Grand Forks AFB A&FRC set to host 2014 Military Saves Week

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The Airman & Family Readiness Center here is scheduled to host several events in observance of this year's Military Saves Week from Feb. 24 to Feb. 28.

Military Saves Week is an annual opportunity for installations and organizations to promote good savings behavior and a chance for service members and their families to assess their own saving status. Typically thousands of organizations participate in the Week, reaching millions of people.

Thomas R. Slaughter, Military Saves Week campaign coordinator and an A&FRC community readiness consultant said the campaign is designed to help military service members and their families, "Set a Goal, Make a Plan, and Save Automatically," which happens to be this year's campaign theme.

While the Military Saves campaign runs all year, the Department of Defense allows the A&FRCs to select one week in February to host the public event, Slaughter explained.

Although this year's local Military Saves Week runs Feb. 24 to 28 the A&FRC will kick off the campaign on Feb. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Liberty Square with a Financial Information Fair and the 2014 Kid's Financial Day.

The fair will consist of booths manned by representatives from more than a dozen organizations ready to provide answers and information regarding financial matters. Some of the organizations providing information included non-profit groups, such as the Bank of North Dakota Spouses Education Opportunities, North Dakota Military Outreach and the Air Force Aid Society.

The Military Saves events are open to the military community of all services. Events include:

Start Now
· Feb. 24, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Lunch-n-Learn at the A&FRC. Facilitated by Mrs. Becky Duncan. Creating Your Financial Action Plan. What financial goal you want to tackle this year; get out debt, buy a house, start investing, or take a vacation. Stop dreaming about it and make it happen.

Acknowledge the Past
· Feb. 25, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Budget Boot Camp Lunch-n-Learn at the A&FRC. Facilitated by Thomas Slaughter.

Plan for the Future
· Feb. 26, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Thrift Saves Plan (TSP)/Savings & investments Lunch-n-Learn at the A&FRC. Facilitated by Thomas Slaughter

Tools to Make it Happen
· Feb. 27, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Dissecting your Leave & Earning Statement (LES) Lunch-n-Learn at the A&FRC. A great class for military spouses. Facilitated by Mrs. Bonnie Bauman.

Preparing the Next Generation
· Feb. 28, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: How to talk with your kids about money-Strategies for raising financially responsible kids in a debt and credit card world; a Lunch-n-Learn at the A&FRC. Facilitated by Mrs. Bonnie Bauman.

Free single and family budgets, FICO Scores and a credit card cut up jar will be available to guests Feb. 24 to 28 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Thrift Saving Plan Investments one-on-one sessions with a financial advisor will also be available upon request throughout the week.

The FICO score is a type of credit score that makes up a substantial portion of the credit report that lenders use to assess an applicant's credit risk and whether to extend a loan.

Call 701-747-3241 for more information.