my Waypoint
Vista
Build savings today. Plan for the road ahead.
myWaypoint helps Pennsylvania families move from living paycheck to paycheck toward lasting security, one manageable step at a time. We help you build an emergency fund, set savings goals, and start planning for retirement, and through our Economic Stability Program you may qualify for a match of up to $500 to jump-start your emergency savings. Wherever you are starting, it is not too early or too late to begin.
Where we can help
Emergency savings
An emergency fund is the cushion that keeps a setback from becoming a crisis. We help you set a realistic savings target and build it into your budget in small, steady amounts. Through the Economic Stability Program, participants who reach savings milestones can receive a match of up to $500 to jump-start their emergency fund.
Goals and retirement
Setting specific targets, for retirement, a home, or another goal, helps you get there faster. We help you identify what portion of your income can go toward what matters most, and we build savings and retirement goals into the plan you leave with. A principle we share: fund your own retirement as early as you can, even before a child’s college fund, because you have fewer years to save for retirement than they have to repay student loans. We keep retirement guidance simple and general, start early, save consistently, and use any employer match you are offered, and for specific investment or tax decisions we point you to a qualified professional.
Simple ways to build savings
Saving does not require a complicated plan.
A few plain, repeatable habits do most of the work, and a counselor can help you set them up.
Start with a starter goal
Aim first for a small, reachable cushion, for example $500 or one month of essential expenses, before building toward a larger emergency fund of three to six months. A small early win builds momentum.
Make it automatic
Set up an automatic transfer from checking to savings on payday, so saving happens without a decision each time. Money you do not see is easier to keep.
Keep emergency savings separate
Hold your emergency fund in a separate account, so it is there when you truly need it and not spent by accident.
Pay yourself first
Treat savings like a bill. Set aside a fixed amount as soon as you are paid, before other spending, even if it is only a few dollars a week.
Plan for costs you know are coming
For predictable expenses like car repairs, the holidays, or insurance, set aside a little each month so they do not turn into emergencies.
What you receive:
A private session with a HUD-Certified Housing and Credit Counselor
A Tri-Merge Credit Report Review across all three reporting agencies
A Personalized Budget and Spending Plan covering income, expenses, assets, and debt
A Client Action Plan with concrete next steps tailored to your situation
Ongoing counselor support as your finances evolve
Frequently asked questions
How much should I have in an emergency fund?
A good first goal is a small starter cushion, often around $500 or one month of essential expenses, which can cover many common surprises. From there, many people work toward three to six months of essential expenses over time. What matters most is starting where you are and saving consistently, even in small amounts. myWaypoint helps you set a target that fits your budget and build the habit to reach it, and through the Economic Stability Program you may qualify for a match of up to $500 on your emergency fund.
What is the matched savings incentive?
Through myWaypoint’s Economic Stability Program, participants who reach savings milestones can receive a match of up to $500 to jump-start their emergency fund. It is designed to reward the habit of saving and to give families a stronger cushion against unexpected costs. A counselor can walk you through how the program works, whether you may qualify, and how to build the savings habit into a budget you can actually sustain.
I want to start saving but never seem to get ahead. Can you help?
Yes. myWaypoint builds a realistic savings plan with you, starting with small, steady amounts that fit your budget rather than targets that set you up to fail. We look at your income and expenses together, find room to redirect toward savings, and set a clear goal. Through the Economic Stability Program, you may also qualify for a match of up to $500 on your emergency fund, which helps your effort go further.
Is it too early, or too late, to think about retirement?
Neither. It is never too early to start, and starting where you are beats waiting for the perfect moment. myWaypoint helps you set long-term goals and take steady, manageable steps toward them, wherever you are in your career. A principle we share is to fund your own retirement as early as you can, because you have fewer years to save for it than a child has to repay student loans. A counselor can help you build retirement into your plan.
A counselor will help you take the first step toward lasting security.
Already found your footing with myWaypoint?
Help someone else find theirs.