1. sports
2. hockey

connect.contribute.comprehend.
D
L
R
O
MY W
Justin Bieber on fans,
influences & his new
home in the ATL
PLUS
Spring Break the
Eco-friendly Way
pg 4
Interview with Atlanta pg 7
Thrasher Jim Slater
pg 10
Spending Your
Holiday Cash
pg 11
6 Web sites To Get
Geeked About
pg 9
IN THIS ISSUE
January/February/March 2010
3 editor's letter
4 spring break
with an eco-friendly twist
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Jim Slateore of our exclu
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7 jim slater
forward for the Atlanta Thrashers sits down with us
8 i[check]
do you?
9 justin bieber
on fans, fame and finding his way
in the music industry
10 christmas cash
there are better ways to spend yours
11 six web sites to get geeked about
make surfing the web worth your time...literally
7
pg
What do orangutans, elephants, and sea turtles have in common? Well, aside from
the fact that they’re all animals, they’re also your ticket to helping Planet Earth
by bringing out the eco-tourist in you. Don’t think you have it in you? We do.
2
pg4
[ F RO M T H E ED I TOR ]
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
2009, while not a banner year,
brought about some good things.
We’ve all had to learn a lot of
lessons about money, finances, and
how to spend and save. Here at i[x],
we don’t want you to have to learn
the hard way. That’s why we put this
magazine out; to get the wheels in
your brain turning and your minds
thinking about your own finances
and the best way to make your
financial future a successful one.
This edition is no different. In fact,
we’re talking about everything
from spring break to leftover
Christmas money to pop sensation
Justin Bieber!
First on the list, here at Georgia’s
Own Credit Union and i[x], we strive to be green. In fact, one
of our tenants is that we stand for a healthy Planet. Given
that fact, and since spring break season is just around the
corner, we wanted to bring to your attention some, shall we say,
alternative spring break options. I know...it doesn’t sound fun.
But give it a try. Read the article on elephants, sea turtles and
eco-friendly spring break ideas and you may find yourself
pleasantly surprised.
We are also very excited about the guy on our cover: Justin
Bieber! He’s talented, cute and extremely down to earth. Don’t
miss our exclusive interview with him on page nine as he fills
us in on schools, influences and how he feels about his fans.
With the holidays barely behind us, we also thought we would
tap into your conscience and talk a little bit about what to do
with all of your Christmas cash. It’s probably safe to say that
you want to spend it, and that’s okay. But there are better ways
to use some of that money. Read page ten for a look at what
you can do with your holiday mulah.
As always, we want to hear from you! There’s still time for
you to send in your i[live] story about yourself or someone
else. We want to know what you’re doing, what you’ve done,
or what you’re planning to do. We know you guys have some
great stories and we want to hear them and share them with
other i[x] readers. Plus, if we feature your story, you’ll get a
$50 gift card on us!
We’re also working on our blog at doyouix.com. Check it out
to learn more about student loans, finding a job, and more.
Leave comments and tell us what you think about them, or tell
us about other stories or topics you would like to hear more
about. Again, i[x] is for you, about you and because of you; so
we want to hear from you, really.
Enjoy!
Feedback. Thanks to those of you who have sent in
On The Cover
your comments and questions, we always want to hear back
from our readers! Let us know what you think. Send your
comments and questions to allison@doyouix.com and
we’ll try to post it online or in our next issue.
NAME: Justin Bieber
AGE: 15
SCHOOL: Home Schooled
RECORD LABEL: The Island
Def Jam Music Group
RECORD: One Time
OUT IN STORES: Now
FAVORITE ARTISTS: Michael
Jackson, Stevie Wonder,
Usher, and Boyz II Men to
name a few.
Fan Page. So we’ve had a profile on facebook, but now
we have a fan page! Join the i[x] fan page on facebook for
exclusive i[x] news, updates and prizes. Search “i[x] powered
by Georgia’s Own Credit Union” to become a fan. Hurry, you
don’t want to miss anything!
D OYO U IX.CO M
JA NUA RY/ F E BR UA RY/ MARC H 2 0 1 0
3
Spring
Break
[ T RAV E L ]
With An Eco-Friendly Twist
Spring break is perhaps the most popular week of the entire
school year. All year we dream of being on the beach with
friends, relaxing, chatting and trying to forget what’s waiting
back at school and home when we return to reality. Well,
this year we have a challenge for you. Are you ready? Here
it is: forego the umbrella drink and steel drums this year
and spend your spring break with friends or family doing
something great for planet Earth. With these 6 affordable and
surprisingly intriguing volunteer trips, you can become part
of the solution to moving towards a healthier Planet. Check it
out…we dare you.
