As a Servicemember there are some different ways you can help to save money. Every dollar that you can save you can invest toward having the kind of retirement that you have always wanted to have, and some of the methods you can use are really elementary, but will save big in the long run.  Remember, every little bit can make a big difference. Here are a few ideas you may try for yourself: Heat And Cooling- Set the setting on » Read More

Living frugally as a Servicemember is a challenge.  Where do you find the money to do all the things you want to do with your family?  Sometimes the savings that are the easiest to find are the things you deal with every day.  Many times we can save substantially on things we buy every day, or by doing something a little bit differently.  Some of these savings are small things; others are fairly large items that can add up swiftly. Here are some ideas on » Read More

There are a great many services and discounts available to military Servicemembers and their families.  Simply having a military ID gives you access to benefits and services that are available on any given armed forces or military installation.  But there are a lot of opportunities not generally known for military families to save money, some of these many are aware of and some of them most people don’t know about.  Here are some ideas:
Entertainment and Travel- There are several ways that having » Read More

As you progress on your career in the military, you can often find yourself in a position to increase the value in your home. Buying a home is a goal that most families, both inside the military and outside share, so its important to keep some things in mind to maximize the value you have in your new home.  Here are some things to keep in mind:
Pay Down Your Debts- As you look for a home, you can find a much better » Read More

Have you checked your credit history lately?  It is a good idea to check what is on file at all three credit bureaus at least once a year.  Most of the time, you will see items you already know about, attempts to purchase a car for example, or opening a new charge credit account. But what happens when you examine your credit history file, and there are errors? What can you do? One of the little known facts is that the credit bureaus do not » Read More

Working in the military is a privilege and an honor, but managing your money can be a nightmare.  With all of the different expenses you have to take care of there are some different approaches that can help. If you are married and have two incomes, you may at some point decide to try to make a go of it on one income. Here are some ideas that may help you make your financial dollar stretch further. Variable Savings- Look at what your » Read More

When you are working to deal with debt, you should be aware that all debt settlements and solutions are not the same. You should be aware that there are different types of debt settlements, and solutions to choose from. Debt Consolidation- The term itself means that you take all your debt, and combine them into a single amount.  And that you make a single payment toward retiring all your debts with that single payment. The term has been used to sell people on restructuring their home loans, » Read More

There has been a lot said and written about the way that some companies prey on military families, using deceptive or dishonest loans and financial enticements. From money deals to out and out loan sharks, there are a lot of individuals and companies that attempt to prey on Servicemembers and their dependents. Well, there are also new protections that are coming into effect. The new legislation, called the Military Lending Act, promises to address many of these questions and solve some of the problems that » Read More

Planning financially for your education is a difficult thing.  Even with your GI Bill benefits, and other tuition assistance and support from the military, educational costs will pile up. One of the things that you can do is to remember to deduct some of your education expenses off of your taxes. If you are attending college, or if a member of your family attended college last year you might be eligible to deduct up to $4,000 dollars in education expenses. The tax benefit of fees » Read More

As members of the Armed Forces it is easy to fall into the same types of pitfalls that everyone else does financially. But being aware of some of the more common ones can sometimes help avoid them.  Managing money and personal finances is a tricky thing to master.  Here are some of the spending personality types that can cause financial hard times; do you fit any of these? Big Spender: The person in this category loves to buy what they see, and tries to buy » Read More