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Escape to a Fall Getaway using Base Lodging

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Fall is the season of school restarting, normalizing schedules, preparing for Halloween and taking weekend trips. Military families can save money on lodging by staying on base lodging while getting out and adventuring through the fall colors. The perk of military lodging is that it is clean and affordable. Rates are based on rank, and some rooms include kitchenettes or full kitchens, allowing for meals to be prepared to save more money. As a member of the military, you can stay at any DOD-affiliated lodging across any of the services. There may be different rules for one service versus another, so be sure to call the location you are interested in to know how far in advance you can make reservations. Some of these locations are popular and may require advance registration. In some cases, it is first come, first serve for active duty, typically on the first of a month, one or two months prior to the booking month. In other cases, lodging make be reserved several months in advance.

East Coast

Why not check out the colors of fall while taking in the beauty of Maine’s coast in a converted lighthouse? Gull Harbor in Maine offers a unique way to see fall through the coastline.

Newport, Rhode Island, is a beautiful coastal city that was once home to the Vanderbilt family and is now the home to the Naval War College. Due to the influx of students in and out each year, there is a large and active Navy Lodge at Newport. Take advantage of checking out the wineries of the area while enjoying the fall colors and festivals of the Newport Mansions. If you are a fan of HBO’s The Gilded Age, this should be added to your fall adventure list.

If you have ever watched, When Harry Met Sally or You’ve Got Mail, you have seen New York in the fall. The hues of yellow and orange in the park as the main characters walk through the park are the perfect fall backdrop. Head to New York and stay at Staten Island’s Navy Lodge to stay near the city while taking advantage of the military lodging.

Speaking of movie buffs, Mystic Pizza fans can stay at a seaside Connecticut city in New London at the Navy Lodge. Check out the Submarine Museum, Mystic Seaport Museum, and Mystic Aquarium while enjoying the fall scenery that New England has to offer.

Annapolis, Maryland, is the home of the U.S. Naval Academy. The seaside university is a beautiful backdrop for fall. The Navy Lodge at Annapolis offers standard rooms, family suites, business class rooms, and accessible rooms for ease. Check out the local gardens at William Paca House & Gardens and Historic London Town and Gardens to see fall in all its glory. Walk around downtown Annapolis making sure to stop and grab some of the local crabs.

West Coast

Washington State has three spots for Navy Lodging. The unique setting of Whidbey Island allows for easy travel to see the San Juan Islands or Seattle, enjoying the scents and scenes of west coast fall.

Coastal California may bring images of surfers or beaches to mind, and that is true, but Monterey offers more than beaches. The coastal city is home to Navy Lodge Monterey as well as Hotel Del Monte (a Navy Getaway location).  In the fall, the temperatures are cooler, affording for adventuring and exploring. Check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium or eat at The Sardine Factory to learn about and enjoy the local taste of the area.

Head to the mountains of Southern California at the Big Bear Resort operated by MCCS Miramar. One, two, and three bedrooms and ADA cabins with full kitchenettes allow for an escape from the heat and into the heart of the San Bernadino mountains.

Overseas

In Germany, the Eidelweiss Lodge and Resort nestled in the Alps surrounds you in fall foliage and color. The resort for DOD-affiliated individuals offers guest rooms and suites with views of the beautiful, expansive mountains, vacation cabins, or campgrounds. There are even dog-friendly cabins! This year they are holding an Oktoberfest in early October with a best trachten competition, beer fest games, and fresh beer from Ettal.

Other military hotel offerings in Germany include Wiesbaden Army Lodging, Vilseck Army Lodging,  Grafenwoehr Army Lodging, Hohenfels Army Lodging, Garmisch Army Lodging, Vogelweh Air Force Lodging or Ramstein Inns on Ramstein and Spangdahlem Air Force Lodging.  Within these hotels, there is a variety of room types, so be sure to research to measure expectations.

In Belgium, the Chievres Army Lodging is nearby to Belfry Tower, the Menin Gate, and Grote Markey.

In England, Royal Air Force Bases are host to US Air Force families. At RAF Mildenhall, RAF Lakenheath, RAF Croughton, and RAF Alconbury, Air Force Inns are available for lodging while sightseeing in the English countryside in the fall.

Wanting to check out what Italy has to offer in the fall? Vicenza Army Lodging at Ederle Inn has 133 guestrooms to accommodate guests.

Where will you go this year?

