Maintaining Life as a Military Family
This post begins a new blog series called “Maintaining as a Military Family.”
My name is Di, and I am excited to join the bloggers at Debthelper.com. Through this series, I want to share how military families manage daily expenses, survive moves, and still find ways to save money.
Living a military life requires planning, flexibility, and smart financial choices. Over the years, we learned these lessons the hard way.
Life on One Military Income
Military life can be very hard on a family budget. My husband joined the Army 14 years ago as a Private. We had children early, which is common in military families. As a result, money was often tight.
Relying on a single income made budgeting stressful. One major expense came from frequent relocations, also known as Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves. These moves can quickly drain savings if you are not prepared.
Saving During Army Training and PCS Moves
When my husband attended Army school, I stayed behind with our daughter. Renting an apartment near the school was not affordable, even with housing allowance.
Instead, I moved in with my mother for three months. While not ideal, this choice helped us save money. We still received the housing allowance, paid a portion to family, and saved the rest for our next move.
Planning ahead made a huge difference.
Planning Your Move to Reduce Costs
Military moves are expensive, and reimbursements often come later. This can be difficult, especially for young families.
To prepare, I recommend using MilitaryOneSource.com. It provides updated information on military benefits and moving costs. Knowing expenses in advance makes moving less stressful.
Hotel stays, rental cars, and food costs are usually controllable. Always ask for discounts and search for coupons online.
Turn Moving Into an Opportunity to Earn
Moving forces you to clean out unused items. This can actually help you earn extra money.
You can:
Hold a yard sale
Rent a flea market booth
Use a consignment shop
Donate items for tax deductions
Someone else may love what you no longer need.
Final Advice for Military Families
My biggest advice is simple: start saving as soon as you join the military. Moving is only one of many expenses you will face over time.
More tips are coming in the next post—especially about managing costs with kids.
Stay tuned.
