KateHorrell

Helping Military Families Make The Most of Their Money

49 Things You Need To Know Before Military Retirement


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While the Horrell tribe is still a few years from retirement, I’ve been putting together a list of things that already-retired folks tell me that they wish they had known. Take advantage of their wisdom! The Transition Assistance Program The in-person Transition Assistance Program class is your primary source of information about the process. Use… | Read More…

Tricare Open Season: How To Pick The Right Tricare For Your Family


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It’s that time of year again: OPEN SEASON. This year’s Tricare Open Season runs from Monday, 11 November 2019 (that’s Monday!) through Monday, 9 December 2019. Be sure to select what Tricare plan you want to use for 2020 during the open season, or you’re stuck with what you had in 2019 unless you have… | Read More…

Everything About Tricare Costs and Fees 2019 and 2020


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Update 29 August 2019: Tricare has decided/realized/whatever that the Prime enrollment fees DO apply to your catastrophic cap.  Tricare can be more confusing than you’d think, especially if you’re used to being treated at Medical Treatment Facilities (MTF) and you start seeing civilian providers. And it doesn’t help that the civilian providers often don’t know… | Read More…

How Government Shutdowns Can Affect Military Pay


This post may contain affiliate links, from which I may earn revenue to support this free site. All opinions are my own, and I only promote products that I use and love!

Whenever we start talking about a government shutdown, there is a lot of confusion.  It’s understandable – these things are confusing.   Heck, I have to re-learn it every single time it comes up, just to be sure I’m not messing something up, and this is my job.  There are a lot of little details,… | Read More…

When Is The Next Military Payday?


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The next regular, active duty payday is Friday, 15 November 2019.  Most military members will have their military pay deposited on Friday, 15 November 2019. Some military-friendly banks and credit unions offer early crediting of direct deposited military pay, so your pay might be credited before Friday, 16 November 2019. The biggest bank that offers… | Read More…

The New, Higher VA Funding Fees for 2020


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Effective 1 January 2020, funding fees are increasing for home loans backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) home loan guaranty program. What Is The Funding Fee? The funding fee for home loans backed by a VA guaranty is designed to cover the costs of the program, including administration and default. You pay the… | Read More…

December Military Scholarships for Service Members, Veterans, Spouses and Kids


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This post is part of my ongoing Military Scholarships series. December is such a busy month, you might as well go ahead and get started on these important scholarship applications now. Google Student Veterans Association Deadline: 5 December 2019 Description: Must be: currently enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student at an accredited four-year university for… | Read More…

Five Quick Tips About The FAFSA For Military Families


This post may contain affiliate links, from which I may earn revenue to support this free site. All opinions are my own, and I only promote products that I use and love!

It’s 1 October, which means that it is the first day that you can fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as the FAFSA. This application is the key to a variety of federal aid, including Pell Grants and student loans, and can also impact your eligibility for the school’s need-based… | Read More…

Long Pay Period Warning – And Some Thoughts On It


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As many of you have already noticed, if you use a bank or credit union that pays military pay early, the October pay period is going to be a long one – 20 days. I have seen approximately 30 Facebook posts about this, and every single one has been followed by a long comment train… | Read More…

2020 Disney Military Discounts Just Released!


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The Mouse has announced his Disney Armed Forces Salute military discount rates for 2020! Time to start planning your Disney vacation! Eligibility Currently serving military members, including: active duty, reserves, National Guard, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and NOAA. Spouses may bring their family members without the service member but it’s still tied to the… | Read More…

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Disclaimer

Kate does not represent the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or any government agency. This blog is strictly for informational and entertainment purposes only. The content on this site should not be considered professional financial or legal advice. I may receive compensation through affiliate or advertising relationships from products mentioned on this site. All reviews on this site represent the personal opinions of the author. All references to third party products, rates, and offers may change without notice.