19 Jan

Millions … billions … trillions!Can you count that high?

by marketing in Navvi News/Winter 2015

Numbers help us learn about science and cool things in our world. Do you know how high numbers can go?

The numbers go higher but, we can’t show them all. Some wouldn’t fit on a page! One centillion has 303 zeroes! Something that is too big to count in numbers = infinity.

HOW BIG? HOW MUCH? HOW MANY?

Here are some fun facts about really big numbers.

How much could $1 million buy? About 400,000 school lunches. Or 3 million pieces of string cheese. That’s more than anyone could eat in a lifetime!

How long would it take to count to 1 billion? Too long! Counting to 1 billion nonstop would take almost 32 years.

How many people live on planet Earth? There are 7 billion people on the planet … and they do a lot of talking! More than 4 billion people use mobile phones worldwide.

What would 1 trillion pennies look like? One trillion pennies stacked in a tower would be 870,000 miles high. That’s farther than the moon!

15 Oct

The history of money: Fun facts

by marketing in Navvi News/Fall 2014

Did you know that over the last 10,000 years, money has changed a lot? It’s gone from cattle and shells to today’s electronic currency. Here are some fun facts about how money has changed!

Trading used to be used for everything. Just like you might trade baseball or other cards with your friends, people used to trade for everything. Farmers might trade their corn to their neighbor the shoemaker for a pair of shoes. This type of trading was called bartering.

The first coins date back all the way to 700 B.C. They were used by a group of people called the Lydians who live in what is known today as Turkey. Do you have any old coins you collect? A coin from 1950 is old to us, but even that coin was made over 2,600 years after the first coins!

The first paper money was used in China around A.D. 800. That was many years before Europeans started using paper banknotes. But, too much paper money was made. After about 500 years of use, paper money disappeared from China for a long time.

It’s amazing to think how much money has changed over the years. Now your parents probably use electronic transactions more than paper money and coins! What do you think money will be like in another 10,000 years?

15 Oct

How to help others this Thanksgiving

by marketing in Navvi News/Fall 2014

Thanksgiving is a special day. Many families cook a turkey and eat their favorite foods. It is also a day of giving thanks for all the good things you have.

Some families may not have money for a big meal during the holidays. Other people don’t have family and friends to share it with. That’s why many people help others in need during the holiday season.

Here are some ways you and your family can help others.

Donate food to a food shelf. Ask your mom or dad to buy extra food when grocery shopping for your family’s meal. Help deliver the extra bags of food to places that give the food to those who may go hungry without it.

Make holiday cards for older people in nursing homes. There are people with few friends or family members close by. Cheer them up with a homemade holiday card just for them!

Serve food to the homeless. Find a group that is planning to serve a meal to those in need on Thanksgiving. See if your family is willing to volunteer and help serve the meal.

Invite another family to your holiday dinner. Do you have a friend at school whose family is not able to have a special dinner? Ask your parents if you can invite them to your house.

At Navigator Credit Union, we also believe in helping others. We help you reach important goals each time you save money in your Navigator Credit Union savings account.

23 Feb

Are You Coupon Crazy?

by marketing in Anchor Lines/Winter 2011

Everyone loves getting a good deal. Now bargain shopping is easier than ever with group deal sites like Groupon^® and LivingSocial, and other coupon sites offering databases of coupons and even tutorials on extreme couponing. But make sure your zeal for finding a deal doesn’t have you spending more than you save.

Frugal or Frenzied?

If you’re spending money on products or services you normally wouldn’t buy or can’t use, you’re losing money no matter how deep the discount. Following are some tips for making sure the bargain you’re hunting isn’t circling back to bite you.

Beware of BOGO. Buy one get one free deals seem like a steal, but if you end up with more than you need or can use, you’ve helped the store move product without helping yourself.
Look into location. If you purchase a voucher for a shop across town or have to go to three stores to use all the coupons you’ve clipped, your gas usage will likely undercut your savings.
Focus on the fine print. Coupons purchased through group deal sites may offer half off or better on various products and services, but restrictions often dictate when they can be redeemed or tie the savings to other purchases. Make sure you know what you’re getting and that it fits with your schedule before you pay for the deal.
Mistrust the mob mentality. The excitement of getting in on a good deal can cloud your reasoning. Take a deep breath and think about whether you really need the product or service offered before you spend to save.
Eye the expiration date. A coupon purchased but not used before it expires is money wasted.
Be conscientious about your credit. Buying your bargains with a credit card won’t be much of a deal if you fail to pay off the balance and allow the interest to add up.

Coupons and group deals can be a savvy way to save money. Just keep in mind that when you buy a bargain, you’ve still spent money. You only win if you’ve spent less for what you needed to buy anyway.

Save ‘N Up

With the Navigator Credit Union Save ‘N Up Debit Card, you’ll save as you spend—with no coupons required! No matter how you choose to use your Navigator Credit Union debit card—to buy lunch, gas, coffee, groceries, or just about anything you want—your purchase will be automatically rounded up. With every transaction you complete, the difference between your purchase total and the nearest whole dollar amount will be transferred from your Checking Account to your high-interest Save’N Up account. Go to www.savenup.com to learn more.

THRIFTY MEASURES THAT REALLY PAY OFF

You don’t have to be a bargain-hunter extraordinaire to save yourself money. Here are a few sure-fire ways to cut spending without clipping any coupons.

Visit your local library for free books, movies, music and magazines.
Don’t miss deadlines for returning rented movies and pay off credit cards or other bills on time to save yourself late fees and added interest.
Comparison shop by looking at cost per pound, ounce or other unit of measurement to determine which products are the best deals.
Avoid impulse shopping by taking the time to know what you want and what you’ll actually use, read reviews online and scout good deals. Then sleep on it before you make your purchase!
Dine in rather than going out and bring your lunch from home during the work week, and you may save more than $1,000 over a year.

08 Feb

A New Year, a New You

by marketing in Navvi News/Winter 2012

You may have heard your parents or teachers talk about their New Year’s resolutions, but what does that mean? A New Year’s resolution is a goal you set out to achieve in the coming year. Some examples include doing better in school, making new friends or exercising more. What are some resolutions you can try?

Read on:

Work harder on your homework. Maybe you haven’t been trying your hardest in class, and you’d like to turn that around. Talk to your teacher to see what you can do to boost your grades.
Befriend a shy kid at school. Perhaps there is a student in your class who few people talk to or play with. Reach out and ask him or her to sit with you at lunch.
Recycle more. Ask your parents if you can start recycling more items around your house. You can even talk to your teacher to see what you can recycle at school.
Eat more vegetables. You may hear it from your mom all the time: Eat your veggies. Maybe this year you can try some new vegetables – and fruit!

SET YOUR SIGHTS HIGH

Do you have a goal you’d like to save for? Maybe a bike, skateboard or new musical instrument is what you’re dreaming of. Deposit your money in your Navvi-Gator Super Saver’s Club account and we can help make that dream come true.