KateHorrell

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Resources

The internet is full of amazing things, but how do you find them all? I love seeing what tools other people use to make their life easier and save money, so I’m sharing the things I use here.

Some of these are affiliate links, so I may receive a small compensation for any purchases you make through these links.  But please be assured, I only recommend products I love and would buy for my mom. If she needed it. She doesn’t like clutter. It doesn’t cost you anything to use these programs, and it helps me pay the bills for this website.

Active Duty Pay Chart

Unless the DoD does something wacky, you should be able to access current and historical pay charts at this link. https://militarypay.defense.gov/Pay/Basic-Pay/Active-Duty-Pay/

Amazon

Okay, okay. I don’t LOVE Amazon. I have a rather love-hate relationship with it. But with my schedule, online shopping is my deal. And Amazon often has the best selection, or the best price, or the fastest delivery. And with Amazon Prime, I’m not trying to scrounge together hairbands and furnace filters to make a minimum order for free delivery.

American Express

American Express cards waive the annual fees for military members, so you can get their amazing travel benefits without paying the premium fees. And those benefits genuinely are amazing. Depending on which card you get, it might include free shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue, Global Entry or TSA Pre-Check, airport lounge access, and an ongoing list of discounts and freebies. I’ve saved about $500 this year just by having a free-to-me American Express card.

Basic Allowance for Housing Rates

Current Basic Allowance for Housing rates can be looked up here:  http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/bah.cfm

BAH Primer

This document does a great job of explaining how BAH rates are calculated. https://media.defense.gov/2022/Jun/23/2003023204/-1/-1/0/BAH-PRIMER.PDF

CONUS Cost of Living Allowance

https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/CONUS-Cost-of-Living-Allowance/CONUS-COLA-Rate-Lookup/

Rakuten (in a previous life, Ebates)

I started using Ebates way back in the stone ages of internet shopping, and I’ve earned several THOUSAND dollars in rebates since then, just doing my regular shopping. I’ve gradually gotten used to their new name, Rakuten. I’ve installed the Rakuten Extension for Chrome so that it pops up and reminds me when I’m at a participating website.

And Rakuten always has bonus promotions for new members, so you can make some money just for trying it. Pretty nice.

Regular Military Compensation Calculator

This calculator helps you to know the “real” value of your military pay and benefits. https://militarypay.defense.gov/Calculators/RMC-Calculator/

Secondary Dependency Information

https://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/SecondaryDependency/SDC/

Special and Incentive Pays

https://militarypay.defense.gov/Pay/Special-and-Incentive-Pays/Index/

Tax-Free Combat Zones

Explanation about how Combat Zone Tax Exempt (CZTE) works: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/military/tax-exclusion-for-combat-service

List of current and historical CZTE locations: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/military/combat-zones

TRICARE Costs and Fees

https://www.katehorrell.com/tricare-costs-and-fees/

My Bookshelf

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WELCOME!

Hi! I'm Kate! Accredited Financial Counselor®, Navy spouse, and mom of four.

Here at the blog, I talk about the financial issues that affect military families - pay, allowances, and benefits. Plus college stuff, landlording, moving, taxes. We cover a little bit of everything.

My goal is to give you the tools to make the best decisions right now, so you'll be confidently prepared for whatever comes next - whether that's a PCS move, transition to civilian life, or retirement.

So grab a cup of coffee, tea, or whatever makes you happy, and let's get to know each other.

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Affiliate Disclosure

This site does contain advertising and affiliate links. If you click on an advertisement or link, I may be compensated. I only promote companies that I love and trust. Kings High Media/KateHorrell.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

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.

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