Mold in Fort Bragg Barracks

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Barracks built in the 1970s on Fort Bragg have been deemed uninhabitable and are scheduled to be demolished after all soldiers living there are relocated. Twelve barracks in total failed inspection in August due to mold. Mold has been a recurring issue in the barracks due to increased moisture levels due to poor heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. It was deemed that it would be too costly to pay for the changes to repair the building versus building new buildings altogether. In fact, the air conditioning unit leaks often and is too expensive to repair or replace.

The Soldiers planned to be relocated by the end of September. There is no new housing for the soldiers to move to immediately, and many will have to move to privatized housing which will not be as close in proximity to their unit as in the barracks. About 500 soldiers in total have been given or are awaiting approval for a move to privatized housing due to the mold.

Some soldiers were given days’ notice to move, and some were moved one floor down in the barracks. In addition to moving their items, the individuals also must clean their room of mold. Per reports, mold-covered walls, ceiling tiles, and furniture throughout the barracks.

While the decision to close some barracks may seem rash, the leadership at Fort Bragg admitted that they were unable to track the mold or problems in the barracks until recently. The software used to track issues in the barracks made it difficult to identify systemic issues versus outlier issues. Per a press conference, mold issues were previously dealt with through cleaning and moving individuals into different rooms. Once the recent inspections showed the level of mold, the decision was made that the buildings or certain areas were uninhabitable.

The demolition of twelve buildings is set for some time in 2023. Refurbishment is planned for another five buildings. Per a spokesperson for Army Material Command, the barrack construction and renovation will occur over 5 years and will require $13 billion in funding.

Initiatives Announced to Strengthen Military Families

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In late September, the DOD announced in a press release multiple programs and initiatives intended to offload the economic stress of recent price hikes across the board for military families. The initiatives specifically address the challenges in four areas: spouse employment, childcare, PCS costs, and basic needs for service members and their families.

Spouse Employment Initiatives

Military families have the unique challenge of often being a one-income family. The lack of employers understanding the nomadic demands of the military job has led to difficulties for military spouses to find employment. Or employment is forgone as it is difficult to find flexible work that accommodates the ever-changing, unpredictable military schedule. To specifically address these issues, specific initiatives are directed.

– The Secretary of the DOD has directed the DOD to accelerate the development of additional occupational licensure interstate compacts for multiple professions. Many professional positions require not just national licensure but state licenses. These add extra cost and delay time for the military spouse to get a job as they await licensing.

– The Secretary of the DOD has directed the DOD to use non-competitive, direct hiring authorities to hire military spouses for the DOD specifically and to expand remote work and telework options which allow for portable careers no matter where the military sends the family

– The Secretary of the DOD has directed the DOD to launch a pilot initiative to match military spouses with paid private-sector fellowships. The pilot initiative is slated to begin in January 2023.

– The Secretary of the DOD has directed the DOD to increase the number of partners in the Military Spouse Employment Partnership by 10% before January 2023.

Childcare/Parental Leave

Another hurdle for military families with children is finding childcare – and at that, affordable healthcare. The Secretary of the DOD has directed the DOD to:

– Invest in Child Development Program (CDP) facilities and infrastructure to expand the capacity for childcare

– Standardize a 50% discount for the first child of Child Development Program direct-care workers to attract talented staff to increase capacity. It was noted this would take effect in October 2022.

– Improve access to child care programs like Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood and expand the in-home child care fee-assistance pilot program in additional states

It was noted that the CDP families have extended their hours to account for the long hours of service members’ schedules.

It was further noted that the parental leave policies were expanded to the birth or adoption of a child for active duty and eligible reserve component service members. They also established a New Parent Support Program and updated policies for breast milk shipment for nursing service members on mandated temporary duty travel.

PCS Costs

The military move, or PCS, is funded by the government. In recent years, the lack of workers or available companies has led military families into Personally Procured Moves. Even with a government-contracted move, many items must be replaced with each move that the government doesn’t reimburse. A significant upfront cost of moving can be financially burdensome to many military families. Initiatives specifically to assist with the PCS process include:

– TLE permanently increased to 15 days for CONUS moves and up to 60 days if a service member is in a specified Military Housing Area with a housing shortage. This takes effect on October 2022.

– Increase Dislocation Allowance (DLA) for service members E1-E6 to offset the personal expenses. This takes effect on October 2022.

