Missouri Office of Administration sent this bulletin at 02/02/2026 09:01 AM CST
Building and following a budget is a crucial step towards achieving financial stability. Knowing where your money goes each month can help you plan, prepare for unexpected expenses, and reduce financial stress. Your State of Missouri benefits can help support your budget more than you may realize. Choosing the right health plan can help manage medical costs. Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) allow you to use pre-tax dollars for eligible health and dependent care expenses, and retirement plans help you invest in your future while benefiting from employer contributions. The STRIVE Employee Life and Family (SELF) program also offers free financial counseling and budgeting support to help you build a plan that works for your household.
Act: This month, try reviewing your benefits and identify one way they could better support your budget, whether that’s checking how you’re using your FSA, reviewing your retirement contributions, or using the financial resources in the SELF program to create or refresh your budget.
Schedule a 20 minute “money check-in.” Set aside time this month to review your spending, upcoming bills, and benefits. Even a brief check-in can help you identify opportunities to save, adjust, or plan without feeling overwhelmed.
Join us via Webex on Friday, Feb. 20 from 11 - 11:30 a.m. where we’ll highlight some tools and resources that are available to support you all year long. Learn about upcoming webinars, where to find helpful benefits and resource information, and how the Sydney app can make managing your health benefits easier, all in one place. Click here to add this event to your calendar!
Financial Fitness Check-In
Take a few minutes to complete the quick check-in below to reflect on your own financial habits and benefits.
One expense I want to be more mindful of is __________.
One benefit I already use that helps my budget is __________.
One financial goal I want to focus on this year is __________.
Needing additional support managing your personal finances? The SELF Program offers an on-demand training to help you understand how to create a budget and manage your finances. Explore more here.
