Rapids Blog

To no one’s surprise, pet ownership numbers have also grown: Approximately 67 percent of American households reported owning at least one pet, and those numbers increased during the pandemic. For many, pets are more than companions—they are part of the family. However, it’s important to remember that caring for a pet can significantly impact your finances and should be part of the household budget.

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This year's annual charity golf tournament was a huge success. We raised $42,380.12 for the Rivermark Community Fund, which supports nonprofit housing organizations in the areas we serve.

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Recently, there were changes made to the child tax credit that will benefit many taxpayers. The IRS will pay half the credit in the form of advance monthly payments beginning July 15. Taxpayers will then claim the other half when they file their 2021 income tax return. Please remember to consult your tax advisor to see how these changes may impact your personal financial situation.

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Financial difficulties are a leading stressor in society today, and this stress can have serious health consequences. Besides medical effects, stressing over money can cause depression and relationship problems. Financial stress can often be a cause of conflict in relationships. Fortunately, you can fight back against financial stress. Here are a few ways to get started and stop letting money woes run your life.

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Many of the ways in which you spend your money comes from nothing more than a habit. From spending $15 on lunch every day to dropping $150 on new shoes, your costly habits can be a slow but steady drain on your finances. If these habits are bad for your finances, think about developing good habits that will boost your finances. Here are seven simple, good money habits you can adopt to help you keep more of your paycheck.

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Even though it’s July, it’s never too early to start budgeting for the holidays. And that’s exactly what we are talking about for this month’s financial fitness challenge. In this article, we look at how to make a holiday budget and how to painlessly put money towards it.

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Now that the world is opening up again, your spending habits are probably changing. Gas expenses may have increased by getting out more. You may be feeling the need for a social spending spree of outings, dining, and events that you haven’t been able to indulge in. You may also be earning more again and feeling more secure financially. Rather than “winging it,” now is the time to rebuild your post-pandemic financial health with a new budget!

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It's no secret that maintaining a good credit score is essential to strong financial health. It is a must if you ever wish to take out a substantial loan or need to apply for rental properties. Most people know the basics of what may hurt or help your credit score. However, you may not know about a few surprising things that can hurt your score. Here are six factors that may negatively impact your credit score.

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Credit union members in the Northwest are falling victim to a new twist on classic phone scams. Scammers are using easily obtained software to mimic the phone number of credit unions and other financial institutions. They then make phone calls to their victims, posing as credit union employees from the security department, and try to obtain information from the members to set up fake debit and credit cards, and to steal credentials to compromise online banking accounts.

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We take a look at how to collect and protect important personal documents. Keeping sensitive documents safe can give you peace of mind in case of unexpected events, and ensure you have documents ready when needed. Below we share what documents you should protect, and options for doing so. This also can be a great summer project if you are stuck inside avoiding the heat.

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