SAVE THE ORANGUTAN
IN BORNEO
Orangutans used to live all over Southeast Asia but today,
forest destruction and an ever-increasing human population
have reduced the rainforest, and therefore the orangutan
home, to small, isolated patches. Experts say that if nothing
changes, the species will be extinct in less than ten years.
Cost: $660 per week
Find Out More: savetheorangutan.org
4
COMB CORAL REEFS
IN BELIZE
This volunteer program is part of a regional coral reef
monitoring initiative to assess coral reef health on
the largest reef in the Western Hemisphere. Group
members work with the marine biologist to record
specific fish types known as bioindicator [Google
it] species. Even better, the project only requires
snorkeling skills to participate.
Cost: $1,950
Find Out More: oceanicsociety.org
s
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s
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fast et in the try
markism indus
tour
ourism
-World T
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Organiza
SAVE THE
RAINFOREST
IN COSTA RICA
The World’s rainforests are
disappearing daily. This volunteer
trip involves many different projects
ranging from protecting and learning
about rainforests to providing support
to the local school.
Cost: $665 per week
Find Out More: responsibletravel.com
Note: Reference Trip # 900128
D OYO U IX.CO M
JA NUA RY/ F E BR UA RY/ M ARC H 2 0 1 0
5
[ TRAV E L ]
SAVE THE SEA TURTLES
IN COSTA RICA
Volunteers not only work with sea turtles, but through
home stays and other programs they provide economic
opportunities to the local coastal communities. Since turtles
lay their nests on the beach during the night, you and a
partner take 3-6 hour shifts of walking the beach searching
for nesting turtles.
Cost: Starts at $280 per person (discounts for large groups)
Find Out More: pretoma.org
ELEPHANT
CONSERVATION
IN THAILAND
This elephant conservation centre gives refuge to
domesticated elephants that have been used for
begging on the streets of Bangkok and other cities.
The centre exists to provide the elephants with an
environment as close to nature as possible. There
are currently six elephants who live at the centre
and volunteers are needed to help look after the
elephants [feeding, bathing, etc.].
Cost: $700
Find Out More: responsibletravel.com
Note: Reference Trip # 901005
My Last Two Cents: See…we told you. Doesn’t playing with baby orangutans, protecting baby sea turtles and
preserving the world’s largest coral reef sound so much more fun than sand in your suit and salt in your sockets? We
thought so. Do some digging on the web for other great opportunities to see a new place and help more than just
yourself for spring break this year. Oh, and don’t forget how great this will look on college apps and what a great
topic of discussion it will be in interviews.
Allison i[x]ga
6
[ A RTS & E NT E RTAI NM ENT ]
jim slater
A: Jim, where are you from?
J: I was born in Petoskey, MI but grew up in Lapeer, MI. After
that, I moved to Cleveland to focus on hockey and then
went on to play hockey for Michigan State.
A: How old were you when you first stepped on the ice in
a pair of skates?
J: 6, I played goalie for the first two years and then started
playing forward which is what I play today.
A: What is your most memorable moment in the NHL?
J: I would have to say my first day of training camp. Seeing
all the great players for the first time that you grew up
watching was huge.
A: Is there a player you have learned the most from?
J: Yes, Bobby Holik. I played with him for 3 years and we are
still friends today. I learned the most from him both on and
off the ice. He tells you the way it is and has probably had
the single biggest influence on my life.
A: Who in the league were you most excited to meet or
get to play with on the ice?
J: Steve Yzerman when he played for Detroit. But the night
we played them, he was hurt, so I didn’t get to actually play
with him. So, my next answer would be Mario Lemieux who
played for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
A: How is it playing for John Anderson who is such a
respected former NHL player?
J: It’s great. He’s a player’s coach because of his time and
success in the NHL. He deserves great things and a winning
team.
A: What is your workout schedule like?
J: Off Season: 5 or 6 days a week I work out around 2 hours
in the morning, run/bike/sprint in the afternoon and I do
yoga in the evenings.
A: Yoga, huh?
J: Yeah, I like yoga.
A: What do you like to do when you’re not on the ice?
J: I stay active. Rock climbing, Boccee ball in Piedmont Park.
I just like to be outside. I also like to go to shows and things
like that, there are a lot of great things to do in Atlanta, and I
like to travel in the summer.
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A: What advice would you give to aspiring hockey
players?
J: You’ve got to earn it. It’s not always the best when
you’re young who makes it. Work hard and be patient. It’s
the people who want it the most who make it.
A: We believe being kind to the environment is very
important. Can you give us an easy, earth-friendly tip
on doing our part to help the Planet?
