Sometimes our financial situation spins out of control, and we don't know how to manage debt and start a savings plan.

The military lifestyle can cause financial setbacks, especially during moves — when a spouse may not be able to immediately find a job that meets the family's financial needs, for example.

But robust financial management resources are available on many military installations, often through military community and family centers. There's also MilitaryOneSource.mil, a Defense Department resource that provides confidential help 24 hours a day. There are the military relief societies, which can provide some budget counseling and emergency financial assistance, usually in the form of interest-free loans. And banks and credit unions on military bases also can provide financial education.

And the options don't end there. In the civilian community, there are efforts such as the "Sharpen Your Financial Focus" program offered through the nonprofit National Foundation for Credit Counseling. A military component of the program at www.nfccdebtrelief.org/military connects service members, veterans and their families to certified financial counselors for free or affordable assistance in person, by phone or online. There are 77 member agencies nationwide with 600 locations.

An analysis of the program found that military participants have fewer tangible assets and a higher level of unsecured debt, like credit cards and other loans not tied to houses or cars. The analysis, conducted by Ohio State University and the NFCC, found that unsecured debt balances averaged about 7 percent higher for military participants than for average participants, and tangible assets, such as savings accounts, were about 16 percent below average for military participants.

The good news is that a survey of those military participants in the Sharpen program indicates it's making a difference for them: 81 percent said they're better able to manage their money; 45 percent said they ordered a credit report; 35 percent said they're saving money; 74 percent said they're able to pay off debt more consistently; 61 percent have improved overall confidence; and 65 percent have set financial goals.

One of the agencies participating in the program is Springboard Nonprofit Consumer Credit Management Inc., which offers financial counseling nationwide and has supported many military financial preparedness events at military installations throughout Southern California.

A key objective during the one-on-one counseling is to help troops and their families put a budget and action plan into writing, said Melinda Opperman, senior vice president for community outreach and industry relations for Springboard.

"This is well embraced by the service members, who like the concept of a plan," Opperman said. "The client action plan illustrates the service member was proactive in seeking help from an accredited nonprofit consumer counseling agency. The budget illustrates a good-faith effort to live within their income, and a plan to handle unpaid debts."

Another objective, she said, is to encourage savings, especially an emergency fund which she called the easiest way to avoid getting back into credit card debt.

Springboard encourages clients to sign up for an automatic savings plan. "People who have a savings plan in place save more than people who don't," Opperman said.

If you need help getting on the path to financial health, there are plenty of options out there. The first step is yours.

Karen has covered military families, quality of life and consumer issues for Military Times for more than 30 years, and is co-author of a chapter on media coverage of military families in the book "A Battle Plan for Supporting Military Families." She previously worked for newspapers in Guam, Norfolk, Jacksonville, Fla., and Athens, Ga.

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