Who is using Money Habitudes?
Created by AFCPE's former Educator of the Year, Money Habitudes is a game-like tool used by Army Community Service, Airman & Family Readiness, Fleet & Family Support, Marine Corps Community Services and military chaplains.

Why?

• Effectively break down walls when it comes to talking about money with individuals, couples or groups and classes.
• Make individual sessions or classes related to the sensitive topic of money less threatening and more enjoyable – an especially important feature when people are ordered to attend classes and may feel resentful or embarrassed.
• Give people a non-judgmental way to discuss money issues and communicate about this emotionally charged topic.
• Quickly gets beyond budgets to begin important conversations about the interaction between lifestyle, values and finances.

What are the benefits?

• Interactive, hands-on: A welcome break from PowerPoint, lectures, videos and workbooks that makes for a more invested audience.
• Flexible: Works as a quick 10-30 minute icebreaker or introductory exercise, a stand-alone program of 45 minutes to 4 hours or an activity to complement skills-based programs.
• Fun, non-threatening: The familiar playing card format is associated with a friendly social activity so people relax, let down their guard and enjoy themselves.
• Snowball effect: Topics raised makes it easier to attract attendance at more specialized classes such as those on budgeting, saving and TSP, investing, debt reduction, or buying a car or house.

How are Money Habitudes cards being used?

• Introduction to a base's financial resources (including orientation programs such as the First-Term Airman Course): Leading with this activity makes the financial readiness program approachable and interesting and naturally transitions into skills like budgeting.
• Spouse events: Coffee meet-ups or socials that are fun but also informative and practical.
• Mobilization and deployment readiness: Help service members and their spouses get a handle on their finances before being separated. The joint activity helps couples talk about money without fighting.
• Couples counseling: Help service members and spouses understand and respect each other around the very difficult issue of money – while also helping people talk about issues closely related to money such as status, control, power, responsibility, love, freedom, independence, etc.
• Marriage enrichment classes: Included as a communication tool or as a key part of the financial section.
• Stand-alone financial class: Helps attendees uncover the underlying issues when facing financial challenges whether they are mandated to attend or seek help voluntarily.
• Transitions (career and retirement) counseling and classes: Help them adjust to their new financial realities and talk with a spouse about how to plan for the adjustment.

Affordable
As opposed to single-use materials like workbooks, the durable cards are designed to be reused. As a result, the per-use cost can be as little as $1-2 per attendee. However, some bases give the cards away so service members and spouses always have the resource at home.

Which cards?
Money Habitudes II is the version most used by the military because it was designed for young adults, ages 18-25. There are other versions for teens and for older adults. (All are formatted and used the same, only the graphics and wording is different to be more appropriate and relevant to the different age groups.) The adult version is available in Spanish.