FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. -- The mission of the Army Community Services Financial Readiness office is to help Soldiers and their Family members become just that -- financially ready for anything. To that end, they will be hosting Military Saves Week -- an extension of America Saves -- Monday through Feb. 28.
Stephen Stone, ACS financial counselor, said the purpose of the week is to "promote Soldiers to start saving, buy down debt, pay off debt and live better, because the better off your finances are, the less stress there is in the Family."
"We like to share the knowledge that we have and show people ways to save, ways to invest, how to save on your income taxes -- how to live better," Stone said. "Money is so easy it's unbelievable -- it's the knowledge you've got to have."
Military Saves Week will begin with a kickoff ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday in the lobby of the Financial Readiness office, 5662 Screaming Eagle Blvd.
Immediately following will be "Investing in your TSP," the first of six free seminars being offered by the center.
"The TSP -- or Thrift Savings Plan -- is the military retirement program, so we're going to show them how to save through the TSP, put money in the TSP so they'll have it when they retire."
On Tuesday, two seminars will be offered. At 10 a.m. there will be Income Tax, led by certified income tax specialists to teach the Soldiers and Family members how best to save with the money they get back from taxes, followed by Principles of Investing at 1 p.m.
"Let your money make money for you," Stone said. "And if you're young and have children, what you want to do is put money aside for them as well."
On Wednesday at 10 a.m., Stone will be teaching a two-hour Money Management course detailing many of the services offered by the financial readiness office.
"There's a tremendous amount of resources here on post that some do not realize," he said. "We even have [financial] counselors in some of the units that are there for the Soldiers. Everything's confidential, all they have to do is go in and talk."
At 1 p.m. Wednesday, staff will present another Military Retirement and TSP seminar explaining the way military retirement funds work.
"There are five basic funds … certain funds produce a lot better than others at certain times," Stone said. "[It's] the knowledge of what you can do and what you can expect with each one -- and what your goals are."
Stone said the financial officers encourage Soldiers and Families to set up a rainy day fund first and foremost, because there is always the possibility of unexpected expenses. He said it also helps alleviate stress, knowing there is extra money set aside somewhere.
A commissary tour will start at 8 a.m., Feb. 26, led by the commissary staff.
"The new commissary is interesting because everything is done electronically," Stone said. "So the prices are changed on a Wednesday. So, you're standing there looking at a sticker and it changes on you right there."
The staff will lead the participants on an aisle-by-aisle tour, explaining when prices go up or down, and the best day to buy produce or meat. They will also explain how to best use coupons.
Participants are asked to call ahead so that the commissary has enough "goody-bags" ready. Fort Campbell Federal Credit Union will host a Saving and Investing seminar Feb. 27 led by Young Park.
There will also be an information table at the Post Exchange from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. for people to come by and take the pledge to improve their finances.
"You can go into debt easy, all you have to do is sign the bottom line," Stone said.
"You want to build wealth, but that's down the road. Saving money is easy as long as you know what you're doing."
Anyone wanting to take the pledge, or to learn more about it can visit www.militarysaves.org. Then, click "take the pledge" and fill out the form to begin saving.
"The whole program is built to help America by getting Soldiers to save a little bit and come out of debt to make themselves less stressed out," Stone said.
He said it was his goal as a financial counselor to help Soldiers make sure their money was straight and their bills paid so they don't have to worry about a penny while they're in combat.
Stone said Military Saves Week is meant as a jumping off point to get Soldiers and Families on the road to financial stability, but the financial readiness center offers classes year round as well as individual counseling as well.
Each seminar has a 40-person limit, so Stone recommended that anyone interested in attending should register by calling (270) 798-5518.
Related Links:
101st Airborne Division on Twitter
Fort Campbell Courier on Twitter
101st Airborne Division on Facebook
Social Sharing