At the stoplight I looked at my bank account. Was my balance really only $76? Am I really 38-years-old and I only have $76 in my checking account? Then annoyance traded places with fear. I … [Read more...]
An Open Letter to Military Benefits Haters
Dear Military Benefits Haters -- We’ve been having a rough go of it lately, haven’t we? There you are, a civilian, absolutely convinced that the average servicemember is not worth his … [Read more...]
How to Replace Base Services Without Breaking the Bank
When budget cuts close or greatly downsize your favorite programs you’ll probably notice that your own pockets seem a little lighter, too. Why? Because unless you decide to live without those things … [Read more...]
3 Ways to Practice Financial Fitness
Save money. Get out of debt. Teach our kids how to make sound financial choices. Those are just a few of the things the Department of Defense wants servicemembers and their families to think about … [Read more...]
Cat Fight or Legal Issue: Who Decides?
As former law enforcement officer, and a proud military spouse of 12 years, I have seen some things. But I have always thought you could count on the military police on base the same way you could … [Read more...]
Should all Military Retiree Pay Rates be Equal?
There was an interesting article in last week's Washington Post concerning the unaffordability of the all-volunteer military. Some of what was written was not a surprise: the current retirement pay … [Read more...]
Commissary: Still a Savings Despite the Surcharge?
Confession: I'm not a terribly observant person, especially when I'm in a hurry. So it was like a bolt of lightening had hit me the day I noticed, several years into my military life, that the … [Read more...]
Should Spouses use Military Discounts?
I remember the first time I heard of a military discount. “Are you military?” the little clerk folding clothes into my bag at the store asked. “Yes,” I said. “If you show me your ID I can … [Read more...]
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How to Start Your Own Budget Cuts Now
The election is over and now military families are left wondering: what next? Unless you have a crystal ball or are in the position of making DoD budget decisions, most of us don’t know what the … [Read more...]
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4 Ways to Deal With Student Loans Without a Job
We know how hard it can be for military spouses to find work at all – much less work in their area of expertise that can even come close to helping paying well. But when you add student loans to the … [Read more...]
Gut Check: Who Are These People?
Most of us know that feeling when something just isn’t right. It’s much like that initial jolt you get when you remember the seafood casserole you ate earlier in the day may have been left out of … [Read more...]
I Gave Birth And Killed My Credit
A funny thing happened after I gave birth. My credit score plummeted. It dropped more than hundred points. How? The story begins while we were stationed at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery in 2008. … [Read more...]
Top 5 PCS Money Tips
Moving is expensive, there’s no way around it. Fortunately the military reimburses good chunks of our actual moving expenses when we PCS, but I still find myself bleeding money anyway. It's that new … [Read more...]
Is a Reduced Mil Presence in Government Coming Soon?
What impact will the all volunteer military have on our country's political future? I have another concern. My latest concern is that the one percent of Americans that serve in the military will … [Read more...]
Mil(Spouse) Retirement?
It is common these days to build your own retirement if you are unemployed or self-employed. That’s great news for the stay-at-home spouse or work-from-home spouse (this includes parents). I … [Read more...]
Do You Qualify for Military Mortgage Relief?
A plan announced by the Obama administration today will require the federal government to review thousands of servicemember held mortgages for illegal foreclosures and charges – and if yours is one … [Read more...]
The Big Day! 2012 BAH Rates Released
It’s the day we’ve all been waiting for – the day we all find out just how much money the government is going to give us for housing in 2012. *drum roll please* The good news! Most BAH … [Read more...]
Spend a Little, Save a Lot…
Over the last few years, I've been flabbergasted at the amount of military families I meet who do not have renters insurance. Some installations "'require" or "strongly suggest" it for base housing, … [Read more...]
