This vital question was answered for service members and military families, during a financial readiness symposium held at the base theater, Feb. 25.

The education forum was provided to military personnel and family members by both local and base nonprofit organizations and the Department of Defense in support of Military Saves Week.

The financial forum provided opportunities to service members and military families to speak to local organizations on and off base about financial stability and security.

During the event, the speakers and organizations provided information about budgeting, credit management, debt elimination, purchasing cars and homes, savings and investments, real estate and planning for retirement.

“No matter where an individual is in their life or how much they  make, the best thing to do is get started with saving for the future,” said Larry Winget, a speaker during the event. “There is never a perfect time to start saving for the future.”

Choosing not to do it would be stealing from yourself, said Winget, best-selling author of “Shut Up, Stop Whining and Get a Life” and “It’s Called Work for a Reason!”

The information provided by the forum served to inform Marines how to save, where to invest and how to prevent identity fraud, said Lance Cpl. Eric Shaw, military police, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group.

“I got a better understanding of where my money should be going instead of where it shouldn’t,” he said.  Before the event, he was not educated on saving for the future and protecting an individual’s identity, such as calling a credit bureau to have them freeze an account.

Individuals can learn about savings, investing, protecting against identity theft and much more by the resources provided on base.

Service members and family members can learn how to be financially savvy by contacting local resources provided by the Marine Corps Community Services, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, the Thrift Savings Plan, Military Saves and Military OneSource.

An individual can benefit by using the resources provided to them through the military. These resources can help manage credit and debt, as well as providing information about starting a retirement plan.

“You don’t want to be done with your career (and looking into retirement) and thinking I wished,” said Col. Philippe D. Rogers, commanding officer, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

For more information about saving money, check online at www.nmcrs.org.