New NumNum Blog!!

Hi Everyone!

Numerica’s NumNum Blog has moved to:

http://blog.numericacu.com/

Check it out for fun and informative blogs about finances and everyday life. And remember, comment on any blog post to be automatically entered to win our monthly coffee gift card give-away!!

Visit the NumNum site at www.NumNum.org!!

ZERO COST Vacation Ideas

Want to recharge, but don’t want to spend much on a vacation? Here are 19 great ideas to get you started!

1. Switch houses with a friend or relative in another town. Being in a different town, country or state for a week or two gives everyone a change of scenery and a chance to play tourist in a new place.
2. Consider yourself a tourist. Are there local attractions you don’t visit simply because they’re local? Be a tourist!
3. See what’s free. Google your local area and find out about any free concerts, classes or events. You’ll be surprised what’s out there.
4. Turn on the sprinkler. You may not have a pool, but a sprinkler is just as cool, more fun and less risky than swimming. Get the kids in swimsuits, romp around with them like no one is watching and close your eyes to the mess when they come inside dripping but happy.
5. Enjoy the great outdoors. Playgrounds, spray grounds, parks and lakes can all be a lot of fun. Get up and go out in the early evening for some fun and relaxation.
6. Go to a local farm. You have to buy vegetables anyways, so why not do the picking yourself?
7. Browse in the local library. Really, when were you there last? No matter what your interests are (gourmet cooking, writing, DIY, gardening, etc.), you’ll find volumes on it.
8. Take a hobby and turn it into a moonlighting business. Say you like to create fancy hair ribbons and barrettes. Why not sell them to friends, family, neighbors, etc. There are so many things you can do for “fun” money, and as long as there’s no pressure to turn it into a full-time income, it really can be fun.
9. Go fly a kite. Maybe plan it for a windy day on the beach.
10. Serve breakfast for dinner. Why not?!
11. Have the kids and/or your non-cooking spouse make dinner. It’ll be a change for everyone. You can even help out and teach them a thing or two.
12. Make a movie. There are so many video contests out there; you can find one for your family to compete it. If you make the video about money, you can enter it into Numerica’s own contest! Email your video to video@numnum.org for your chance to win $150! Or, just come up with something you can do for a good time.
13. Go camping. In the basement. In the attic. In the backyard. unconventional sleeping locations = FUN!
14. Feed the birds.
15. Adopt a pet at your local shelter.
16. Entertain residents at a seniors’ home. They’ll love the company.
17. Keep a journal.
18. Make lemonade. From scratch.
19. Get together with friends and family at block party or group picnic.

 

 

 

Planning a summer vacation? Be aware of ID Theft.

Summer is just around the corner and for many that means traveling. Whether you’re planning a once in a lifetime tour of Europe or weekend camping trips, it’s important to be aware of ID Theft before you hit the road. The following tips and tricks will help prevent you from becoming a victim:

1. Let Numerica know if you’ll be traveling, especially if you’re leaving the country. Numerica is vigilant about detecting unusual activity on your card. Your card may be blocked if we notice unusual transactions, so avoid the hassles and notify us before you leave home.
2. Secure your mail while you’re gone. Stop your mail at the post office before you leave for an extended period of time. Your mail can be a treasure trove for identity theft criminals looking for your personal information.
3. Weed out your wallet. Tourist destinations are often a haven for pickpockets, so go through your wallet and take out any unneeded credit cards and personal information before you leave. It’s also good practice to make copies of all of your important documents, such as your passport, driver’s license and health insurance cards.
4. Be wary of generic ATMs. It’s becoming a common practice among thieves to install card readers in ATMs to capture your account information and PIN. It’s a safe practice to use your card at ATMs affiliated with Numerica. Look for the Star, CO-OP Network or Cirrus logos.
5. Check your accounts regularly for suspicious activity. Spend a few minutes online every day looking at your bank and credit card accounts to ensure every transaction is yours.
6. Be careful with hotel computers. Don’t access your accounts or personal information on public hotel computers, which could have software that logs keystrokes and records your passwords and account numbers. And be very careful when using an unsecure wireless network.
7. Don’t leave personal information lying around your hotel room. Keep your credit cards and other important information with you or lock them up in the hotel safe.

29.99% APR on Credit Cards – Are you kidding me?!

Have you recently received a “Change in Terms Notification” from your credit card provider? Did you happen to open the letter and actually read the information? If you did, you were probably as shocked as I was to read that they were changing the “Penalty APR” on my account to 29.99% APR… almost 30% APR. The first thing that came to mind was “that must be a typo,” the next was “no way,” and then “NO WAY!”

The Penalty APR is a punishment for people who pay their credit card bill late. As an example, Citi Bank discloses that the Penalty APR applies if your payment is late or returned. How long does it last? The Citi Bank disclosure states, “If your APRs are increased for either reason, the Penalty APR will no longer apply to existing balances on your account if you make six consecutive minimum payments when due. However, the Penalty APR may apply to new transactions indefinitely.” INDEFINITELY!!

Okay, paying bills late is not a good thing, but do credit card providers really need to charge almost 30% to make their point? Shouldn’t the penalty fit the crime? A solid, reliable customer whose payment is one day late after 10 years of on-time payments is much different than one who is frequently late and delinquent. And I know… this only affects people who make their payments late – but heck, we’re all human and things happen.

So, I hope you’ll do what I did if you receive a “Change in Terms Notification” – cut your credit card into tiny pieces, write a letter telling the credit card company to close your account and then look for a credit card that has a reasonable rate and fees. You could always check out a credit union.

Stop, Study & Start Over

See How Interchange Reform Will Effect You!

We need your help in asking Members of Congress to:

• STOP the interchange rule from going into effect.
• STUDY the impact of a fee change on credit unions and their members.
• START OVER with legislation that takes into account all factors and the real impact on consumers.

Visit Numerica’s online resource page for detailed information about the debit card interchange fee and how it will affect you: http://bit.ly/hznYyk.

Numerica Elections & Annual Meeting

2011 Numerica Credit Union Board of Directors & Supervisory Committee Elections

What positions are up for election?

• 3 Positions on the Board of Directors
• 2 Positions on the Supervisory Committee

Who’s eligible to vote?

• All Numerica members in good standing, age 18 or older
• Must be a member since December 31, 2010
• Non-natural/business members (An officer of the organization who is designated as such in writing shall cast the vote.)

Who are the candidates? (Listed in random order…)

Board of Directors

• Robin Harmon – Member Since: 1996 – Residence: Spokane, WA
• Mark Hemingway – Member Since: 2010 – Residence: Spokane Valley, WA
• Morgan J. Jannot – Member Since: 2009 – Residence: Otis Orchards, WA
• Larry Lanning (Incumbent) – Member Since: 1990 – Residence: Spokane, WA
• Rudy Mueller (Incumbent) – Member Since: 1979 – Residence: Wenatchee, WA
• Charlene Whitener – Member Since: 2009 – Residence: Kennewick, WA

Supervisory Committee

• Susan Joseph Nielsen – Member Since: 2000 – Residence: Spokane, WA
• Jessica Dillon (Incumbent) – Member Since: 1992 – Residence: Olympia, WA
• Paula Kopczynski (Incumbent) – Member Since: 2009 – Residence: Rockford, WA

How to Vote

• Log on to Home Banking at www.numericacu.com
• Visit any Numerica branch (No voting through drive-ups or over the phone.)
• Call (800) 433-1837 x6174

Ballot will be mailed to the member along with a return envelope to the address of record. Or, the member may drop off the ballot at any Numerica branch. Only one ballot can be issued to a member. If the ballot is misplaced, we cannot issue another ballot.

Annual Meeting

Election results will be announced at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the Membership.

• Thursday, April 21, 2011
• Doors Open 5:30 p.m. – Meeting 6:00 p.m.
• Numerica Credit Union Headquarters (14610 E. Sprague, Spokane Valley)

Gas Saving Tips!

• Combine errands and trips.
• Service your car so it will keep it at peak performance.
• Go lightly on the gas pedal.
• Don’t pump your breaks.
• Don’t idle for long periods of time.
• Don’t use drive up windows. Instead, park and walk in.
• Empty the car and trunk of extra items.
• Put items in the trunk instead of on your roof.
• Drive 55 mph instead of 65 (you save 15%!).
• Don’t use your air conditioning.
• Use your 5th gear whenever possible.
• Keep your tires properly inflated.
• Buy a Fuel Saver of some kind.
• Use the lowest octane gas.
• Don’t rev your engine.

