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    Military Saves Week: Service members encouraged to take charge of personal finances

    Military Saves Week: Service members encouraged to take charge of personal finances

    Photo By Tech. Sgt. Areca Wilson | Military Saves Week, a campaign that seeks to motivate military families to save...... read more read more

    LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, VA, UNITED STATES

    01.24.2014

    Story by Airman 1st Class Areca Wilson 

    Joint Base Langley-Eustis

    JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. – Military Saves Week, a campaign that seeks to motivate military families to save money, is scheduled to run from Feb. 24 to March 1.

    Through the Airman and Family Readiness Center at Langley Air Force Base and the Army Community Service at Fort Eustis, service members can utilize the program and its resources to help them achieve their financial goals.

    “This event is a proactive approach to financial readiness designed to provide information and resources to prevent financial mismanagement and encourage saving,” said Paul Walker, ACS financial readiness program manager. "Emphasizing the importance of regular savings, living within one’s means, and long-term planning can positively impact the quality of life of service members and families."

    MSW provides programs geared toward helping service members and their families gain financial stability. One program is Saver Pledge, a program where the "saver" signs an online pledge to save money, reduce debt, and build wealth over time.

    "For some, taking the pledge is helpful because it forces them to think about what areas need improvement or what short- and long-term goals need to be addressed," said Walker. "By requesting service members take the Saver Pledge, MSW encourages them to commit to regular saving, set financial goals and make good financial decisions."

    When service members take the Saver Pledge, they receive a monthly Military Saves e-newsletter with savings advice from national experts, a quarterly American Saver newsletter and they can receive a free credit score from myFICO.

    In addition to the pledge, at Fort Eustis the ACS will host a Personal Finance event, targeted to youths in fifth to eight grade. Held at the Child, Youth and School services, it is open to all military and civilian dependents, from 3 to 5 p.m. on Feb. 25, along with a Financial Fair, open to all service members, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 27 and a lunch-and-learn event entitled “Saving and Investing for Your Future,” open to all service members, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 27.

    Maureen Elam, AFRC personal financial readiness specialist, said at Langley, the AFRC will host a Thrift Savings Plan 101 briefing Feb. 24, a Making Money Work for You workshop Feb. 25, an Identity Theft seminar Feb. 26 and a Marriage and Money seminar Feb. 27. All events at Langley are open to all Department of Defense card holders.

    "Achieving our financial goals requires discipline, sacrifice, and
    patience," said Walker. "These programs will allow participants to gain first-hand knowledge from a variety of resources."

    Walker stressed the importance of service members and their families taking responsibility for their financial goals.

    "Success with personal finances requires planning," said Walker. "Your personal financial situation does not stay the same; it either improves or worsens based on your behavior and choices.”

    For more information on Military Saves week, visit MilitarySaves.org website, or contact Paul Walker at 878-3638 and Maureen Elam at 764-3990.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 01.24.2014
    Date Posted: 01.30.2014 12:28
    Story ID: 119858
    Location: LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, VA, US

    Web Views: 73
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN