KateHorrell

Helping Military Families Make The Most of Their Money

Southern California Tolls and Military Families


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It’s getting harder and harder to drive around the country and not get stuck with in a situation where there’s a toll and the only way to pay is with a toll program that you don’t have! It’s frustrating to get stuck with a big bill, and the area between Los Angeles and San Diego… | Read More…

Kates Rants: Military Families Need Emergency Funds, Too


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Once upon a time, I used to think that our family didn’t need a big emergency fund because my husband is in the military.  Payday comes twice a month, and the possibilities of him getting kicked out in a short amount of time are small, right? As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize just… | Read More…

Why You Don’t Stick To A Budget, And What To Do About It


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Budget. Just the word makes a lot of people stop paying attention, and that’s a shame because a budget (I prefer “spending plan”) is the most effective way to create the financial life that you desire. Most people have tried to use a budget at some point in their lives, and very few people stick… | Read More…

Are You Ready To Be A Landlord? Five Questions You Need to Answer


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In the military, we face this decision more than most folks.  We buy a house because we intend to stay in it for a while.  We hope that we can hold it long enough to actually have prices rise over time, then either rent it or sell it for a profit.  Then life gets in… | Read More…

What Financial Health Means To Me #FinHealthMatters


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Financial health means being able to care for the people you love. This year, I’ve had more times than usual to be thankful for financial health.  My beloved grandfather, age 95, had a stroke the first week in January.  He has almost completely recovered, thankfully, but it was a very potent reminder of why financial… | Read More…

What Military Landlords Should Know About Section 1250 Depreciation


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This post was contributed by my friend Forrest Baumhover, a Certified Financial Planner® with Lawrence Financial Planning. This is tricky stuff – hearing it explained different ways can make it easier to understand. I’ve written about the same subject at Understanding Depreciation Recapture Taxes on Rental Property. Just because you joined the military, you shouldn’t have… | Read More…

Eleven Real Estate Lessons I Learned as an Accidental Landlord


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This is the story of my first house, which my wife and I bought in our twenties. Things worked out in the end, but there are some lessons that we learned that I would like to share with our military audience. You might find great success in your real estate transactions (although the successful people… | Read More…

6 Military Personal Finance Blogs You Should Follow


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This post is for those of you who want to follow military-specific personal finance blogs, but don’t want to get overwhelmed by everything that’s out there.  If you don’t know where to go beyond this blog, I would suggest checking out these five places, and see which ones resonate with you. 1. The Military Wallet… | Read More…

Invest in Flowers, Not Rims


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So why is this important? Like I mentioned earlier, spending thousands of dollars on auto accessories means that money isn’t invested for the future. Most people would read this to mean investing in Thrift Savings Plan, your retirement accounts, or putting money towards your children’s’ college education—all worthwhile goals. However, I’ll define it in a slightly different manner by describing what the auto accessory store replaced—the flower shop.

Cutting Cell Phone Bills: Yes, You Can


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When I was a child, my father told me that someday we would all carry around telephones in our pockets.  I’m pretty sure I told him that was ridiculous. It looks like I was wrong. Cell phones have become a part of everyday life, with nearly all adults and quite a few children carrying cell… | 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.