FREE Student Trak Event

Numerica Credit Union is a proud sponsor of the 2011 Get Lit! Teen & College Poetry Slam!

These two poetry slams are events during the literary festival, Get Lit! 2011. A poetry slam is an outlet for poets to express their voices and their work in the form of a poetry competition, scored by an audience of judges.

Whether you want to participate or be a part of the audience, join us for this entertaining event! Student Trak members will have the opportunity to win prizes, including a Flip Video Camera, an iPod Shuffle, a Polaroid Instant Camera and gift cards!*

First-place poetry slam winners will have the chance to perform at headliner Get Lit! events, opening for Ani DiFranco’s concert at the Bing Crosby Theater on April 15.

Teen Poetry Slam

Ages 13-28

Thursday, April 14 – 5:00 p.m. (Registration Begins at 4:30 p.m.)

Kress Gallery, 3rd Floor, River Park Square Mall

 

College Poetry Slam

College Students of Any Age

Thursday, April 14 – 8:30 p.m. (Registration Begins at 8:00 p.m.)

Kress Gallery, 3rd Floor, River Park Square Mall

 

Poetry Slam Rules:

-Poets are welcome to work in teams or individually.

-There are two rounds, so come prepared with several poems, it’s best if they’re memorized.

-Poems must be of the poet’s own construction.

-Poets get three minutes (plus a ten-second grace period) to read each poem. If a poet goes over time, points will be deducted from their total score.

-Participants may not use props, costumes or musical instruments.

*No purchase necessary to enter. Must be present to win. Ask staff for details.

Help Japan Disaster Victims With Numerica

Numerica Credit Union is accepting donations for Japan disaster relief at all 17 locations. If you would like to make a donation to the Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund, you can do so at any of our convenient branch locations. Find the branch nearest you here: www.numericacu.com/locations.        

You can also make a donation online. Click on the following link to contribute to the American Red Cross: http://bit.ly/6G0xQ. 

Here’s another easy way to contribute: Text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation from your phone.

This is another example of the People-Helping-People Credit Union Philosophy at work.

So you lost your wallet… Now what?

Losing your wallet or purse can be a frustrating experience. Not only is your cash and debit/credit cards gone, but so is your personal identification and any other important information or items your wallet may have held. Follow the steps listed below to cover your bases and make the experience a bit easier.

File A Police Report

Let police know when you noticed your wallet was missing, where you think it was lost or stolen and what you had in it. Your financial institution and credit reporting agencies might need a copy of this report and its case number, so be sure to save a copy.

Notify Your Financial Institution

It’s very important to let your financial institution know you’ve lost your debit/credit cards or checks. The sooner you do this, the better – once you alert your credit union or bank your debit card liability is reduced to $50. If left unreported you can be held responsible for any withdrawals and overdraft charges.

Cancel All Credit Cards

Call your credit card issuers immediately. They will send you new credit cards with new numbers. They might want to ask you about recent transactions to determine if they are yours. This might seem like a hassle, but it will limit damages to your credit and limit any losses.

Notify The Three Major Credit Reporting Agencies

-Equifax – 1-800-525-6285

-TransUnion – 1-800-680-7289

-Experian – 1-888-397-3742

Ask for the fraud or security department and request to have a fraud alert placed on your credit report. This will help protect your credit score.

Get New Important Cards

These can include: driver’s license, social security card, health insurance, military identification, library cards, store cards, membership cards and more.

Monitor The Situation

Keep an eye on your financial institution and credit card statements – look for any suspicious activity.

A few weeks after the incident, obtain a free copy of your credit report to see if any fraudulent transactions have been made in your name. You can get a free copy of yours once a year at www.annualcreditreport.com.

To drive or not to drive – that is the question…

Ideas to get the most out of your mileage…

Now I know we are all quickly approaching empty pocket books due to the price of high gas prices. It is everywhere. What you may not know is ways to get the most out of your vehicle that will not only save you money at the pump but also get you more miles per tank of fuel. These are some suggestions I have found from research on this exact topic that might help you out.

Drive Sensibly -  Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33% at highway speeds and by 5% around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.

Observe the Speed Limit – We all know how dangerous and expensive it is to pay tickets for speeding but did you know that while each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.26 per gallon for gas.

Remove Excess Weight - Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your mpg by up to 2%! The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle’s weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.

Avoid Excessive Idling - This definitely comes in to play on those early Monday mornings we all dread sitting in line at Starbucks waiting for some artificial awake. Idling gets 0 miles per gallon. So while you are sitting there you oare not only adding pollution but you aren’t getting any mileage for idling! So, if you just shut the car off on those excessive waits you will save yourself some money and the environment!

Use Cruise Control - Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and as I explained above anything over 60 burns more fuel than any other speed, so in most cases, just using cruise control will help save gas.

Use Overdrive Gears - When you use overdrive gearing, your car’s engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces engine wear, most automatics have this feature and if you are not sure of what overdrive is on your vehicle, any local mechanic should be able to point you in the right direction.

Check & Replace Air Filters Regularly - Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car’s gas mileage by as much as 10%. Your car’s air filter keeps impurities from damaging the inside of your engine. Not only will replacing a dirty air filter save gas, it will protect your engine. On this same note, fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40%! That’s HUGE for a single item that just needed to be replaced.

I hope this helps all of you as much as it has helped me! And if any of you have more tips or tricks or even have tried these and noticed a difference I encourage you to let us know – just post to this blog!

Not so hot economy…

Okay, so as everyone knows by now, our economy is not doing so hot. That may be putting it mildly. Anyways, with certain banks failing and FDIC having to step in to take care of business, people are wondering where to put their money so they don’t have to worry about losing it. Working at Numerica, I have seen a bunch of different ideas that people have been coming up with. Things like taking their money and buying gold and silver, or there is the classic “take the money out and hide it in your house” (hope for no fires…) and others like that. I have decided that I am actually going to invest my money in Numerica stuff. I know-I know, I work here…of course I would say that. But truthfully I would rather invest my money in something that is not on the stock market, is local and makes its’ decisions off the local situation. Also, I get to cast a vote to help decide what Numerica does. I don’t know about everyone else, but I like the ability to help decide what my money is doing. So yeah, something a bit more stable than the gold/silver market and a bit safer than my home, credit unions are gonna be the place to be. Oh yeah, almost forgot…credit union insurance has also gone up to 250k per person. So I’m gonna run out of money to spend before they run out of money to cover…lol.

Holiday Spending…W/O Busting Your Budget

Happy Holidays!

It’s that time of year again when most of us have too many things to do and not enough time to do them. It is also shopping season which means most of us are strapped for cash and this year especially, because of the downturn in our economy. But why is it so hard to say no? Even with the economy struggling I still find myself wanting to spend and shop like I do every other year. “What’s one more purchase,” I ask myself, but before you know it, you have overspent and buyers’ remorse kicks in. I have come up with a few shopping tips to save you time and money this holiday season.

#1) Pay Cash. Paying with cash allows you to easily keep track of what you have taken out of your account for holiday shopping. When you do withdraw money ask for large bills. It really makes you think twice when you break a $50 or a $100 bill.

#2) Keep a running tally of your credit card spending. When you come home from shopping, subtract what you spent from your checking balance and you will always keep on top of your spending.

#3) Have a plan for paying off holiday bills. Set a deadline and stick to it. Tell yourself that everything will be paid off by Valentine’s Day and then create a budget to do so.

#4) Make a shopping list. If you make a list you will organize the items you need to buy and what stores you need to go to instead of wandering from store to store spending more than you planned for.

#5) Think outside of the box. Gifts don’t always have to cost a fortune. Why not make greeting cards for your favorite grandma or a holiday CD for a friend? Many fun gifts can be handmade and much more special.

I hope these holiday tips help relieve a little bit of the shopping stress, as well as save you time and money. Now go shop…but don’t overspend. Before you hit the door pay yourself first by depositing into your savings account for a rainy day.

Do you have any ideas on how to spend wisely this holiday season? Let us know by posting a comment!

I’ll admit it…I haven’t started saving for retirement yet…oops!

