UNCLASSIFIED//

ATTENTION INVITED TO  

ROUTINE

R 091837Z DEC 11 PSN 716387K32

FM CNO WASHINGTON DC

TO NAVADMIN
ZEN//OU=DOD/OU=NAVY/OU=ADDRESS LISTS(UC)/CN=AL NAVADMIN(UC)

INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC

BT
UNCLAS
QQQQ

SUBJ: FAMILYGRAM 06-11 - FAMILY FINANCES UNCLASSIFIED// FM CNO WASHINGTON 
DC//N1// TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// UNCLAS//N01754// NAVADMIN 
377/11

MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/DEC//

SUBJ/FAMILYGRAM 06-11 - FAMILY FINANCES//

RMKS/1.  THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS UPON US.  IT IS A WONDERFUL TIME FOR FAMILY 
GATHERINGS WITH MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR RELAXATION AND ENTERTAINMENT.  PROPER 
HOLIDAY PLANNING AND SAFE TRAVELING IS THE BEST GIFT YOU CAN GIVE YOUR 
FAMILIES AND FRIENDS.
HOLIDAY PERIODS CAN BE PARTICULARLY STRESSFUL WITH ADDITIONAL SOCIAL AND 
FAMILY REQUIREMENTS AS WELL AS INCREASED FINANCIAL PRESSURES.  UNFORTUNATELY, 
THIS SEASON CAN HAVE DEVASTATING EFFECTS ON FINANCES WITHOUT PROPER PLANNING.  
INCLUDED IN THIS FAMILYGRAM ARE TIPS AND RESOURCES FOR A COMPREHENSIVE 
CONTROLLED SPENDING APPROACH AND PLANNING FOR A BRIGHTER FINANCIAL FUTURE.

2.  FLEET AND FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER (FFSC) UNDERLINES THAT DURING THIS HOLIDAY 
SEASON, CONSUMER DEBT CAN ACCUMULATE TO UNMANAGEABLE LEVELS, DRIVING PERSONAL 
FINANCES INTO THE RED.
TWO WORDS CAN INSULATE YOU FROM GOING DOWN THE PATH OF LESS WEALTH AND MORE 
DEBT - "PLAN NOW!"
    A.  KNOW YOUR FINANCIAL STATUS -- DETERMINE HOW MUCH SAVINGS, DEBT, AND 
INCOME YOU HAVE; BE MINDFUL OF A SOLID FINANCIAL REGIMEN; MAKE AND FOLLOW A 
SOUND BUDGET.
     B.  BE REALISTIC IN YOUR BUDGET PLANNING.  DISCUSS THIS WITH YOUR FAMILY 
SO THEY DO NOT HAVE UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS.
     C.  DETERMINE HOW MUCH YOU ARE GOING TO SPEND THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.  THINK 
OF HOW MUCH YOU SPENT LAST YEAR AND DECIDE IF YOU CAN STILL AFFORD THAT 
PATTERN OR LIFESTYLE.
     D.  TRY USING CASH INSTEAD OF CREDIT CARDS.  IT'S MORE DIFFICULT TO HAND 
OVER OUR HARD EARNED CASH THAN SWIPE A PLASTIC CARD.  WHEN USING A CREDIT 
CARD, MAKE SURE YOU CAN PAY BACK THE DEBT WITHOUT BURDEN.  SOME CREDIT CARDS 
HAVE AN ACCOUNT FEATURE THAT SENDS TEXT OR EMAIL NOTIFICATIONS WHEN YOU ARE 
APPROACHING A PRE-DETERMINED LIMIT.
     E.  DO WHAT IS BEST FOR YOUR SITUATION.  DON'T BE INFLUENCED BY THE 
ACTIONS OF OTHERS AND RESIST MEDIA HYPE.
     F.  MAKE A LIST FOR PURCHASES; AVOID IMPULSE BUYS.
     G.  AFTER THE HOLIDAY SEASON, RECALCULATE YOUR BUDGET AND WRITE DOWN 
REALISTIC FINANCIAL GOALS.  INCLUDE HOW MUCH IT WILL COST AND HOW LONG IT WILL 
TAKE TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR GOALS.
     H.  OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE.  THERE IS AN ARRAY OF FREE ONLINE 
FINANCIAL TOOLS TO HELP YOU MAKE SMART FINANCIAL DECISIONS.  FOR TRUSTED IN-
PERSON ADVICE, FFSC FINANCIAL COUNSELORS, COMMAND FINANCIAL SPECIALISTS AND 
THE OR NAVY/MARINE CORPS RELIEF SOCIETY ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE FOR ASSISTANCE 
AND GUIDANCE.

3.  IF YOU SEEK OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE, FFSCS OFFER SEVERAL PERSONAL FINANCIAL 
MANAGEMENT CLASSES AND SEMINARS FOR SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.  THEY 
HAVE ACCREDITED FINANCIAL COUNSELORS AS WELL AS FINANCIAL EDUCATORS THAT ARE 
AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE AND OFFER INDIVIDUAL AND CONFIDENTIAL METHODS IN 
REDUCING DEBTS AND WORKING WITH CREDITORS.  THEY CAN ASSIST WITH CREATING A 
SPENDING PLAN AND ESTABLISHING A PLAN FOR SAVING AND INVESTING TO REACH YOUR 
GOALS.  VISIT WWW.FFSP.NAVY.MIL.

