Military Saves campaign workshop encourages budgeting, saving for a better financial future Published March 5, 2012 By Linda Welz 452 AMW public affairs MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. -- The March Airman and Family Readiness Center sponsored a Saving for your Financial Future workshop on Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Hap Arnold Club during the Military Saves campaign. The workshop, intended to help Team March members understand their options when it comes to personal finances, was free and open to all base personnel. Twenty-two people were in attendance as Lori Lamb, from Springboard Financial, a Riverside-based non-profit organization registered with Military One-Source, guided guests through several steps toward financial success. "Our goal for these workshops is financial wellness within the military community," Lamb said. "We hope the financial education topics we provide in these workshops lead the military members and their families to a debt-free life." Lamb, who has been conducting workshops like these for seven years, said she understands when people are going through financially tough times because she was once there herself. "About 14 years ago my fiancée lost his job and we had to use credit cards for everything, even groceries," she said. "I learned that by having an emergency fund for the 'what ifs' in life was instrumental and it changed my life financially." Wanting to share what she has gained through life experiences as well as her 18 years of working-knowledge in the credit industry with others, Lamb hopes to prevent consumers from using credit unwisely. "Always start with a budget, never spend more than what you bring in, save for emergencies and write down your financial goals so they are visible to you every day," she said. "The key is to track your daily spending using a financial spread sheet or even a little notebook so you can find the leaks in your budget. Then, make a plan to save and set it up automatically," she added. Springboard Financial has resources available for anyone (military or civilian) who wants to use them free of charge. Their nationwide services include credit and debt counseling, financial education programs (online/in person seminars and materials), debt management plans, homeowner assistance (foreclosure prevention), first time home buyer seminars, reverse mortgage counseling, pre-bankruptcy budget and credit counseling and bankruptcy pre-discharge financial management instructional courses. Their subsidiary, Springboard Solutions at www.keepyourhomecalifornia.org, can even help those facing foreclosure in California through a government aid program, where eligible homeowners can have their mortgage payments supplemented allowing them time to regroup and get back on their feet, Lamb said. If you are interested in confidential, financial assistance, call Springboard at 800-947-3752, e-mail them at springboard@credit.org or visit their website atwww.credit.org. The next financial workshop at March ARB is scheduled for sometime in the summer or fall. In the meantime, Lamb reminds you to save, spend wisely, share and invest in that order. For a list of upcoming financial workshops, visit http://credit.org/blog/events.