As a responsible, 23-year-old – you would think that I’d already have a 401k or IRA account started. Especially because since I entered high school I’ve been hounded about saving as early as possible, with statistics like: if you start saving in your 20′s, about 10% of your paycheck will set you up for a comfortable retirement, if you don’t start saving until middle age you need to put away 15-20%, and gasp…if you wait until after middle age you would need to save everything possible.

Since I’m still in my 20′s and I’d like to take away as little of my paycheck as possible – it’s my New Year’s goal to open an IRA ASAP! I was excited when Numerica announced its’ 60-month, high yield IRA special, plus you can bump the rate one time during the term of the certificate. All I need is a minimum of $500 and I’m all set.

So I’m gonna start the New Year off right and start saving for my retirement that seems oh so far away.

What are some New Year’s resolutions you’re putting to good use?

Presidential Inauguration 2009 with Numerica

Our Gen-Y correspondent will text updates fromthe Capitol ALL day!

When: Tuesday, January 20

Time: Updates ALL Day

Where: Right Here – Check Back for New Posts and Pics

 

Numerica VP, Gene Fitzpatrick, is trekking across the country in a Winnebago to attend the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama. There, he’ll meet up with his daughter, a sophomore at American University…and she’ll be updating us all day!

 

Keep checking back to get the latest inside look at Inauguration Day – with a Gen-Y perspective.

 

Numerica’s your backstage pass to Obama’s Inauguration – enjoy the show!

Gene has arrived…

My father is arrived and situated!

To the Capitol…

We traveled down to the Capitol today to pick up our tickets and the National Mall was filled with thousands of people all getting excited for the big day. Here are some pictures from the day including a photo with Representative McMorris-Rodgers.

Inauguration Day Has Arrived!

Update – 1/20/09 – 10 a.m.

The ceremony has ended and we just watched Bush leave. Patches of the crowd began singing “hey, hey, hey…goodbye.”

Inauguration Day Facts…

• 20 JumboTron screens are set-up on the National Mall.
• The parade route on Pennsylvania Ave. can hold 350,000 people.
• 273 Bars/Clubs/Restaurants have been approved to stay open extended hours tonight!
• President Obama is having an Open House at the White House tomorrow – to get in you have to register via a website. I’m registered - who knows…I may get selected.
• Vendors are selling EVERYTHING Obama – prices are on the high side. Obama Bobble Head Dolls are available.
• And in case you were wondering…there are 7,000 Porta Pottys set-up. The police escort the pumper trucks in/out of the area.

Unfortunately this is the best pic I can get…the black box in the background is one of the jumbotrons.

Keep checking back for more updates  and pics from Inauguration 2009!

An easy way to keep track of your spending…

I’m in my early 20′s and just starting out in the “real world.” It can be hard at times to keep track of what I’m spending and staying within a budget.

Reloadable Visa Cards allow me to put a certain amount on the card and only spend that much. I can use it at any Visa ATM and get cash, use it at the mall or even online. Also, when the balance is low, I can easily reload it at any Numerica branch or online (which is really convenient). I shop A LOT online and using myReloadable Visa Card is a really secure way to make my purchases.

Because things are tight, I’m always trying to find ways to help me budget my money. What are some ways you budget your money?

Yummy Food on a Budget…

The Numerica branch that I work at is located in the front of a grocery store, so I am constantly looking at food and trying to decide what I want for dinner. That’s when it came to me! What are some of the quick, cheap and easy recipes I made when I was younger. So I came up with a list of my youth favorites…mostly involving ramen noodles and then asked around my branch for other ideas. Here’s a few of the recipes we came up with:

DIRT ~ Instant Chocolate Pudding, Tub of Cool Whip and Oreos…Make the pudding up and crumble the oreos. Mix all three ingredients in a big bowl and serve.

MEXICAN SPAGHETTI ~ Can of Chili Con Carne, 1 Package Ramen Noodles (Use your favorite flavor and experiment with number of packages to find your prefered ratio)…Another easy one…Cook up the chili, cook up the ramen and drain the broth. Mix together and serve.

STIR FRY ~ Bag of Mixed Frozen Vegetables, 1 Kielbasa Sausage, 2 Packages Ramen Noodles…This one is a bit more complicated, but here it goes…Thin slice the sausage and brown in a frying pan. Drain out the fat and put sausage on a different plate for now. Take frozen veggies and cook in pan that you cooked the sausage in (it adds good flavor). While those are cooking, boil your ramen and get it all loose and cooked. Once veggies are heated to proper temperature and the noodles are cooked to your prefered consistency, turn off the heat and mix together…Serve!

RAMEN + EGG ~ 1 Package Ramen Noodles (I’m sensing a pattern here…), 1 Egg…Bring some water to a boil. When boiling, add ramen and cook till it’s almost done. Add seasoning and egg while water is boiling. The water will almost instantly cook the egg. Enjoy!

There are some quick, easy and cheap recipes that should help anyone get through these tough times when you might be a little strapped on cash. If you have any of your own cheap recipes or suggestions…feel free to post them here!

10 Crazy Ways to Earn Some Extra Cash!

Virtual Farming – For the gamers out there, this one is just for you! Kids in China are making a huge amount of money just by playing video games all day! They are trading the “fake” money they make in the game and exchanging it for real money to the gamers that want some extra cash in the game to get to higher levels or hidden places!

Doggles – This one is for the dog lovers! I’m sure you already guessed by the title – doggles are goggles for dogs! This idea was created online and has since earned millions of dollars and also expanding into actual stores all across the U.S. Including doggles, they are now offering vests, jewlery and sunglasses.

Million Dollar Homepage - This is the craziest but smartest idea I have seen out there to earn a million dollars. A young guy decided to set up a site and sell one million pixels for $1/each. The best thing about it? It worked! He sold every single one of them after people caught on and he got tons of publicity in the process – now he is a big time entrepreneur!

Myspace Layouts - A young girl set up a website offering layouts for myspace. She now gets over 7 million hits a month to her page! She now has numerous advertising contracts, some exceeding 1.5 million dollars.

My Yearbook - Two teens had the idea to set up an online yearbook. The idea turned into much more than they had expected and became a social networking site for people from your hometown or school to come to. They have now raised more than 4 million dollars, have 45 employees and 3 million members!

Cameron Johnson - This kid is amazing! At the age of 9, he started making homemade greeting cards and selling them. Then by the age of 12, he was reselling Ty Beenie Babies and was able to sell his online company for an undisclosed amound after bringing in more than 3.5 million dollars a MONTH while he was in business.

Lucky Wishbone - We all know about the tradition on Thanksgiving to snap the wishbone and make a wish. Well…what if you didn’t have to wait until the holiday? This person makes and sells plastic wishbones and their sales have reached over one million dollars selling close to 30,000 wishbones a month.

Craving Pods - This girl made a business out of loading music onto peoples i-pods after a friend had asked her to do it for her. She now makes more than 100k/year!

Santa Mail - Some might think this is mean, but for the kids I think it is totally worth it! At $10 per letter, a guy has made millions since he started.

Amazing Butterflies - This one started as a bet! Someone’s friends bet he couldn’t sell a butterfly to someone. He now sells butterflies for a living and has made millions!

This just goes to show you can make money out of almost anything these days! If anyone has any other money making ideas I would LOVE to hear them!

WIN tickets to the Taylor Swift concert!

Numerica is teaming up with KIX 96 FM to give away 2 FREE 5th row tickets to the sold-out Taylor Swift concert! The show is Thursday, May 14, at the Spokane Arena, and you could be there!

All you have to do is visit a Spokane or North Idaho Numerica branch April 25 - May 1 and enter the drawing. Plus, while you’re at the branch enter to win $100 cash!* Numerica is giving away some mad money for your night out.

Listen to KIX 96 during the afternoon of May 4. The drawing will be held on-air, and you’ll have only 9 minutes and 61 seconds to call in and claim your tickets before another name is drawn.

Find all of the details at numericacu.com!

