Military Spouse Network
Tips, news and community createdjust for Military Spouses.
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According to the monthly review of food costs by the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, an average American family of 4 spends about $237 a week on food eating at home. This number doesn’t even begin to factor in families who eat out on a regular basis.
With the cost of eating at home costing over $1,000 a month for a typical family, it’s no surprise that many families are getting into the couponing game to save money on their grocery bill. If you’re looking to keep a few extra bucks in your pocket after your next visit to the grocery store, check out these five great places to start saving with coupons.
Children are expensive. They’re sticky and spill-prone. They grow likes weeds. Why spend a fortune on clothes they’ll only wear for a few months (or worse, only once)?
Luckily, there’s a swath of alternatives online and in person. Finding great kids’ clothes that fit for a bargain isn’t quite as hard as you might think.
Housing on military bases is usually beige walls and flooring, but these tips can make a cookie cutter house feel like your custom home. Keep in mind things that work for one house, may not work in the next townhouse, apartment or duplex. Whether it’s your first home or tenth, if you stay flexible and get creative, your moves will be less stressful and easier on your wallet. See More
One of the most difficult parts of being a military spouse is understanding and getting through all of the bureaucracy that comes with being part of a government agency. Understanding the Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) is one of the most basic and important parts of handling family finances, especially during a deployment.
The Leave and Earnings Statement is essentially a military paycheck. For many of the branches the LES statement can be accessed through MyPay. Once you’ve set up an account and learned how to log in, you’ll be given access to the LES. Even though the forms for those in the Marine Corps may look slightly different, the information is generally the same and abbreviations are similar across different styles.
Click on the image below to check out this interactive graphic that will get you familiar with the different sections and abbreviations on a typical LES statement.
Being jobless is tough on all members of a military family. Filing for unemployment can be a big help in getting your feet back on solid financial ground. See More
Military spouses may not always have an easy time finding or keeping a job in the frequently changing military lifestyle. A need for flexibility and high chance of relocation may leave some spouses without many options and result in a peaked interest for work-at-home offers.
Unfortunately, if a spouse decides to take this route, they must be very cautious. According to LAPD financial crime detective Robert Rebhan, approximately 98 percent of work-at-home pitches are scams.
Here are 3 scam signs to prevent you from falling victim: See More
When soldiers receive their deployment orders, they know they will have to step up and perform any challenge they encounter. If military spouses get their power of attorney papers, they do the same on the home front. Emotional stress and interruptions in family structure are expected, but financial struggles during a deployment may come as more of a surprise and prove tough to handle.
And that’s where a unique piece of legislation can help: the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. See More
Congratulations on your nuptials and welcome to the military family!
As a military spouse we are a pretty elite club. I was very intimidated when I first became a military spouse, having very little previous experience with the military. The first thing I found out about the military is that it comes with a lot, and I mean a lot, of paperwork!
So how can you get started now that you are officially a military spouse? In order to keep track of it all, we put together a list of the most urgent items to tackle immediately after you are married! See More
There comes a time when military members and their families face the question of whether to live in or independent of military housing. Seeing as there are perks and downfalls to each option, you may need to spend some time weighing your options before you decide. Also be sure to research the specific base and the surrounding areas, amenities and neighborhoods vary widely from place to place.
Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of both according to other military members and their families: See More
The old saying “more money, more problems” tends to hold truth, even in holy matrimony. Combining finances after marriage can get tricky. Perhaps it’s the reason you’ll find money to be the second-most likely reason for divorce.
Military couples may find it even tougher to stick it out seeing as deployments, trainings and permanent changes of station are constantly changing circumstances. But with some thoughtful planning and communication married couples can merge money matters without hassle and keep the financial honeymoon going.
When you are planning to get married make sure you and your spouse discuss these topics: See More
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