Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

The Tactical Military Guide to Buying Your First Home

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As a thank you for serving the nation, the country gives back to the military personnel by making it more affordable for them to purchase a home. In other words, military benefits could make buying a home 36 percent less expensive than renting. However, these benefits sometimes seem too good to be true and many people rush into buying their first home. You wouldn’t go out in the field without the proper checks and verifiable intelligence, so why would you buy a house without the same information? Check out some of these tips to help you score the home of your dreams.  

Figure Out What You Can Afford

The first step in buying a home is to determine your budget. Typically, you will want to buy a home that including payments and insurance does not exceed 35-45 percent of your gross annual income. Remember though, these are not the only costs associated with buying a home. You will also have to dish out money for things such as home appraisal and inspection so be sure to include this in your calculations. You will also want a lender to pull your full credit report so that you can determine whether your score is good enough for a loan. If you don’t feel comfortable with your credit score, you might want to rent until you bring it back up.  

Find a VA-Savvy Agent

Veterans and active-duty service members are eligible for a VA loan if you have served 90 consecutive days on active duty during wartime, 181 consecutive days on active duty during peacetime, or 6 or more years in the National Guard or Reserves. The benefit of a VA loan is that it makes buying a home more affordable by offering no down payment, no mortgage insurance, lower interest rates and more lenient credit requirements. However, not every realtor is familiar with the VA system, so you need to make sure that you find an agent that is aware of how to navigate these waters. The VA won’t underwrite any house, so your realtor must be sure that you find a home that meets the VA property requirements. You can ask another vet for a referral, or look for reliable military affiliate real estate agents online for the most knowledgeable professionals.

Shop Around

Just like any purchase, it’s always a good idea to shop around and compare VA loan rates from multiple lenders. It’s true that this can cause your score to fall a couple of points, but it doesn’t occur every time and it’s better to be safe than sorry. You will also want to shop around for different houses to ensure you’re getting the best deal. When you decide on the home of your dreams, be sure to do a home inspection. You will want to get a clear look into the things that may be lurking in the darkest parts of the home and it will also allow you to negotiate terms and costs of the home.

Buying the home of your dreams is possible with the right strategy. Take these tactics into consideration and you’ll be lounging in your new home in no time at all.

 

 

Waste Management: How Do Military Commissaries Fare?

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by guest contributor Lucy Wyndham

Whether we like it or not, garbage and its disposal is everyone’s business. Every year, the world churns out 1.3 billion tons of municipal solid waste and this figure is expected to reach 2.2 billion tons annually (World Bank). In the US, we produced 254 million tons of garbage, recycled and composted about 87 million tons or a recycling rate of 34.3% in 2013 according to the EPA. The military economy alone is responsible for 2.8 % of GDP according to the DoD Office of Economic Adjustment. It also produces waste but works diligently to reduce waste production.

Efforts of the Military Commissaries at Waste Reduction

The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) of the DoD operates over 245 commissaries across the globe. Its environmental management system (EMS) ensures protection of the environment by reducing and recycling waste. Last year, DeCA recycled nearly 1.12 million pounds of paper, roughly 421,000 pounds of metal and more than 3.7 million pounds of plastic.

DeCA announced that their commissaries achieved an 83 percent recycling efficiency rate in 2015.

Food recycling is also an important part of its efforts with 1.5 million pounds of bones/fats and nearly 30,000 pounds of (kitchen) grease recycled. It donated 2.7 million pounds of edible but unsalable food through its food bank donation program in 2016. This year or as of March 2017, DeCA had already given nearly 2 million pounds of food to the program. Treatment and diverting waste are not the only activities the agency promotes. It also sells organic foods and green products that are considered environmentally-friendly such as reusable shopping bags. DeCA continues to achieve and even surpass its waste management targets.

How Families and Personnel Can Help

Whether living on or off the base or shopping at commissaries, there are several ways that individuals and families can help reduce carbon footprint and solid waste disposal. As waste disposal units are popular and installed in over 50% of American homes (US Census Bureau, 2009), food waste is treated in the sewage system diverting much of it from landfills.  

The mantra of waste management is to reduce, reuse and recycle.  Go for reusable shopping bags and buy products with the least packaging. Where it is not possible to avoid waste residuals, segregate as much as possible. Educating yourself and others around you helps increase waste management awareness and prevent a lot of trash from ending up in landfills.

Waste management is key to this planet’s survival. Unless we want to be buried by our own garbage, everyone is encouraged to make proper trash disposal their business. The concerted efforts of military commissaries and surrounding communities can have a significant impact on the wellbeing of the environment.