– Continue to develop improvements to the Military OneSource online moving and housing tools

Secure Basic Needs

All have felt the cost increase of housing and groceries, but for military families who are living in places where they are told, it can feel like an extra crunch. Moving during this increase in cost places a burden on military families. Per the press release, “to”help secure affordable basic needs, the Secretary has directed the Department to:”

-” Review the prospective 2023 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) tables to ensure that the recent changes in housing prices are taken into account

– Institute automatic BAH increases in 28 Military Housing Areas that have “experienced an average of more than 20 percent spike in rental housing costs this year above this year’s BAH rates.”

  • 28 areas include:
    • Vandenberg AFB, California
    • 29 Palms MCS, California
    • Dover AFB/Rehoboth, Delaware
    • Patrick AFB, Florida
    • Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Florida
    • Orlando, Florida
    • West Palm Beach, Florida
    • Volusia County, Florida
    • Fort Myers Beach, Florida
    • Kings Bay/Brunswick, Georgia
    • Maui County, Hawaii
    • Chicago, Illinois
    • Boston, Massachusetts
    • Cape Cod/Plymouth, Massachusetts
    • Martha’sMartha’sneyard, Massachusetts
    • Brunswick, Maine
    • Coast Maine
    • Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
    • Helena, Montana
    • Wilmington, North Carlina
    • Northern New Jersey
    • Newport, Rhode Island
    • Providence, Rhode Island
    • Beaufort/Parris Island, South Carolina
    • Knoxville, Tennessee
    • Houston, Texas
    • Quantico/Woodbridge, Virginia

– Fully fund commissaries with a goal of at least 25% savings on grocery bills compared to the local marketplace

– Provide Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) to eligible service members beginning in January 2023.

It is noted that a 4.6% pay increase for service members is included in the President’s budget at the time of the press release.

Leaders at the DOD are aware of the financial burden on military families. These programs and initiatives have a goal to ease that.

Temporary Military Housing Allowance Increase Coming October 2022

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The increase in housing costs is felt the United States-wide. Military families that have crisscrossed the country have navigated a uniquely highly priced rental market, especially in areas where more affordable military housing is unavailable due to being at full capacity. The choice for many families was to find smaller housing than needed their families or meant a longer commute to the military members’ jobs. One military family shared they moved their family of 6 into a two-bedroom apartment under 1000 sq feet. The military family member shared that the apartment was within $100 of their BAH but still over their BAH amount. For many military families, it felt like the military leadership of the DOD was unaware of the financial burden felt by families. The Secretary of the Department of Defense released a press release that included a temporary BAH increase for 28 military areas.

  • 28 areas include:
    • Vandenberg AFB, California
    • 29 Palms MCS, California
    • Dover AFB/Rehoboth, Delaware
    • Patrick AFB, Florida
    • Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Florida
    • Orlando, Florida
    • West Palm Beach, Florida
    • Volusia County, Florida
    • Fort Myers Beach, Florida
    • Kings Bay/Brunswick, Georgia
    • Maui County, Hawaii
    • Chicago, Illinois
    • Boston, Massachusetts
    • Cape Cod/Plymouth, Massachusetts
    • Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
    • Brunswick, Maine
    • Coast Maine
    • Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
    • Helena, Montana
    • Wilmington, North Carlina
    • Northern New Jersey
    • Newport, Rhode Island
    • Providence, Rhode Island
    • Beaufort/Parris Island, South Carolina
    • Knoxville, Tennessee
    • Houston, Texas
    • Quantico/Woodbridge, Virginia

The BAH increase will go into effect in October 2022. It does not state if it will be in October 1, 2022, or October 15, 2022 paycheck. The areas chosen based on these areas experiencing “an average of more than 20 percent spike in rental housing costs this year above this year’s BAH rates,” per the press release.

Check for the amount through this link here and select “2022 Increased rates.” Like all BAH rates, there is a difference between with and without dependents.

This temporary increase will be in effect from October 1, 2022, through 2022. The 2023 BAH rates have not been released. The thinking is that the prices will stay the same, but there is no guarantee. The 2023 BAH rates have traditionally been released in November of the year prior. Look for an update on BAH rates here!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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October is designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is a month dedicated to sharing and discussing the importance of breast cancer screenings and risks. While most people know there is an increased risk if a family member has breast cancer, there is also an increased risk to female service members. Military members have been exposed to burn pits and chemicals in both forward deployed arenas and on military installations within the United States. These chemical exposures have led to an increase of cancers – and not just breast cancer. Getting screened with physicals is key. There may or may not be symptoms of breast cancer.

