Hit Reset This Fall - Get Holiday-Ready with Ridgewood

September 22, 2025

The kids are back in school. Your beach bag is packed away. Those summer credit card statements? They just landed. September is the perfect time to hit reset — before the holidays sneak up and the spending season is in full swing.

At Ridgewood Savings Bank, New York’s largest mutual savings bank, we’ve seen how starting early helps take the stress out of December and makes the holidays a whole lot brighter. Think of the Ridgewood Financial Academy as your personal financial coach with quick, free lessons designed for busy New Yorkers who want to get smarter about money in minutes. You can learn how to build a simple holiday budget that actually works, tips to avoid overspending when the pressure is on, and how small weekly savings add up to big results by the time December rolls around.

Leonard Stekol, our Chairman, President & CEO, puts it best: “When you save ahead, you give yourself choices. Whether you’re a student, a parent, or planning for retirement, starting early puts you in control, and helps takes the worry out of special occasions.”

That’s why we make saving simple and local, with tools designed to fit your life.

• Our Holiday Club Savings Account lets you automatically set aside a little each week so you have a built-in fund when the season arrives.
• Ridgewood’s Free Green Checking offers $0 in monthly fees, is designed to meet your digital needs, and plants a tree with every new account opened.
• When you enroll in Multiply the Change, every time you use your Ridgewood debit card, your spare change is rounded up and tucked into savings, a painless way to build a cushion without even thinking about it.
• Money Management (MX) is a free budgeting tool available in Ridgewood’s online & mobile banking that lets you track spending, see easy-to-read charts, get auto-created budgets based on your history, forecast debt payoff, and check your cash flow calendar, all of which makes planning ahead that much easier.

“Financial literacy is a lifelong skill,” Leonard reminds us. “Whether it’s kids learning to save their first dollar or adults preparing for big life moments, we’re proud to give New Yorkers the tools to succeed.”

So, before the holiday rush begins, challenge yourself to spend 10 minutes in the Ridgewood Financial Academy. Take your first lesson, set up an account, or enroll in Multiply the Change and head into the holidays confident, prepared, and ready to focus on what matters most: family, friends, and the joy of the season.

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