Winter Is Coming - Save on Energy Costs
Ohioans are spending a significant chunk of change on household energy costs, yet most have not evaluated potential savings opportunities.
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Understanding Your Credit Score
Healthy credit is a key component of qualifying for mortgages, auto loans, and even new jobs. A FICO score is the three-digit number that summarizes your credit report. It’s only a small slice of the credit pie, but it’s an important one. Understanding what it all means will greatly improve your chances for obtaining the highest credit score possible.
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Savings: Budgeting for the Holidays
Christmas might feel like a long way off, but it will be here before you know it. Help ease the stress the holiday season brings by thinking about your holiday spending goals now. Without a plan you may be more tempted to use your credit card which means you could be paying for the holiday festivities well into the spring. Starting to save now will help alleviate the stress of overspending and accruing more debt.
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All About Ohio's Tax Free Weekend
It’s back-to-school time! Things may look different this year, but one thing is for certain, kids will need school supplies. Each year, various states hold a tax-free weekend to make back-to-school shopping more affordable for parents. Ohio’s is this weekend and starts Friday. Between Friday at 12:00 AM to Sunday at 11:59 PM clothing, school supplies and instructional materials (up to a certain value) will be exempt from sales and use tax. The stores are usually more crowded during tax-free weekend, so you may be asking is it worth it? We think it is.
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10 Easy Ways to Save More at the Grocery
Be a Grocery Guru and Supermarket Saver with these quick and easy budgeting tips.
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Elder Abuse: How You Can Protect Yourself & Those You Love
June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month – specifically June 15 is the day! There are so many areas where our elderly family and friends can be abused or mistreated. In the state of Ohio, your financial institution is one of many mandatory reporters. What that means is, we are to be looking out for your best interests. If we suspect someone may be mistreating you or taking advantage of you, we are obligated to report that.
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Your Guide to Buying a Home
Owning a home is at the pinnacle of the American Dream and it is easy to see why. It provides security and stability while checking a box off your life to-do list. For many, owning a home is a sign of success and a way to show how hard they have worked. Yes, owning a home is a wonderful thing, but it is also a big responsibility. Oftentimes people don’t realize how big of a responsibility it can be and end up with more than they can handle, especially financially.
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Bored at Home? Here are 10 Free Things to do.
We have all been at home for a while now. By this point you may be out of shows to binge on Netflix, or maybe you have cleaned and organized your entire house or are just tired of being cooped up. Fortunately, there is now a lot you can do virtually. It is easier than ever to stay connected to family and friends. Our children have transitioned to remote learning, and you may have transitioned to working from home. Companies have even begun to offer their online products to consumers for free during this pandemic
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How to Keep Your Stimulus Money Safe From Scammers
Everyone is looking forward to getting their coronavirus stimulus checks, and so are the scammers. Unfortunately, fraudsters are always trying to get their hands on your money, especially during a pandemic. At River Valley, we are here to help. Our Fraud Specialist has outlined some information below to help keep you and your money safe.
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Credit Unions Vs Banks: What is the Difference?
What is the difference between a credit union and a bank? We in the credit union movement get that question all the time. The truth is, not much, at least on the surface. We appear to be very similar. Both offer savings products, loan products, checking accounts, etc. We both deliver those services through various channels such as a branch network, mobile network, auto dealership networks, ATM’s and such. Banks typically are larger with more branches and more customers.
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