Class helps Airmen prepare for holidays, budgeting

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Hrair H. Palyan
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  With the holiday season fast approaching, the Airman and Family Readiness Center staff is partnering with an area lending agency to conduct a series of classes designed to educate Airmen and their families on how to keep control of their holiday spending.

The first class, titled "How to Take Control of Your Holiday Spending" was done in the AFRC classroom, Sept.26, and provided participants with an opportunity to learn firsthand from experts on how to manage their holiday finances.

"We want to make sure all of our Airmen can enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas without putting themselves into debt," said Laurie Adkins, AFRC community readiness consultant. "Sometimes you hear about Airmen needing money to buy gifts or go see their family, and because they don't know how to manage their finances effectively, they get themselves into trouble."

Matthew Gluhosky, Sentinel Federal Credit Union vice president of lending and one of the speakers during the workshop, encouraged Airmen to avoid using their credit cards or borrowing money during the holidays, and to instead open a savings account with their bank to pay for any expenses.

"Before any plans are made, Airmen need to determine their budget," Gluhosky stressed. "That way they can determine whether or not the items they want to buy are within their budget. If they don't have enough money to make all the purchases they want to, they then have to decide if they want to borrow money."

Gluhosky said the three areas in which most people spend money during the holidays are gifts, travel and entertainment.

"I understand that we all feel compelled to buy our loved ones expensive gifts, but there's more than one way to show someone you care about them," said Laurel Marshall, SFCU executive administrator and one of the speakers during the workshop. "I see Airmen volunteer and give back to the community all the time. If it's been a long time since you've seen your family and friends, it may be a good idea to spend the money to visit them instead of shipping them a gift."

Adkins noted that Airmen will fare better if they approach this holiday season with a proactive approach, rather than a reactive approach. She added that the AFRC offers a variety of financial courses, including a basic introductory course for Airmen who want to manage their money better and a detailed course for Airmen who are preparing to buy a home.

For more information, or to sign up for the next financial preparedness class, call Laurie Adkins at (605) 385-4663.