Rapids Blog

This article focuses on the benefits of giving back to your community, and ways to do it. Giving back to the community can give you a sense of purpose and positivity. It can also help you connect with others and even grow your skills or learn new ones. If you are looking for ways to boost your mood, use extra free time productively, and set positive examples for friends, family, and children in your life, we have a few ideas to get you going. Below are our top picks for giving back this winter.

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The holiday season is almost here, and now is the perfect time to get started. But before you head out with your credit card in hand, it is essential to set a plan and create a realistic budget. It is easy to overspend with all of the excitement, but spending too much now could mean months of bills and high credit card charges in the new year. Most people want to control their holiday spending but get wrapped up in the festivities, and their good intentions get lost. Below are five creative ways to keep your holiday budget on track.

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Each year, Rivermark evaluates the needs facing the communities it serves and selects a grant recipient from the Rivermark Community Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation. We are pleased to announce Rebuilding Together as this year’s $20,000 grant recipient.

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Many workers are still working remotely, at least part-time. Moving your "office" to your home has conveniences and challenges — Cybersecurity being one of them. Many people don't have proper knowledge and preparation for potential security threats. Working from home presents a lot of opportunity for someone's personal or business data to be compromised or stolen. The good news is that remote workers can take steps to protect their information and information from their employers. Here are some simple ways to keep your data safe while working from home.

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The closer you get to retirement, the more excited you may be—and more worried. If you are 18 to 24 months away from retirement, this article is for you. You may still be wondering if you have enough saved, or if you can (or should) plan on finding a supplemental income. How will an uncertain economy affect your retirement? We answer these questions and more below.

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Lowering consumer debt can be a great way to raise your credit score, cut down on financial stress, and put you on track for a more financially fit future. However, it can also be challenging to do with rising costs, limited funds, and sometimes overwhelming interest costs. Here are some easy ways to start lowering your debt today.

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Owning your own home can be an excellent investment. It can also be financially draining if you aren’t regularly maintaining your home. Regular maintenance can take time, planning, and money, but it can help you to save on unexpected repair costs and keep the value of your home up. Below, we share some of our tips for becoming a financially responsible homeowner.

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Money may not buy you happiness, but studies show that your relationship with it impacts your health. Did you know money is tied to our basic, hard-wired drive to survive? When that drive can’t be attained, it compounds into stress. Maybe it’s why the age-old saying, “health is wealth,” is more than just a cliché. In the last 30 years ,our society has tripled its debt and simultaneously gotten sicker with heart disease, stroke, and mental illness on the rise. Coincidence or are finances partly to blame?

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These days, most households are looking for ways to cut down on grocery and dining costs. In this article, we take a look at practical ways your family can cut down on food costs, whether you cook at home or tend to order/eat out. By cutting down on food costs, you can free up more funds for savings, everyday expenses, or discretionary spending.

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Most of us will have to deal with a financial emergency at some point in our lives. They can happen at any time, and rarely come with a warning. Whether you have one year or one week to adjust to such monetary upheavals as divorce, medical emergencies, military deployment or loss of wages, you may be able to sail through financial foul weather – as long as you PLAN for it.

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