Make a Plan: How to Save | America Saves

Choose Your Savings Goal
Emergency fund Retirement Investment Savings Vacation Education Large Purchase Debt Repayment Housing Transition fund General Savings

Emergency fund

Nearly a quarter of savers who take the Military Saves pledge chose “emergency savings” as their first wealth-building goal. And they have the right idea.

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Helpful emergency savings links:
Set a Goal: Save for Emergencies Emergency Savings Tips on Where to Keep Your Emergency Savings This is the Emergency You've Been Saving For How Military Families Can Save $500 to $1,000 for Emergencies

Retirement

Retirement savings is a top priority for many Savers. Saving now for retirement will ensure that you have enough money to enjoy a comfortable standard of living when you stop or reduce the amount of hours you work.

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HELPFUL RETIREMENT SAVINGS LINKS:
Why Military Spouses Should Get Ready for Retirement, Too Your Uniformed Services TSP Account: A Sweet Deal That Just Got Sweeter Three Things to Know When You Have Two TSP Accounts Your TSP: How to Make Your Money Work For You

Investment Savings

More and more people who take the Military Saves pledge are choosing investment savings as their goal. Making investments can build wealth over time more reliably than using a savings account, but it also involves risk. So, it’s important to educate yourself.

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Helpful Investment Savings Resources:
Check out the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) time-tested rules Check out the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) guiding principles Learn more about investment fees from the SEC

Vacation

Vacation anyone? You might be gearing up for your next trip soon. Luckily, you don’t have to be rolling in dough to travel!

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Check out these resources to help save for your next vacation:
Make the Most of Your Vacation with These Easy Summer Savings Tips

Education

Saving for education is the second most popular goal (after saving for emergencies) savers select when they pledge to save with Military Saves.

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Helpful Education Savings Links:
Learn more about grants and scholarships Learn more about Federal Work-Study Learn more about 529 plan fees and how they impact financial aid eligibility Learn more about savings bonds Learn more about federal student loans

Large Purchase

Think and acting like a saver not only means knowing what you’re saving for and how much it costs, but having a plan for building that savings.

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Helpful Large Purchase Savings Tips:
Five Rules for Buying a House 4 Things Veterans and Service Members Need to Know When Buying a Home 5 Holiday Mistakes That Could Cost You Save with a Plan: Your Future Self Will Thank You

Debt Repayment

Getting out of debt is the #3 goal Savers select when they pledge to save. With planning, discipline, patience, and maybe some outside help, almost anyone can reduce their debts and start to accumulate wealth.

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Helpful Debt Repayment Links:
Tips for Getting Out of Debt First Step to Destroy Debt: Stop the Bleeding Looking for extra money? 8 Debt Management Tips That Could Help Military Service Members Save Money Each Month

Housing

Develop a savings plan to build up money for a down payment at purchase, for moving expenses, and for post-purchase emergency expenditures such as needed home repairs.

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Helpful links for future homeowners:
Visit Freddie Mac for information about home buying and the mortgage process For more information about home buying and the mortgage process visit Fannie Mae Check out Current Mortgage Rates Five Rules for Buying a House 4 Things Veterans and Service Members Need to Know When Buying a Home

Transition fund

Military families move all the time, but to prepare for a life of moves, you need to know what to expect both before and after a move. That means asking a lot of questions and doing some research. Know the costs involved, make a PCS (Permanent Change of Station) plan, and set aside funds specifically ear-marked as a PCS fund.

Learn more

Helpful Transition Fund Links:
Talk to Your Spouse About Money BAH Calculator

General Savings

It can be hard to put aside money for savings. But there is an easy way to save money without ever missing it. Make your savings automatic. You can start small and save $20 a week or month or you can try and save more.

Learn more

Helpful General Savings Resources:
54 Ways to Save Money What's The Easiest Way To Save? Automatically How to Start Your Savings Journey 38 Reasons You Need At Least a $500 Emergency Fund 5 Ways To Teach Kids How To Save At Home
Take the Military Saves Pledge

Savers who make a plan are twice as likely to save successfully.
Take the Veteran Saves Pledge

Make a pledge to yourself and create a simple savings plan that works. Complete the Pledge and Veteran Saves will send you short email and text reminders, resources, and tips to keep you on track toward your savings goal. Become part of an entire community of savers. Get started now! Please use a CIVILIAN email address.