 

*Entries must be submitted by 5 PM (PST), May 1, 2009. No purchase necessary to win. Need not be a member to enter to win. Need not be present to win. Odds of winning determined by number of entries. Winner will be chosen by random drawing on May 4, 2009. To the extent required by law, Numerica will report the value of the award to the IRS. Winner is responsible for any applicable taxes. Must be 18 or older to participate. Limit 1 entry per person. Numerica Credit Union employees, officials, families, and family members of employees or officiating families are not eligible to participate. Drawing is taking place at Spokane and North Idaho branches. By entering, Numerica is given the right to use required entry information in conjunction with the contest. Written inquiries can be mailed to PO Box 4000, Spokane Valley, WA 99037.

Taylor Swift Concert!

Check out our photos below…they’re from the Taylor Swift Concert at the Spokane Arena. Numerica teamed up with KIX 96 to give away tickets to the concert…here’s what one winner had to say:

“The concert was great!!! She was a really good performer, for a couple of the songs she had her dancers perform skits almost! It was a great show and I had a lot of fun!!!” -Nicole L.

Congrats to all of the winners – we hope you had a great time!

Did anybody else go to the concert?…What did you think?

Cheap Dates…

Looking for fun date ideas that won’t bust your wallet? Here’s a few great options…

Spend a day at the park or natural areas – take a romantic stroll, pack a picnic (breakfast, lunch or dinner), fly kites, take a loaf of bread to feed area ducks and swans, or just have some fun playing on the jungle gym!

Raft the river – blow up an inter-tube, small boat or even take a kayak and spend a couple hours floating down the river. Take in some rays, stop on the beach for a drink and splash around in the water. This date is completely free and has tons of potential for a good time.

Visit a museum, aquarium or zoo – learning can be fun…especially if you’re with that special someone

Movie night in – pop some popcorn, grab your favorite candy and cozy up with a classic or new release. If you want to make if a full night in…pick up a board game like Monopoly, Yatzee or Clue.

Cheap dates can be the best dates – so take these ideas and schedule a special get together with your sweetie!

the job hunt…

Finding a job or even getting an interview these days can be difficult. There are currently 62 million unemployed Americans - all out there searching for the limited jobs available. Here’s a few tips to push your resume to the top of the pile…

Your cover letter and resume leaves your first impression on your potential employer. Take a look at your old files and update any work experience, volunteering or references. Get more tips on how to perfect your resume here…http://tinyurl.com/mhhmp4

If your resume interests your hopeful employer, you’ll need great interview skills to seal the deal. We all know that being polite and having a firm hand shake are important – but what types of questions will they ask and how should you prep for an interview? This site will clear up any questions you have about interviewing and help you prep for the big day…http://tinyurl.com/m2u3ku

So…after the interview do you wait patiently and just wait to hear back from the interviewer? No. Send a follow-up letter to reinforce your interest in the position and thanking them for their time and consideration. This added effort may set you above other applicants. Get interview follow-up letter tips here…http://tinyurl.com/lxyzr8

Top Winter Activities for the Upcoming Season…

What better way to get over the cold and snow then to go out and enjoy it?! If you can’t beat em’ join em’ right? Here are some fun activites for your family and friends to look forward to this upcoming winter season…

Skiing/Snowboarding

• White Pass Ski Resort: $50-100 for a weekend, plus huge deals on season tickets starting at $439 – offers skiing, snowboarding, tubing and more.
• Mission Ridge: Live bands, downtown shopping, skiing/snowboarding, tubing and even icicle climbing! Packages start as low as $299.

Sledding/Tubing

• Lake Wenatchee State Park in WA: 1,866 ft. of elevation with a 170 foot glide starting at $10 a day or $30 for the entire season!
• Cherry Hill Park in ID: This spot is a long time favorite for sledding in CDA. It’s known as the most popular spot in the city for sledding.
• Mt. Bachelor Tubing Park in OR: An 800 ft. ride full of rollers. Sure to be a fun, exciting day out on the snow.

Snowshoeing

• Artist Point in Bellingham, WA: 5.5 miles of snowshoeing around a beautiful scenic area backed by the towering rock summit of Mt. Baker.
• Aneroid Lake in OR: 15 miles of pure white snow that eases into a slope for a tougher run.

Dog Sledding

• Lake Easton Snow Park in WA: Starting at $10 for the ride of your life.
• Mt. Hood Dog Sled tours in Welches, OR.

Hot Springs

• Baby Hot Springs in OR: http://oregonhotsprings.immunenet.com/bagby.htm
• Olympic Hot Springs in WA: http://www.visitsolduc.com

My Top 15: Road Trip Lessons Learned

Road trips are always an adventure. Whether you’re with your college buddies caravanning to Lake Havasu for Spring Break, taking a romantic getaway with a loved one or perhaps moving two carloads of household items 1,800 miles across the country with all the members of your immediate family. They are sure to give you lots of laughs. I recently agreed to a 3-day road trip with my parents and my sister from Spokane, WA to Phoenix, AZ. Some people may think I was nuts, but after we got there, unloaded and soaked in some fun…I can say it was really a lot of fun.

The top 15 things I learned on my road trip:

1. Don’t say you have to stop for a bathroom break prior to Missoula, MT.
2. Homemade chocolate chip cookies don’t last long in 100-degree weather.
3. Desert lizards look a lot like small raptor dinosaurs from Jurassic Park when they’re chasing each other.
4. There is nothing in Utah.
5. Don’t be caught behind the wheel for 60 miles on a 6% grade with a crazy backseat driver mother in the seat next to you.
6. A convertible is not fun when it’s over 106 degrees outside.
7. Casinos weren’t built on winners.
8. Don’t always expect toilets to work when you reach your final destination.
9. Scorpions are a fact of life in the desert…you can trap them with glue boards.
10. There is NOTHING in Utah.
11. You really can drink over 100 ounces of water a day.
12. IPods are useless if the driver wants “company” on the trip.
13. You can’t study statistics sitting by a pool; no matter how hard you try.
14. Red beer is disgusting no matter what state you’re in .
15. Really…there is nothing in Utah.

Another way to be “green”…

e-Statements…

Good for the Environment, Good for You.

Each year the financial industry uses a significant percentage of paper by sending paper bills and statements, which has a tremendous impact on our environment.

According to PayItGreen.org the average American household receives 19 bills and financial statements each month. If just 2 percent of the households made the switch to electronic bills and payments we could save more than 15 million pounds of paper.

At a local level, Numerica Credit Union alone sends more than 249,000 statements each year. If each of our members took the step to switch to e-Statements we could save more than 83,000 pounds of paper and 1,005 trees each year!

So if you haven’t already, sign up for e-Statements. Visit your favorite branch or log-in to Home Banking on numericacu.com to make the switch. It’s free, quick, easy and secure – plus, it helps the environment…what more could you ask for?

Protecting Your Identity

According to the Federal Trade Commission, about nine million Americans become victims of identity theft every year. It can take several years and a lot of money for you to repair the damage.

Here’s a couple tips to help prevent yourself from identity theft:

1. Be careful of anyone watching over your shoulder whenever using your debit card and NEVER give your pin# out. Make sure your pin# isn’t easy to guess and isn’t written down in your wallet.
2. Purchase a shredder and use it! Shred any and all documents that contain any personal information about you (example: SS#, DOB, Account #’s).
3. Monitor bills and statements regularly. Watch for any charges made unauthorized. You may want to switch to e-Statements so less personal information is being mailed to you.
4. Review your credit report once a year – watch out for any accounts opened that you didn’t authorize.
5. Never leave paid bills in your mail box for the carrier to pick up. Always drop them off at the post office.
6. Contact all creditors when you move to ensure your statements/cards are sent to your new address.
7. Do not provide your SS#, Account # or Credit Card # to any telephone solicitation.
8. Make sure your online credit card charges are processed through a secure site, indicated by https instead of http.
9. Do not carry your social security card in your wallet.
10. Do not list your drivers license # on your checks – this provides more information to any thief.

What to do if your identity is stolen:

1. File a police report.
2. Contact your financial institution immediately – they will block or close your account.
3. Place a fraud alert on your credit report.
4. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

There is a lot of info out there about identity theft…visit the Security Center on Numerica’s website https://www.numericacu.com/security/ or the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft website http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/index.html

Swine Flu Transfers from Cash to People?

If you notice a bottle of hand sanitizer at the teller window next time you visit a Numerica branch…that’s us taking precaution to keep our members and branch staff healthy.

