KateHorrell

Helping Military Families Make The Most of Their Money

Changing Direct Deposit for VA Benefits


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I receive a lot of emails asking how to change the account to which benefits are paid from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  This includes disability, education, and survivor benefits.  There are three ways to change your account:  online, via telephone, or via the mail.  Changing direct deposit for VA benefits will make sure… | Read More…

Earning Just A Little More Interest


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Gone are the days when you could make serious money just by having a hefty balance in your savings accounts.  Interest rates have been at crazy low levels for years.  That’s great for borrowing, not so great for saving. Seeking out the best available interest rates has become more important than ever.  I was recently… | Read More…

Ten Ways To Be A Great Landlord


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!

Now that I’ve convinced you WHY you want to have happy tenants, today I’ll tell you HOW to have happy tenants.  One thing that is very important:  this property is no longer your home.  It is a property that you have leased to someone else. There are two aspects to this:  it’s just a property,… | Read More…

Five Reasons To Take Care of Your Tenants


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!

Real estate is my side passion, and I’ve had a little experience with being a landlord. I also spend a good chunk of time hanging out on investment real estate websites. One thing that always makes me a little crazy is when landlords think that they don’t have a responsibility to take care of their… | Read More…

Don’t Be Shocked By Homebuying Costs


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I was just emailing with a reporter about homebuying costs, and I thought I would share my long version here with you.  We were talking about how buying a house is more expensive than it seems, and in parts where you might not be expecting to spend money.  Even if you have a no money… | Read More…

Retirement Savings Are Important For Spouses, Too


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Most couples have one adult who is the “primary wage earner,” and one adult who either does not work, or who has significantly less income than the primary wage earner. One frequent result of income inequality is inequality in the retirement savings of the two adults.The main earner may be vested in a retirement pension… | Read More…

How Do You Define Poverty?


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!

You know what is really easy? Noticing when other people say something not-so-smart. It is a lot harder to hear when YOU are the person saying something not-so-smart. A couple of months ago, I was chatting with an acquaintance about their upcoming cruise. I asked if they were doing anything at the various port calls…. | Read More…

Buying Eyeglasses Online


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!

With six people wearing glasses, the cost of eyewear is a BIG DEAL at my house.  Military insurance doesn’t cover glasses or contacts (except for the active duty person), and the Department of Defense still hasn’t organized Healthcare Savings Accounts for military folks, so we use private vision insurance and pay out-of-pocket for the rest…. | Read More…

A Full Mind Is A Dangerous Thing


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!

I haven’t posted recently, but not because I have been sitting on my bum and eating bon-bons.  Though that sounds lovely. I’ve been up to my ears researching two topics that are super-important to me right now:  being a long-distance landlord, and how being military might affect my kids’ chances of receiving need-based financial aid… | Read More…

Three Random Homebuying Tips


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!

A reporter recently asked me for some homebuying tips.  I could probably write a book, but there are plenty of those out there already! Here are the things I said: 1.  Everything is negotiable, even if you are buying new construction.  In addition to negotiating price, ask for stuff:  closing cost help, a new fridge… | 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.