*this article was submitted by guest contributor Lucy Wyndham

 

Add Continuity to Your PCS: Tips on How to Work from Home

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by guest contributor Lucy Wyndham

As a military spouse, you spend a lot of time stressing over things every PCS. From finding a new home to meeting new friends, it is extremely hard to settle in every time you move. However, how would you like to have one less thing to worry about? Finding a job is probably one of the biggest struggles for a military spouse. But with 43 percent of Americans spending at least sometime working remotely, the ability to work from home is becoming more possible.

Benefits of Working Remotely

Military spouses have a very unique life that requires a lot of flexibility. A remote job can help improve the flexibility in your life by allowing you to work when you want and where you want. It also allows you to have continuity in your career. You will be able to maintain the same job whenever you have to move.

Top Remote Jobs for Military Spouses

If you’re ready to make the change to a remote work life, check out these jobs that are sure to allow you to make money no matter where you are.

  • Virtual Assistant: More and more companies are outsourcing the role of the admin or assistant to cut on overhead costs. In this role, you can do many jobs from scheduling and bookkeeping to event planning all while in your PJs.
  • Social Media Manager: More than 50 million businesses use Facebook to connect with their customers. Social media is an important aspect of a company’s brand, presence, and marketing. Therefore, there are many jobs in the market related to maintaining social media sites. If you’re savvy with applications like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, this might be a good field for you.
  • Survey Taker: Survey site companies invest billions of dollars into online market research. They pay you to help companies determine product marketability and consumer behavior. All you need is a phone or computer and you can get paid for every survey you complete. Some of the best paid survey sites include Swagbucks, Harris Poll, Inbox Dollars, and MyPoints.
  • Freelance Writer: A freelance writer earns an average of $24.70 an hour from the comfort of their own home. This includes bloggers, ghost writers, and the academic writers. Find something that you love to write about and get your work out there. The best way to get attention is to create a blog. Since you’re a military spouse, one great idea is to provide advice to other spouses or military families. Once you’ve built up your portfolio, start applying to some paid freelance jobs or consider ways to make money directly on your blog.
  • Photographer: One of the great things about moving so much is that you get to see parts of the world that others do not have the opportunity to see. Why not bank on this and start up a career in photography? If you have a good eye, you could sell your pictures online. Simply create your own online portfolio and reach out to potential customers.

With the increase in technology, working from home is a reality for many people. Figure out which of these jobs calls to you  and start your journey towards a new career.

*this article was submitted by guest contributor Lucy Wyndham

Budget Tips for Your Next Military Staycation

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Duty always comes first, even if you already have a vacation planned. There are plenty of service men and women who have found themselves calling hotels and rental companies, to cancel or modify their vacation at the very last minute. Thankfully, many service providers are happy to accommodate the ever changing schedules of the men and women who serve.

Tight budgets of those who serve are often not very vacation friendly. However, a staycation is a marvelous way to get that precious R&R without breaking the bank.  To make the most of a staycation, here are some fun ideas and budget tips.

 

  1. Book a hotel. The best way to feel like you are on a vacation is to book a hotel. One of the best money saving tips is to book based off amenites offered. All hotels have the standard bed and towels. The trick is to find some place that has something super cool that makes you feel like you are on vacation. It can be a pirate ship in the pool with a tiki bar or it can be something as simple as a complimentary cocktail hour. Weekdays are generally cheaper, and less crowded. Tip: Book directly through the hotel to avoid third party fees.

 

LBV_LRG_Banner

Photo of Lake Buena Vista, which offers Military Discounts

 

  1. Become a tourist in your current town. Military personnel are often located in places far away from where they grew up. This alone makes a staycation the ideal low cost activity.  Check out your town’s tourism website or the Chamber of Commerce for popular sights and activities. Pick a hour radius you are willing to drive and explore a new town.

 

  1. Take a walking tour. Many cities and small towns have free or low priced walking tours of historical areas. Some are even called ghost tours and are very popular around Halloween and Christmas. The guides typically relate interesting stories along the way about people and events from days gone by.  Tours usually end with coffee, tea, dining or shopping.

 

  1. Plan your staycation time around local festivals and special events. Small towns to big cities have special events throughout the year. It might be a chili or bar-b-q contest, music festival or art show. Within a short drive from wherever you are, there should be at least one big interesting event that draws a crowd.  Find out what that is and check it out.

 

  1. Have a fantastic lunch. For budget minded folks, fine dining is often out of the question. However, fine dining establishments typically serve the same foods at lower prices during the lunch hour. Look into it and plan a lovely lunch followed by an afternoon movie and ice cream.

