The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners has announced the designation of April 8-12, 2024, as Okaloosa Saves and America Saves Week. This proclamation aims to raise awareness about the importance of personal and household savings, promoting financial stability and vitality within the community.

During this week-long event, residents are encouraged to participate in activities that promote financial wellness, such as conducting a financial check-in, setting savings goals, and creating a plan to achieve them. This year’s initiative theme is “Saving for What Matters Most.”

Laura Coale, Board Chair of Okaloosa Saves, thanked the County Commissioners for their support in highlighting the significance of saving. She emphasized that personal and household savings are fundamental to the stability and vitality of Okaloosa County residents.

The proclamation recognizes the critical components of personal financial security, including adequate emergency savings, retirement funds, and safe debt-income ratios. It also acknowledges the role of America Saves, a national campaign encouraging Americans to take action toward financial stability by saving money for emergencies and reducing debt.

As part of Okaloosa Saves Week and America Saves Week, residents are urged to start or increase emergency funds, open savings accounts, utilize split deposits for savings, increase 401k contributions, and challenge employees to save for goals. The goal is to foster positive emergency saving actions that will be sustained throughout the year.

The initiative is supported by the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners and aims to empower individuals to build wealth, reduce debt, and create better financial habits. Okaloosa Saves, a local chapter of the America Saves program, has been actively promoting financial literacy and encouraging savings since its founding in 2003.