Alternatives Federal Credit Union

06/24/2026

💚 Financial Wellness Wednesday

Here’s something nobody tells you about budgets: they’re supposed to change.

Life shifts. Priorities evolve. Something you thought you could cut turns out to matter more than you realized. Something you thought you needed turns out to be easy to let go of.

That’s not failure. That’s how it works.

After your first month with your new Spending and Saving Plan, ask yourself two questions:

1. Does this feel livable? Does your quality of life still feel good? If you cut something you now regret — a monthly outing, a small treat — put it back. Just find somewhere else to trim. A plan that makes you miserable won’t last.

2. Did it actually change your numbers? Look at what you planned versus what really happened. How close did you get? What got in the way?

If your first month wasn’t perfect, that’s completely normal. As Nelson Mandela said, “I never lose. I either win or learn.” Most people find that the first month is more about learning their own patterns than about flawless ex*****on. What matters is what you do with what you learned.

A Spending and Saving Plan isn’t a contract you sign once and never revisit. It’s a living document — something you come back to, adjust, and keep making work for you.

This week’s step: Check in on your first month. Notice what worked, what didn’t, and make one adjustment. Just one. That’s enough. 💚

🔗 alternatives.org/welcome-were-glad-youre-here

💬 What’s one thing you adjusted in your plan that made it feel more realistic?

06/21/2026

06/17/2026

💚 Financial Wellness Wednesday

If the word “budget” has ever stressed you out, try this instead: call it a Spending and Saving Plan.
Because that’s what it really is — a plan for getting the most out of your money, including the things you enjoy right now and the bigger things you’re working toward.

You’ve tracked your spending. You’ve listed your income. Now it’s time to put the numbers together.

Here’s how:
1. Set up two columns — what you spend now, and what you want to spend going forward
2. Add your goals as line items in your plan — savings targets, debt payments, whatever you’re working toward. If you don’t know exact amounts yet, use estimates
3. Subtract your total expenses from your total income
4. Start with expenses first — it’s usually easier to reduce spending than to increase income

If your number is negative: you have a clear target — find expenses to trim or ways to bring in more. If it’s positive: decide where to direct that extra toward your goals.

This doesn’t have to be perfect to be useful. A rough plan you’ll actually use beats a precise plan you abandon.

And if the numbers still aren’t adding up after you’ve worked through it, that’s exactly what our Financial Education Team is here for. Free. Confidential. No judgment.

This week’s step: Put your numbers together. You’ve got a Spending and Saving Plan. 💚

🔗 alternatives.org/welcome-were-glad-youre-here

💬 What’s one expense you found easier to cut than you expected?

06/12/2026

Thinking about buying your first home — but not sure where to start?

You're not alone. The mortgage process can feel like a maze, especially if no one in your life has walked you through it before. This free webinar is designed to change that.

Join Kim Ritter, Mortgage Department Manager at Alternatives, for an honest, plain-language look at what homebuying actually involves:

▪️What lenders look at — income, debt, credit, and savings
▪️How to find out if you're ready (and what to work on if you're not yet)
▪️Down payment assistance programs that may be available to you
▪️A clear picture of the timeline and your mortgage options

Wherever you are in the process — just curious or actively preparing — you'll leave with real next steps. 💚

Two sessions available — pick what works for you:
📅 Saturday, June 27 • 10:30 AM–12:00 PM
📅 Monday, June 29 • 5:30–7:00 PM

Both sessions are free and held virtually via Microsoft Teams.

Register free → https://www.alternatives.org/solutions/financial-tools-and-resources/

06/11/2026

This spring, Alternatives partnered with three Cornell Johnson School MBA students to explore how we better reach prospective homeowners in the communities we serve.

They listened. And then they helped bring those stories to life on video — featuring real member experiences with our FAIR Mortgage program (Finance Addressing Inequality and Racism).

Watch the video 💚

🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAi9MOJrQ9w