Self-Breast Exams

While the American Cancer Society doesn’t recommend self-breast exams anymore, you are the only one who knows when something is different in your breast. Take a few moments weekly to check and be familiar with your body. Pay attention to how your skin looks or how it feels. When you put on your bra, check the skin for redness, pulling, or swelling of the skin or nipple. Admittedly, breasts that have gone through the physiologic changes of pregnancy and breastfeeding will have a “lumpy bumpy”. If there is any hard or tender bump, talk to your doctor about it.

Mammograms

According to the CDC, 65.3% of women over the age of 40 had a mammogram within the prior two years. It isn’t surprising that mammography is not something that women want to subject themselves to. There are cartoons depicting the true feelings of women who have mammograms on Pinterest and in newspapers.  The leaders in the field of breast health and prevention are not all aligned in their recommendations.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that mammography begin at age 40 and continue every one to two years until age 50, when the recommendation changes to annually. That is the recommendation for women of average risk.

The American College of Radiology also recommends mammography beginning at age 40.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) for breast cancer screening recommends screening to begin at age 50 and occur every other year until age 74.

Talk to your doctor about your family history, your concerns, and your worries, especially if that concern includes actually getting the procedure. Chemical exposures for service members may mean earlier screenings.

Breast Care Centers

Not all women are the same. If you have a case family history of breast cancer, if you had a previous lump, or if you had previous breast surgery, your screening recommendation may change. Military members and their families have access to breast care centers at most of the large military bases like the one at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital. The breast clinic’s dedicated purpose is to provide care from nurses, medical providers, case managers, radiologists, social workers, therapy, and any other services that would be needed in the treatment of any breast concern. Tricare Prime beneficiaries do not need a referral to Breast Care Centers at a military treatment facility (MTF). Tricare Select beneficiaries are able to follow up with civilian counterparts of breast care centers, but costs would be determined based on the co-pay amount or the amount paid within the year (WC). If your local MTF does not have a breast care center, ask where the nearest one is.

Further Testing

One of the functions of the breast care clinic is to help individuals determine individual risk of breast cancer and when to begin preventative services like mammography. If the risk is at a certain level, genetic counseling is typically offered through a Breast Care Center. If it isn’t, ask. Both male and female family members within the family would qualify for testing based on the risk assessment. In addition, you may be able to have a breast MRI in lieu of a mammogram.

Men Get Breast Cancer Too

While in a smaller number of cases, breast cancer occurs in men too. In fact, less than one percent of all breast cancers are in men, but men are more at risk to dying from breast cancer. Why? Likely because breast cancer in men is not a common talked about or thought about topic. If there are any nipple changes or hardness behind the nipple of the breast in men, they should seek medical evaluation.

There you have it. The intel and current (as of April 2019) guidelines in breast health. Your primary care provider (PCP) should be open to any other questions you have, so don’t hesitate to ask!

Sources: ACOG, ACR, USPSTF, Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.

Did you Know about These Resources for Finding a Job at your New Duty Station

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It is a well-known fact that military spouses suffer from underemployment and unemployment. Finding a portable job feels like a search for a Unicorn. There are three employers on military bases where military spouses may be able to find the unicorn job.

Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR)

The military service branches have MWR offices at most post locations. These offices are funded by non-appropriated funds, meaning they are not tied to or pending Congressional budgets. The funds for employment are made by the facility’s funds themselves. MWR locations include movie theaters, daycares, on-base restaurants, and bowling alleys. When you go to an event or participate in these activities, those funds go directly to an employee there. Knowing the challenges of the military lifestyle, there are often flexible and regular positions available.

MWR positions are posted on usajobs.gov. You can search specifically by military installation. Positions specifically on Air Forces bases are posted at nafjobs.org.

Specifically for military spouses who move frequently, there are two hiring incentives – spouse preference and reinstatement.

The job posting will indicate if a spouse can receive preferential hiring. If the spouse preference is used, proof of marriage through a marriage certificate, orders, and a copy of the ID card will need to be sent along with the job application. Spouse preference and application for positions can be sent up to 30 days in advance of the report date.