An MSN report says H1N1 can actually pass from cash to humans. Here’s how the transfer can happen:

• An infected person sneezes or coughs directly onto their cash or pay slip and then an uninfected person touches it while the virus is still alive.
• That person then needs to immediately touch either their nose or mouth.

Although the possibility of this happening is rare, some businesses  are taking precautions. One Credit Union is wearing latex gloves while they handle cash or pay slips. Other businesses (like Numerica) are putting out antibacterial hand sanitizer for everyone to use.

Germs can spread so easily when dealing with cash, withdrawl slips, etc., especially at the end of the week when there is a large amount of transactions being made. So keep yourself healthy – next time you visit us, use the hand sanitizer to prevent the possible transfer of H1N1.

Holiday Shopping Tips…

• Make a list of everyone you need to shop for.
• Put an approximate dollar amount next to each person on your list.
• Make a Christmas budget and be realistic about what you can really afford to spend.
• Make sure your budget and your expenditures are close enough to work within.
• Know ahead of time how you will pay for this year’s gifts.
• Budget your time to shop. The holidays are busy, so schedule the time you need to shop and get the best deals.
• Start early! The earlier you start, the better deals you will find. You really can save on Black Friday.
• Shop the sales and don’t be ashamed to use coupons. Retailers are offering discounts and rebates on most anything. Take advantage of this.
• Comparison shop. Many stores will even price match.
• Keep watching the sales even when you’re done shopping. If you buy something and it goes on sale a week later, most retailers will refund you the difference.
• Save ALL receipts. Most retailers require a receipt to get the full amount back after Christmas when returning gifts.
• Hate shopping with the holiday masses? Try purchasing gifts online…you might even find better deals on sites like ebay and overstock.com.
• Remember to factor in both time and money for gift-wrapping. Even if you decide to do it all yourself the materials can cost a small fortune if you don’t plan for it.

Don’t Have Credit? Here’s how to get it!!

All of us at one point must enter the “real” world and begin a life of our own. One thing you definitely need is credit. You need credit to buy a house, buy a car, get a cell phone, etc. Here are some tips on how to establish credit…

It’s important to understand what lenders are looking for. If you don’t have credit, then you don’t have a credit score for a lender to determine whether or not your credit worthy. There are other things however, a lender will review:

Bank Accounts: Lenders want to see how long you have had an account with a financial institution – the longer the better! Plus, if you are applying for a loan with your financial institution, they see an established relationship already!

Employment History: A lender wants to see that you can hold a job. It won’t look good if your employment history shows you don’t stay at one job very long.

Residence History: Just as with your employment history, a lender wants to see that you have a stable residence – it will appear suspicious if you move around a lot.

Where do you start? Start with your financial institution, such as Numerica Credit Union! Numerica offers lines of credit such as a Student Visa or Share Secured Visa’s. The benefit of opening a Visa through Numerica is you don’t have to worry about your interest rate being raised or your limit being lowered.

Important!! Here are some helpful tips on what you DON”T want to do when trying to establish credit:

- Don’t overdraw your account. This will damage a good history with your financial institution.

- Avoid making late payments or skipping payments. You will definitely hurt your credit this way.

- Don’t let anyone use your credit card, debit card or let anyone have access to your bank account information.

finances…in layman’s terms…

The following is a guide to provide easy-to-understand definitions of financial terms. There is so much to know when dealing with finances – while you may have heard some or even all of these words…you might not understand their full meaning. Hope this helps!

Credit Score: Your credit score is a number, calculated based on information in your credit report, that lenders use to assess the credit risk you pose and the interest rate they will offer you if they agree to lend to you. What is taken into account? Payment history, amount of current debts and age of accounts are a few items that make up a credit score.

Debt: Any money owed to an individual, company or other organization.

Individual Retirement Account (IRA): An account in which individuals may set aside earned income in a tax-deferred retirement plan.

Co-Sign: The act of signing for another person’s debt which involves a legal obligation made by the co-signer to make payment on the other person’s debt should that person default. Having a co-signer is a way for individuals with a low income or poor/limited credit history to obtain financing.

Credit Limit: The amount of credit that a financial institution extends to a client.

Debt-To-Income Ratio (DTI): A personal-finance measure that compares an individual’s debt payments to the income he or she generates.

Fixed Interest Rate: A loan or mortgage with an interest rate that will remain at a predetermined rate for the entire term of the loan.  

Insufficient Funds: Occurs when an account cannot provide adequate funds to satisfy teh demand of a payment.

Loan: The act of giving money, property or other material goods to another party in exchange for future repayment of the principal amount along with interest or other finance charges. A loan may be for a specific, one-time amount or can be available as open-ended credit up to a specified ceiling amount.

Overdraft: An extension of credit from a lending institution when an account reaches zero. An overdraft allows the individual to continue withdrawing money even if the account has no funds in it.

Safe Deposit Box: A box located inside a financial institution that can be rented to store valuables such as documents and jewelry. Safe deposit boxes can be accessed with keys, pin numbers or some other security pass.

*Term definitions from financial-dictionary.com and investopedia.com.

Did you know?? A little St. Patty’s Day trivia…

Here’s a little St. Patty’s Day trivia to get you in the spirit!!

• Did you know…that St. Patrick’s Day is the Roman Catholic feast honoring Ireland’s patron saint, St. Patrick?
• Did you know…that St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland?
• Did you know…that there are 34 million U.S. citizens claiming Irish ancestry?
• Did you know…that while it is customary to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day in the United States, the color green is actually considered unlucky in Ireland?
• Did you know…that the Irish celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by wearing shamrocks on their lapels’ and dressing their children up in the colors of the Irish flag: orange, white and green?
• Did you know…that the first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in Boston, Massachusetts?
• Did you know…that the shamrock, considered the official plant of Ireland, was viewed as a sacred plant in ancient Ireland?
• Did you know…that leprechauns are traditional Irish folk figures? Leprechauns are believed to be cranky little fellows responsible for mending the shoes of fairies and causing all sorts of mayhem and mischief.

Being a Washington State Page – Getting Started…

Welcome to the first blog (of six) about a Numerica Student Trak member’s journey from start to finish as a WA state page! Now to Julia (aka JJ)…

Last September my family took a trip to Olympia. While we were there I was lucky enough to meet a Washington State Senator named Jim Kastama. He is the kind of person who will really take the time to answer the questions of a young person and take them seriously. After talking to me about what happens in the Senate, he suggested that I apply to be a page for Senator Bob McCaslin, who represents the 4th legislative district, where I live. I really appreciate Senator Kastama’s time and how he encouraged me.

So… I went online to Yahoo and I found the web site I needed: http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Administration/PageProgram/Pages/default.aspx on this site, I got my application and information needed to apply to be a senate page.

I waited a while, until after elections (just in case) and at the beginning of December I submitted my application, along with a letter of recommendation from three of my teachers (many thanks to Mrs. Dudley, Mrs. Milne and Mr. Hartley) my Principal (thank you too Mr. Pekoe) and a really nice letter that the leadership teacher at Shadle Park High School wrote for me. He had directed me in several plays over the years and really seemed to tap into my leadership potential, work ethic and all-around-good-kid abilities (special thanks to Uncle Henry.)

Apparently the letters were pretty good because we put them in the mail on a Friday afternoon and on Monday morning, my Mom got the phone call offering me the job. We were pretty excited but the legislative session wouldn’t even begin for a couple months so we had plenty of time to read the orientation stuff they send you. We had to buy a couple pairs of black pants and a few white blouses.

FINALLY I AM A PAGE:

The day arrived. I had a gymnastics meet in Moscow Idaho on Sunday, the same day that I was supposed to be in Olympia for orientation. The lady in charge of the page program was extremely accommodating and just asked that I arrive for work early on Monday so that she could get me my jacket and name tag and review the security rules with me. Apparently I wasn’t the first kid with a busy schedule.

So after my Gymnastics meet, my Mom drove me from Moscow Idaho to Olympia where we arrived at 11:00 PM and I got to meet my host family who would be keeping me safe, fed and transported to and from work for a week. They were very nice but I was tired and basically went straight to bed without even getting to know them all that much.

Visit our blog again tomorrow to hear about JJ’s first day as a page!

