LaborPress |Kerri O’Brien | December 22, 2025
Financial wellness doesn’t come from one big decision. It comes from small, repeatable habits that add up over time. For union families, where every dollar often has a job before it hits the bank, those habits can make the difference between constant stress and a growing sense of stability.
You don’t have to become a financial expert or overhaul your entire life in a month. Instead, think in terms of simple, doable steps that fit your reality — your schedule, your paycheck, your goals.
Start With One Shared Goal
Money can feel overwhelming when it’s just about “getting by.” A shared goal gives your family something positive to work toward.
That goal might be:
- A weekend getaway or day trip
- A special class, sport, or camp for your child
- Paying down one specific debt
- A home project — fixing something, painting a room, or upgrading a small space
Pick one goal and write it down where everyone can see it: on the fridge, a whiteboard, or a piece of paper by the front door. Next, decide on a realistic weekly or bi-weekly amount:
- $10 a week from the grocery budget
- $20 every payday from overtime or side work
- The cost of one takeout meal or coffee run redirected into savings
Set up an automatic transfer if you can, so the money moves into a separate savings account before you see it. The amount doesn’t have to be big. What matters is consistency and the message it sends: we are working toward something together.
Host a Monthly “Money Huddle”
In union life, you know the power of a meeting: people get on the same page, ask questions, and plan the next move. You can bring that same idea into your home with a short, simple money huddle once a month.
Keep it low-pressure:
- 15–20 minutes max
- No blaming, no guilt
- Snacks, coffee, or dessert on the table
- Everyone gets to speak — including older kids and teens
Use three questions to guide the conversation:
- What are we saving for together?
Review your shared goal. Are you on track? Do you want to adjust the goal or the timeline? - What union or community benefits are we not using yet?
Many union families have access to:- Credit unions with better loan rates or savings options
- Scholarships for members and their children
- Discounts on recreation, amusement parks, sporting events, or classes
- Financial literacy workshops or webinars
Make a short list of benefits to look into over the next month.
- What one small change could make things feel less stressful this month?
Pick just one change, like:- Packing lunch two extra days a week
- Cutting one subscription you don’t really use
- Setting up a payment plan instead of falling behind
- Calling a credit union or nonprofit counselor for advice
Write down the decision and check in on it at the next huddle.
Put Your Union Benefits to Work
You would never leave hours of earned vacation, pension credits, or health benefits on the table. The same should be true for financial tools offered through your union or community.
Take time this month to:
- Visit your union’s website or talk to a representative about:
- Credit union partnerships
- Legal or financial counseling
- Member discounts for entertainment, travel, or education
- Ask if there are:
- Scholarships or grants for members’ children
- Programs to help with homebuying, debt management, or emergency loans
Even one new benefit — a lower loan rate, a free class, or a small scholarship — can shift your financial path over time.
Involve the Kids in Age-Appropriate Ways
Talking about money with children doesn’t have to be scary. It can be hopeful and empowering.
For younger kids:
- Use clear, simple language: “We’re saving for a family trip.”
- Introduce a family savings jar for coins and small bills.
- Let them help choose low-cost activities when you’re trying to save.
For teens:
- Show them how paychecks, taxes, and union dues work.
- Talk about saving for a car, trade school, college, or tools for a future trade.
- Encourage them to set their own small savings goal and match a portion if you can.
The goal isn’t to “dump” adult stress on them. It’s to show that money is something you can plan, manage, and improve over time — together.
Bring Solidarity Home
The same solidarity you show on the job can strengthen your financial life at home. Listening, planning together, and supporting each other through tight months are all part of financial wellness.
This December, LaborPress invites you to see financial wellness not as a lecture or a burden, but as a path to more peace, more choices, and more confidence in the year ahead. You work hard. You deserve not just a paycheck, but a sense of control and possibility.
As we approach January, take this month as your invitation to pause, reflect, and take the first steps toward a stronger, more financially confident new year for you and your family. Small steps, repeated over time, can make a big impact — and your family is worth the effort.
