AFRC to host Military Saves Week

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Aaron J. Jenne
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Team Dover’s Airman and Family Readiness Center will host the annual Military Saves Week here Feb. 27 through March 3, 2017.

Department of Defense local financial education partners will teach several free classes each day covering subjects such as the Blended Retirement System, Thrift Savings Plan, budgeting, credit and investment tips. Anyone with a valid military or dependent ID card is invited to attend these classes.

Military Saves Week is an adaptation of a national program, America Saves, which networks with thousands of financial educators across the nation to promote financial best practices. At Team Dover, Jennifer Aubrey, AFRC community readiness consultant, hopes the classes can promote financial education and wellness for the Airmen and their families.

“I think everybody should come to our classes, especially the BRS and TSP classes because whether you’re eligible for the program or not, it’s good to have an awareness of what’s going on,” Aubrey said. “It’s going to be extremely beneficial for the Airmen who need to decide which retirement system to choose, but it’s going to be really good for supervisors too.”

These classes have something for everyone, Aubrey said. Whether someone doesn’t know much about managing finances or they have a strong foundation, there’s always something more to learn.

“Most schools don’t teach finance,” Aubrey said. “We’ve got a lot of people coming in not knowing what they don’t know. We learn from our family of origin. If our family had good money habits, that’s great, but if they have bad habits and that’s all we know, we think that’s normal. Sometimes, it takes somebody pointing out that our practices could be better.”

Finances are subjective; what works for one person may not be practical for another.

“Sometimes we have people come in who think they’re in terrible shape, and really, they’re in better shape than most of the people I see. It’s all perspective. We have some people who come in who need a lot of work, which is fine, but on a scale of one to 10, they may rate themselves an eight. It really is very subjective.”

Attending one of the AFRC’s financial classes with an open mind is a good starting point for determining financial soundness, Aubrey added. For this reason, the center also tries to host two to three classes each month.

“Regardless of whether your finances are in good shape or they need a lot of work, anyone can improve their finances, it just takes some knowledge and dedication,” Aubrey said.

For more information or to sign up for the classes, call (302) 677-6930. Keep up to date on classes and events hosted by the AFRC at https://www.facebook.com/Dover-AFB-Airman-and-Family-Readiness-106143736141112/?ref=settings.