Being a Washington State Senate Page…Monday

Monday:
My first day My host “Dad” drove me to work at 7:00 AM to report to the page room on the Capitol Campus in Olympia. It was pretty exciting; they gave me my jacket, which are a nice maroon color and my nametag. For a kid who has been JJ for 14 years, it was hard to remember to reply when someone called me “Julia” but when they started calling me “Julie” I was just totally confused, but I was too excited to tell anyone to call me JJ, so all week I just replied to whatever anyone called me.

I got my schedule for the week and it looked pretty exciting. Every page rotates through a variety of jobs every day and they are also required to spend two hours a day in page school. My first day was in the Legislative building, running packages and letters to the various offices throughout the Legislative Building (or Leg as we pages call it) then at 10:00 I was off to my first day of Page School.

Page school is really interesting. The first day we learned so much about what a government provides its citizens. We discussed laws and freedom and what rights we have as citizens. We discussed money and regulations to help keep the economy going (I kind of knew a lot about this because my Mom works for Numerica.) We also talked about those things that individual citizens can’t buy but we all own because we have them as a society; parks, police departments, schools, roads and other important services. Pretty much I came to appreciate that governing society is a very complicated process and that our government has more impact on our everyday life than I ever really imagined. The most important point of our conversation really had to do with the responsibilities of being a good citizen, because we own the government and we make it work.

I had a nice lunch in the Legislative Building (Leg for short) cafeteria. My host Mom really packed a nice lunch, she bakes home made cookies. Maybe I can get my mom to do that. I met lots of kids from all over the state who are also pages. It was over too soon and I found myself working hard all afternoon.

In the afternoon I was given the job of stuffing about a thousand envelopes. Fold the letter, put it in the envelope, seal the envelope stick on the address label… over and over and over. Finally! I was done. Then I got to hand deliver every single letter, to every single office all over the Capitol Campus. It was pouring rain. HAVEN’T THESE PEOPLE HEARD OF EMAIL?!?!

Day one was exhausting and exciting and fun. I loved it! Can’t wait to soak my feet tonight, I must have walked 50 miles.

Check back on Monday to see what JJ got to do on her second day as a page!

Being a Washington State Page…Tuesday

Tuesday:

Okay… today is really a big deal! I am opening the session by being the flag bearer. I get to carry in the American Flag and it really is a huge honor. There are 24 Senate Pages this week and only 5 days of session. I think that because my Senator is so senior, I get to have all the best jobs. I had a little “training session” with the security guards who explain how we enter who gets the US flag and who is carrying the Washington State Flag. And on top of it all, I get to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. I never got this excited about the Pledge of Allegiance at school.

After opening the Senate Session for the day, I took my seat to the right of the President of the Senate. In Washington, the Lieutenant Governor is the President of the Senate, his name is Brad Owen and he is really nice. I was going to be his right-hand helper all morning. Mostly he just needed a few notes delivered but it was still pretty cool to be sitting up in the front, looking very official for the morning.

One thing that I noticed on the Senate floor, everyone really seems to get along pretty well. Jim Kastama (remember, the Senator from Puyallup who encouraged me to apply to be a page) sits on the right side of the floor with the Republicans, even though he is a Democrat. He does this to show that his focus is good policy and not partisan politics. Bob McCaslin, my Senator, is famous for taking any new Senator under his wing (did I mention that my senator has wings like an Eagle?) And show them the ropes of how things work in the Senate. Everyone really seems to be working hard to take care of the people.

I just wanted to make a quick “Shout Out” to my local favorites: Chris Marr is from Spokane. Lisa Brown is also from Spokane. Joe McDermott lived in the same dorm with my Mom at Gonzaga University 100 years ago. I was too shy to introduce myself to him, but maybe he’ll read my blog and know that I thought he was really cool and fair and obviously cared a bunch. I think that the all do and as much as I hate to admit that it kind of surprised me, I am really proud of the Washington State Senate.

That afternoon I got to work in the “Senate Locker Room” which is the cafeteria for just for the Senators. I was in there with my friend Theresa (another page) and I couldn’t help but kind of mess with her a little bit. We are supposed to get the drink orders for the Senators. One of them asked me to bring him 2%, but my tray got full so I asked Theresa if she could get it for him please. When she came back I pretended to watch intently to see if he liked the milk, I told her that I was guessing the drink orders based on what the Senators look like. I told her that I thought he’d want 2% because his shirt was kind of a cream color. SHE FREAKED!!!!! I can’t believe that I was able to keep my face straight that long. The Senators get really yummy food and the good thing is that the Pages who work at lunch get to eat it too. IT WAS DELICIOUS!

Nothing could top the fun I had with Theresa in the Senate Locker Room that day but Page School was pretty cool. I have to say that I think Page School was my favorite part of being a Page. I learned so much and then I got to see exactly what I learned about in action on the floor. Today was learning all about how governments balance budgets. We talked about taxes and jobs and things that the state can do to encourage businesses and stuff. I was kind of amazed at how smart all the kids are (even Theresa) but a really smart group of individuals will have 24 different opinions. Getting the group to come together and all get on the same page was really a challenge. Even though we are a society of individuals, we are all in it together and developing a state budget that meets EVERYONE’S needs is hard!!! Tomorrow we get to introduce bills that we write debate and ourselves them just like on the Senate floor. I can’t wait… I think I am going to increase taxes, just to see the reactions of my classmates.

Check back tomorrow for JJ’s next post!

Being a Washington State Page…Wednesday

WEDNESDAY:

School is from 8 to 10 today and I am so ready! I did my research and homework last night. I am pretty lucky because my host “Dad” works for an agency that is involved with the State’s budget. He had some really good tips for the bill I wrote. I can’t help but feel like Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde” “…. isn’t bill writing super fun or what?”

So I introduced my bill to the “Ways and Means” committee (yep, Theresa who believed that I was guessing drink orders based on shirt color) basically the state needed to come up with $6 billion (um, that part wasn’t a joke… SIX BILLION DOLLARS) to balance the budget. My bill suggests that we no longer allow “Tax Exempt” purchases by residents of Montana or Oregon when they shop in Washington. So I introduced and we went through the whole process of debate. Other kids had their bills introduced today too. We didn’t vote but I think my mock bill was pretty good.

Being a page is really a huge honor and it is literally a once in a lifetime opportunity. If you get to be a page, you only get to do it one time; they want to give the opportunity to as many kids as they can. So please understand that I am not complaining when I say that THIS IS ONE HARD JOB FOR $35 a day and our days go from 7:45 to at least 5:00 PM, but sometimes later. This is less than $4.50 per hour. It hasn’t changed since my mom was a page in 1979! But I am completely honored. I spent the afternoon completely running around every part of the campus that I possibly could. It seemed by the end of the day that they were only sending me to buildings that I was not in already (meaning out in the rain) and only to buildings with Marble (meaning really hard) floors.

The highlight of my day was getting my picture taken with Senator McCaslin. He is the nicest man I think I have ever met. He just feels like a wonderful Grandpa type person and he smells like Butterscotch. He has the biggest, warm, brown eyes. I am so honored to serve for him and I take back my complaints about the rain and marble floors. This is an amazing opportunity and I really love it!

In tomorrow’s post…JJ gets locked in a closet!! Check back to see how she got out

Being a WA State Page…Thursday…

THURSDAY

I am in Leg (that is short for Legislative building) helping with some office work. I get to stay inside for a few hours, there is carpet on the office floor where I am helping and it is cozy in here. What a nice way to start my morning. They need me to make some copies… Okay… this look like the copy room… oh… wait… I can’t find the light switch… HEY DID THE DOOR CLOSE BEHIND ME?!?!?! Yes! I spent about 20 minutes locked in a little filing room. Really 20 minutes. It seemed like an hour. I was too embarrassed to knock like crazy and scream, I just calmly (sheepish is another word I can think of here) waited, and someone was going to come in eventually. Oh did I mention, I never could find the light switch so I waited in the dark. Finally I heard someone outside the door… so I swallowed my pride and made some noise, they let me out and the man walked up the hallway laughing his head off. He was wearing a blue shirt (Diet Pepsi obviously.)

So In Page school we debated a little more about our bills and my class passed my bill, although they didn’t like the idea of raising taxes, they didn’t seem to mind raising taxes for people from Oregon and Montana. I am pretty proud of my bill and my ability to argue a good point and I’m also proud that I was only a tiny bit afraid of the dark today.

Being a WA State Page…FRIDAY!!