Reinstatement occurs when a spouse that previously held an MWR position at one military installation applies for another job at the next military post. This does not happen automatically. The military spouse needs to submit an application to the new location, and their name is kept on a referral list. If a job of the same pay grade or below opens, they may receive a call about an open position.

Community Services

Marine Corps Community Services, Air Forces’ Force Support Squadron, and Army Community Service are resources for families in their new military post. Job positions within the community services are similar to MWR – ranging from bowling alleys, movie theaters, and restaurants to the military stores on post.  Like MWR, there is a military spouse preference program. If the position has the spouse preference, the spouse can select it and send in the required paperwork with the application.

Job postings are military installation specific. For example, if living near MCAS Miramar, you could search “MCCS Miramar job postings” for the specific job board for Marine Corps Community Services on MCAS Miramar. Always check your bases’ social media pages for job fairs, sometimes they offer interviews on the spot.

U.S. Government/Department of Defense (DOD)

The military needs a large support system. There are many positions and jobs for civilians to help and support the military mission.  There is a Military spouse preference (MSP) program which is a specific federal hiring authority that was created with the goal of lessening career interruption for military spouses and allow spouses to noncompetitively be considered for federal employment.

The jobs are posted on usajobs.gov and will list if MSP can be utilized. This is not the same as veteran preference. For more specific information on the program or on applying for a position, contact the local Department of Defense Civilian Personnel Office. Use your favorite search engine to look up the nearest one. If there are several bases near you, look for the biggest base and enter that in the search bar with the term “Department of Defense Civilian Personnel Office.”

With Government Service (GS) positions, an employee may be able to transfer to a position of similar grade. The employee must have passed the probationary period of 52 weeks prior to applying for a transfer. There are some positions that are restricted to veterans only, so if you are looking at open positions at the next duty station, make sure there isn’t a veteran-only preference unless that specification applies to you.

Military spouses continue to face challenges on the employment front. There are three on-base resources available that may provide spouse preference. Check out your base MWR, Community Services or even DOD positions.

4 Fall Recipes You’ll Want to Try This Season

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When the social media channels begin showing images of pumpkins and costumes, you know it is time to bring out the rotation of fall dishes. While you may have your routine comfort dishes that you make and eat every season, this fall, try these cozy recipes to warm you up all season long.

Pumpkin Lasagna

Gourds are common fall foods. Pumpkin is in all the fall-drinks, why not try it in a pasta dish. The ultimate comfort dish for the cooler temperatures is lasagna, so mix the two together and what do you have – pumpkin lasagna!

Ingredients:

Butter

Garlic cloves

1 Chopped Onion

1 tsp dried sage

3 cans of pumpkin puree

1 Tbsp maple syrup

1 tsp ground nutmeg

1 15 oz container of ricotta cheese

3 cups shredded mozzarella

1 cup parmesan

1 egg beaten

1 box of lasagna noodles

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375.

Sauté butter, chopped garlic, and onion until the onions are soft. Add in sage, pumpkin, maple syrup, and nutmeg and season to taste with salt and pepper.  Heat in a sauté pan until warmed.

In a mixing bowl, combine the cheeses (reserving 1 cup of shredded mozzarella and the parmesan for topping) and egg.

In a 9 x 13 baking dish, spray with no-stick spray. Put a small layer of pumpkin mix on the bottom of the dish so that the noodles do not move when you lay them down. Lay noodles down and rotate between layering noodles, pumpkin, and cheese for three layers.  Top with mozzarella and parmesan.

Bake covered for 30 minutes. Uncover and heat over to 400 degrees and cook until cheese is melted.

If you want to add meat, you could add sausage to the pumpkin sauce, but the flavors are perfectly fall and delicious.

Stuffed Butternut Squash

Another fall gourd is the butternut squash. There are many ways to stuff the squash, and you really can’t go wrong. The preparation of the squash is the same.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut the squash halves and place the squash halves cut side down. Bake for 30 minutes. Once the skin begins to brown, flip the squash and season with salt, pepper, and baste with oil or butter. Combining butter and brown sugar will lead to the caramelization of the squash, creating a great background for any dish.

Stuffing ideas:

  • Bread stuffing
  • Cranberries
  • Chickpeas
  • Kale
  • Chopped Apples
  • Walnuts
  • Italian Sausage
  • Quinoa
  • Pumpkin seeds

Mix your favorite stuffing together. Make sure that any meat is cooked before mixing in other fillings.  Top with melted butter mixed with your favorite combination of spices like ginger, nutmeg, sage, oregano and cinnamon.

