Financial Resource Library
Supporting Every Generation on the Journey to Financial Freedom
At Valley First Credit Union, we proudly serve members of all ages - whether you're just beginning to learn about saving and budgeting, navigating major life milestones, or planning for retirement. We’re more than just a financial institution - we’re your lifelong partner in building financial confidence and stability.
With a commitment to integrity, innovation, and personalized service, our resources are designed to support your financial goals at every stage of life - from first savings accounts to legacy planning. Wherever you are on your financial journey, we’re here to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
Financial wellbeing isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about building the right habits over time. Each month, we’ll share practical tips and resources to help you feel more confident about your money and take the next step toward your goals.
Fall is a season of change, and it can also be a great time for a financial check-in. With the holidays and year-end expenses just around the corner, consider taking a fresh look at your budget, credit, and financial priorities.
Start by exploring our Tips for Building Better Credit Habits article for simple actions that may help strengthen your credit over time.
You can also watch our Budgeting for the Holidays webinar on demand to learn practical ways to plan ahead, manage seasonal spending, and make the most of your holiday budget.
A little preparation now can help you head into the holiday season and the new year with greater financial confidence.
Budgeting
Healthy money habits start here.
Saving
Start small, think big.
Money Management
Manage debt responsibly.
Investing
Build a brighter tomorrow.
Fraud Prevention
Protect your assets and personal information.
Kids & Youth
Healthy money habits for kids and youth start here.
Get the knowledge to build good financial habits
Make informed financial decisions on the road to financial well-being.
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Budgeting
Effective budgeting strategies for financial success
Ready to take charge of your financial journey? Start by building a budget. With a solid budget in place, you’ll navigate your finances with confidence and achieve your dreams.
Create a budget. Your budget should outline your income, expenses and outstanding debt. Allocate a portion of your income to paying off debt, and saving for your future, while covering daily expenses.
Set financial goals. Write down your short-, medium- and long-term financial goals, like saving for emergencies, buying a house, paying off debt or saving for retirement.
Understand your income and expenses. Know how much you earn, owe and the interest rates you’re paying.
Differentiate between needs and wants. List your needs (essential expenses) and your wants (non-essential expenses) and prioritize your needs over wants.
Track your spending. See where your money really goes, then identify areas where you can cut back or adjust.
Categorize your expenses. Divide your expenses into categories like housing, groceries, debt repayment, savings and discretionary spending. Allocate a portion of your income into each category based upon your financial priorities and goals. Learn how you can note spending categories in your Purple Checking account.
Be money wise. Consider cutting your expenses by canceling subscriptions you don’t use. Clear out the clutter and sell items you no longer use.
Get the help you need. There are a number of government programs that can help you meet at least some of your basic needs for things like, food, medical treatment or cash.
6 Reasons to Create and Stick to a Budget
How to Budget in Inflationary Times
Family Time on a Budget: Free Ways to Spend Time with Your Kids
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Saving
Create a good savings habit
Every penny saved today is a step closer to your financial freedom tomorrow. Whether it's for a rainy day, your dream vacation, or securing your future, prioritize saving and watch your future flourish. Start small, think big!
Article - Save Smart, Start Small: The Beginner's Guide to Building Wealth.
Pay yourself first. Set up automatic savings transfers from your Purple Checking account to your Purple Savings account or one of our other savings account offerings. From Club Accounts to save for a special financial goal, to your emergency fund, to an account specifically designed for children and youth - our competitive interest rates will have your account growing in no time.
Create a savings plan. The best outcomes start with a plan.
Build an emergency fund. Your emergency fund can prevent you from relying on credit cards or loans to cover unexpected expenses. Aim to save between 3-6 months’ worth of living expenses.
Start early! Getting your kids started on a strong financial path is a gift. Help them get started early by setting savings goals and savings accounts.
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Money Management
Effective strategies for debt management
Managing debt responsibly is the key to financial health and stability. Follow these strategies and stick to your plan so you can gradually eliminate debt and achieve financial freedom.
Understand your debt. Know how much you owe and the interest rates you’re paying.
Create a budget. Your budget should outline your income, expenses and outstanding debt. Allocate a portion of your income to paying off debt, and saving for your future, while covering daily expenses.
Pay off high-interest debt first. Credit card interest can spiral out of control. Focus on paying off high-interest credit card balances and pay more than the minimum.
Lower your interest rates. Consider consolidating your debt and transferring high-interest card balances to 0%.
Make timely payments. Late fees, penalties and accruing interest damage your credit score, and is money going out that may be needed for your daily expenses. Set up automatic reminders or auto pay to ensure you don’t miss any payments.
Understand your credit score. Your credit score is your passport to financial opportunities. Invest in your financial future by getting to know your score. Review your credit report with our FREE Savvy Money credit score tool. Enroll in this free service online or via .
Avoid taking on new debt. Resist the temptation to open new credit cards or make big purchases with high-interest rates. Determine your wants vs your needs and focus on living within your means.
