'Start small, Save big': Team Buckley to learn smart savings

Published Feb. 21, 2013
By Airman 1st Class Phillip Houk
460th Space Wing Public Affairs

BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The Buckley Airman and Family Readiness Center encourages people to "Start small, Save big" during Military Saves Week activities beginning Feb. 25.

This event is available to all members of Team Buckley including all military members, retirees and civilians, as well as their spouses.

"Military Saves Week is a (Department of Defense) initiative to get the military to start saving," said Sandy Whitaker, A&FRC community readiness consultant. "It's a week where we really highlight different activities trying to encourage our people to save money."

Activities throughout the week include opportunities to meet with financial planners, learn about smart saving and win prizes. The classes will emphasize smart practices to encourage smart saving.

Events for Military Saves Week are as follows:

· Feb. 25: Kickoff Event, Bldg. 606 auditorium, 7-9 a.m.
· Feb. 26: Engaging Education, Bldg. 606 A&FRC, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
· Feb. 27: Fiscal Fitness, base fitness center, 6:30-9 a.m.
· Feb. 28: Spouse Focus, base housing community center, 6-7:30 p.m.
· Feb. 29: Financial Symposium and closing lunch, Bldg. 606 auditorium, 8:30 a.m. to noon

The financial symposium will close the week's events. It includes financial counseling and classes teaching investment, smart consumerism and debt reduction.

A&FRC consultants encourage people to take control of their finances with a number of valuable tips.

"A lot of the Airmen believe that you only live once, and they do not think about the future," said Latoya Marble, A&FRC community readiness consultant. "Try to save maybe even $10 per paycheck and work your way up ... save something for emergencies.

"Sometimes you need to make sacrifices and live under your means so that when you retire you will not have to work," she added. "You need to think about when you are old. ... Do you want to come to work every day?"

For more information go to http://www.militarysaves.org/ or call the A&FRC at 720-847-6681.

‘Start small, Save big’: Team Buckley to learn smart savings