Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

I Don’t Qualify for MyCAA, Now What?

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Since graduating with my bachelor’s degree in 2008, I’ve been thinking about going to a graduate school. First, I wanted to work a bit to see what kind of education would be best for my career path. In addition, there were so many programs out there, I was hoping the right one would come my way eventually.

After getting married and adjusting my career journey a smidge, I started feeling like now is the right time to pursue that graduate degree I’ve been dreaming about for years. The hunger to learn and educate myself more began to affect me.

In my free time, I researched programs that would add to the knowledge I’m already gaining in my career and found the perfect one. I kept my application process a secret mostly because I was scared to be overly excited. I only focused on a program at one school. Then I started researching ways to pay for my graduate degree.

Can't Use MyCAA? Other College Tuition Resources

Are you a military spouses, like myself, that doesn’t qualify for MyCAA? Here are some other resources that may help you pay for college.

I came to this conclusion:

College is so gosh darn expensive.

Last August, I mentioned that military spouses have a wonderful program to utilize for higher education called MyCAA. MyCAA does have limitations though. Only military spouses of active duty service members (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force) at the following pay grades: E1-E5, W1-W2 and O1-O2 can use MyCAA. There are additional factors that might place you out of obtaining the MyCAA program like your choice of study. It needs to be an approved course by your academic institution.

Related: Military Spouses Unaware of MyCAA Scholoarship Program

To my excitement and fear, I received my acceptance letter to grad school a few weeks after I applied. My spouse’s military status pushes me out of the MyCAA program, so I needed to figure out other options pronto.

For those military spouses that don’t qualify for MyCAA like myself, now what?

I began looking into other options to make sure I can pursue my dream degree. I hope my efforts could help you as you navigate through the financial aid process, especially if you can’t use MyCAA.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The FAFSA should be one of your first stops as you start your educational journey. Don’t be intimidated at the lengthy process because it can open doors to grants and other applicable programs that would give you money for college.

Also, don’t be afraid of qualified student loans. They are the type of loans you want because they have extremely low interest rates and forgiving payback programs. My financial advisor calls it “good debt” and it can be deferred until you find a job. Here is a special link for military spouses and families to search through by the FAFSA folks.

Post-9/11 GI Bill

The military members in our lives should consider all higher education opportunities, whether it be the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill Military or tuition assistance.

Out of the three, the Post-9/11 GI Bill is one that could be transferred to military dependents, including military spouses as long as certain qualifications are met.

In the same conversation with my financial advisor about funding my graduate degree, she mentioned that using the Post-9/11 GI Bill might be a good route for us. My husband is currently using tuition assistance to finish his bachelor’s degree and my graduate degree wouldn’t even need the whole contribution. There would still be funding there to supplement any additional education my husband would want after the military.

Plus, the transferability might go away for military spouses and children, so it would be beneficial to do a transfer now because it could always get transferred back to the service member.

School Scholarships and Grants

When you apply and submit your FAFSA, a majority of schools piggyback opportunities that are available to their applicants. If you’re pursuing an undergraduate degree, you can qualify for a Pell Grant, which doesn’t need to be paid back.

Military spouses should visit their on-post Education Center because counselors could share institutions that have special military-affiliated tuition pricing.

I know in Washington, D.C., certain classes that are held on base have lower pricing than the online program or off-base locations. They could also pass along location-based opportunities, you never know!

Scholarships and Grants from Military-Affiliated Organizations

There are so many wonderful opportunities from a number of military-affiliated organizations out there! One that comes to mind for all military spouses is National Military Family Association’s Spouse Scholarship program. Hurry though because the deadline is at the end of this month! It’s held annually, so if you miss it this time around you have another chance next year.

Research organizations that support your spouse’s branch for military spouse scholarships too. That’s a great place to start with military spouse directed opportunities.

What other resources besides MyCAA have you used to help plan for college?

How 2016 BAH Rates May Affect Your Family

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Every year military service members and their families wait to find out what is going to change with their BAH rates. BAH, which stands for Basic Allowance for Housing, is based on your ZIP code. This allowance is supposed to be put toward your housing costs.

