A practical, friendly guide to budgeting from your friends at WealthWise.

If January had a sound, it’d probably be the click of a fresh notebook opening. There’s something about a clean slate that makes getting your money in order feel not just doable, but—dare we say—kind of exciting. Whether you’re recovering from holiday spending or ready to chase new goals, a smart, simple budget is the place to start.

Here are five simple steps to help you hit reset and build a plan that actually sticks this year.

1. Start by knowing your numbers—really knowing them. Think of your income and expenses like the map and compass of your financial hike. Pull your last two or three months of transactions, categorize them (yes, even the late-night pizza orders) and figure out what’s essential, what’s flexible and what’s… well, optional. This is your baseline—not a judgment, just data to build from.
   
   Need help getting started with this step? The free WealthWise budgeting sheet is a great place to begin.
2. Set goals that mean something to you. A budget works best when it’s not just about limits, but about direction. Want to build a $1,000 emergency cushion? Pay off a car loan faster? Save for a summer road trip? Pick one or two meaningful goals and give them a number and a timeline. When your budget has purpose, sticking to it feels less like a chore and more like a strategy.
3. Build a simple plan you can actually follow. Break your spending into broad, easy categories—housing, food, transportation, debt, savings, fun money. No need for 37 subfolders. A good budget should feel like a tool, not a spreadsheet you’re afraid to open. And remember: perfection isn’t the goal—consistency is.
4. Use tech to make the hard parts easier. This is where Cross Valley Credit Union has your back. Set up automatic transfers to savings, turn on account alerts and use online and mobile banking to track your categories in real time. Automation is your friend; the more your money moves on its own, the more your plan stays on course without you having to think about it.
   
   Want some guidance with this step? Start by downloading the free Cross Valley app. Then when you’re ready, schedule your free meeting with a WealthWise Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor today.
5. Review and adjust every month—just like tuning a guitar. Things change. Paychecks shift. Utility bills spike. Kids need new shoes out of nowhere—for the fifth time this year. A monthly check-in lets you adjust without feeling like you’ve “blown” your budget. It’s not about starting over; it’s about steering the ship.

A new year doesn’t magically fix our finances—but it gives us a moment, a breath, a chance to reset the knobs. With a clear plan and the right tools, 2026 can be the year you feel more in control of your money, not the other way around. Let’s make it a good one.

Ready to let the WealthWise team be your guide? This 100% free service is included with your membership and is also available to anyone living in your household.

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If you’ve been thinking about buying your first home in the Wyoming Valley, 2026 might just be the year to make it happen. As a mortgage and lending officer at Cross Valley, I get asked all the time: “Is now the right time?” The short answer? It depends—but let’s break it down.

Here in NEPA, the housing market is steady. Inventory isn’t exploding, but there are opportunities for buyers who move with a plan. Prices have moderated compared to the frenzied national trends of the past few years, and interest rates—while higher than the rock-bottom lows of 2020—are still reasonable for many buyers. For first-time homeowners, that combination can mean manageable monthly payments and the chance to build equity sooner than you might expect.

So what should a first-time buyer keep in mind? First, get your financial ducks in a row. That means knowing your credit score, understanding your debt-to-income ratio and having a clear picture of your budget. We never want a member to use all their liquid assets to buy a home. Nope. Never. That means my job is to help you into a house and keep a safety cushion in your savings. We at Cross Valley can help you figure out what you can comfortably afford without stretching too thin.

"When you’re buying your first home, we don’t just talk about the mortgage. We talk about how you’ll save for your down payment and closing costs, what grants or seller’s assist might be available, and how to structure gifts or share and loan products so you don’t drain all your liquid savings. Unexpected costs always pop up with a new home. That’s why I love sitting down one-on-one to build a plan that fits your budget and your life."

Next, don’t underestimate the power of a pre-approval. It shows sellers you’re serious and gives you a realistic target when shopping.

Finally, think long-term. Buying a home isn’t just about the roof over your head—it’s about the community, schools and lifestyle you want to build. The Wyoming Valley has neighborhoods and small towns with character, walkable streets and easy access to local amenities.

Buying your first home can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. With guidance, preparation and the right lender in your corner, 2026 could be the year you plant roots and start building your future here in NEPA.

"People say it takes a village to raise a child. I always say it takes a village to purchase a home. First-time buyers are suddenly dealing with me as their main point of contact, plus realtors, title agents, inspectors, insurance companies, processors and appraisers. In today’s world, it can be hard to tell who’s legit. Cross Valley and I are here to walk you through each step so you never feel like you’re doing this alone."

It really does take a village to purchase a home. I’m here as your main point of contact to help you sort out who’s who and what’s what—step by step. Your first home isn’t just a purchase—it’s the beginning of your next chapter. And there’s no better time to turn the page.

