Saver Tools

Thrift Savings Plan

The TSP is a retirement benefit that allows Federal employees and members of the uniformed services to increase their retirement income by contributing to a long-term savings and investment plan.

SaveandInvest.org

Manage your money with confidence. SaveAndInvest.org is your source for objective answers and unbiased investing resources.

Defense Finance and Accounting Service

The people of the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) take pride in serving the men and women who defend America. We take our contributions to national defense seriously. We work hard to fulfill the important fiscal responsibilities entrusted to us by the American taxpayers.

Hands on Banking

Do you have an emergency fund? Are you saving for a big purchase, like a car? Are you saving for retirement? Learn strategies and tips to start or increase your savings.

Yellow Ribbon Network

If you would like to sign up for free financial coaching/counseling associated with your savings plan/pledge, please click here to create a Yellow Ribbon Network Account, and one of their AFCPE Accredited Counselors will contact you. Signing-up will also give you access to all types of assistance the Yellow Ribbon Network offers (financial, housing, and employment).

Don't need financial counseling right now? No problem, you can access Yellow Ribbon Network's resources through their Hero Accounts.

Military Family Advisory Network: MilCents

The Military Family Advisory Network is the authentic voice of the modern military family and the bridge that connects military families to the resources, people, and information they depend on to successfully navigate all phases of military life. The Military Family Advisory Network offers a self-guided financial education program, MilCents, which provides resources, online events, and social media conversations to empower families in personal finance.

Military Spouse Education & Career Opportunities

The Department of Defense Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program provides education and career guidance to military spouses worldwide and offers comprehensive resources and tools for all stages of career progression.

Government Websites

Military Branches

Overall Education

The USAA Educational Foundation
360FinancialLiteracy.org
InCharge- Mind your Finances
VeteransPlus
Kiplinger’s Financial Field Manual 2019
My Help List courtesy of militaryonesource.com
MilitaryMoney.com

Save & Invest

AmericaSaves.org
AmericaSavesWeek.org
ChoosetoSave.org
Command Your Cash
Bonds Make it Easy
Investor Protection Trust
The Investors Clearing House
Salute to Smart Investing- prepared especially for the Military by Virginia & Kenneth Morris

Youth

Saving for Education courtesy of FINRA
Making Money Work for You courtesy of The USAA Educational Foundation

Debt Reduction

Destroy Debt courtesy of The USAA Educational Foundation
InCharge.org/debt
Getting out of Debt, A Step by Step Guide courtesy of Military One Source
Military Saves Debt Flyer

Retirement

Saving Matters Department of Labor
New Employee Savings Tips Department of Labor
Savings Fitness Worksheets Department of Labor
Retirement Options courtesy of The USAA Educational Foundation
Estimated Social Security at Time of Retirement Social Security Administration

Financial Calculators & Worksheets

Retirement Calculator courtesy of FINRA
Ballpark Retirement Calculator Choose to Save
Military Compensation Calculators DFAS
Debt Reduction Calculator/Worksheet: click here and download for free
Debt Management Calculator: length of time to pay off and amount of interest paid over time
Credit Card Payoff Calculator
Retirement Estimator courtesy of Social Security Online
How Much Will My Savings Grow courtesy of Tsp.gov

Games

Moneytopia - courtesy of Saveandinvest.org
Misadventures in Money Management Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Tip of the Day

The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) offers the same types of savings and tax benefits that many private corporations offer their employees under 401(k) plans. Sign up or get more info at tsp.gov

Saver Stories View all »

From Shopaholic to Saver

Many of us spend too much money on things we don’t need, but we don’t always know why. It’s easy to get a quick fix from retail therapy, but before we know it, our hard-earned money is gone. Oftentimes, when we engage in a “shopaholic” lifestyle or sporadic shopping sprees, we still experience feelings of emptiness, but to make it worse, we now have debt, too.

Khanmany was a shopaholic who turned everything around. She is active duty Navy and shares, “I was spending too much on things I didn't need. I was going shopping for no reason and was trying to fill a void. I was running up every credit card I owned to include Victoria's Secret, Military Star, Navy Federal, TJ Maxx, JCPenney, Macy's, USAA, and was only paying the minimum payments.”

Building a Six-Figure Savings While Enjoying Life

Does the idea of saving up hundreds of thousands of dollars seem impossible? How about doing it while still living an enjoyable lifestyle?

For military spouse Martina and her husband, an E-5 in the Navy, accumulating a six-figure savings has become a reality. One might think that in order to save this much, it would take a great deal of sacrificing and forgoing a certain quality of life, but Martina and her husband would disagree. “Over the past few years (about five), we've managed to save almost $120,000 while mostly living on one income. We've learned so much about easy ways to save money and live a good life,” shares Martina.

Setting a Goal Leads to Success

Growing up, Marisa’s dad had always talked about saving first, but she said she didn’t really internalize it until much later. “I was drifting along with no plan, carrying a little bit of revolving debt, saving some money here and there, but without a real plan for it.”