How the 2016 BAH Rates May Affect Your Military Family

On average, BAH is only meant to cover 98 percent of housing costs instead of 100 percent.

If you live on post, you are not going to get BAH but you won’t have to pay rent either. If you live in privatized housing on base, you receive your housing allowance and pay it to the private housing manager each month.

If your BAH rates have gone up you will be making a little more each month. On average they have gone up $54 per month this year, nationwide. However, the amount that the BAH is supposed to cover is down 2 percent.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t find a place within the limits of your monthly allowance, but that on average, BAH is only meant to cover 98 percent of the costs now instead of the full 100 percent that the allowance used to cover.

If your rates have gone down, you don’t need to worry at first. They will not change until you move or when your service member gets a promotion. Then they will be adjusted based on your location and rank.

Now, if the rate that you are supposed to get paid when you change rank is lower than it was before the change, you will be grandfathered in to your old rate. This is good because no one will receive less than they are getting in the previous year unless they are making a change.

I always used to enjoy that first paycheck of the new year when our LES reflected our new BAH rates. We were lucky in that all our time in active duty Army, the rates always went up. This didn’t mean that we would run out to buy a bigger house or spend more on rent but having a little bit extra each month to put toward our bills was always nice.

When buying a house, we knew we wanted our mortgage to stay below our BAH. Luckily we can make that happen in our current location but that might not always be the case. You should keep in mind that off-base rent might be pretty close to your BAH since a lot of the landlords know the BAH rates and charge based on that amount.

If your BAH does go up, put the extra money in savings or use the money to help with your debt. You will be glad that you did.

In the case that your BAH is going down and being close to a move or a promotion, think about how much you will be getting after the change. You might find yourself frustrated because of the change. You might have assumed you would be making more money once you got promoted but sticking to a budget will be your best bet. Make housing choices based on the new amount and you won’t run into any financial problems.

If you are planning a move to a new duty station, check the rates for the next year. When trying to decide on where to live, you will need to know how much in BAH you are going to be getting. Ideally, you should have your BAH cover your housing, including utilities, but that isn’t always a possibility in all areas.

With proper planning, you don’t have to worry if your BAH fluctuates. You can adjust and figure out how to make the new rate work for you and your family.

Is your service member’s BAH increasing in 2016? Click here to find out so you can start planning for any future moves or changes to where you are living.

 

Your New Duty Station Checklist

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Welcome to your new duty station. How many PCS moves does this make for your family? I’m in my 17th house now, so I’ve done my share of checking into new duty stations. If this is your first move or 20th, make sure you fully get to know your new military installation.

Once your boxes are unpacked, follow this checklist to get familiar with your new surroundings.

Your New Duty Station Checklist for Every PCS

After you unpack your last box after a PCS, what’s the next thing you do?

1. Talk to Your Sponsor

Each time you PCS, the service member is given a sponsor. This is a fellow service member that is already stationed at that location who is familiar with the area. Their job is to help make your PCS an easy one by helping you get settled in and get to know the area. Take advantage of this help and make contact with that person.

2. Find the Commissary

I love the commissary. You’ll spend a lot of time here so go ahead and find out where it is and what the hours of operation are.

Some commissaries are closed on Sundays and Mondays while others are open every day.

Make sure you plan your shopping trip accordingly. Stop by the commissary for a few minutes on a day you don’t need to do your big weekly shopping just to see what the selection is. Some commissaries are quite small and only offer a few things while others have a vast selection.

3. Find the ITT Office

The ITT office is a great resource. Each one offers different services which could include: travel and vacation packages, travel insurance, car rentals, flights, tours, concerts, national events and local tickets. Universal Studios, SeaWorld, DisneyLand and Walt Disney World packages are really popular. You can save a lot of money by purchasing tickets through the ITT office.

After a PCS, you might want to plan some family fun. Contact your ITT office to see what’s going on in your area.

4. Locate the MWR

The Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation Program offers an abundance of activities for families. After a busy PCS, you’re going to want to get out and have fun.

