to spring clean or not to spring clean?

Do you need a reason to avoid spring cleaning?

Spring is a time for people to become house proud, roll up their sleeves and dive into the serious business of spring cleaning. But, that hasnt stopped some witty people from making fun of the enterprise. I hate housework. You make the beds, you wash the dishes and six months later you have to start all over again.
Joan Rivers

www.alliantcreditunion.org

Advisor
the Alliant
keep the creepy-crawlies out

Edition 1, 2013

in this issue
1 How to bug-proof your home 2 Give your bathroom a low-cost makeover

Housework cant kill you, but why take a chance?

Phyllis Diller

How to bug-proof your home

Termites and booklice and ies oh, my! As spring approaches, so do the bugs. And they vastly outnumber people. In fact, there are 6 million to 10 million different species of insects in the world (20 distinct kinds of cockroaches in Arizona alone). But while most bugs are considered harmless, even benecial to the environment, they make unwelcome house guests. Keeping your home completely bug-free may be an impossible dream, but there are steps you can take to minimize their appearance without, as a last resort, relying on the proverbial can of bug spray. The key rules are to deny bugs entry into your home and, if they get in, to deny them the amenities they need to live on. 1. Screen them out. All your doors and windows should have screens, preferably ones that are 20-mesh or ner. If you have a door that is not self-closing and doesnt have a screen, consider installing a screen door behind it. Take a close look at the screens you already have. If you have broken wires, carefully push them back into place with a screw driver. For big holes add another layer of screen and hold that in place with household cement. 2. Caulk them out. Any hole or crack that comes through your house is, in effect, a welcome mat for insects. Be vigilant and caulk any gaps you nd in your homes foundation, walls and fascia boards. And caulk around your utility and appliance vents, including your telephone line, dryer vent and gas line. Be sure to also caulk around windows. 3. Dry them out. Inspect pipes and x any leaks. Wipe up any moisture, including condensation on the pipes, because a drop is all it takes for some bugs to live on. 4. Tidy them out. Bugs love a dirty kitchen. So clean yours each day. Wipe up and throw away any crumbs, food scraps and packages. Sweep or vacuum the oor. Promptly wash your dishes and your pets dishes. Scrub the stove. Store food in air tight containers or in the refrigerator. Rinse recyclables. Use plastic trash bags and a self-closing trash receptacle with a tight seal. Then, throughout your house, eliminate clutter, such as piles of newspaper or unneeded boxes. Keep laundry in a hamper and habitually put things away after you use them. 5. Use your yard to keep them out. Trees, shrubs, debris and piles of leaves that touch your house are bridges for insects into your house. So prune the vegetation and rake away debris. Get rid of puddles in your yard because they are heavenly for mosquitoes. Also, enlist the help of birds by setting up bird feeders and bird houses since insects, along with seeds, are the basic diet for many kinds of birds.
Sources: The University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, insects.about.com, howstuffworks.com, mcgrathpestcontrol.com and moneycrashers.com.

Dust is a protective coating for ne furniture.

Mario Buatta

What light bulb is best for what room?

3 Do you know someone in the market

for a new home? cleaning?

Have a place for everything and keep the thing somewhere else; this is not a piece of advice, it is merely a custom.
Mark Twain

4 Do you need a reason to avoid spring

Im not going to vacuum until Sears makes one you can ride on.
Roseanne Barr

v Mortgage Loan Rates

As of February 28, 2013 Type Interest Rate FIRST MORTGAGES 1/1 ARM 3/1 ARM 5/1 ARM 5/1 ARM (Interest Only) 7/1 ARM 7/1 ARM (Interest Only) 10/1 ARM 2.250% 2.250% 2.250% 3.000% 2.500% 3.250% 3.000% 3.246% 3.104% 2.979% 3.235% 2.980% 3.312% 3.172% 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 APR* Points

visit our website at www.alliantcreditunion.org

ofce closings Memorial Day Monday, May 27, 2013 Independence Day Thursday, July 4, 2013 Alliant is available 24/7 via our Member Contact Center, Website, Self Service Telephone, ATMs and Mobile Banking. Visit our website, www.alliantcreditunion.org, for product and other information.
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.

