Fairchild kicks off Military Saves Week Published Jan. 26, 2011 By 2nd Lt. Kwang Woong Kim 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Fairchild kicks off Military Saves Week Feb 22 as a part of the national America Saves campaign to encourage good financial habits. Hosted by the Airman and Family Readiness Center, the goal of the event is to make a positive impact on people's finances. The program is open to military members, their families, civilians, defense contractors and retirees. According to America Saves, about 43 percent of Americans spending more than they earn and personal bankruptcies doubling in the past decade, smart financial spending is more important than ever. "Finances make and break service members and families," said Meredith Hartley, from the Airman and Family Readiness Center. "If money's tight, you're worried about how you're going to feed your family, pay for school, get to work or make rent. Research is showing stronger and stronger correlations between financial stress and post-traumatic stress disorder." Military Saves Week, an annual Department of Defense-wide financial readiness campaign, is an ongoing campaign that focuses on four major themes: · Save and Invest · Youth · Debt Reduction · Retirement "We want every Airmen, regardless of rank, to know three things about personal finance: that they can do it, that we're here to help, and that it doesn't have to be hard," Mrs. Hartley said. Since the start of Military Saves Week in 2007, more than 75,000 individuals have enrolled and hundreds of thousands have experienced positive impact on their financial situations such as savings or investment accounts. More than 200 credit unions and military banks participate in a wide range of activities to promote financial readiness for individuals annually. "After each Military Saves Week, we see a surge of Airmen coming to the A&FRC for financial counseling," Mrs. Hartley explained. "They want to know more about improving their credit for a car loan, saving on groceries, paying off debt, recovering from a divorce and what kind of retirement plan they should open. Some just want to know where their money's going every month. They walked out wanting to know more, and they know they can come to us for answers they can trust." For convenience, lunchtime classes will be taught within 90 minutes, and food and drinks will be provided at classes in addition to give-a-way items. "Military Saves isn't just about improving your finances -- it's about improving your life," said Mrs. Hartley.