 

  1. Use the Groupon app. Sign up for Groupon and be amazed at the savings. There are deals on dining, entertainment and shopping. The deals change frequently so keep checking until something fantastic comes up.  This is a great way to try an expensive restaurant on a budget. Tip: most purchases have a 24 hour wait period before you can redeem them, so read the fine print if you plan to use the deal the same day.

 

  1. Get outdoors. Most towns and almost all cities have parks and recreational facilities from pools and tennis courts to hiking and camping areas. Get out and enjoy the local nature trails. Check out the differences in flora and fauna from where you grew up to where you’re currently stationed.

 

  1. One way of enjoying some down time is by turning off all devices. In today’s world, we live and breathe with devices in hand that keep us connected, sometimes overly so, to the world. Disconnect for a preset period of time such as 12 to 24 hours.  Now you can read a book, take naps, try a new recipe, play with the kids and dog without trying to divide your attention.

 

  1. Look for museums. What sounds dull, such as an old tractor museum, may turn out to be a very interesting day. Plus, some museums are actually free of charge or pay by donation so a couple of bucks gets you in. You can find a list of museums that offer a military discount here.

 

  1. Check for military discounts on hotels. If you live somewhere extra fun but that also has a tendency to be pricey such as Orlando, Florida, don’t despair. Look for deals, especially those military discounts. Often times you have to skip the booking engines and go directly to the site. These are often hotel brands you know and trust like Hawthorn Suites Lake Buena Vista.

 

  1. Look for a local brewery. It’s not only an educational experience, you get to know the locals on a new level by sharing their unique brews and finding out what made them decide to go into business in the first place.

 

  1. Do a movie or bowling night. Again, check Groupon for possible deals but both these activities can be relaxing and fun. If you haven’t bowled in a while, or ever, give it a go. You might be surprised how much fun you have.

 

  1. Take dance lessons. This is something that requires a time commitment of at least a few weeks but once you’ve learned how to rock the dance floor, take your significant other out for dinner and dancing someplace special.

 

  1. Try something new. One of the most amazing benefits of military life, is all the new places you get to see. Take that a step further and try something new. Find out what is popular in the area and give it a try.

 

  1. Look for local theater group performances. A good play is typically entertaining and inexpensive. Some high schools put on amazing performances as well. Dress up more than usual and make a special night of it.  You can find a list of participating theatres here.

 

If done correctly, a staycation can be as relaxing as the real thing. You and your family will get a recharge while the bank account stays intact.  Sounds like a win-win for all military personnel.

Guest Author

Amanda Basse

Good Financial Habits Create Peace of Mind

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During February 22-27, the nonprofit called America Saves promotes Military Saves Week to encourage military families to save money, reduce debt, and build wealth.  It’s a perfect time to review your savings habits, make changes, and set goals to create greater peace of mind and improve your long-term financial stability.

Consider these facts: Only 50% of Americans say they have a savings plan with goals; and surveys show that money is the top source of psychological stress for adults. Money issues not only create stress, they strain relationships, lead to conflict, and are a leading cause of divorce. However, this doesn’t have to be the case if you create a realistic budget and a financial plan–and stick to them.

Many people don’t know where to start. My advice is to begin with goals in mind. America Saves suggests:

  • Saving for emergencies
  • Paying off debt – especially high interest rate debt
  • Opening a retirement account and regularly contributing to it
  • Saving for big purchases such as a car, house or your children’s education

Fortunately, there are several federal programs that help military families save for the future.  By taking advantage of technology, you can boost your savings habits:

However, it’s one thing to create a budget and plan, and quite another to follow through on your best intentions.  Begin to cut spending in areas that drain savings opportunities:

  • Keep a daily record of all expenses. Then, analyze where you spent money needlessly, such as that latte on the way to work or eating out daily for lunch.
  • Pay off high-cost debt immediately. Loans and credit cards with high interest rates, for example, can eat up savings fast.
  • Stick to a budget for special occasions such as birthdays, vacation trips and holidays. Going into debt for these events is not worth it.
  • Change shopping habits to reduce impulsive purchases that may set you back on budget goals.

Yet, oftentimes it’s difficult to squeeze more money out of your paycheck for monthly needs– let alone set aside money for bigger goals.  A good strategy is to start small and look for simple ways to trim spending.  Just changing your mindset can make a big difference:
Save loose change – .50 cents a day adds up to $180 per year
Bring your lunch to work more often – save approximately $5 per day that can be transferred to savings
Eat out two fewer times a month – save $30 per month or $360 per year
Pay off credit card bills completely each month and on time to avoid spiraling interest and late fees – $25 per month or $300 per year

These tips are just the beginning. If you want more resources and ideas, go to www.militarysaves.org and begin your journey to financial security.

Military Saves Week Guest Article for MilitaryShoppers.com

by Don Giles

President, Armed Forces Bank