Slater: Yes. I recycle at my house. Recycling is particularly
good because it is easy to do and it makes a big
difference. At the end of the week when I see what I’ve
recycled, I think how much difference it would make if
everyone did an easy thing like recycling.
A: i[x] is a program that is about being smart with
your money. Even though you’re a professional
hockey player, are you still aware of the need to save
for things in your future and pay attention to your
finances?
Slater: Yeah. I’m huge into being smart with my money.
I really focus on the fact that I want to retire at a good
age. I do a lot of investing in stocks, bonds, and spread it
around. You have to be smart and handle your finances
based on what you want later in life. That’s something I
focus on—I don’t need all the glitz right now.
A: If you weren’t in the NHL, what would you be doing?
J: I would be a fishing guide.
Allison i[x]ga
D OYO U IX.CO M
JA NUA RY/ F E BR UA RY/ M ARC H 2 0 1 0
7
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*Members under 18, you’ll need a joint on the account. **Other fees may apply
[ARTS & E NTERTAI NM ENT ]
justin bieber
JB: You Got It Bad-his own song.
i[x]: Whoa. Were you nervous?
JB: Yeah, but I just did it.
i[x]: So how does it feel to have a superstar like
Usher backing you?
JB: It’s cool. He’s great and gives me advice.
i[x]: What does it feel like to have people start recognizing
you out in public?
JB: Really I just remember that I wouldn’t be here without the
fans. They’re why I’m here and people are recognizing me.
One time. That’s all it took for Usher to realize the
talent that he saw in Justin Bieber and without
question, the trend has continued.
i[x]: Your first single One Time is out. What do you think
when you hear your music on the radio?
In a recent visit to Atlanta, I caught up with Justin
while he was passing through Hartsfield-Jackson
International Airport to talk about fame, fans and
finding his way in the music industry.
i[x]: So music is obviously a big part of your life. You play
instruments, sing...who are some of your favorite artists, old
or new, that have influenced you?
i[x]: So, let’s start at the beginning.
Where did you grow up?
Justin Bieber: Stratford, Ontario which is about
2 hours from Toronto.
i[x]: And you’re how old?
JB: 15
i[x]: Ok, so tell us how this all started.
JB: A few years ago, I entered a singing competition. A lot
of my family and friends couldn’t be there, but they wanted
to hear me sing, so they asked if we would video it and post
it on YouTube so they could watch. It’s kinda crazy because
the video ended up getting lots of hits and then I started
getting calls from people in the music industry. One day I
got a call from a guy named Scooter and it just felt right.
So he flew me to Atlanta where I met Usher and Justin
Timberlake, and I ended up going with Usher.
JB: It’s cool. It feels like all I worked for is coming true.
JB: Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Usher, and
Boyz II Men are a few.
i[x]: Being 15, school isn’t an option. How do you handle
working and going to school?
JB: I’m home schooled right now and I have a tutor
on the road.
i[x]: I understand your new home is Atlanta.
JB: Yep.
i[x]: Do you like it?
JB: Yeah, it’s a different feel.
i[x]: Lastly, what every girl wants to know:
Is Justin Bieber single?
JB: Yes.
Follow Justin on Twitter @justinbieber or find him at
myspace.com/justinbieber for more information on tour
dates, events and everything Justin Bieber
i[x]: The story goes that you met Usher the first time leaving
a studio and on the spot you asked him if you could sing for
him. What did you sing?
Allison i[x]ga
D OYO U IX.CO M
JA NUA RY/ F E BR UA RY/M ARC H 2 0 1 0
9
[ IN V EST I NG ]
Better Things to Do
With Your Christmas Cash
December may be behind us, but there’s a good chance that you can still smell pine in the air, hear sleigh bells ringing and
maybe even see a few remnants of Christmas lights and tinsel. One thing that is for sure, the money that we got over the
holidays is definitely burning a hole in our pockets and [how convenient] our favorite stores are filled with tons of postChristmas goodies. Well, it’s way past time to wake up and smell the poinsettias my friend. You should do something else
with that money and resist the urge to go out and blow it all on the newest video game or killer pair of heels. Start 2010 with
a mind focused on the future, not the right-now-gotta-have-it state of thinking.
savings certificate
(with no annual investments)
x (1 + i)^n, aka, the greatest math formula
EVER. This formula represents compound
interest. Since words can’t possibly describe
the greatness of compound interest, here’s a
visual. Let’s look at 3 different scenarios using
a savings certificate: 1. you invest $500 starting
at 20 years old with NO annual investments
2. you invest $500 starting at 20 with annual
investments 3. you invest $1,000 starting at 30
(10 years later) with annual investments.