PO Box 66945, 11545 W. Touhy Avenue Chicago, IL 60666-0945 www.alliantcreditunion.org 800-328-1935 (24/7)

M333-R03/13

SECOND/VACATION HOMES 1/1 ARM 3/1 ARM 5/1 ARM 7/1 ARM 10/1 ARM 2.500% 2.500% 2.500% 2.750% 3.250% 3.726% 3.546% 3.388% 3.362% 3.519% 0 0 0 0 0

Rates, terms and conditions subject to change. Loan approval, APR and downpayment required based on creditworthiness, amount nanced and ability to repay. APR=Annual Percentage Rate. First Mortgages available in all 50 states. Rate is higher on xed rate mortgages of $417,001 and above and on ARMs and Interest-only xed rate mortgages of $500,001 and above. Refer to the Alliant website for additional details and requirements. ARM=Adjustable Rate Mortgage. *The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) assumes a 20% downpayment on a loan amount of $250,000 with a 30-year term. The results above assume an origination fee of $1,350 plus $180 in additional prepaid nance charges plus 15 days of prepaid interest.

PO Box 66945, 11545 W. Touhy Ave. Chicago, IL 60666-0945 www.alliantcreditunion.org

<<Name>> <<Address> <<City, State, Zip>>

TLC for your home

Give your bathroom a low-cost makeover

A complete renovation of your bathroom will cost you, on average $7,771 in the South, $8,989 in the Midwest, $9,458 in the West and $9,500 in the East, according to thisoldhouse.com. Next to redoing your kitchen, a bathroom upgrade is typically the most expensive renovation homeowners do. And if done right, a bathroom renovation can return 70% to 90% of its cost if you intend to sell your house within several years. (If youd like a loan to renovate your bathroom or any room Alliant can help. Call 800-328-1935, option 5, to speak with an Alliant loan consultant, visit a branch or apply online at www.alliantcreditunion.org.) But what if you want to give your bathroom a facelift without spending that kind of money? Here are some relatively small, inexpensive changes you can do, which can have a big impact. 1. Begin with the end in mind (which is the second of self-help guru Stephen Coveys Seven Habits of Highly Effective People). Decide upfront what your budget will be. Look at bath designs and products on the Internet, in home improvement stores and in remodeling magazines. Make a wish list of the things youd like to change or replace and divide that list into what you really need or want (and can afford) and what are simply nice to haves. 3. Replace whats best replaced. Got towels, a bath mat, a shower curtain, a medicine cabinet, faucets and door pulls that dont delight you? Swap out items you dont like with wonderful ones that suit your taste. 4. Get out the paint. Painting the walls with a beautiful or bright color (and, perhaps, with a design, such as vertical stripes) is an easy way to transform your room. Also, consider painting your cabinets and windowsills.

Do you know someone in the market for a new home? Pass along this great $100 OFFER!
Help yourself or someone you know save big money with an Alliant mortgage If you or someone you know is in the market for a new home or looking to renance a current residence, consider Alliants great xed, adjustable and interest-only mortgages. With our online application, its fast and easy to apply for a mortgage. Once the Alliant mortgage is approved and closed, well reward the borrower with a $100 savings deposit.1

2. Scrub-a-dub and de-clutter. Roll up your sleeves to clean up all surfaces and clear out all clutter. This, in itself, can breathe new life into your bathroom.

