Val's Voice

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. ...read more

The $1.4 trillion spending package enacted on December 20, 2019, included the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, which had overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives in the spring of 2019, but then subsequently stalled in the Senate. The SECURE Act represents the most sweeping set of changes to retirement legislation in more than a decade. ...read more

Tax season is just around the corner and everybody has to pay taxes! However, if you pay attention to this information, you can avoid falling for a scam! ...read more

As adults, we all know how important credit is. A high credit score usually means lower interest rates on loans. A solid credit rating also makes it easier to get those loans because banks and credit unions are more willing to lend to those who have demonstrated timeliness in paying off the loan. Getting your kids to understand the importance of credit can be a challenge, but it’s a worthwhile endeavor as helping them build their credit from a young age will give them real-world experience while still living at home. ...read more

When it comes to financial apps, there are so many great ones out there that it’s no surprise this is my third blog post about them! If you want to read about the other apps I have previously highlighted, you can check them out here and here. Each one of the apps I write about I download and test out. ...read more

While we all know how important it is to protect our identities from theft, it often doesn’t occur to parents to take measures to protect their child’s identity. Fraudsters can easily steal your child’s identity without you realizing it until years later. The thieves use the information the same way they would yours: to open fake accounts, credit cards and loans. ...read more

You hear a lot about data privacy in the news these days. But have you heard of Data Privacy Day? It was created in 2007 with the purpose of raising awareness and promoting good practices when it comes to securing your personal data. The world today is more connected than ever, and thereby more vulnerable, especially with the wide variety of popular social media sites. ...read more

The holiday season is almost over, which means your finances can take a break. Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas! I enjoy shopping and wrapping gifts, but my favorite part would have to be the expressions on people’s faces when you find the perfect gift for them. ...read more

I love the holidays! All the family get-togethers. The feasts. The spirit of giving. It is around this time of year especially that I think it’s important to remember all I have and support where I can those who are less fortunate. That is why I am excited to tell you about a special giving opportunity going on now at River Valley Credit Union – especially for our current credit card holders! ...read more

A few weeks ago we talked about credit scores and how they are important. You can read the blog post here. Today I want to talk about how to increase your credit score. This is probably the question our loan representatives are most often asked. As I mentioned in the previous post, having a good credit score is very important. It increases lenders’ willingness to lend you money with lower interest rates. ...read more

Next week, River Valley begins its big 70th anniversary celebration with a huge giveaway. Each business day between October 1 and December 10 River Valley will be giving away various prizes. The grand prize is a cruise vacation for two! How cool is that? You can enter here. In light of our upcoming anniversary, I thought it would be fun to talk about the history of River Valley in honor of their big birthday bash. ...read more

Everyone knows credit scores play an important role in our financial lives, but not many people understand why or how it all works. Further, it is really important to have a good credit score. Your credit score is based on how well you manage (or don’t) your credit usage and debt. Having a good credit score increases lenders’ willingness, like banks and credit unions, to lend you money with lower interest rates. Most of us will need a loan at one time or another in our life, which is why understanding and having a decent score is so important. ...read more

Have you ever thought about cutting cable? Not only can it be a great way to save money each month, but you might also be surprised to find you won’t miss it! We live in a world of ever-improving technology, which means there are plenty of options for viewing TV shows besides cable and satellite. In 2016, the average American household spent $1,236 a year on cable. That is a lot of money! ...read more

Working from home sounds amazing doesn’t it? You don’t have to worry about being late or what to wear. You have more flexibility than in a traditional office setting and it is a great way to supplement your income. It seems most people would love to work from home, but don’t know how to start. ...read more

Subscription boxes are fun! They’re like getting a gift in the mail each month, although unfortunately you have to pay for this gift. Here is how they work: Each month you receive in the mail a box of items curated for you personally based on the preferences you indicated on a questionnaire. Typically you are charged a monthly fee for the box and receive anywhere from three to five items of different value each month. ...read more

Applying for scholarships and grants is a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Most students are overwhelmed and don’t know where to begin. I know I didn’t. While it’s great that there are so many resources available now to potential students, at the same time, having so many resources can be a bit overwhelming. Adding to the challenge of “too many choices” is the fact that you will be giving out your personally identifying information to many different places. ...read more

Most of us have debit and/or credit cards and use them frequently. They are easy to use and extremely convenient. They give you instant access to the money in your account without having to set foot in a credit union. Because debit cards are linked directly to your checking account, each time you swipe the card, money comes directly out of your account. Actually, a credit card is essentially a loan: ...read more

Ideas on how to save money have been the most requested topic from readers. Having a savings account is so important, but many people simply can’t or don’t know how to build up their nest egg. The general rule of thumb is that you should have six months’ worth of expenses saved up for unexpected situations. ...read more

When it comes to personal finance apps, there is a wealth of them to choose from. So many, in fact, that even though I talked about them before (you can read my prior post here). I wanted to do a follow-up on the subject and cover a few more. With these apps, your smartphone becomes a great tool in improving your financial health and knowledge, helping build your savings account, and even paying off debt. ...read more

Like most people, I have an extensive list of places I want to visit. Apart from time, the biggest obstacle to all my travel plans is ... you guessed it … money. But actually, traveling doesn’t have to be expensive. When it comes to booking a vacation, at home or abroad, there are many different ways to save money. For example, I have a friend who recently flew out from Dayton to Las Vegas for the weekend for $120 round trip! ...read more

Owning a home is a lot of work! You have regular up-keep, repairs and renovations to worry about. If you are like me, the renovations never stop, and they can get expensive. There are, however, ways to save money without sacrificing quality or style. I promise it can be done! ...read more

Have you ever thought about using your smartphone to save you money? If you are like me, you use your phone for just about everything anyway. Why not use it to save money as well? There are tons of legitimate apps out there that will do just that! A while ago my friend introduced me to an app that would save me money by me simply going grocery shopping. ...read more

While saving money is an important life skills topic, it is seldom taught in school. It is up to the parents to teach their kids about not just the importance of saving money and building a nest egg, but also how to go about it. As adults, most of us know how to save and what the benefits of saving money are. It is important we pass this knowledge along to our children. ...read more

I love traveling—experiencing different places and cultures—so I go on as many vacations as I can. This year, I am taking a road trip through New England to see the fall leaves change colors. I’ve heard it is just spectacular. Since the trip is only seven months away, I have begun not only ...read more

Last week I decided to buy a new car. The one I picked out gets great gas mileage and has a lot of cool features, but the most important thing is I got an amazing deal on it. For some, buying a new car is a stressful, drawn-out process, but it doesn’t have to be. One of the biggest challenges is sim ...read more

think it is safe to say we have all seen those crazy couponing shows, the ones where someone gets $800 worth of groceries for $20 by using manufacturer coupons. This got me thinking about ways to save money at the grocery store ...read more

Choosing where to keep my hard earned money is just as important as choosing where my kids go to school, or the house I want to live in. There are so many options out there it can be overwhelming. ...read more

The word “budget” has a negative connotation associated, similar to the word “diet.” Just thinking about starting a budget is enough to make some people anxious. ...read more