FRIDAY

We had Page school today from 8-10 and kind of wrapped things up. Basically during the week, between Page School and real life observation I learned about the importance of voting. These people make really important choices for all of us. We do have a say with our vote and it is important to know who your candidates are and vote for the best person possible!

I learned quite a bit more about how a bill really becomes a law and about what kinds of laws we pass.

I learned about balancing a state budget and the roles that Senators, representatives, The Governor, Lt. Governor and others have in the process of running our government. I learned to consider the short-term and the long-term effects of decisions being made today.

I learned the protocol and tradition that is part of the Senate. It was an incredible honor to be able to participate directly in the working of our government and to spend time in the presence of so many who are completely dedicated to the service of their community.

I also learned that a girl named Theresa who recently served as a Senate page honestly believes that another girl from the Spokane Valley has the power to guess what people will drink with their lunch based on the color of their shirt.

I got to leave at noon today so that My Mom could get me home (they let the kids from the Eastern side of the state leave early for the long drive) before Midnight.

I loved being a page. I suggest that every kid who is 14-17 years old get in touch with their Senator or Representative and apply to be a page too.

Num Num Website is Here!

Introducing the Num Num website – unlike any other financial website for young adults. Watch videos you actually want to watch, learn about products you actually want to use, and read topics – financial and otherwise – that actually interest you! You’ll find it at www.numnum.org.

“Maddie” is our spokesperson on the site… she’s been created by an underground cartoonist and will guide you through the new site. She’s nondescript (she doesn’t like labels), but she definitely has attitude.

Give the site a try: participate in the poll, check out upcoming events and upload videos. It’s fun, it’s financial, and it’s a little edgy (or at least it’s drawn that way)!

Stay Green & Save Green…

Saturday, May 22, is National Turtle Day! Num Num is quite excited about this. In fact, the office threw him a surprise party… check out the video on www.numnum.org.

In celebration of National Turtle Day, Num Num came up with a few tips to help us all stay “green” and even save some “green.” And, he would know – he was born green!

• Buy pre-loved clothes. Donating your slightly used clothing and buying used clothing yourself can make a big difference.
• Use public transportation. Taking the bus or even carpooling reduces congestion, air pollution and greenhouse emissions as well.
• Turn off the water when you’re brushing your teeth and washing your face. It’s amazing how much water is wasted in-between rinses.
• Tap-water snob? Well then, buy a water filter instead of using bottled water. You won’t be using those nasty plastic bottles and you’ll save some money!
• Next time you need to replace your tires, ask about tires that can increase your car’s fuel efficiency. Filling up the tank is expensive these days – a change in tires will help the environment and your wallet.
• Someone’s trash is often someone else’s treasure. That’s the basis of www.freecycle.org. It’s a website where you can give and receive items for nothing.

Financial Regulatory Reform Bill

Recently, the US Senate approved the Financial Regulatory Reform Bill, which included a provision that would mandate price controls on the interchange fees paid by merchants for accepting debit cards. This bill has unintended consequences for credit union members and every consumer with a debit card in his or her wallet.

As a credit union, interchange gives us the income we need to run our debit card program. We assume all the risks such as fraud and data security. The merchants assume none of these liabilities. With debit cards, the merchant has little to worry about and is paid immediately. When data is compromised, it is not the merchant that bears the cost of replacing cards; it is the financial institution. And these costs directly affect our bottom line.

Numerica doesn’t set the interchange fee that is charged. However, if the rate is lowered we could be forced to impose other fees to cover the costs of running the program that we have today. Or worse, we may have to eliminate low-cost, member-oriented programs. Who gains if this amendment is passed? The big box merchants will have a windfall gain with reduced fees and no risks.

We want each of you to take a moment to email your members of Congress today asking them to remove the interchange amendment language from the final Financial Services Reform bill. It’s easy. Use http://capwiz.com/cuna/home/. It’s important that your voice be heard.

More information has also been made available at www.numericacu.com.

12 Quick Ways to Save Money…

1. Skip your morning latte and make your own coffee at home.
2. Make a list before going to the grocery store… and stick to it.
3. Go to the grocery store while you’re in a hurry. This way you have to be in-and-out and won’t get side-tracked from your list.
4. Price check before making a big-ticket purchase.
5. Disconnect your land line and just use your cell phone.
6. Avoid over draft fees – be aware of your checking account balance to avoid unnecessary fees.
7. Consolidate any debt you have to a lower interest and pay it off ASAP. Why spend your hard-earned money on interest?
8. Ride your bike, carpool or take the bus whenever possible.
9. Avoid trendy clothing… stick with classic styles you’ll still want to wear next month.
10. Don’t make eating out an everyday event – instead, just treat yourself once a week.
11. Try a beauty school. Get a professional manicure, pedicure, haircut or highlight on the cheap by visiting your local beauty school instead of an upscale salon.
12. Leave your credit cards at home and take only the cash you’ll need. If you run short… put something back.

10 Tips for a Stress Free Vacation…

Vacations are supposed to be fun and relaxing – not stressful. Here’s ten ways to prevent identity theft while traveling:

1. Use a PIN-based ATM card instead of a debit card.
2. Clean out your wallet and leave your checkbook, your debit cards and all but two credit cards at home.
3. Leave unnecessary identification at home like your Social Security Number.
4. Closely watch who has your credit cards and for how long. Frequently check credit and bank account activity on a secure computer or by phone.
5. Tell your credit union and credit card companies about your travel plans, and give them your cell phone number in case they notice unusual charges.
6. Don’t access personal or financial information on public computers, and make sure, when using your own laptop that the wireless system you’re using is legitimate and secure.
7. Use a hotel safe when available. Your hotel is not your castle. Assume your locked hotel door will never be “locked.” Many people you don’t know will have access to your hotel room.
8. Never leave personal information in a rental car.
9. Never share specific vacation plans on social networking sites.
10. Ask the post office to stop your mail delivery before you leave town.

Submit a Video & Win!

Want a chance to win $50? Like to help local charities? If you answered yes to both of those questions, Numerica’s Num Num site has a great contest for you!

All you have to do is create a finance-themed video and submit it on Vimeo. The video can be about anything having to do with finances… share your thoughts on money, tell us what you’re saving for right now, fill us in on your own financial tips, etc. Be creative and have fun with it!

Create your masterpiece… then submit it, following these steps:

• Set up an account on Vimeo (www.vimeo.com)
• Log into your account on Vimeo
• Join Numerica’s group
• Upload and submit your video to Numerica’s video page

Once your video is submitted, you’ll automatically be entered to win. We’ll pick the best video every month – and give the winner $50!

And since we want everyone to feel like a winner… we will donate $10 to the Crosswalk Teen Shelter for every submitted video! Crosswalk is an emergency shelter, a school drop-out prevention program and a group of lifesaving and life-changing programs dedicated to breaking the cycle of youth homelessness. In an average year, Crosswalk serves more than 1,000 youth. Emergency shelter is available 365 days a year and all services are free and voluntary. Learn more about the charity at www.voaspokane.org/crosswalk.

Keep it Safe Online

With the huge amount of time people spend on social media sites, we need to keep ourselves and/or children safe from cyberspace bullies and predators. Here’s a few tips:

• Communication is Key: Talk about appropriate online behavior (www.mysecurecyberspace.com and www.isafe.org have some good pointers and conversation guidelines).
• Stealth Mode: Take a look at how your kids use Facebook and other social media sites. Without getting too involved, check in to make sure their interacting appropriately.
• Use Privacy Settings: Use privacy settings to limit who can see what is posted on social networks.
• Helpful Software: Consider software that allows you to monitor your children’s email and web traffic. Block inappropriate sites and limit how much time they can spend online. Try www.onlinefamilynorton.com (free), www.mcafee.com ($40) or www.netnanny.com ($40).
• Keep Current with Technology: Ask a friend or get a basic technical training to keep up-to-date on new online products. You don’t have to be an expert, but a little understanding can help keep your child safe.

Smart Back-to-School Shopping Tips

Make a List: Use your required school supply list as a starting point, then add any extras you want. Stick to the list when shopping to avoid making unnecessary purchases.

Take Inventory: Sort through supplies leftover from last year. Pick out items that can be reused and check it off your list.