Heres how it works 1. Check out our below-market rates at www.alliantcreditunion.org. (If the person you are referring is not an Alliant member, he/she can easily join online.) 2. Apply online or call our Mortgage Hotline at 800-328-1935. Press option 5, then option 1. (Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm CT). 5. Go with frames. Liven up your room with framed photos, posters or prints. Have a plain plate-glass mirror? Frame it with some molding from your home improvement store. Cut the molding to size, paint it, adhere it, ll the corners with wood ller, sand it, add some touch up paint and youre good to go.
Sources: thisoldhome.com, sheknows.com, eHow.com, homedesigncentres.com and howstuffworks.com

3. Mail in the Certicate below. Then, well reward the borrower with a $100 deposit1 to his/her Alliant savings account.

1 You must be or become a member of Alliant Credit Union to qualify. Applicant must meet eligibility requirements for Alliant membership. You must apply for your mortgage loan by December 31, 2013, to be eligible to receive the $100 reward, which will be deposited directly into your Alliant savings account. No substitutions will be made for the $100 reward. Recipients are responsible for any tax liability. Only one $100 reward per qualifying mortgage will be awarded. Original Certicate must be returned within 30 days after your loan closing date to Alliant Credit Union, ATTN: Marketing Dept., PO Box 66945, Chicago, IL 60666-0945, in order to receive the $100 reward. Once we receive the Certicate and verify the loan amount and closing date, we will deposit the $100 reward in your Alliant savings account. Check status of deposit on Alliant Online Banking. Member must be in good standing to be eligible for this offer. Offer not valid on existing Alliant mortgage loans. Offer valid on approved and funded mortgage loans and mortgage loan renances from other lenders. The $100 savings deposit is considered as taxable income and will be paid as a special dividend and reported on IRS Form 1099-INT.

What light bulb is best for what room?

Porches, kitchens, hallways and wherever you leave lights on often For room lamps and chandeliers Compact uorescent light bulbs (CFLs). They cost more, but last 7x to 10x longer than incandescent bulbs. Downside: cant be used in dimmers. Halogen bulbs. Though incandescent, these lights are energy efcient. They cast a yellow glow all around a room. Light-emitting diode light bulbs (LEDs). They have a harsh glare, but direct light exactly in the one direction you choose. A 40- to 60-watt incandescent bulb. To avoid annoying shadows, keep the lamp between your head and the pages of your book. A 60-watt incandescent bulb in a desk lamp and soft light from the ceiling. To prevent eye fatigue, make sure the light in your room is less bright than the computer screen
2 3

$100 Mortgage Program Reward Certicate

Member Information
Individual applying for a mortgage, please complete this section and mail to Alliant.
__________________________________________________________________________ Member Account Number ____________________________ ______________ First Name Middle Name ___________________________ Last Name

Once your Alliant mortgage loan is approved and closed, a $100 reward1 will be deposited into your Alliant savings account.

Offer expires December 31, 2013

COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS CERTIFICATE TO: Alliant Credit Union Attn: Marketing Department PO Box 66945 Chicago, IL 60666-0945
1 You must be or become a member of Alliant Credit Union to qualify. Applicant must meet eligibility requirements for Alliant membership. You must apply for your mortgage loan by December 31, 2013, to be eligible to receive the $100 reward, which will be deposited directly into your Alliant savings account. No substitutions will be made for the $100 reward. Recipients are responsible for any tax liability. Only one $100 reward per qualifying mortgage will be awarded. Original Certicate must be returned within 30 days after your loan closing date to Alliant Credit Union, ATTN: Marketing Dept., PO Box 66945, Chicago, IL 60666-0945, in order to receive the $100 reward. Once we receive the Certicate and verify the loan amount and closing date, we will deposit the $100 reward in your Alliant savings account. Check status of deposit on Alliant Online Banking. Member must be in good standing to be eligible for this offer. Offer not valid on existing Alliant mortgage loans. Offer valid on approved and funded mortgage loans and mortgage loan renances from other lenders. The $100 savings deposit is considered as taxable income and will be paid as a special dividend and reported on IRS Form 1099-INT.

Over artwork, in kitchen prep areas and anywhere you want focused light For reading lamps

__________________________________________________________________________ Street Address (include unit #) ____________________________ City ____________________________ Phone Number ______________ State ___________________________ Zip Code

Above your computer

Sources: realsimple.com, consumerreports.org and elledecor.com

____________________________________________ Email

Not in the market for a mortgage? Pass along this Certificate to someone who is.