Military Saves Month promotes smart money

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kathleen D. Bryant
  • 23d Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  The Airman and Family Readiness Center is hosting financial classes for the Military Saves Campaign Feb. 17-18 here.

The classes are being held in February for Military Saves Month and will cover different ways to manage finances.

"These classes are good for people who are trying to take a closer look at their finances and further educate themselves to make even better decisions than what they're doing now," said Sheena Parrish, 23d Force Support Squadron community readiness specialist. "We have various classes going on throughout the month going over several financial aspects, [including] saving, investing, budgeting and creating financial goals."

The first class went over aligning financial choices with personal values and budgeting. The second class covered saving and investing. The next two classes will cover managing credit and debt on Feb. 17 and buying and selling homes on Feb. 18.

"Looking at where your budget's at is the catalyst for developing goals," said Parrish. "A budget is really the first step in being financially fit. A lot of times the problem I see with customers are those little miscellaneous charges that can add up to a car payment pretty easily every month."

While the information given from the classes are meant to be beneficial, the resources provided are also meant to be valuable.

"It's not just [what's taught in] the classes," said Airman 1st Class Jennalyse Adam, 23d Aerospace Medicine Squadron dental technician. "It's giving us the resources and the opportunity to continue our financial goals. Being informed gives you the initiative to build a base for yourself financially." 

During the classes participants will have a chance to fill out a Military Saves Pledge and enter into a drawing to win a gift card from $50-300.

The Military Saves Pledge is "I will help myself by saving money, reducing debt, and building wealth over time. I will help my family and my country by encouraging other Americans to build wealth, not debt."

The last week of the month is Military Saves Week (Feb. 23-28) and the A&FRC will be out in the units giving briefings on financial readiness and showing Airmen what resources are available.

"We understand that not everyone can drop what they're doing with the mission and come over here for a class," said Parrish. "We're telling units if they want one of these classes to give us a call, we'll come to them."