Military Saves Campaign kicks off Tuesday

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RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  

Team Kaiserslautern will kick off the 2011 Military Saves Week campaign 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center Food Court. The "Kick Off" will include an informational fair and a ceremonial cake cutting followed by a Veteran's Affairs briefing. Pledge cards will be available to take the 'Saver's Pledge.'

Military Saves, a component of the Department of Defense Financial Readiness Campaign and the national America Saves campaign, gives service members, civilians and their families opportunities to learn practical personal financial planning and management skills. In an effort to encourage military families to "build wealth, not debt," the first quarter emphasis of the yearlong campaign is on savings and investing.

"The goal of Military Saves Week is to encourage and motivate individuals to commit to a savings lifestyle," said Anna Bennett, Airman and Family Readiness Center Community Readiness consultant. "The key to developing a savings lifestyle lies in the campaign's slogan: 'Start small. Think Big.' The essential thing is to start now," she added.

Increasing the financial literacy of our military youth is paramount. The A&FRC has partnered with the Ramstein Before and After School Program for a "Saving with Sammy Rabbit Read-In" Feb. 25 to educate youth on the importance of savings. The older youth will have an opportunity to test their personal financial knowledge in the First Annual Financial Football Bowl. In conjunction with the B&A, the A&FRC also sponsors a poster contest as part of the savings campaign. This year's theme is "How to Make Your Money Grow." Posters will be on display at the A&FRC (Bldg. 2120 on Ramstein). Winners will be announced on AFN Radio, March 3, during the A&FRC segment from 9 to 10 a.m.

To learn more about the Military Saves Campaign, visit www.militarysaves.org.

To register for any or all of the financial classes, call 480-5100/5900.

Wednesday
11 a.m. to noon: Planning & Paying for College
12:15to 1:45 p.m.: Tax Saving Strategies
2 to 3 p.m.: The Financially Savvy Woman

Thursday
10 to 11 a.m.: Introduction to Home Buying
11:15a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Planning for Retirement
3 to 4 p.m.: What You Always Wanted to Know about TSP

Feb. 25
10 to 11 a.m.: Traveling on a Budget
11:15 a.m. to12:30 p.m.: Doing More With Less/Free Things in the Area
12:45 to 1:45 p.m.: Money Management for Couples: How to Make It Work

(Courtesy of Ramstein Airman & Family Readiness Center)