A&FRC promotes financial readiness Published Feb. 18, 2014 By Airman 1st Class Janelle Patiño 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Military Saves Week is coming to Fairchild Feb. 24 with hopes to encourage military families to save money. Military Saves Week is a part of the Department of Defense's Financial Readiness Campaign and has been a partner with DOD since 2003. This year's campaign will be hosted by the Airman and Family Readiness Center. The week's schedule is as follows: Feb. 24: Moving off base brief - 8 to 9:30 a.m., Budgeting/Making the Most of Your Money - 2 to 3 p.m. Feb. 25: Thrift Savings Plan and Investments - 10 to 11:30 a.m., Home Buying Refinancing - 3 to 5 p.m. Feb. 26: Know Your Credit Report - 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 27: Car Buying - 1 to 2 p.m. Feb. 28: Couponing 101 plus Commissary Tour - 5 to 7 p.m., Healthy Eating On a Budget - 4 to 6 p.m. "Our focus this year is more on setting a goal, making a plan and saving automatically," Master Sgt. Laurie Simons, A&FRC superintendent. "We will offer free classes every day of the week that will be promoting financial resiliency." Military Saves is made possible with the help of several agencies that can help guide Airmen to save money. It's also designed to convince leaders and organizations to be aggressive in promoting savings. "The week long campaign also works with the defense credit unions, military banks and other non-profit organizations to promote savings and debt reduction," said Christopher Marble, A&FRC chief. "Military Saves is a year-round campaign and provides savings-themed resource packets available to organizations throughout the year." According to Marble, the campaign is also a part of America Saves, the larger nation-wide campaign for all Americans. On Feb. 26, the A&FRC will also have a Better Business Bureau booth at the Base Exchange as an addition to the classes offered during the week. "The booth will be more of an outreach and informational booth to let people know what resources are available for them," said Simons. Any DOD identification cardholder is eligible to sign up for and attend any military saves class. "Even couples that are getting ready to tie the knot and people who want to merge finances can attend," Simons said. "The maximum amount of attendees per class is set up for up to 30 people." According to Simons, it's best to be prepared for what may happen in the future, especially with the force-shaping going on. They want people to leave A&FRC with a goal, a plan and to make their money work for them by putting it in savings. For more information or to sign up, call (509) 247-2246 or visit www.militarysaves.org.