Yours Truly,
Cathy Casey, Mortgage Relationship Advisor
NMLS #767380

Get in touch with Cathy

Every spring, like clockwork, the universe sends many of us a little financial plot twist: the tax refund. It shows up, you fist-pump and for a moment everything feels possible. But before that money melts into everyday spending, it’s worth giving it a job—one that pays you back long after the excitement fades.

Here’s how to put that refund to work like it’s training for the Olympics.

1. Build (or boost) your emergency cushion. Life is full of surprises—some fun, some expensive. A few hundred dollars set aside can turn a flat tire or a surprise medical bill from a crisis into a mildly annoying Tuesday. If you don’t have an emergency fund yet, use your refund to start one. If you do, top it off. Think of it as financial sunscreen: you don’t always feel it working, but you’re grateful when the heat hits.
2. Knock out a piece of your debt. Debt loves to linger. It’ll sit on your couch, eat your snacks and make itself at home unless you show it the door. Throwing a chunk of your refund at high-interest debt—credit cards, personal loans—can shave months off your payoff timeline. It’s not glamorous, but boy is it effective. And every dollar of interest you don’t pay is basically future-you sending past-you a thank-you note.
3. Fast-forward a 2026 goal. Maybe you’ve been eyeing a home improvement, planning a vacation or saving for a down payment on a new ride. Your refund can act like a jump-start, helping you close the distance between “someday” and “this year.” Set the money aside in a separate savings bucket so it doesn’t mix in with regular spending—out of sight, but working for you.
4. Plant it where it can grow. If your essentials are handled and your debt’s under control, consider putting part of your refund in a high-yield savings account or a share certificate. With rates still fairly strong, a little nest egg can quietly grow while you focus on the rest of your financial life. It’s compound interest doing what compound interest does—slow, steady magic.
5. Don’t forget balance. It’s okay to enjoy a small slice of your refund. A good plan leaves room for living. Just decide your percentages before the money arrives, and you’ll avoid the “Where did it all go?” moment.

Your refund isn’t just extra cash—it’s momentum. Aim it with intention, and it can make the rest of your year feel a whole lot lighter.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens to your money after you deposit it—beyond the app notifications and monthly statements—here’s the short version: it doesn’t hop on a plane to some far-off corporate headquarters. Not at Cross Valley Credit Union. Instead, your dollars stay close to home, doing real work in the community you actually live in.

Think of your deposits like little neighbors—earning, helping, circulating. Every checking balance, every savings account contributes to a pool that fuels local lending—for individuals, families, first-time borrowers and local businesses.

That means when someone in Wilkes-Barre needs a reliable car to get to work, or a family in Hazleton is ready to buy their first home, your dollars help open the doors. And it’s not abstract—you can literally drive past the homes, the cars, the small businesses that exist because members invested in each other simply by banking locally.

Cross Valley also works directly with the places shaping the future of NEPA: local businesses (over 300 of them!), trade schools, and local colleges (we’re talking about you, Luzerne County Community College!). Whether it’s helping a new coffee shop get off the ground or supporting programs that give students financial know-how, the credit union ties its success to the success of the region. It’s a circular kind of economy—money comes in, opportunity goes out and the community grows stronger.

This is also where Cross Valley’s community initiatives come into play. From financial-education workshops to partnerships with local nonprofits, member dollars help fund programs that make NEPA a little brighter, a little fairer, a little more connected.

In 2025 alone, Cross Valley donated nearly $52,000 to local nonprofits and area organizations.

Additionally, our team gives back to the community with time. In 2025 alone, Cross Valley team members volunteered 547 hours to local organizations, charities and non-profits. Sometimes, there’s simply work that needs to be done, hands need to get dirty, cups need to be filled. And while donations always help, having the support of community members goes a long way too.

What makes this system work is simple: credit unions aren’t built to ship profits elsewhere. They’re built to lift up the people who keep them going. So when you choose Cross Valley, you’re choosing a model where your everyday banking—your paycheck deposit, your savings transfer, your debit swipe at the grocery store—becomes part of something larger.

During 2025’s St. Jude Children’s Hospital radiothon, Cross Valley was proud to match $10,000 in donations, bringing Froggy 101’s total donation to just under $80,000!

It’s money with a hometown accent. Money that stays where it’s earned. Money that helps people you might bump into at the gas station or the Little League field. And in a world where so much feels distant or disconnected, that kind of impact matters.

Local banking isn’t just convenient—it’s powerful. And every member plays a part.

Welcome to Opportunity.

If 2025 taught us anything, it’s that scammers don’t take holidays, weekends or snow days. They adapt faster than a Pennsylvania pothole forms after the first freeze. And here in NEPA, the fraud attempts we saw last year paint a pretty clear picture of what’s coming next.

But good news: once you know how these scams work, outsmarting them becomes a whole lot easier.

The “Almost-Real” Text Alert: One of the fastest-growing schemes continues to be fake text messages claiming to be from your bank or credit union. They look legit—logo, urgent wording, link included. The trick is simple: the moment you click or reply, the scammer has a foothold.