Shepherd’s Pie

A classic dish in the UK, cottage pie or Shepard’s pie, is a layered pie of meat and potatoes – it’s a comfort dish.

Ingredients

Ground lamb

2 tsp dried parsley

1 tsp dried rosemary

1 tsp dried thyme

½ tsp salt

½ tsp ground black pepper

1 TBL Worcestershire sauce

1 cup chopped onion

3 minced garlic cloves

2 TBL all purpose flour

2 TBL tomato paste

1 cup beef broth

2 cup frozen mixed vegetables

For Mashed Potatoes:

2 pounds of russet potatoes cut into one-inch cubes

1 stick of unsalted butter

1/3 cup of milk

½ tsp garlic powder

½ tsp salt

½ tsp ground black pepper

Instructions:

Heat oil in saucepan and cook onions until translucent. Add ground lamb, add in seasonings, and cook until all brown. Once mixed, add in Worcestershire sauce and garlic. Cook until garlic is fragrant. Add in flour and tomato paste until everything is well combined. Slowly add in broth and combine. Then add in frozen veggies. Heat until simmer and heat through.

While making the meat, make sure to get the potatoes covered in water and cook until fork tender. Don’t forget to salt the water! Once the potatoes are fork tender, mash the potatoes and add in butter, milk and seasonings, mix them all together.

Layer the meat mixture into a 9 x 13 dish and then spoon potato mash on top.

Make it vegetarian by omitting meat and use cubed butternut squash instead!

Pumpkin Ravioli

Another great pasta dish, but with a shortcut so you don’t have to make pasta.

Ingredients:

Salted butter

3 garlic cloves, chopped

1 can of pumpkin puree

Kosher Salt

½ chili powder

¼ cup pine nuts

36 whole wonton wrappers

1 egg

Black pepper

Fresh parmesan cheese

Instructions:

To make the filling, melt 2 TBLP salted butter and cook garlic until fragrant. Add one can of pumpkin puree and add salt and chili powder. Cook until mixture is combined.

Toast pine nuts until golden brown. Pull out nuts into a separate dish. In the same saucepan, melt ½ cup of salted butter and let bubble until golden brown – this is the sauce!

Lay out ½ of the wonton wrappers. Place a spoonful of pumpkin puree into the wrapper. Beat one egg with one tablespoon of water and brush egg mixture on outside of wonton wrapper. Place wrapper on top and press edges together with finger. Once all ravioli is made, put them to the side.

Bring a pot of salted water to boil, and place 3-4 ravioli in at a time. Cook each ravioli for about 2 minutes and then pull our with slotted spoon. Complete all ravioli until all are cooked.

To serve, top with toasted pine nuts and brown butter. Yum, yum, extra yum!

What are your favorite fall dishes?

Seven Fall Date Night At Home Ideas

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Whether you have recently moved, or have been living in your area for a year or two, the reality is that having children changes your date life. You cannot be spontaneous because you have to schedule and set up a babysitter. Dating your partner, whether married or not, improves communication and the relationship. When you are confident in your relationships, you are less prone to stress and have more confidence. The benefits of dating are clear, it’s having the time and ability to go on dates.

What about a date at home? This requires a little planning ahead to gather supplies in some cases, but the key is to plan for uninterrupted time together. After the kids are in bed, and with cell phones or anything distracting off to the side – it is time for some alone time. Plan a few of these dates this fall for some fall-themed fun.

Movie Night

This one requires the least amount of planning except knowing what you want to watch and making sure you have your chosen film available for streaming or able to download.

If you are both fans of horror films, this may be the thing for you. When the kids are in bed, time to turn on a horror film. You can even set up Bluetooth listening on some devices now so you can use headphones instead of the sound shaking the entire home or waking up those sleeping children. Turn on The Shining, the Halloween series, or I Know What You Did Last Summer via your favorite streaming device.

Fall is the time for football for many families. If you are looking for a football movie, check out Remember the Titans, Blind Side, Rudy, and Friday Night Lights.

If a fun mystery movie is more your speed, check out Sleepy Hollow or Murder on the Orient Express.

My personal favorite for fall because of the murder-mystery but can be watched all year is the 1985 film Clue. The film is based off the card-game and has a star-studded cast that will leave you laughing throughout.