Buy Generics or Store Brands: Save a few bucks by skipping on fancy supplies, because really… who’s going to see that $10 tricked-out pencil sharpener? Nobody. So go ahead and opt for the plain/cheap one.

Shop Online: You can find some great deals on sites like Ebay and Amazon. You’ll find everything from backpacks to toothbrushes!

Buy Used: Have textbooks on your supply list? Buy used copies at your campus book store or online. You’ll save a ton. And don’t forget to resell your textbooks when you’re done with them!

Interactive Shopping Spot: Buy.com set up a new virtual dorm room store to give shoppers a convenient way to stock up on back-to-school essentials. It’s especially helpful for first time college students who may not know everything they’ll need living away from home for the first time. It’s one-click shopping for school supplies, dorm room essentials and even wardrobe items. And best of all… everything can be shipped straight to your campus to avoid hauling everything in the back of mom and dad’s SUV. Check it out at www.buy.com/loc/backtoschool/68531.html.

It’s Fair Time!

If you’re heading to the Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo this week, look for Numerica! Here’s where we’ll be:

Wednesday, August 25: Dancing at the Fair Freestyle Competition Sponsor – Inland Community Stage, 4-6 pm.

Thursday, August 26: Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night at the Rodeo. We’ve teamed up with KORD radio to sponsor the event. Buy your pink “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” t-shirt at the KORD fair booth! They’re just $10/each. Come out for this fun event and help us raise funds for Mammograms for Women.

Friday, August 27: Numerica representatives will be at the fair’s main entrance during the day handing out reusable Numerica bags and talking about our great products and services!

Wednesday – Saturday, August 25-28: Numerica is the Horse Heaven Round-Up Rodeo Buckle Sponsor. You can check out the rodeo each night at 7 pm. Make sure to cheer us on Saturday night at the Buckle presentation.

Hope to see everyone there – have a safe and FUN time at the fair and rodeo!

Thanks a Billion!

Numerica just hit a milestone worth celebrating. The credit union crossed the $1 Billion mark in asset size. Congratulations to our members and staff on reaching this fantastic mile marker!

Stop by your favorite branch today to help us celebrate with treats!

Founded by locals and owned by members, we’ve dedicated ourselves to helping people in our community get ahead for more than 70 years. And unlike the big banks, we give our profits back to our members so they never have to shop around. We’re always here with better rates, lower fees, more convenience and great service.

Crash the WCUL!

A member of our Marketing department, Brittanie, just got back from Crashing the Washington Credit Union League Convention. She was selected, along with 12 other credit union employees under the age of 30, to attend the annual convention. Check out her blog to learn what “Crashing” is all about!

Well, I’m back in the office after a 4-day whirlwind called Crashing the WCUL. Crashing is defined as, “to attend without invitation.” While we were invited by the Washington Credit Union League, our group of young credit union professionals was certainly unexpected by other convention attendees. People in the Gen-Y age group are not usually seen at this event, which is more commonly reserved for credit union veterans. Being some of the youngest attendees, we got a lot of stares and questions about why we were there. But I think after interacting with us they could see we weren’t there to cause a ruckus, but wanted to learn from some of the most knowledgeable people in the industry.

The point of Crashing is to hook up the veterans and young people in the credit union industry so they can learn and be inspired by one another. We had a jam-packed schedule, full of opportunities to talk one-on-one with presidents and CEO’s of Washington state credit unions and organizations. Each intimate, interactive session focused on the credit union movement, we were able to question the credit union leaders and they could ask us anything they had on their minds too.

Crashing was a great growth and networking opportunity, but I also walked away from the experience motivated about the credit union movement and ready to go back to work with fresh ideas.

Learn more about Crash http://wa.crash.coop/ and check out their twitter http://twitter.com/crashdotcoop!

 

Submit a Video & Win! *New Entry Details*

Hey everyone! We’re still looking for submissions for our NumNum Video Contest and now there’s a new, easier way to enter.

All you have to do is make a video on the topic of money and email it to video@numnum.org. It’s that easy!

The video can be about anything having to do with finances… share your thoughts on money, tell us what you’re saving for right now, fill us in on your own financial tips, etc. Be creative and have fun with it! Check out other entrant’s videos at www.numnum.org.

Once your video is submitted, you’ll automatically be entered to win. We’ll pick the best video every month – and give the winner $50! Plus, we’re upping the ante this month. Not only will the winner receive cash… they’ll also get a Flip video camera!

It doesn’t end there. We’ll donate $10 to the Crosswalk Teen Shelter for every submitted video! Crosswalk is an emergency shelter, a school drop-out prevention program and a group of lifesaving and life-changing programs dedicated to breaking the cycle of youth homelessness. In an average year, Crosswalk serves more than 1,000 youth. Emergency shelter is available 365 days a year and all services are free and voluntary. Learn more about the charity at www.voaspokane.org/crosswalk.

Ways to Save $$$ When Holiday Shopping

Make a List: Write down everyone you need to buy for and then put the budgeted amount you would like to spend on each person. You can also put down what gift you want to buy for a certain person if you already have something in mind, this will save you time when you get to the store.

Scale Back: Do you have an unreasonable amount of people on your gift buying list? If so, find a few people you can cross off. Do you really need to buy for co-workers, your hair dresser, the mailman or the dog groomer?

Shop Online: Skip the stores and do your shopping online – it’s a great way to avoid the hectic malls and save money. You’d be surprised by how many retailers offer online holiday sales and specials that aren’t available in stores. But make sure your purchase from sites offering cheap or free shipping – don’t bust your budget on expensive shipping charges. Keep an eye out for special online coupon codes to save even more money!

Make an Agreement with Others: Talk with family and friends you know you’ll be exchanging gifts with and agree to keep the presents within a certain dollar amount. This will save both of you from stressing about holiday finances.

Gift Exchange!: This is a way to really reduce the cost of holiday shopping if you’re trying to purchase gifts for a large or extended family. Each member of the family draws a name and purchases one gift for that person only, and set spending limits for everyone to stick to.

Cut the Gifts: Suggest that the entire family forgo the gifts this year and get together for a special event or a nice meal instead.

Save on the Wrapping: Use retailers who provide free gift wrapping – this saves time, money and ensures pretty presents. Also, stock up on discounted wrapping paper when the season is over to save money next year.

Save!

If one of your New Year resolutions is to save money – group coupon sites are a great way to help you in the financial department. There are tons of coupon sites: Groupon, The Daily Save, Woot, Slick Deals, Groop Swoop, etc.

I recently came across The Deal Planet, a local group coupon site, and it quickly became my favorite. Their coupons include everything from gyms and massages, to bars and movie night deals, and even dry cleaning – and the savings are huge. A bonus about this site is that it gives back to local charities. The Deal Planet helps a new, local charity every month – this month’s charity is the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery.

You can grab the latest coupon at www.thedealplanet.com or sign up to have it emailed straight to you.

Mobile Banking is Here!

The wait is over! Numerica Credit Union now has Mobile Banking. You now can have 24 hour a day access to your Numerica accounts. Any member enrolled in Home Banking can use their web-enabled phone, smart phone, Blackberry, Android or iPhone to log onto numericacu.com and check their accounts.

So, picture this – you’re standing in line at the grocery store and you can’t remember if your transferred money from your savings into your checking account. All you need to do is access Mobile Banking on your web-enabled phone and presto – the transfer can be made. This is a much better way to spend your time in the grocery line, rather than contemplating which candy bar to buy or pondering whether Jennifer Aniston really did lose 20 pounds this week

To activate Mobile Banking with Numerica Credit Union, you must be enrolled in Home Banking. You can do this by logging onto numericacu.com from your computer. Once you are enrolled in Home Banking you can access Mobile Banking from your mobile web browser on your web-enabled phone or smart phone. Just go to www.numericacu.com from your phone and select mobile banking.

• Check your balance
• View transaction history
• Transfer funds
• Find branch locations
• Locate ATMs

Oh and the best part is, if you have an Android, smart phone, Blackberry or iPhone you can download our App at your favorite App store.

• How to download the Numerica App for Windows Mobile and other mobile devices with data plans: From your phone log onto www.numericacu.com and select Mobile Banking. If your phone is compatible with our App you will see a link at the bottom of the screen to download the App.
• Download the Numerica App for your iPhone or iPad from the Apple App Store.
• Download the Numerica App for your Android phone at the Android App Store.