KateHorrell

Helping Military Families Make The Most of Their Money

The Basics of Retirement Plans, and the Military’s Old and New Plans


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One unexpected benefit of the introduction of the “new” military retirement system, the Blended Retirement System (BRS), is that a lot of people have discovered that they don’t understand their retirement plan at all. While it isn’t great that folks don’t thoroughly understand the system, this is a great opportunity for learning all around. First,… | Read More…

Printables to Make Your PCS Move Smooth and Organized


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Alright, folks…it’s been a long time coming, but here is my shockingly long guide to packing up your house and life for a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move!  It is so long that I’ve actually had to make a table of contents to help you navigate.  If you can’t see a full table of contents… | Read More…

Tricare Supplements: Do You Want One? Where Would You Get It?


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Tricare health coverage is one of the most important benefits of military service.  It provides excellent coverage at an amazing price. Tricare beneficiaries usually get to choose which Tricare plan they want to use.  The different plans have different out-of-pocket costs.  Depending on your Tricare plan, your status (active duty or retiree), your family size,… | Read More…

Home of Record and State of Legal Residence: Things You Need To Know


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The military can be confusing, with all its special terms and acronyms. One of the terms most often mis-used is home of record. The term comes up in questions about taxes and driver’s licenses and final moves. On rare occasion, when talking about final moves, it’s being used properly. The other 99.9% of the time,… | Read More…

Understanding the SBP-DIC Offset


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!

One frequently misunderstood issue about the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) is the way that SBP benefits may be offset by Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA.) Under current law, a survivor may not receive the full amount of both SBP and DIC.  In order to receive DIC, the… | Read More…

Why You Should Rent During Retirement/Transition From The Military


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When leaving the military, many people want to buy a house. It’s a perfectly normal desire – for many military families, it’s been a long-term dream to put down roots and buy their “forever” home. No more crazy landlords, white walls, and unpacking every two years! I am so sick of unpacking! Unfortunately, the “forever… | Read More…

USAA and NFCU Announce Loans Programs If The Government Shuts Down


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Two of the largest banks used by military members have announced their programs to assist customers if a government shutdown delays pay. Both USAA and Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) offer interest-free loan program to eligible customers if pay is interrupted.  While we all hope that the government does not shut down, and military pay… | Read More…

Social Security for Military Spouses


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!

There’s a lot of misinformation available out there – particularly when you’re getting your information from friends and the internet. One of the places where I see the most mis-information is about social security benefits for military spouses. Which is sort of weird, because there are no special rules for military spouses, the rules are… | Read More…

12 Ways To Prepared For The Next Government Shutdown


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You’ve probably heard that the January 2018 government shutdown has ended, and Congress has agreed to fund the government for 17 more days. At that point, it is possible that we’ll be in the same situation we just left: a shutdown. What should military families be doing to be better prepared for the next government… | Read More…

10 Things To Do During A Government Shutdown


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23 January 2018: This shutdown is over. Keep your momentum and be ready for the next one:  12 Ways to Prepare For The Next Government Shutdown It’s happened again: Congress has failed to pass a spending bill, and the federal government has shut down. If the shutdown is not resolved in a timely manner, and… | 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.