members circle

www.alliantcreditunion.org a newsletter for Alliant Credit Union members November 2012

contents
1 Lunch savings its in the bag

Lunch savings its in the bag

Lunch as we know it the customary meal between breakfast and dinner did not become the norm until 1850. Before then, most people snacked during the midday if they became hungry and had something handy to nibble on. That changed with the Industrial Revolution and the emergence of the proverbial lunch hour for workers. A familiar sight in New York City in the early 1900s, for instance, was men racing against the clock for a decent meal in a cafeteria, soda fountain, luncheonette or automat (a restaurant consisting of vending machines). But, even then, 30 years before the advent of sliced wrapped bread, some workers economized by bringing their lunch to work. One famous brown bagger was Fred My Three Sons MacMurray. In 1943, he was the highest paid actor in the world, earning $420,000 a year, and yet he habitually brought a bagged lunch to the movie set, featuring a hard-boiled egg. What about you? Do you bring your own lunch to work? About 25% of Americans eat lunch out ve or more times a week. And 60% eat a commercially prepared lunch at least once a week, according to the National Restaurant Association. Todays turbulent economy is sparking renewed interest in brown bagging lunch (even if your bag is made of plastic, vinyl or something else). After all, one of the fundamental laws of saving money is to spend less money. And bringing your lunch can make an appreciable difference even if you do it a couple of times a week. The Internet is rife with frugal bloggers who claim to have saved hundreds, if not thousands of dollars a year, by bringing their lunch. Heres a typical example: Lets say you go to a deli and shell out $10 for a sandwich, chips and soda. At home, you could conceivably make that sandwich with the same ingredients for $2. And the chips and soda may set you back only $1 if you buy these items in bulk. OK, youve now saved $7. Now, if you save $7 for 240 workdays, youll conserve $1,680. How much can you save? Websites, such as bankrate.com, have calculators to help you estimate your own savings. Meanwhile, bringing your own lunch also helps you get the right number of calories from the right kind of food. Plus, your meal doesnt have to be bland. Websites, such as webmd.com, list lots of ideas of how to treat yourself to a lunch that tastes good and is good for you.
Sources: ediblegeography.com, smithsonianmag.com, abclocal.go.com, fyiliving.com, consumercredit.com, bluehealthadvantagene.com, bankrate.com, genxnance.com, howstuffworks.com and webmd.com

The easy way to open an IRA via Alliant Online Banking

2 Alliants Harold Weary, 104 years old and still going strong

Simple meet safe. Introducing V.me by VISA Get eStatements? Look for your tax forms online Earn a 2012 tax deduction by prepaying your Alliant mortgage

DIVIDEND
December Savings Dividend DECLARED OCTOBER 18, 2012

The December 2012 Savings and IRA dividend, declared 10/18/2012, provides a Compounded Annual Percentage Yield of

0.80% APY

Dividends are paid on the last day of the month to accountholders who have maintained an average daily balance of $100 or more. Savings dividend is subject to change monthly.
December Checking Dividend DECLARED OCTOBER 18, 2012

The easy way to open an IRA via Alliant Online Banking

Now you can open a Traditional, Roth or SEP IRA with Alliant by using our online banking system. Its easy. Log in to Alliant Online Banking and select Open an Account on the right hand side of your Account Summary page and follow the prompts. You can transfer funds from your savings or checking account into your new IRA. And while establishing your IRA, you can use links to add beneciaries or fund your account with a rollover or transfer from another institution. IRS rules regarding IRAs include: 1. The maximum IRA deposit for people who are less than 50 years of age is $5,000 for 2012 and $5,500 for 2013 (if youre over 50 years old, you can also make extra $1,000 catch-up contributions each year) 2. You must have earned income to contribute to an IRA 3. You can take advantage of larger deposit limits by opening a SEP IRA if youre self-employed The contributions you make when you open the IRA will be for the current year. You can later make prior year 2012 year contributions from January 1, 2013, through April 15, 2013.
Consult a tax professional for advice on your specic situation.

The December 2012 High Rate Checking dividend, declared 10/18/2012, provides a Compounded Annual Percentage Yield of

0.75% APY

Checking dividends are paid on the last day of each month to accountholders who meet the requirements of the account. Checking dividend is subject to change monthly.

