Military Saves Week campaign helps joint base community plan financial future

Published Feb. 26, 2013
By Airman 1st Class Ryan Throneberry
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Joint base leadership and representatives from every service branch kicked off the Military Saves Week campaign with a proclamation signing Feb. 25, 2013, here.

Military Saves Week is a national campaign intended to motivate and encourage military families to save money each month. The campaign is also geared toward convincing leaders and organizations to promote automatic-savings programs.

"The theme for this year's event is 'set a goal, make a plan, do it automatically,'" said Susan Endres, Military Family Support Center community readiness consultant. "It doesn't necessarily matter how you choose to save or how much, what's important is you start as soon as possible."

All military installations implement annual Military Saves Week campaigns with educational programs and events emphasizing the importance of creating and maintaining a savings plan.

"If I look back at the 283 months I have been in the service, I realize I should have started saving from the very beginning," said Col. John Wood, JB MDL commander. "If I saved only 100 dollars a month with no interest, I would now have more than 28,000 dollars. I want this program to educate our service members and encourage them to think long term."

Active-duty, guard and reserve service members, their families, Department of Defense civilians and contractors, retirees and veterans are encouraged to take the Savers Pledge today (or repledge from last year). Community members can take the pledge by visiting www.militarysaves.org/take-the-pledge as a first step in the commitment to "build wealth, not debt" and for a chance for individuals to assess their own saving status and take financial action. More than 128,000 individuals took the Savers Pledge since the first Military Saves Week in 2007.

Savers who take the pledge can opt to receive a monthly e-newsletter from Military Saves. The organization also works with defense credit unions, military banks and other non-profit organizations to promote savings and debt reduction.

"While this event only lasts a week, saving money should be a year-round goal for joint base community members," said Endres. "I hope this week will help encourage people to take the pledge online and start making smart financial decisions for here on out."

The following Military Saves Week campaign events here include:

- "Your money - take charge" class from 10-11:30 a.m. Feb. 28, 2013, at the MFSC. Learn to set financial goals. Preregistration is required.

- Shredding event from 1-4 p.m. Feb. 28, 2013, at the Andrews Federal Credit Union McGuire branch. Bring 'sensitive' documents for shredding with the use of a shredder truck.

- "Get Organized" class from 1-2:30 p.m. March 1, 2013, at the MFSC. Learn about keeping financial records. Preregistration is required.

- "Lunch & learn financial fitness" class from 10-11 a.m. March 6, 2013, at the MFSC located at 488 Walsh Road on Lakehurst. Pre-registration is required. Call (732) 323-1248 for more information.

Call 754-3154 for more information.

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