High costs and debt pressures prompt credit union’s spring financial reset
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — OnPoint Community Credit Union is encouraging Oregonians to undertake financial "spring cleaning" amid ongoing cost pressures and rising household debt.
New data reveals that 53% of Oregonians are struggling to pay bills, and nearly half cannot cover a $500 emergency expense.
Meredith Bureau, Hillsdale branch manager at OnPoint Community Credit Union, highlighted the difficulty people face in building savings."Spring is a good reminder to pause, take stock, and get organized to build a stronger financial foundation."
The 2026 Oregon Financial Wellness Scorecard, published by the Oregon State Treasury, shows the widespread nature of these financial struggles. It found that nearly three of every four Oregonians are feeling cost pressures.
• Taking inventory of accounts, debt and recurring expenses to better understand cash flow
• Strategies such as a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) to tackle high-interest debt, including consolidation or balance transfer options
• Aligning bill due dates with pay cycles and automating payments to avoid fees
• Identifying and trimming “convenience spending” like dining out or subscriptions
• Finding opportunities to lower monthly bills, from insurance to internet plans
• Turning spring decluttering into extra cash by selling unused items
Tidy payment schedules by aligning bills with paydays and setting up automatic payments to create more consistency. Trimming convenience spending can also free up money for savings or debt repayment. Americans spend an average of more than $3,600 on dining out each year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Consumers can also sweep away extra costs from monthly bills by contacting providers for cell phone, internet, insurance and medical services to ask about lower-cost plans or discounts. Additionally, research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health suggests clutter can interfere with financial well-being, contributing to indecision. Decluttering physical spaces may uncover items to sell, creating extra cash and reducing unnecessary spending.
OnPoint Community Credit Union offers access to financial experts at its 59 branch locations, providing one-on-one guidance. Bureau emphasized the cumulative effect of small adjustments. "Small changes can have a meaningful impact," Bureau said. "The goal isn't perfection. It's creating a system that helps you feel more confident and prepared, even when costs remain high."