4.  ADDITIONAL ONLINE RESOURCES FOR FAMILY FINANCIAL PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT:
     A.  MILITARY ONE SOURCE PROVIDES SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES FREE 
NEWSLETTERS, WEBINARS, FINANCIAL PLANNING ASSISTANCE, PODCASTS, VIDEOS, AND A 
VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS THAT ARE CUSTOMIZED TO MEET YOUR UNIQUE 
NEEDS.  TOPICS INCLUDE MILITARY BENEFITS, BUDGETING, CHILD CARE, CREDIT, 
FINANCIAL EMERGENCIES, INVESTING, SHOPPING, AND MUCH MORE.  GO TO 
WWW.MILITARYONESOURCE.COM/MOS/NAVY.ASPX, THEN GO TO THE FINANCIAL AND LEGAL 
TAB AND CLICK ON MONEY MANAGEMENT.
     B.  MILITARYMONEY.COM WAS CREATED AS PART OF DOD'S FINANCIAL READINESS 
CAMPAIGN TO PROVIDE AN AUTHORITATIVE RESOURCE FOR MILITARY FAMILIES.  MILITARY 
MONEY SHARES INFORMATION ON EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND FUNDING, SAVING, 
BANKING, INVESTING, DEBT, AND CREDIT AS WELL AS CAREER AND LIFESTYLE 
RESOURCES.  VISIT WWW.MILITARYMONEY.COM.
     C.  THE FEDERAL RESERVE HAS DEVELOPED "THE CONSUMER'S GUIDE TO CREDIT 
REPORTS AND CREDIT SCORES."  IT DESCRIBES THE CONTENT OF A CREDIT REPORT AND 
EXPLAINS HOW A CREDIT SCORE IS USED AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING PERSONAL 
CREDIT HISTORIES.  VISIT WWW.FEDERALRESERVE.GOV/CREDITREPORTS.
     D.  THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU MILITARY LINE HAS A FREE MONTHLY E-
NEWSLETTER-"THE TRUSTED SCOUT," THAT ASSIST READERS WITH BEING BETTER 
CONSUMERS AND AVOIDING FINANCIAL SCAMS.  VISIT 
WWW.BBB.ORG/US/MILITARY/NEWSLETTER.
     E.  IDENTITY THEFT IS THE SUBJECT OF A FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION WEBSITE 
OFFERING TOOLS AND RESOURCES FOR MILITARY MEMBERS AND FAMILIES FOR PROTECTION 
FROM IDENTITY THEFT OR HELP IF YOUR IDENTITY HAS BEEN STOLEN.  VISIT 
WWW.FTC.GOV/BCP/EDU/MICROSITES/IDTHEFT/.
     F.  "MILITARY SAVES," WITH ITS SLOGAN "START SMALL. THINK BIG,"
ENCOURAGES SERVICE MEMBERS TO MEET IMMEDIATE NEEDS AND BUILD LONG-TERM WEALTH 
THROUGH SAVING AND DEBT REDUCTION.  THE WEBSITE OFFERS MONEY MANAGEMENT TIPS, 
SAVINGS AND DEBT REDUCTION INFORMATION, AND CALCULATORS.  VISIT 
WWW.MILITARYSAVES.ORG.
     G.  CONSUMER PROTECTION IS THE MISSION OF THE OFFICE OF SERVICE MEMBER 
AFFAIRS, WHICH IS THE MILITARY ARM OF THE NEW CONSUMER  FINANCIAL PROTECTION 
BUREAU.  THEIR GOAL IS TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER  SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR 
FAMILIES TO MAKE BETTER INFORMED DECISIONS  REGARDING CONSUMER FINANCIAL 
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, E.G., CREDIT  CARDS, MORTGAGES, ETC.  THIS OFFICE WILL 
ASSIST MEMBERS AND FAMILIES  WITH CONSUMER COMPLAINTS/ISSUES AND MONITOR 
PROCESS FROM COMPLAINT  TO RESOLUTION.  VISIT WWW.CONSUMERFINANCE.GOV.

5.  LINKS ARE OFFERED AS A CONVENIENCE AND FOR INFORMATIONAL  PURPOSES.  THEIR 
INCLUSION HERE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT  OR AN APPROVAL BY THE 
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY OF ANY OF THE PRODUCTS,  SERVICES, OR OPINIONS OF THE 
EXTERNAL PROVIDERS.  THE DEPARTMENT OF  THE NAVY BEARS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR 
THE ACCURACY OR THE CONTENT OF  EXTERNAL SITES.

6.  POINT OF CONTACT IS MS. BETTY TALLEY, OPNAV N135F, COMM:
(901) 874-4299 (DSN 882) OR EMAIL betty.talley@navy.mil.

7.  RELEASED BY VICE ADMIRAL S. R. VAN BUSKIRK, N1.//

BT
#0377
NNNN
UNCLASSIFIED//