Once you’ve gotten out of debt and built up a little bit of savings, then there is a whole new challenge: earning some actual interest on your saved money. Interest rates have been incredibly low for the last few years, and it is a challenge to grow your savings with the magic of compound interest…. | Read More…
Save On Groceries with Checkout 51 – Even at the Commissary
I wrote a Checkout 51 review last fall, and it got lost in the great blog makeover disaster of 2014. So, if it looks a little familiar, that is why. There are many innovative programs that allow you to save a little money through rebates/coupons on products that you are already buying. I’ll be writing… | Read More…
Keeping Your Pantry PCS-Ready All Year Long
Like many military families, my family has a pre-moving tradition of figuring out how to eat all the food that has accumulated in our freezer, refrigerator and pantry. After over two decades of doing this, I think I’ve finally got the process down. Better yet, I’ve figured out how to make this part of our… | Read More…
Advance BAH – Yes, It’s a Thing!
One little known aspect of the military pay and allowance system is the ability to request advance payment of Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). While this opportunity has been around since 1999, you will still find that most admin folks and senior leadership are completely unaware that it even exists. And, unfortunately, even those who… | Read More…
Understanding the Changes to Military Retirement
There have been some changes since this post was written. See the most current details at Everything About The Blended Retirement System. The 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) contains some significant changes to military retirement. The new system, called the Blended Retirement System (BRS), will begin on 1 January 2018, with some current service members… | Read More…
What Is A Certificate of Non-Availability?
I’m working up some big posts about Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances for Temporary Lodging Expense and Temporary Lodging Allowance, and I realized that not everyone might understand about Certificates of Non-Availability (CNA) and how they work. Military members are almost authorized some temporary lodging while executing a PCS move. It is intended that lodging… | Read More…
Lessons From The Millionaire Next Door
The world of financial education lost a great mind this weekend. Thomas J. Stanley, author of The Millionaire Next Door and numerous other insightful, research-based books, was killed in a car accident on Saturday. Stanley was known for using research to smash stereotypes about millionaires, and this showed people the type of behavior that was… | Read More…
Military Life Essential Info
I am often surprised at the number of military family members, usually spouses, who don’t know basic information that they need to know in case of an emergency. If you’re not married, your parents or brothers and sisters need to know this information, and older children should probably have it as well. A lot of… | Read More…
Microsoft Office Discounts For Military
Looking for a discount on Microsoft Office? There are two deals available to military members, depending on what you want and need, and several low-cost options available to everyone. Super-Cheap For One Computer If you’re not a heavy Office user, the single computer version of Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2013 or Microsoft Office for Mac… | Read More…
The Per-Trip Cost of Your Daily Driving Might Surprise You
With the recent drop in gas prices, my husband and I have been talking about how that impacts our fuel costs and driving habits. I drive a highly fuel efficient Prius, he drives a less fuel efficient sedan, and we have a gas-guzzling mid-sized SUV for those rare occasions when all six people in our… | Read More…