The U.S. Army MWR has 223 fitness centers, 192 child development centers, 137 swimming pools, 86 outdoor recreation centers, 79 bowling and family fun centers, 78 Army community service centers, 76 libraries, 66 auto skills centers, 48 golf courses, 54 arts & crafts centers and 12 riding stables.

There is surely something fun for your family to do to relax and get to know your new duty station.

5. Check Out the Base’s Fitness Center

Why pay a monthly fee to work out at the gym in town when you can go to the fitness center for free? Many locations have a mother and child area where you can work out and keep an eye on your little one.

If you’re self-conscious about working out in front of others or are intimidated by large crowds, go after 9 a.m. when most service members will be back to work and the gym will be quieter.

Don’t put it off. Dig to the bottom of that last PCS box and find your workout clothes.

6. Contact the CDC or Base School

Do you have children and need child care or to enroll them in school? Contact the Child Development Center to see if they have openings. If there is a wait list, it doesn’t actually go first-come first-served. There is a priority level index. You can get on the list however and enroll your child in another program in the meantime.

Contact the base school before you PCS, if you can, to find out what records you need to bring to register your children in the school.

7. Join a Spouse Group

There’s no better way to get to know a new installation and feel at home, than to make friends. No matter how many times you PCS, you will still want to get know other military spouses who know the area.

Having good friends can really make a difference in your experience living in a new place.

Contact your command ombudsman or spouse liaison. Join the enlisted or officer’s spouse club. Get online and look for base groups. Try Facebook or Meetup.com for example.

Each PCS is different. It can be a lonely road if you sit at home alone. Get out and get to know your new installation. Make friends and get involved. This could be your favorite duty station. It’s up to you to take advantage of all it offers.

After you unpack your last box after a PCS, what’s the next thing you do? What’s on your new duty station checklist?

5 Ways to Make Meal Planning More Fun, Less Overwhelming

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If you aren’t already meal planning, the thought alone can be daunting and overwhelming. It takes time and forethought to plan an entire week or even month worth of meals.

Give it a try and you’ll discover that meal planning can actually be fun and satisfying.

First however, understand what meal planning is. By planning ahead and choosing meals, you will be setting yourself and your family up to a healthy lifestyle. Many people mistakenly think meal planning is about following a diet. It is however, simply choosing which meals your family will eat ahead of time.

By having a set plan, you will be less likely to settle for junk food or fast food.

You will have the ingredients on hand and not have to rush to the commissary at the last minute. You’ll have the peace of mind that dinner is set and you won’t be stressing over what you’ll make last minute.

Start meal planning by setting a specific time to write out a week’s worth of meals.

On Sunday mornings, I flip through cookbooks and magazines as well as search recipes in my recipe apps on my phone. Once you’ve found a few recipes you want to try, look through your pantry to see if you already have some of the ingredients. Make a list of what you need to buy at the grocery store and set a time to go shopping.

When choosing meals make sure to look at your calendar to see how busy your week is. There may be some nights that you need quick meals and some when family members will be eating at different times so you will need a re-heatable dinner. Decide on a night where you have plenty of time to make a big family meal. Take into consideration the weather as well. If it’s going to be particularly cold, you may want soup one night. The same goes for balmy nights when your family may enjoy grilling.

Make sure to include family members in meal planning. If you have a picky eater, let them choose one meal or at least one portion of a meal so that you know they will be eating something. Run the weekly recipes by family members to see their reactions to the choices. You don’t want to spend time and money cooking something no one is likely to eat.

Plan for leftovers. You don’t necessarily have to include 7 days in your meal planning. If you’re having soup or casserole this week, there might be enough for leftovers. You can also make extra so that you have leftovers. Freeze them to make another week easier if you don’t want to eat them the next day.

While you’re at the commissary, see what’s on sale. Most people will advise sticking to your shopping list to save money, but if you find something you know your family will eat, go ahead and buy it. You can fit it into your plans. Make sure not to overbuy however. If your refrigerator is stuffed, items will be hidden and go bad. When you get home, go ahead and prep food. You can wash fruit, chop vegetables and make sauces to save time later in the week.

Does this all sound like a lot of work? Make meal planning more fun with these 5 tips.

Make meal planning more fun with these 5 tips.

