CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
The Department of Defense designated Feb. 22 to March 1 as Military Saves Week to encourage service members and their families to save money and eliminate debt.
While Military Saves is an ongoing campaign, the entire military community comes together during the last week in February to focus on financial readiness.
The 437th Force Support Squadron's Airman and Family Readiness Center is supporting this effort by asking all Team Charleston members to become financially fit and take part in the workshops that are offered.
"Support for Military Saves by senior leadership will be critical for success," said David Chu, Under Secretary of Defense, in a memorandum to the secretaries of the military departments. "I strongly encourage commanders to sponsor saver drives and events during Military Saves Week and to promote financial readiness throughout the Military Saves campaign year. Again, financial readiness of our service members and their families equates to mission readiness."
Here is a list of the sessions occurring during the week at the A&FRC and the CAFB Youth Center:
Home buying: Learn what it takes to buy the home you can afford, how to qualify for a mortgage, understand the importance of good credit, tips on choosing the right professionals and what's really going on in the real estate market today. A&FRC, Bldg. 500, Feb. 24, 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Steps to Financial Freedom: Budgeting and Credit: This seminar will cover tips on personal budgeting and credit reports. A&FRC, Bldg. 500, Feb. 24, 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Consumer Credit Counseling - Debt Management: Learn to budget, consolidate debt, reduce credit card percentage rates and manage debt. A&FRC, Bldg. 500. Feb. 24, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Mortgage Default and Foreclosure Intervention: How to avoid foreclosure, what to do if you're having trouble paying your mortgage, keeping up with adjustable rate spikes and refinancing out of an adjustable rate mortgage. A&FRC, Bldg. 500, Feb. 24, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Investing in Today's Economy: This seminar will provide Information to think about regarding today's economy, separate fact from fiction and compare today's events to similar events during the Great Depression. A&FRC, Bldg. 500, Feb. 25, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Identity Theft, the Law and You (Keeping Money in Your Pockets): This workshop will focus on how identity theft occurs, particular threats to military and their families and how to protect against identity theft. The session will also discuss the recent passing of a South Carolina law effecting military. A&FRC, Bldg. 500, Feb. 25, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Kids and Kash: For adults to learn how to help their children succeed financially. (Money Matters will be taught simultaneously for 9-18 years olds in another class.) CAFB Youth Center, Feb. 24, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Tuition Tactics; Getting Money for College: This session will make available information and advice for parents and their teens on what to do in middle and high school to better position themselves for college grants and scholarships. A&FRC Bldg. 500, Feb. 26, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Understanding the Complexities of Investing: This seminar is for those individuals who already have some basic knowledge of investing and would like to learn how to understand the stock market as well as other types of investing. A&FRC, Bldg. 500, Feb. 26, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Money Matters (9-18 year olds): Focus will be on balancing checkbooks, importance of saving money and saving wisely. CAFB Youth Center, Feb. 24, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
To register for any of these sessions, call the A&FRC at 963-4406.
For more information on Military Saves, visit www.militarysaves.org.