Puzzle Night

While not specific to fall, a puzzle date night is great when the temperature is cooling, and you are looking for a fun way to spend time together indoors. If you have a puzzle at home you have been waiting to build, this is the perfect time to build it together. Perhaps you are not normally a puzzle family  – check out your local Buy Nothing pages or ask on neighborhood pages if anyone has puzzles they want to give up. Or, plan ahead and find one of interest to purchase online or find in a thrift store. Doing a puzzle together allows for flow of conversation, building on communication all while working on those skills needed to build puzzles.

Reading Together

Like the days of radio, reading together out loud is a fun way to spend a date at home. By choosing a book by Agatha Christie, you can solve a whodunit together. Take turns reading and make up fun voices for each character. It is a fun way to spend time together, laugh together and solve together. And there won’t be any radio commercials for Ovaltine while doing it (Oh yes, A Christmas Story).

Pumpkin Painting or Carving

Consider a pumpkin competition of painting or carving. Each adult getting one pumpkin to design and go to town! Or make it a team effort and work on a more intricate design that you may normally choose for a family or bigger gathering for pumpkin carving.

Game Night

Spending time together playing a game like Scrabble or even the more lengthy and complicated Risk, are fun ways to spend time together. Use board games you have at home to make it a free date at home or check out your local Buy Nothing pages for anyone giving away games. Or hit up your local thrift shop for fun games (just make sure that all the pieces are there before purchasing).

Cook Off!

A fun way to mix up a date night at home is a cook off. If you have young children or babies with early bedtimes, making dinner together is a fun date. Since it is just the adults you can make it a relaxing meal together. Or maybe make your favorite meal that you can’t normally do due to time constraints. This could be a fun way to spend time together, plus have a meal. A pretty fun date, and all at home!

This may be difficult if you have older children who have later bedtimes. If that is the case, make it a dessert bake off. Find a fall recipe you want to try and make it a competition – make two different spins on it. Or make it a teamwork exercise by making it together. Once made, enjoy a yummy treat together.

Cozy Fort

While building a fort with couch cushions may seem like an activity for younger kids, adults can totally make one too! And maybe even with better construction materials. Build a cozy space together. Maybe put pillows and a blanket on the floor and hang a blanket for a tent of sorts. It’s a perfect place to read together, or maybe play a game.

Either game night or reading night can be done together at an outdoor firepit if the temperature allows. It can be a fun way to step outside the typical home environment and add ambiance with fun lighting.

Budget Battle: Six Ways to Improve your Budget Savvy

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Write Everything Down

This can take some work, potentially, but it will be worth it. Grab a notebook that you can carry with you every day so you will have easy access to it. If you really don’t know where the money goes at the end of the pay period, write it all down. This includes a coffee at the drive-through and any vending machine used. Write everything down every day. Do this for two weeks, adding up the totals at the end of every day. Compare with any other family members in your home, make sure to add the total. It is usually pretty clear when you add the numbers up what you have been spending it on.

If you do this for a couple of weeks a couple of times of a year, it is a great check on the pulse of your budget. You can easily make changes or twinges to what costs you need to change when you are aware of them.

This also helps you determine the needs versus the wants in your life. While the wants are nice to have, it isn’t something you need to spend money on.

Get a Budget Analysis

Military families can attend budget classes through the service branch-specific Community Services or Relief Societies. These budget classes come in two forms – one in a group setting and a one-on-one budget review. A group budgeting class reviews the budgeting principle for a group. This means you can go with your partner or take turns attending to review the basics. In the individual budget analysis, you sit down with someone trained in reviewing budgets to build a budget. They assess the spending and provide guidance on where to trim if you want to or where you may need reassessments.

Grocery Delivery

Wait, don’t scroll this one by. Grocery delivery is a great way to stay on budget. You are able to scroll through coupons and deals specifically to spend money on the best budget deals. You also aren’t pulled into easy grabbing or colorful packaging. Within the grocery delivery order, you can select the coupons or a sale tab to really stick to a budget. Make it a game and stick to a certain amount of money for that trip.

This also saves you from shopping while hungry. The key is to have a snack before sitting down to the grocery shopping online.

Coupons

You don’t have to be a super saver to use coupons. Check out websites for your favorite stores, or just search coupons in your favorite search engine. Once on the coupon section, you can specifically browse for your favorite brands. Clip those coupons and then use them. Don’t let them expire. Think of it as money – because that is what it is.