Do you use a meal plan? What are your tips for making meal planning fun?

Designate a Theme for Each Day

It can be difficult to be creative with cooking so simplify the process by designating each weeknight as a different theme. Some popular themes include: Meatless Mondays, Taco Tuesdays, Crockpot Wednesdays, Leftover Thursdays, Pizza Fridays, Sandwich Saturdays and Soup/Salad Sundays.

Make a Fun Menu Board to Display

Get excited about meal planning by presenting the weekly menu in a fun way. You can simply buy a chalkboard to hang on the pantry door or get creative and make your own. By having the weekly meals posted, you’ll know what’s next and so will your family.

Use a Meal Planning App or Website

You can simply use paper lists and a calendar or you can get creative and download a meal planning app for your computer or phone. Paprika is a great app to keep track of recipes, organize a meal calendar and make your grocery list but it isn’t free. I also use All the Cooks app to store and get recipes; it’s free.

Choosemyplate.gov is a great site to make sure the meals you’re choosing are healthy and cover all the food groups. You can search recipes and look up sample menus that fit proper nutrition by age, which is great for children.

Looking for more tried-and-true recipes? Browse the MilitaryShoppers’ Recipes Quick Search tool.

Get Your Family Involved

I already mentioned it, but it’s worth repeating. Why do all the work choosing meals? Get your family involved in meal planning. Ask them what they feel like having or challenge them to find a new recipe. Let your children help you with shopping as well as prepping meals.

Shape Up Meals with Colorful Ideas

This is particularly fun with kids. Set a night with all food in the same shape. Make meals colorful by designating a dish with everything the same color. You can work on the alphabet by nominating a night where all items begin with the same letter. This will get the whole family involved and having fun with it.

Meal planning doesn’t have to be difficult; it can be quite fun.

Do you use a meal plan? What are your tips for making meal planning fun?

How to Be Vigilant Without Being Fearful of a Terrorist Attack

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A recent New York Times and CBS News poll shows that Americans fear that a terrorist attack is eminent more so now than at any time since September 11, 2001. In a poll taken December 4-8, 2015, a staggering 79% of respondents said they fear that a terrorist attack will occur in the next few months.

It’s hard not to be fearful when you turn on the TV and see recent terrorist attacks such as those in Paris and San Bernardino, Calif. Change the channel and you’ll find experts saying the threat level is high and recommending citizens be vigilant in everyday outings.

How can the average American be vigilant without being fearful?

I had a friend recently tell me that she was sitting in the food court with her children when the thought occurred to her that a terrorist attack could happen. She immediately started looking for possible escape routes, just in case. She became so overwhelmed with fear that she rushed the kids out. There wasn’t a terrorist threat there; it was all in her head. The fear of terrorism has become crippling for some people and is disrupting their routines.

How to Be Vigilant Without Being Fearful of a Terrorist Attack

The No. 1 thing to do is to be aware of your surroundings.

As I sit here sipping on my coffee and writing, I am reminded of a recent bomb threat on Camp Lejeune. The caller said there was a bomb at Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts. That threat was later determined to be unsubstantiated, but if I were the fearful type, I might question my safety here now. I don’t, though. I feel safe in my environment.

I consider myself someone who is vigilant. It isn’t something on the forefront of my mind that makes me worry or panic. I simply notice exits when entering a building, I park in well lit areas, walk out with people, have my keys ready before I head to my car, keep my head up and aware of my surroundings, turn lights on at home at night and set the alarm. These aren’t things I do in fear of a terrorist attack; they were just everyday precautions my father instilled in me when I was younger.

The No. 1 thing to do is to be aware of your surroundings. Put your phone down and pay attention to what’s going on around you. A key phrase that is widely being said of late is “if you see something, say something.” A neighbor of those responsible for the terrorist attack in San Bernardino, Calif., said she questioned if she should call the authorities earlier in the year because of their suspicious behavior, but feared that she would be labeled a racist. If that neighbor had spoken up earlier, maybe the events of that tragic day could have been altered. We’ll never know though.

