To kick-start the Financial Fitness initiative, Orange Credit Union is offering free coffee on Friday and Monday at Bensons Café in Summer Street, Café Latte at the Orange Anglican Church and Ever Café in Endsleigh Avenue.

Business Orange and Orange360 are also throwing their support behind the Financial Fitness initiative to encourage people to set a money goal, get financially fit and enjoy greater freedom so they can start fresh and strong in 2022.

Orange Credit Union Chief Executive Officer Andrew de Graaff said the impact of financial fitness is a key influence to wellness and the latest research from the national Your Financial Wellness Index 2021 shows almost one in two people, or 46 per cent, are financially stressed and worried about money matters.

"This Financial Fitness is a launch that we are doing to be able to encourage people to set financial goals for themselves to be able to kick start spring, support local businesses and just get financially fit," Mr de Graaff said.

Mr de Graaff said financial fitness is for everyone, regardless of personal circumstance or life stage and people and businesses do not need to be members to participate in the initiative.

He said it was important that as the region comes out of lockdown it is important that people reset and get themselves reorganised financially, manage their money and see how they are spending their money and how they can support the community and local businesses.

To take part people should register online or with the Orange Credit Union QR code to set a money goal and shop within the region to support local businesses.

"Whether it's getting off the rental treadmill, climbing the property ladder, consolidating debt, paying off a credit card, understanding digital banking, saving for a holiday, Christmas or something special, knowing how to make a budget and sticking to it, setting children up to be savvy savers, or saving for your next car or caravan we can help you on your way with personalised goals and tips," Mr de Graaff said.

Business Orange president Jack Evans also supported the initiative and how it can help local businesses.

"It's certainly been a tough couple of months going through the pandemic and as we start to reopen now it's important now to look at where you are spending your money whether it's its online locally or directly into a bricks and mortar business over the counter supporting your local businesses," Mr Evans said.

"I think we will see a gradual improvement with our local trade and local consumers and we will not see a significant boom again like we did last year until the regional travel opens.

"I think it's a good opportunity actually for the businesses to get themselves ready gradually with our local traffic so when it's ready to open up fully we have all our things ready to go."

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