How to beat it: Don’t tap the link. Ever. If Cross Valley needs you, they’ll never ask for personal information through a text. Call the number on the back of your card, not the one in the message.

The Fake Package Delivery Hustle: Missed delivery! Action required! We all saw these pop up like dandelions last year. Scammers know we’re all ordering more online, and they use that routine to slip into your inbox or messages.

How to beat it: Check your actual delivery accounts—UPS, USPS, Amazon. If you didn’t personally track a package, assume the message is a fake.

The “Helpful” Tech Support Caller: This one’s been climbing fast. You get a call claiming your computer has a virus. They offer to fix it… if you give them remote access. By the time you realize what’s happening, they’ve drained accounts or installed malware.

How to beat it: Hang up. Tech companies don’t call you out of the blue. And nobody legitimate needs remote access to “check something.”

The Too-Good-To-Be-True Marketplace Deal: NEPA saw a spike in scam listings: snowblowers, puppies, used cars—great prices, zero reality.

How to beat it: Local, in-person, cash or verified payment only. If the seller refuses to meet or pressures you, it’s a scam.

What Last Year Taught Us: Fraud isn’t about technology—it’s about emotion. Urgency, fear, excitement. Scammers push buttons. Your best defense? Slow the moment down. Ask yourself: Does this make sense? Would Cross Valley ever ask me to do this? That pause is your superpower. This year, keep your guard up, your instincts sharp and your personal info close. Scammers may be clever—but Cross Valley members are smarter.

Want some bonus points? If you’re up for it, report anything you sense might be a Cross Valley-related scam directly to us—we’ll handle it for ya!

Sometimes the most meaningful moments don’t come with a ribbon or a press release. They show up quietly—right when someone needs them. This holiday season, Cross Valley had the privilege of stepping in for 22 members of our community, providing $10,000 in direct support to help make the season a little warmer, a little lighter and a lot more hopeful.

No middlemen. No red tape. Just neighbors helping neighbors.

For some families, that support meant keeping the heat on during one of those Northeast Pennsylvania cold snaps that cut straight to the bone. For others, it meant a few more presents under the tree—small things, maybe, but the kind that let kids feel the magic of the season instead of the weight of worry.

This is the part of being a credit union that never shows up on a balance sheet. Because when you’re member-owned, success isn’t measured only in numbers—it’s measured in moments. It’s measured in relief, in gratitude, in knowing someone was paying attention.

These gifts didn’t solve everything. They weren’t meant to. But they showed up at the right time, with the right intention, and that matters more than most people realize.

To our members: this kind of impact is only possible because of you. Your trust, your participation, your belief in keeping things local makes moments like this possible. As we step into a new year, we carry these stories with us—not as something to celebrate loudly, but as a reminder of who we are and why we do what we do.

Sometimes, a little help goes a very long way.

It’s that time of year again! No, not the holidays. Not tax season either. It’s annual meeting season—and as a credit union member, you’re not just invited, you’re an owner.

This year, we’re turning things up a notch. Actually, a few notches. Better food, bigger prizes and plenty of reasons to feel good about being part of something you own. If you’ve ever wanted to flex your credit union ownership—even just a little—the annual meeting is where it happens.

Join us Monday, April 20th at 5:30pm at The Greens at Irem Clubhouse in Dallas. We’ll kick things off with a cocktail hour, move into the meeting (don’t worry, we keep it engaging) and wrap things up with dinner. Along the way, expect basket raffles, door prizes, giveaways and a look at some exciting updates coming your way.

Come for the food and prizes. Stay for the impact, the updates and the chance to help shape what’s next for your credit union. Ticket details and RSVP information coming soon—we hope to see you there.

There’s something quietly powerful about seeing someone you know step into a role that shines far beyond Pennsylvania’s hills. This year, we at Cross Valley couldn’t be more proud to share that our President and CEO, Traci Donahue, has been appointed to a leadership position with the National Credit Union Coalition for America’s Heroes — an organization dedicated to supporting servicemembers and their families.

For Traci, advocacy for veterans isn’t a title or a line on a resume — it’s been a steady commitment rooted in gratitude and action. Her work helping those who’ve served has long been part of her leadership here at Cross Valley, and this national acknowledgment simply reflects what we see every day: a heart and a voice for those who deserve both respect and support.

What makes this moment special isn’t just the title or the platform — it’s how it weaves back to our community. Traci’s influence on this coalition means Cross Valley’s values — local care, real impact and service with intention — are being heard on a bigger stage.

We’re proud to stand with her and inspired by what this means for veterans, for credit unions and for the power of leadership that cares about cause as much as outcome.

Traci’s journey reminds us: when someone from your own backyard steps into national advocacy, the whole community benefits. Here’s to lifting voices, serving heroes and doing good that echoes.