Money Saving Applications

If you really don’t want to coupon clip, digital coupons are common and accessible. Check your store for digital coupons to add to your rewards card. There are many coupon applications as well that requires you to scan the item and then submit your receipt. These applications usually can be combined with digital and paper coupons as well, so this can save you some extra money, especially if there are multiple coupons on your favorite brands.

Get Everyone Involved

If you are in a family or couple, make sure to involve everyone in the budget plan. If everyone isn’t on board, you will not be able to stick to the budget. Plan ahead with a meeting of everyone’s spending, and build the budget plan together. Discuss writing everything down and a weekly grocery budget. Setting out expectations for the budget will make it a smoother process overall and lead to more progress.

 What’s your top budget tip?

What To Consider Before Going to the Ball

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The military tradition is deep within the community. One such tradition is the military ball. The military ball for each branch of service occurs around the birthday of that service. For the Army, it is around June 14th. For the Navy, October 13th. For the Air Force, September 18th. For the Marines, the birthday falls on November 10th. The Coast Guard’s birthday is August 4th. The birthday ball is a time for military members and their family members to celebrate together. This celebration means dress uniform for the service members and ball gowns or suits for their partners. It is a time to feel like a Gilmore all dressed up and somewhere to go. It is, however, an expensive time. For the Navy and Marine Corps, the birthday falling in the fall season is right before the holidays, so spending a bit of money before the holidays can be daunting. Here are some ideas to make the most of the ball and what to consider before going.

Budget Tips

One of the key factors of the ball is the cost. There are several factors that add up: tickets, outfits, travel, hotel, and babysitting. How do we make the most of it?

Ticket

If you want to have a hand in the ticket cost, you must get involved in the ball committee. The ball committee for one year usually meets the moment the previous ball ends. For instance, the 2023 ball committee would start to meet the month after the 2022 ball is completed. The ball committee decides the venue location of the ball, meals, and ball gifts, which are ultimately the items that decide the cost of the ball ticket. The ball committee also decides and works on fundraising, which can lower the ticket cost. The goal of fundraising is to find a way for the ball ticket to be free for E1-E3 ranks due to its cost. If you want to have a hand in this and the cost of tickets, join the ball committee!

Outfit

For the military member, the dress uniform can be an expensive piece of clothing costing thousands of dollars. Depending on rank, the uniform allowance can be used to purchase the dress uniform offsetting cost. Another way to save money is to look for uniform items at local base thrift shops. Sometimes those military members who are leaving service or change uniform types or size donate their uniform, and any purchase of the uniform supports programming for the military families. Ask your local base pages to find out if there are uniform sales at other locations.

For those looking for suits or ball gowns, check local thrift stores both on and off base. Ball gowns are worn once or twice and on resale aren’t as expensive – this is an item you may be able to pick up for a few dollars in comparison to the new price.

Some bases hold gown swapping or gown giveaways in preparation for the ball season, stay tuned to your military base’s social media pages and websites to learn about their events.

Outfit swapping – this one could be fun. Swap suits or gowns with friends. This expands your closet to much more than what you have and allows you to try new outfit types and colors you may not normally try.

Travel

If your ball is out of the local area of your base, you may have to travel there. Depending on the location, you may fly or drive. If you are driving, consider carpooling to save money on gas. Splitting the gas bill can help, especially if you have a lengthy drive ahead for the ball. If you are looking to fly, don’t just look on the website for airlines – check our Google Flights and CheapO airlines to save money. Time is money, so if you need to fly because you have to return to work the next day, a factor that in.

Hotel

The key with this one is to make sure the ball committee made a room block for the ball. The room block typically provides a group rate for the hotel that the ball is happening at. This usually means much cheaper room cost, plus you will be rooming near others there for the ball. If you want to make a weekend of it, the hotel room block is typically there for several days – one day before the

Babysitting

This one is tough. Especially if you have just moved. Sometimes childcare is offered by the ball committee. Check with the ball committee to see if they have set up a babysitter at the ball location.

If not, ask friends if they would be willing to swap babysitting, especially if the ball is local.

If you are using a new babysitter, save by staying for the ball and not staying overnight.

With all the expenses of the military ball, it can feel overwhelming. While it will probably be the most expensive date you will have this year, participating in the tradition is a memorable event. Make the most of it. Being a member of the armed services doesn’t last forever and taking part in the ball as an active member is a unique experience. Make the most of it by using the tips above.