Smart Military Money
Personal finance tips andadvice for the military lifestyle.
Access our library of free homebuying ebooks and PDF guides.
With tax season coming to an end, the stragglers waiting until the last minute are rushing to file on time. The IRS estimates around 25 percent of Americans waited until the last two weeks to file. If you’re one of the last-minute filers, be sure that the rush and deadlines don’t make you an easy target for scams.
If you are serious about maintaining your good credit standing, identity theft is certainly one of your worst nightmares. You are undoubtedly guarding your Social Security number, date-of-birth, PINs and other personal data. You are certainly on the alert for phishing schemes, and you are likely shredding any documents that could lend a helping hand to criminal types.
You probably review your credit report, at least annually, and you wipe your drives before discarding old personal computers and other digital devices that may contain your personal information. You thoroughly review your bank and credit card statements upon receipt. You also limit your online shopping to well known retailers, and you may even drop your mail at the post office rather than risking its theft from your mailbox. All very sound prevention measures to be sure. However, even with these preventative measures in place, you could be the next victim of identity theft. The most recent survey by Javelin Strategy & Research suggests that 1 in 20 adults fall prey to identity theft.
If you’re new to the military, chances are you have a lot to learn about a lot of things. It’s a new way of life that comes with significant changes, including financially. You want to be sure to start your financial life in the military off right in order to set yourself up for success in your continuing career. And you certainly want to avoid any big rookie mistakes that might come back to haunt your wallet.
So what should new military members know about managing money in the military? “If we could offer one piece of advice to military members — new and old alike — it would be to focus on frugal living,” said Mark Leach, Vice President of Media Relations at First Command Financial Services.
Identity theft rears its ugly head year round, but getting your identity stolen during the holidays would be even more inconvenient. It takes some time and energy to keep your identity safe and it’s worth it. Read the blog posts in this week’s military personal finance roundup to learn about ID theft and how to prevent it.
After juggling ten things at once, you’re finally getting everyone to sit down at the table for a nice family dinner. Right then, the phone rings. Thinking it may be grandma or someone else important, you pick up only to hear a prerecorded message or a telemarketer.
Although a day without any phone solicitation seems unlikely, there are some tips and tricks you can use to keep your phone line as clear as possible.
It’s that time of year again. The holiday decorations have come out and so have the wallets.
You might think that the only way to have successful holidays is to spend copious amounts of money, but this is not so. There are several ways you can financially prep for the holiday season — without feeling like Scrooge — so that you fulfill all your holiday desires without breaking the bank.
See More
Every year we hear reports of people getting trampled barreling through the doors of yet another department store at 4 a.m. on Black Friday. Safety aside, why do people still wait in long lines in the middle of the night just to go shopping?
The answer is the illusive Black Friday deal. That flat screen TV you’ve always wanted, the hot new toy of the season or a giant winter coat for what seems like pennies on the dollar: they all seem worth the wait. But are Black Friday shoppers really just wasting their time?
With Veterans Day right around the corner, November 11 this year, there is a new batch of restaurant deals and discounts for those in the military or who are veterans. Certain deals may apply to November 11 because that is the actual holiday, but because it’s a Sunday, the holiday will be the following day.
So remember to bring your military proof of service, pull up a chair at one of these restaurants and enjoy a free or discounted meal to thank you for your service to this country.
See More
It’s time to start worrying about smartphone security.
Your smartphone is full of personal and professional information that cyber crooks would love to get their hands on. Mobile banking and other phone-based financial services are becoming increasingly popular – 45 million people are expected to use mobile banking by 2014.
You just graduated from college. Whether you or your parents handled your finances these past four (or five or six) years, you are probably in need of some financial advice as you start your career and become self-sustaining in your 20s. What should you do with your money now?
Here are nine helpful tips you can use to become financially independent and make the most of your money — whether you’re in the military or not.
See More
Recent Comments