Fear is widely spreading throughout the United States. You can’t let it dictate your life though. Take some time out of your busy schedule and just think about what you would do in a terrorist attack. Having a plan of action ahead of time, just in case, could turn an awful situation into possibly a survivable one. Read about how to survive a terrorist attack and think about how you would handle the situation. Would you run, hide or attack? Those are the three options most experts will say you have when it comes to these situations.

If at all possible, run as fast as you can to get as far away from the situation as you can. If there is an active shooter, run in a zigzag motion. It is much harder to hit a moving target, especially when the direction of movement changes rapidly.

If you can’t run, hide. Try to hide behind something bullet-proof or something thick. If you’re in a small room, turn off the light, lock the door, if possible and push something heavy in front of the door. Sit quietly and silence your phone. Terrorists try to inflict as much damage as possible in a short amount of time. They look for easy targets and are more likely to move on than struggle to get the door open.

Your last resort in a terrorist attack may be to fight. If you’re in an open area with nowhere to go and nowhere to hide, you might be left with the option to fight or die. Try to arm yourself, if possible. Anything can be a weapon. One teacher in Alabama recently sent home letters recommending children bring a canned good to school to throw at an attacker. It sounds ridiculous, but it shows that anything can be a weapon.

Remember, the goal of a terrorist attack is to spread fear and disrupt daily life through panic and instability. Be vigilant, be aware of your surroundings, but live your life.

Are you fearful of another terrorist attack? How do you balance valid concerns with irrational fear?

The Do’s and Don’ts of the Tricare Nurse Advice Line

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We should always take our health seriously, but sometimes we’re on the fence about what to do. For example, what if it’s been a week and you can’t beat that terrible cough. Do you need to go to the doctor?

When and How to Use the Tricare Nurse Advice Line

Is this fever too high? Should I take her to the doctor?

For those that need more guidance, Tricare beneficiaries have the opportunity to reach out to a health care professional no matter what time of day on any day of the week with the Tricare Nurse Advice Line. To reach the Nurse Advice Line, call 1-800-TRICARE (874-2273) and press option 1.

The team of registered nurses at the other end of the line are ready to help families with whatever health concerns you have and can lead you in the right direction for self-care or assist you in scheduling an appointment at the correct medical facility.

The Tricare Nurse Advice Line supports a majority of Tricare beneficiaries, including Alaska and Hawaii. Eligible Tricare beneficiaries include:

  • Tricare Prime
  • Tricare Prime Remote (TPR)
  • Tricare Prime Remote for Active Duty Family Members (TPRADFM)
  • Tricare Standard
  • Tricare Extra
  • Tricare Reserve Select (TRS)
  • Tricare Retired Reserve (TRR)
  • Tricare Young Adult (TYA)
  • Tricare For Life (TFL)

Please keep in mind that those enrolled in the US Family Health Plan can’t utilize the Nurse Advice Line. Also, if you’re on Tricare Overseas Program (TOP) traveling to the United States, you can call the Nurse Advice Line for medical advice, but if in-person care is recommended, you need to call your TOP Regional Call Center first.

I can’t stress enough how important it is for you to keep your information updated in DEERS. That will help the staff of the Nurse Advice Line to either, make sure you qualify, give you sound medical advice and to direct you to the proper care at your current location.

My suggestion above is a great example on how the Tricare Nurse Advice Line can help guide you to care for yourself appropriately. I don’t know what it is, but I routinely acquire a cough at the change of seasons. Typically, it goes away after a handful of days, but every once in a while it evolves to a sinus infection. Before making the effort to schedule an appointment with my PCM, I can call the Advice Line to discuss my symptoms with a nurse.

How else can the Tricare Nurse Advice Line help you?

The Tricare Nurse Advice Line is not only wonderful for you to get the guidance for any ailments that come your way, you can call it to discuss any questions regarding your children’s health too. Children seem to come up with all kinds of different issues that parents may not know how to handle, especially if it’s never came up before.

For example, your toddler has lice and you have no idea what to do. The Nurse Advice Line can pass along the tools needed to combat this new and acute annoyance. If there is anything else bugging your little ones, the Nurse Advice Line can assist you.

It’s requested that your child be present at the time of the call. That will allow the nurse to get the most accurate information. Also, you can request the nurse to check in on your child to make sure things are progressing positively.

