1. FCM: Images and Suggested Post Copy

Images and Suggested Post Copy

Here’s how you can get involved:

  • Use these images and suggested copy to publish posts on your social media channels.
  • Develop your own original posts, adapting the key messages below and include our campaign hashtag, #FinancialFuture2024.
  • Follow FINRED’s social accounts and share our posts with your followers. LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and YouTube.

 Key Messaging:

Collaborators, military leaders and service providers are encouraged to use the content below when communicating with audiences on financial readiness topics. Messages are written for the largest audience but can be adapted for more audience-specific tactics, if needed.  This digital calendar is provided to help collaborators, military leaders and service providers align the timing of their messaging with DoD FINRED.

Topic: Breaking Down Military Pay

  • Whether it’s your monthly base pay, insurance deductions or vacation days earned, your Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) can help you budget your monthly expenses and plan for major purchases. Understanding your LES is crucial to mastering your money and achieving your financial goals.
  • Staying on top of the information in your LES — like your deductions, allotments and TSP contributions — is important. Keep each statement and read it each month.
  • Even though your financial journey is personal to you, you are not alone. If you have questions about your LES or are curious about the different types of military pay, visit your Disbursing Office or mypay.dfas.mil.

Supporting Resources

Topic: Budgeting

  • Do you know how much money you spend every month? Budgeting is a great way to get up close and personal with your finances, so you know how every dollar is being spent.
  • Your budget is part of your roadmap to financial readiness. With the right money plan in place you can make that major purchase, go on your dream vacation or see your favorite artist in concert!
  • As a newly enlisted service member, it’s important to assess your financial health. Having a firm understanding of your finances will be necessary as you progress in your career and journey to financial readiness. Financial tools and resources like the Financial Well-Being Assessment can help you determine where you are in your journey and provide insight and suggestions for improvement. Answer just 12 simple questions to get your score, then review additional resources organized by topic. All your answers are anonymous and the assessment does not track any data.
  • As you progress in your career, you may be tempted to spend more as you make more. This unintentional spending is known as lifestyle creep. Plan before your next promotion and think about how you want to spend that extra income to reach your personal and financial goals.

Supporting Resources

Topic: Emergency Fund

  • Are you prepared for the unexpected? Most expenses, like your monthly utilities, cable and phone bill, occur regularly. Sometimes expenses pop up that can blindside you, like emergency travel back from an overseas duty station. The best way to plan for unexpected bills is to build and maintain an emergency fund.
  • Establishing an emergency fund is one essential way you can protect yourself. Putting money aside each month, no matter how small the amount, will help you weather unexpected storms and recover more quickly!
  • If you run into an unexpected expense that your emergency fund won’t cover, there are resources you and your family can tap into before using a credit card or getting a high interest loan. Installation personal financial managers or counselors can help you create and manage a spending plan and are a trusted source of information when there's a sudden financial challenge. Military relief societies such as Army Emergency Relief, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Air Force Aid Society and Coast Guard Mutual Assistance may be able to provide active-duty, reserve and retired military families with financial assistance for situations like emergency travel, car repair or medical issues.