Don’t worry about the $500 or $1,000 deposit,
the good news is compound interest works if
you start with $20 or $20,000. The key is time.
The longer you’re saving and investing, the
prettier your account will look down the road.
By starting at 30 instead of 20 in the scenarios
to the right, you missed out on over $60,000!
My last two cents: Still don’t believe us? You
could learn a lot from Oseola McCarty. Oseola
was a washer woman from Mississippi who
lived from 1908 to 1999. She had no car,
watched a black and white television, and lived
in the same house for over 60 years. Imagine
their surprise when The University of Southern
Mississippi received word that Mrs. McCarty
had left $150,000 to the school for student
scholarships. How did such an unassuming
woman get that much money to leave to
the University? You guessed it…compound
interest.
$4,000
$3,500
$3,000
$2,500
$2,000
$1,500
$1,000
$500
$0
Balance
Investment
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
$525
$638
$814
$1,039
$1,327
$1,693
$2,161
$2,758
$3,520
$500
$500
$500
$500
$500
$500
$500
$500
$500
45
50
55
60
1. Pretty cool, right? You’ve saved and made a little bit of money. Now
look at the graph below to see what happens when you also add annual
savings certificate
investments.
(starting at 20)
$160,000
$140,000
$120,000
$100,000
$80,000
$60,000
$40,000
$20,000
$0
Balance
20
25
30
35
40
$1,725
$7,269 $15,908 $26,934 $41,006 $58,966 $81,888 $111,142 $148,480
Investment $1,700
$6,500 $12,500 $18,500 $24,500 $30,500 $36,500 $42,500 $48,500
2. We know…over $140,000! Amazing what a little compound
interest will do.
savings certificate
(starting at 30)
$90,000
$80,000
$70,000
$60,000
$50,000
$40,000
$30,000
$20,000
$10,000
$0
Balance
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
$2,250
$7,907
$16,722
$27,973
$42,332
$60,659
$84,049
Investment $2,200
$7,000
$13,000
$19,000
$25,000
$31,000
$37,000
3. Now let’s say you decide 20 is to early to worry about investing, and
you start at 30. The kicker? Your deposit [since you’re making more] is
$1,000, and your annual investment is $1,200. See that ending balance at
age 60? Not quite as nice as scenario #2.
10
[ TEC H NO LOGY ]
SIX
WEB SITES TO
GET GEEKED
ABOUT
coupons.com
Basically, there are hundreds of
coupons you can search for on
everything from lotion to pet care.
So skip the newspaper clipping and
instead click, search & print and
you’re ready for a budget-friendly
trip to the store.
Truth:You’re going to shop from time
to time. False:There’s no good way to
save on the stuff you really want.With
snagajob.com is the nation’s largest site for part and fulltime hourly jobs. After failing to find many sites geared toward
extrabux.com, you can earn
internships, and nothing related to part-time and full-time hourly
cash back on your purchases. Extrabux
jobs, Founder & CEO Shawn Boyer thought he must be missing
lets you search for a particular product
something – someone had to be filling this huge need online,
from different stores, and when you
buy that product, they receive a sales
commission from the retailer that
right? They weren’t then, but are now. Head on over to search
for local hourly jobs near you to make some extra cash.
they then pass [the majority of it]
on to you. Extrabux is comparison
Are you artistic, crafty or have a keen eye for sweet vintage
shopping with coupons and cash back
gear? Head over to
discounts, so you’re sure to find the
in less than five clicks. Listings only cost $.20 and you can sell
best price on the web.
your works all over the world.
Interested in a free, effortless way to manage your
money? Wake up and smell the coffee; mint.com could
be the web site for you. Mint automatically downloads
and categorizes all of your transactions every day so
you can see what you’re spending and where you’re
spending it 24/7. It will even monitor your investments,
income and credit cards and offer advice on better ways
to save your money based on the accounts you have.
etsy.com and set-up your own shop
responsibletravel.com
is the
world’s leading travel agent for, well,
responsible travel. With thousands
of great trips benefitting different
countries, people, animals and the
environment, you should have no
trouble finding one to bring out the
eco-tourist in you.
Allison i[x]ga
DOYOUI X .COM
JANUARY/ F EBRUARY/ MARCH 2010
11
i[live]
We all have a story...
what's yours? Send
i[x]ga your story,
photos or whatever
else you have. We'd
love to make you a
part of i[x]ga
magazine and
doyouix.com. Afterall,
this magazine is for
you, about you,
and because of you.
If we feature your
story, you'll get a
$50 gift card on us.
Email your story to
allison@doyouix.com,
with "i[live]" in
the subject line.
connect.contribute.comprehend
are you ready?