheese
• 1 package of real bacon bits

Mix the sour cream, cream cheese, chives and shredded swiss cheese together and put in microwave safe bowl. Spread bacon bits on top. Microwave for five to six minutes and serve. The dip tastes great with sliced French bread or crackers.

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