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Military Saves week promotes culture of financial responsibility

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Emerald Ralston
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Military Saves Week is coming up Feb. 23 to 27 at the Airman & Family Readiness Center. The week includes a series of classes to help military members and civilians build wealth, not debt. 

Military Saves Week is a Department of Defense-wide initiative to help military members avoid the traps of debt and money mismanagement that so many servicemembers fall prey to. 

"Military Saves is a social-marketing campaign to persuade the military community to establish new norms around money by saving and investing consistently over time, and reducing or eliminating dependence on consumer debt," said Master Sgt. John Lipkea, 92nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and wing project officer for the campaign.

Financial stability is about a lot more than knowledge, according to the Military Saves Web site, www.militarysaves.org. It takes consistent action over time. Most people do better when they have a supportive environment.

Military Saves Week is a campaign to make every military community that supportive environment. When enough military members, civil servants, contractors, retirees, other veterans, family members, military organizations, private organizations and companies belong to Military Saves, the entire military culture can change. 

The theme of Military Saves is 'Build Wealth Not Debt,' said Maureen Hartford, 92nd Force Support Squadron and financial advisor for the class. "The focus of the classes is financial success. Individuals who have good information prior to making financial decisions will be able to avoid bad debt, meet their financial goals, and build wealth for their future. Even in these troubled financial times, there is much that can be done to build a successful financial future." 

Many classes will be held, but certain classes may have more impact with certain age groups than others. 

"While the Airmen & Family Readiness Center is offering a wide range of classes, I believe the ones that target our 18- to 24-year-old military community members are very important," Sergeant Lipkea said. "Classes like 'Singles Moving Off Base' and 'Car Buying' can literally save our Airmen thousands of dollars." 

The week's schedule is as follows:
Feb. 23: Five steps to financial success - 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Feb. 24: Saving and investing - 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Home buying - 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Feb. 25: Thrift Savings Plan - 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saving money by quitting smoking - 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 26: Car buying - 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Money and marriage - 6 to 8 p.m.
Feb. 27: Singles moving off base - 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
To reserve a seat or for more information, call 247-2246 or visit www.militarysaves.org.