Why am I taking this pledge?

Creative ways to fund your savings

What to save for

I

First Name *

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pledge to save money, reduce debt, and build wealth over time. I will encourage my family and friends to do the same.

I’m saving for...

Emergency fund

Large Purchase (car, electronic, etc.)

Debt Repayment

Housing (ownership, improvement, etc.)

Investment

Retirement or long-term investment

Transition fund

General Savings

Vacation or special event

Disability-related expenses

I will save

Amount

each month for

Month

months to reach my savings goal.

Your Debt Repayment amount

Debt Repayment Tips

I, _firstName_ _lastName_, pledge to save $_amount_ each month, for _term_ month(s), to reach my _goal_ savings goal of $_amountTotal_.

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Branch of Service

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Rank/Grade

I am 14 years old or older.

I want to receive text message savings tips and advice.
You are signing up for recurring messages from Veteran Saves. Message and data rates may apply. Text HELP to 70878 for info. Text STOP to 70878 to opt-out. No purchase necessary. See our privacy policy for more details. Message frequency varies.

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Why am I taking this pledge?
Those with a savings plan are twice as likely to save successfully. Taking the Veteran Saves Pledge is a pledge to yourself to start a savings journey and Veteran Saves is here to encourage you along the way. Take the first step toward creating a better financial future. Make a plan, set a goal, and pledge to yourself to start saving, today.

Congrats on completing the pledge!

We are so glad you have started your savings journey and Veteran Saves will be right beside you the whole way! You will soon receive an email from the America Saves team to help encourage you. Find helpful links below to continue researching topics on saving.
Military Saves Text Messages

Now there’s a new way to sign up to receive goal-based text messages from Military Saves!

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For Organizations

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For Organizations

Military Saves wants to assist your efforts to encourage financial action and savings behavior change throughout the year.

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Latest Partner Resource Packets Resource Links

Partner Spotlight

By MyArmyBenefits Team

Life After Retirement: Will You Have Enough?

This month we are highlighting a partner resource. MyArmyBenefits is the U.S. Army’s official benefits website and is geared towar...

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Resource Center

Savers
Insights Saver Tips and Stories Saver Links

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Resource Center

Insights Saver Tips and Stories Saver Links

Retirement

05.22.2019

Why Military Spouses Should Get Ready for Retirement, Too

A recent by the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies highlights some sobering facts about women and retirement. While wome...
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PCS

05.03.2016

Five Rules for Buying a House

Buying a house is a great way to feel like you’re part of the community. But it’s also a huge financial decision with far-reaching...
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08.12.2019

When You Start Small, Saving is Easy

When Attiyya first got married, she and her Marine husband had just graduated from college and were focused on paying off student ...
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01.13.2021

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 th...
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MilitaryOne Source

Active duty military personnel have access to free financial coaching/counseling through their installation's Family Readiness cen...
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Government Websites

Check out the government resources that are available to you.
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Partner Resource Packets

04.26.2019

Saving for College and Paying off Student Loans

Whether you’re going back to school shopping, saving for college, or paying off a student loan, education can be an expensive part...
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04.26.2019

Money and Moving: Avoid a PCS Financial Fiasco

Spring is in the air and in the military community that means one thing: thousands of families across the globe have just received...
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Newsroom

Press Releases In the News Reports

Press Releases In the News Reports

06.01.2021 By Angela Caban

11 Financial Institutions, 17 Organizations Awarded for Encouraging Military and Veteran Community to Save

Military Saves announced today that three banks and eight credit unions have been awarded the Military Saves Designation of Saving...
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02.01.2019

New Horizons Credit Union participates in National America & Military Saves Week

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02.13.2019

Learn Healthy Saving Habits During Military Saves Week

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Military Saves Month 2021 Annual Report

Since 2007, Military Saves has provided a platform for organizations and installations around the world to promote the benefits of...
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Military Saves Month 2020 Report

Military Saves Month (April) is an annual opportunity for installations and organizations to promote good savings behavior and a c...
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