When shouldn’t you use the Tricare Nurse Advice Line?

If it’s really something that needs immediate attention, call 911 or get yourself or your family member to the emergency room at your nearest medical facility. Most of the time, those situations can be gauged at the moment.

For example, you believe your child broke a bone. Don’t pick up the phone, take them to the ER as soon as possible. Since the Nurse Advice Line is 24/7, they could also encourage you to head to the emergency room ASAP, but don’t hesitate.

Have you used the Tricare Nurse Line in the past? What was your experience with it?

Have a Good Shopping Experience at Commissary

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Do you shop at the commissary? Do you sometimes find yourself frustrated over the experience? Shopping at the commissary doesn’t have to be so frustrating for you. These tips can help you get organized and make the shopping trip more enjoyable.

Here are 5 tips to help you have a more positive shopping experience at your commissary.

1. Organize your coupons.

Using coupons at the commissary will save you money but only if you bring them with you. So many times I don’t think about my coupons beforehand and end up leaving them at home. Come up with a plan, carry a small coupon envelope in your purse and always plan to bring it with you when you go. Figure out what coupons you will be using ahead of time and hand them to the cashier when you check out.

Related: Commissary Rewards Card Helps Military Families Save Money

If you can, match some of your coupons to what is on sale for the month. You will be able to save more money that way.

2. Have cash ready for tipping your baggers.

At the commissary you will need to have a tip handy for the baggers. That is the only money that they get paid. I try to make sure that I have a few dollars with me before I get there. Having the money already in your purse or wallet is nice because you don’t have to think about it when you go to pay.

However, you are able to get cash back if you need to. Just ask the cashier for 5 one dollar bills. That shouldn’t be a problem since a lot of people do the same thing and the cashiers are used to people asking for small bills.

3. Make a shopping list.

When shopping at the commissary you need to have a good shopping list. Plan your meals and write down what you need to get. Do an inventory of what you have at home so you don’t buy something you already have enough of.

By making a shopping list you will save yourself money because you won’t just be grabbing everything you see when you are in the commissary. You will have a list you can stick to.

If you want to be even more organized, write down what you need to buy based on where things are located in the commissary. That will help speed up your shopping trip.

4. Plan your shopping days.

Don’t go to the commissary on payday if you can avoid it. The commissary will always be crowded on payday. If you have to go that day, go there early in the morning to avoid most of the crowds.

If you plan your days and budget right you can avoid having to go on the one day everyone else is getting paid too. I remember being there on a payday when I was pregnant on a hot summer day, the line was all the way to the back of the store. Not something I ever wanted to repeat.

5. Plan for your kids.

If you have to take your kids with you to the commissary, make sure you plan for that. You don’t want them to get bored or make your shopping trip impossible. Think about what will help keep them entertained while you are there.

You can also have them help you with your shopping. Give them their own list to take around or ask them questions about the types of foods you are going to be buying. Keeping them busy will make for an easier trip. If your child is young enough and you can find one, a car cart can help keep them busy and excited about the shopping trip.

What do you do in order to have a positive experience at the commissary?

4 Totally Free Financial Resources You Should Use in the New Year

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January is the month of possibility. It’s a time of new beginnings. It’s when we shrug off our mistakes from the past year and embrace a renewed hope for the next 12 months.

For many military couples, January is a good time to examine your financial well-being. Are you living paycheck to paycheck? Are you ready to take tackle that student loan debt? Are you able to start investing in your retirement?

I know I should be excited about the possibilities of the new year, but instead I’m avoiding my mailbox. I really don’t want to open my credit card statement. I thought I planned and followed my budget for holiday spending, but after we drove 2 days to my in-laws’ house and stayed in a hotel and I shopped with my sister-in-law and went to the movies with my sister and bought Christmas decorations on clearance…the list goes on and on about why I really don’t want to face this massive credit card bill.

Every January I find myself in this same situation. I overspend in December and vow to not repeat my mistakes in January. January is the month when I take a hard look at our budget with my husband and vow that this year is the year we will spend less, save more and put more money away for retirement.