Build an emergency fund. Your emergency fund can prevent you from relying on credit cards or loans to cover unexpected expenses. Aim to save between 3-6 months’ worth of living expenses.
How to Track Your Spending (downloadable tracking sheet)
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Investing
Investments for financial growth and security
Creating a financial plan builds a sturdy foundation. Whether it's securing your future or realizing your goals, smart financial planning sets the stage for success. Invest time today, build a bright financial tomorrow!
Retirement Planning. Begin your journey toward retirement by setting money aside in a traditional Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA), Roth, Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) or Coverdell education account.
Investing in your future. Our Certified Financial Counselors can create a roadmap that secures your future and the security of your loved ones.
Insurance to cover the unexpected. Planning for life’s “what if’s” is an important part of safeguarding your family, your money and your assets. Dependable and affordable insurance coverage – like Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), Simplified Issue Term Life or Auto Insurance – is designed to protect you and your family.
Conduct an investment checkup. It’s important to make sure your investment portfolios are on track and still align with your financial goals. Conducting regular checkups are the key to a healthy investment portfolio.
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Fraud Prevention
In today’s interconnected world, where digital transactions are the norm and personal information is shared with the click of a button, the risk of falling victim to fraud has never been greater. We’re arming you with the tools and information you need to protect yourself against fraud. Whether you’re shopping online, using mobile apps or simply browsing the web, we’re here to empower you to detect and prevent fraudulent activity before it harms your financial security.
Identity Protection
How to Buy a Car on Facebook without Getting Scammed - Facebook Marketplace can be a great place to find a used car at a fair price. You’re often dealing directly with the owner, avoiding dealership markups and high-pressure sales tactics. At the same time, Facebook is one of the most common places for private party car scams. Check out this article to learn more.
Review your Credit Report. A recent report shows that 1 out of 3 credit reports have errors. Whether these errors are fraudulent or not, routinely checking your credit report can increase your awareness about changes to your credit file. This increased awareness can play a pivotal role in maintaining your identity and checking for errors in your report. Sign up for SavvyMoney via .
Free Credit Monitoring. With our FREE credit score solution in online and mobile banking, you can receive real-time credit monitoring alerts, get access to your full credit report, and stay on top of changes to your credit file. Sign up for SavvyMoney via .
Protect your credit with fraud alerts and credit freezes. If your personal information has gotten into the wrong hands, you have the right to attach a fraud alert to your credit file. This alert warns credit issuers that your personal data has been illegally accessed. When you freeze your credit file, you can stop fraudsters from opening new credit in your name.
Protecting seniors. Knowing how to protect yourself or your loved ones from identity theft is important. In an increasingly digital world, seniors are a frequent target — sometimes the fraud is committed by close family or friends. Learn tips for protecting your parents and common scams target seniors.
Protecting your children from identity theft. You may be surprised to learn that someone has been using your child’s personal information to commit fraud. Learn the seven steps you can take to protect your children’s identity and credit history.
Spotting identity theft on your credit report. Many people have errors in their credit reports. Some of them may be honest mistakes, but others may be due to fraud. Learn to know what warning signs to look for and what you can do next.
Payment app safety. With digital payment apps becoming a more common way we make purchases, it’s never been more important to safeguard your information and know what to look for when using payment apps.
Identity theft basics. Learn the preventative measures you can take to reduce the chance of identity theft from occurring.
Password security. Passwords are like gatekeepers controlling who accesses your online data. Without strong passwords, your accounts and personal information are vulnerable. Learn how to set hack-proof passwords.
Keep your online identity secure. Surfing the internet can be safe and worry-free as long as you take steps to protect your online presence and know how to spot a scam.
Social media scams. Scammers are becoming cleverer all the time. Know what to watch for when you get new friend requests or messages that appear to come from people you know.
Rental Listing scams. Planning your move into a new home can be very exciting. Don’t let a scammer steal your deposit or personal information. Know the red flags to look for.
Stop Common scams. Scammers use many of the same tactics to steal your money or identity. Know the red flags for refugee, fake job listing, verification code hijacking, fine print and cryptocurrency scams.
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Kids & Youth
Kids
The Three Jar Savings Method
Have you earned some money and want to know what do to with it? Try the three jar savings method!9 Ways for Kids to Make Money
The best way to teach a child financial responsibility is by encouraging them to earn and manage money on their own. As the weather warms, there are many opportunities for your kids to pull in some extra money.Family Challenge: Crack the Emoji Puzzle
Family Discussion: Think Before You Spend
Youth
50/30/20 Savings Model
Money can be tricky but learning how to manage it makes a huge difference. That’s why the 50/30/20 Rule is a great way to help preteens and teens divide their money wisely.Saving for Expensive Purchases
Adam and Ashely are going shopping for new backpacks for school. Help them decide which backpacks to buy.
We’re here to help!
Contact our Certified Credit Union Financial Counselors (CCUFC) or branch team for personalized guidance that aligns with your financial goals and gets you on the road to financial freedom.