Spooky season is here which means creepy crawlies, and frights that make you scream! Not having a saving plan, having your identity compromised and racking up thousands of dollars in credit card debt – now that is scary! Your finances, however, don’t have to be terrifying. You’ve got RVCU, the ghostbusters of financial nightmares, by your side.
ScrEAM-ergency.
Do you like scary movies? How about the one where you couldn’t come up with $400 in the event of an emergency? This, however, is a frightening reality for two out of every five Americans in 2025. An emergency fund is money set aside for an unexpected financial situation like costly car repairs, a job loss, or health related expenses. Adulting is haunting, isn’t it?
Understandably, with the price of everything going up, it can feel impossible to save money.
RVCU’s recommendation
With 67% of American workers living paycheck to paycheck, having a savings plan is often not a priority. RVCU recommends using Savings Jar, a rounding up feature that automatically deposits your change into a savings account. A “set it and forget it” mindset takes the worry out of setting aside money, and it will be there when you need it most.
Here’s Johnny! Or is it? Identity Theft
The twins from The Shining had us seeing a scary double and that’s exactly what it may feel like when someone steals your identity and personal information. Every 4.9 seconds, someone becomes a victim of identity theft in the United States. Yep that’s faster than the time it takes for Michael Myers to catch up to you during a chase. Every year, more than 6.4 million cases of identity theft and fraud are reported. These fraudsters cause damage that goes beyond financial consequences—they’re the REAL monsters lurking in the shadows of your finances.
RVCU’s recommendation
A common tactic used by scammers to gain access to your identity and hard-earned money is posing to be your financial institution. Remember: your credit union would never call you to ask you to confirm your account numbers, card numbers, social security numbers, or any other personal information. If you find yourself in this situation, hang up and call your financial institution directly. Never share passwords or credentials with anyone.
Most financial institutions offer a free credit monitoring tool that will help you spot unusual activity on your credit report. At RVCU, we love Savvy Money’s credit monitoring features. When a new credit account you don’t recognize is opened, you’ll be able to catch it and take action.
Swipe, Tap, Slice – Credit Card Debt
Credit cards are a great way to build credit history by paying your bill on time and if possible, in full to avoid interest charges. When they’re not used responsibly, they can wreak havoc on your credit worthiness, credit score and your wallet. Americans owe $1.21 trillion on their credit cards, an all-time high number, with the average American carrying around $6,735 in credit card debt as of June 2025.
RVCU’s recommendation
If you carry a high balance on your credit cards, there’s no need to fear. You have options! Getting a personal loan to consolidate your debt is a great way to save on high interest charges. A personal loan isn’t adding more debt. It’s a way to put all your debt into one manageable monthly payment.
Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) options are a better option for those emergency purchases. BNPL spreads the payments of that expense over the course of 4-6 weeks, usually without painful high interest fees.
Rest In (financial) Peace
Carrying the weight of financial stress can make you feel like a zombie but with Rock Valley Credit Union, you’ll be able to finally rest in (financial) peace. Finances can be scary, but they don’t have to be when you have RVCU by your side. You can meet with a Certified Financial Coach online, call to schedule an appointment, or stop by an RVCU branch and bring your financial journey back to life.