Are you feeling the same way? Do you want to make 2016 the year that you get your finances squared away? Are you unsure about what steps to take to save more money and reduce your debt?

There are a lot of free financial resources available to military families. Here’s a list of 4 financial resources that you and your service member should check out in 2016.

Here’s a list of 4 free financial resources that you and your spouse should check out in 2016.

There are plenty of free resources available either on-base or online to give you the tools you need for financial success in the new year.

1. Military Relief Organizations

If you don’t know about the military relief organizations, you need to. These organizations (Army Emergency Relief, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and Air Force Aid Society) are private, nonprofit organizations that help service members and their families with certain emergency financial needs. But you don’t need to wait until you’re in financial trouble to make an appointment with a volunteer at a military relief organization.

Be proactive and make an appointment to review your budget with a trained counselor today. Also, if you are expecting a baby in 2016, sign up for their Budget for Baby workshop. You won’t regret it.

2. On-Base Financial Readiness Programs

Service members and their spouses should never pay for a financial class. Nearly every month, military installations offer free financial education classes through Army Community Services, Fleet and Family Support; Airmen and Family Readiness Centers; and Marine Corps Community Services, depending on your branch.

These classes teach service members how to “save and invest their money, how to establish savings goals, debt elimination strategies and saving for emergencies.” When we were stationed on Okinawa, the Marine Corps Community Services offered a homebuyer’s workshop. This workshop explained VA loans, how much money to save for a down payment and how to calculate how much house your family can afford.

These classes are also available for individual counseling sessions.

3. Military Saves Campaign

The Military Saves campaign is a component of the nonprofit America Saves and a partner in the Department of Defense’s Financial Readiness Campaign. Besides its annual savings campaign in February, Military Saves “seeks to motivate, support and encourage military families to save money, reduce debt and build wealth,” according to its website. The Military Saves website has information about credit reports, how to make financial goals and saver stories to inspire you to spend less and save more money.

4. FINRA Investor Education Foundation’s Military Financial Readiness Program

Started in 2006, this program, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense Financial Readiness Campaign, aims to help “military families manage their money with confidence.” Visit SaveandInvest.org/military for calculators and worksheets, along with educational videos and quizzes to test your financial knowledge.

No matter what your financial goals are for 2016, remember that service members and their spouses shouldn’t pay for financial classes. There are plenty of free resources available either on-base or online to give you the tools you need for financial success in the new year.

What are your financial goals for 2016? How do you plan to reach these financial goals?

4 Positive New Year’s Resolutions for MilSpouses

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With the New Year less than a week away, resolutions are one of the first things that come to mind. It gives us a reason to start something new or get back on track with something that has been a project of ours for awhile.

The New Year is the perfect opportunity for us to reevaluate our lives. Resolutions aren’t for everyone and can be argued that military spouses should ditch it because our lifestyle is so fluid. It could be difficult to stick to a big commitment, especially if an unexpected PCS comes along or deployment.

As military spouses, I encourage exploring unique New Year’s resolutions that are perfectly tailored for the military lifestyle. Instead of focusing on what to “fix” with our lives, let’s create resolutions that bring out the best of military life.

4 Positive New Year’s Resolutions that Military Spouses Should Make in 2016

4 Positive New Year's Resolutions for Military Spouses

What’s your New Year’s resolution for 2016?

Revisit or create your duty station bucket list.

My husband and I made a huge Washington, D.C., bucket list when we first arrived. We were excited for the opportunity to go around and see all the history in our nation’s capital. Flash-forward almost 2 years now, we’ve only scraped the surface. It was just a month ago that my husband was able to visit the National Mall as a tourist, instead of quickly passing it by.

We’ve also gotten comfortable with our favorite places and would continue to go to them when we had free time (i.e. Shenandoah National Park) but there are so many other wonderful parks nearby too! Really, we should take our free time to cross off more points on our duty station bucket list.

In 2016, we’re going to revisit this list and make sure we’re on track to finish it completely before orders come our way. With that said, military spouses should take a look at their duty station bucket lists too.

Try a new activity.