2 a very active retirement

Alliants Harold Weary, 104 years old and still going strong
Q: How many times has Harold Weary attended the national convention of the Retired United Airlines Employees Association (RUAEA)? A: Well, he attended the rst 30 national conventions, as well as some more recent ones. In October 2012, at this years convention in Washington, D.C., he was formally recognized for his years of attendance and service as a centenarian and original member of the association. daughter, Marlys, bought a computer in the 1980s, which he still uses for word processing. Yet, he remains old school when it comes to banking. He has yet to use an ATM or try online banking. Since retiring in 1973, Harold has been active in RUAEA and many other organizations. He has been a Mount Prospect Public Library Foundation member and has logged more than 42 years and 10,000 hours volunteering at the library. He still loves to go there to research genealogy and help others with their searches. The library has named an area of its building The Harold Weary Genealogy Room. He has also served as treasurer of the Mount Prospect Historical Society and earned an award from Rotary International for making a positive impact on his community. For his 100th birthday, Harold took a Caribbean cruise with 27 family members, including his 11 great-grandchildren. (He now has 12 great-grandchildren.)

Harold Weary (left) receives a merit award during his retirement year, 1973, from United Air Lines CEO Edward Carlson.

Harolds story is one for the books. Last year, he became the oldest person on record to get a hip replacement. Ive always been a walker and I was determined to walk again without pain, he says.

What is his secret for longevity? Well, the In 1942 when Harold joined United as a manager of nancial good die young, he jokes. Otherwise, projects, he often walked across the street from his ofce to Harold at the October the key is to stay alert by keeping mentally 2012 Alliants rst headquarters, lodged in a hangar in Chicagos at www.v.me RUAEA national Learn more about the easy, worry-free way to shop online and physically active. convention. Midway International Airport. During his 31 years at United, Harold also ew including about 40 business trips to Hawaii, often taking his wife, Irene. The family joked that Get eStatements? Look for your Earn a 2012 tax deduction his wife got to know the Hawaiian shopping malls far better than the ones near their Mount Prospect, IL, home. tax forms online by prepaying your Alliant

Simple meet safe.

Introducing V.me by Visa.

Through the years, Harold relied on his Alliant savings account to grow and help fund his retirement. He and his

Simple meet safe.

Introducing V.me by Visa.

Learn more about the easy way to shop online at www.v.me

If you get your Alliant account statements via eStatements, then youll also get your tax forms online from Alliant. Look for them in early January. To access these forms, log in to Alliant Online Banking and select the option Statements & Tax Forms on the right hand side of your Account Summary page. You can then print the forms. Members who receive their Alliant statements via the mail will get paper copies of their tax forms mailed to them. Meanwhile, these members can also access their tax forms on Alliant Online Banking.

mortgage

Want a 2012 tax deduction for a January 2013 Alliant mortgage payment? Then, we must receive your payment by Friday, December 28, 2012. The December interest charge included in the January installment may be eligible for a 2012 tax year itemized deduction. Consult your nancial advisor about potential tax savings.

ofce closings
Alliant will be closed in observance of the following holidays:

Christmas Day Tuesday, December 25, 2012 New Years Day Tuesday, January 1, 2013

dial direct: Alliant is there when you need us Mortgage Hotline Member Contact Center 800-328-1935 800-328-1935 Press option 5, then option 1 24/7 personal assistance MonFri, 8am5pm CT TDD/TTY 773-462-2300 Self Service Telephone (SST) 800-482-5328 24/7 automated account access VISA Debit Card 800-328-1935 VISA Credit Cards 24/7 Member Service/ Account Info/Lost or Stolen: 866-444-8529 VISA Gift Card Purchase: 800-328-1935 Support Center: 866-466-2362 Auto/Home Insurance 888-380-9287 MonFri, 6am10pm CT Sat, 6am 8pm CT GreenPath Debt Solutions 877-337-3399 MonThur, 7am9pm CT Fri, 7am6pm CT Sat, 8am5pm CT
Alliant Headquarters 11545 W. Touhy Avenue Chicago, IL 60666

Alliant Retirement and Investment Services Financial Advisors are available to serve members in all states. Call 800-328-1935, option 9. NEW! Deposits/Payments PO Box 2387 Des Plaines, IL 60017-2387 NEW! Credit Card Payments PO Box 1666 Des Plaines, IL 60017-1666 All Other Correspondence and IRA and HSA deposits PO Box 66945, Chicago, IL 60666-0945

For Alliant Branch locations, Alliant Online Banking, and product and service information, visit our website: www.alliantcreditunion.org
This newsletter is for members personal use only. Reproducing and/or selling the contents of this newsletter without prior written permission from Alliant Credit Union is prohibited. Copyright Alliant. Articles are prepared as an educational service for Alliant members. They should not be relied on as a substitute for individual nancial or legal research. Articles in this newsletter are not intended to be used (and may not be relied on) for penalty avoidance.

Convenient 24/7/365 account access Online banking at www.alliantcreditunion.org Mobile banking app for Android iPad iPhone and iPod touch , Member Contact Center at 800-328-1935 Self Service Telephone at 800-482-5328 Over 80,000 surcharge-free ATMs nationwide
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PO Box 66945, 11545 W. Touhy Avenue Chicago, IL 60666-0945

www.alliantcreditunion.org
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