I’ve met lots of truly amazing military spouses in my journey that have opened my eyes to some new activities. I recently participated in a painting party that was arranged by a local military spouse. It sounds silly, but I was nervous going into it at first because I don’t have much artistic ability. I had so much fun painting though!

Whether it’s a painting party or playing a new sport, a new activity is a wonderful way to engage with your local friends and maybe add another hobby to your list. Next time a military spouse invites you to a new activity, say yes and give it a shot!

Volunteer for something you are passionate about.

Military spouses love to give back to the community. I’ve witnessed that as a military kid and now as a military spouse. There are so many wonderful organizations out there that benefit our community.

It’s a natural addition to a military spouses’ resolution list.

I spend my free time volunteering at the local spouses’ club fundraising for dependent scholarships. It really gives me fulfillment to dedicate my time to help military spouses and children achieve higher education.

Travel to someplace new or unexpected.

I advocate for traveling. I blame my parents for giving me wanderlust as a military kid. It’s really opened my eyes to the world and has given me an appreciation for other cultures, even within the United States.

Yes, the military helps your wanderlust by stationing you at new locations every handful of years. Another great opportunity for military spouses to travel is tagging along for a TDY for at least part of the time (that’s how we saw the Grand Canyon).

But, don’t take your spouse’s leave time for granted either! Plan time to visit family and friends and take time off for a much needed vacation too.

My husband and I have been planning at least a week away at a new location every year we’ve known each other. This past year we went to Alaska, the year before that the Caribbean and we’re planning to go to New Zealand in 2016.

What’s your New Year’s resolution for 2016?

A Guide for Returning Items to the Commissary

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My husband and I had a major commissary run a couple weeks back where we stocked up on personal care items. Shampoo, conditioner, lotion and shaving items were among the big purchases. Because it was a slew of our most commonly purchased items, I didn’t think twice about holding onto the receipt.

I started using the shaving cream that I bought during that recent commissary raid and a couple days into it, the canister stopped dispensing the shaving cream. It was so unusual because I could feel the bottle was full, but somehow it wouldn’t pump out appropriately.

I thought I was out of luck because I tossed the receipt, then I remembered an amazing perk for commissary patrons. You don’t need a receipt for returning items.

That’s when I brought the bottle back to the commissary and explained my situation. Together with the customer service representative, I showed her how the bottle wouldn’t work and in the next second, we did an even trade and good news, the new bottle worked!

The commissary’s return policy is one of the best out there and I think it’s one that is underutilized too. Your local commissary is really there to be helpful. In addition, they are always working on enhancing the customer experience with programs like Click2Go and biannual case lot sales.

After my positive experience with returning an item at the commissary, I thought it would be a good idea to highlight the commissary’s return policy, so you’re not left questioning if you could return something or not.

Here’s your guide to returning items to the commissary:

You can return items without a receipt.

I already mentioned this amazing detail above. It’s so wonderful that I had to reiterate it here. I was thankful to be able to trade my defective shaving cream for another one. It was an even trade, so the transaction was simple and fast.

You’re able to get a full refund of the current cost of the item without your receipt via DeCA gift cards in increments of $25 or $50. If your total return costs less than $25, you’ll receive that in cash. Another way to get the credit from the return is just to apply it directly to a purchase, especially if the credit uses the whole refund amount.

The only goods that have a limitation are tobacco products and baby formula. Those items can be exchanged for another tobacco product or baby formula.

You can return items after trying it.

As I was waiting for the customer service representative, the woman in front of me was returning a cleaning item that she wasn’t happy with. She had her receipt, so she was able to get a full refund right then and there, even after using the product.

Be sure to pocket this refund policy because it’s typically one you don’t think about. I would think that after opening and using a product, that’s it. Luckily, that’s not the case.

Don’t feel like you have to keep something that didn’t work for your family.

You can return items to any commissary.

This is wonderful because the military moves us around so much that there might be a circumstance to return an item at a completely new location. I live in the Washington, D.C., area, so I have opportunity to visit more than one commissary depending on where I am (or my husband is) for the day. The same goes with how you receive credit back when you’re returning to another commissary too, especially if you don’t have your receipt.

What questions do you have about your commissary?