Military Life News

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Become a Trooper

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Are you a motivated military spouse looking for a stable job with a competitive salary? Are you a hard-working veteran who is planning to separate from military service this year and would like to live in Florida? Are you retiring from the military soon and searching for your second career?

Become a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper

The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is currently hiring for state troopers and dispatchers. Since it is a para-military agency the FHP gives hiring preference to military veterans and their spouses. This state agency said it has an established career progression program. “We recognize and reward educational achievements and career advancements,” the agency said.

The annual starting salary for state troopers is $38,034.24.

The Florida Highway Patrol troopers actively enforce the state’s criminal, traffic, motor vehicle and driver’s license laws. The men and women serve the millions of residents and visitors of Florida using state-of-the-art training, equipment, technology and resources. The ideal job applicants are motivated individuals, hard-working employees and team players looking for a positive work environment.

Troopers with 2 years of experience (note that your active-duty military service is considered experience to be a state trooper) are eligible for specialty positions such as:

  • contraband interdiction officer
  • criminal investigations
  • dignitary protection
  • DUI patrol
  • motorcycle patrol
  • occupant protection specialist
  • recruitment officer
  • pilot
  • public affairs officer
  • special response team
  • K-9 handler

Troopers with 5 years of experience are eligible to promote to supervisory positions. The agency said that “these promotional opportunities give troopers a chance to transfer to a different location in the state if they choose to and the agency will pay for the move.”

FHP troopers receive paid vacations, holidays, sick leave, military leave, extensive health and life insurance options, deferred compensation plan and a non-contributory retirement plan. Once hired, the agency will also pay up to 6 semester hours a year for a master’s degree.

What are the requirements to be a state trooper?

You must be a U.S. citizen who is 19 years or older. Applicants must possess a valid driver’s license and have a high school diploma or general equivalency diploma. Like the military, there are physical requirements for the job. An applicant’s weight must be in proportion to his or her height.

Do I need to live in Florida to become a state trooper?

No. You are not required to live in Florida when applying for a position with the Florida Highway Patrol. You are also not required to be a Florida resident. But applicants must be willing to serve anywhere in the state of Florida.

I’m planning to get out of the military, but I don’t have my DD214 yet? Do I need to wait for my DD214 before applying for a job with the FHP?

You can still apply for a position with the Florida Highway Patrol. If you are planning to separate from military service, but haven’t received your DD214 yet, ask your Company Commander to write a letter on official letterhead detailing your separation date, type of discharge expected and your character of service.

 

What are the requirements to be a dispatcher?

A Florida Highway Patrol dispatcher needs to have the ability to

  • read maps
  • speak clearly with good verbal communication skills
  • multi-task
  • work well in stressful situations
  • maintain the confidentiality of information
  • record relevant information correctly and completely

Applicants are given on the job training. This position is rotating days off and has permanent shifts. Applicants should be available to work on holidays and weekends.

The benefits are state health and life insurance, paid vacation time, free tuition to state universities and colleges and career advancement opportunities.

Are you interested in learning more about employment opportunities at the Florida Highway Patrol? Visit Be a Trooper for more information.

The New Blended Retirement System and What It Means for Your Service Member

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The new blended retirement system for service members went into effect on January 1, 2018. The blended retirement system takes the previous retirement program, known as the legacy retirement system and builds upon it.

Not all service members are eligible to participate in the new program and there are many factors to consider when deciding to switch.

Here are the key points of the blended retirement system to help you understand the new program.

What are the 2 retirement systems for service members?

Under the legacy retirement system, a service member is required to serve a minimum of 20 years to receive retirement pay. If they get out before then, they received nothing toward retirement. The military has realized that not many service members stay until the 20 year mark.

The new blended retirement system was created to allow all service members to leave with something toward retirement even if they do not stay in the service for a long period of time.

The new program blends the legacy retirement pension with a defined contribution that goes toward a service member’s Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). This is basically like combining the pension plan with a 401(k) type plan. The longer a service member stays in, the higher their pension will be. The blended retirement system also takes into account inflation and adjusts based on the annual cost of living adjustment.

The New Blended Retirement System and What It Means for Your Service Member

The new blended retirement system was created to allow all service members to leave with money toward retirement even if they do not stay in the service for 20 years.

Who is eligible?

Anyone entering the military from January 1, 2018, on will be automatically entered into the blended retirement system. All service members that are active as of December 31, 2017, are already in the legacy program and will remain in it. They will not be automatically switched to the new blended retirement system.

Service members with less than 12 years as well as Reserve with less than 4,320 retirement points as of December 31, 2017, have the option to switch to the blended retirement system. These service members have all of 2018 to make the decision to switch, but once the decision is made, it cannot be changed.

Those that do change to the blended retirement system will be required to take a mandatory opt-in course through Joint Knowledge Online or through Military OneSource.

Who is not eligible?

All service members with 12 years or more in service prior to December 31, 2017, are grandfathered into the legacy retirement system and remain in it. There is nothing in their retirement plan that will change. If you are in this category and would like to review the legacy system, you can see that here.

What are some benefits of the blended retirement system?

Should you opt into the new blended retirement system or stay with the legacy retirement? This mostly depends on how long you plan on staying in the military.

If you serve less than 20 years and are on the legacy system, then you won’t get a monthly annuity or government contributions to your TSP account when you get out. If you switch to the blended retirement system, then you will have money toward retirement.

Here are a few benefits to consider in the new program.

Contributions

Under the blended retirement system, the government will automatically contribute 1% to your retirement. Additionally, you can receive up to 4% in service matching contributions if you elect to put more toward your retirement. Automatic and matching contributions will end at 26 years of service.

New service members are not eligible for the up to 4% match until the start of the 25th month of service. They will however get the automatic 1% contribution after being enrolled for 60 days.

Portability

When you leave the service, you can have your TSP transferred to an IRA or to an eligible employer’s 401(k).

Bonus Pay

Service members can receive a one-time bonus pay by agreeing to serve more time. This is known as continuation pay and is payable between performing 8 and 12 years of service. The bonus pay could be between 2.5 and 13 times your regular pay based on the service-specific retention needs. If this bonus pay puts you in a higher tax bracket, you can opt to receive your bonus in 4 equal payments over 4 years instead.

Lump Sum

When you retire, you’ll have the option to take your retirement payment as a lump sum. That sum would be a discounted portion of the retirement pay however. You can choose to take 25% or 50% as a lump sum.

If you do not choose to do a lump sum, then you will receive your retirement check monthly.

As you can see, the new program has many benefits.

What questions do you have about the new blended retirement system?

Tips for Veterans Who Want to Be Franchise Owners

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Veterans and service members are looking into ownership of franchises like never before.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, roughly a quarter of all veterans are interested in starting their own businesses. Franchises are a very popular route to go for many of them. With the business framework already in place, opening a franchise is an easy way to enter the market.

Franchises are so popular that the International Franchise Association reported that 1 of every 7 franchises in America is owned by a veteran.

The number of veterans owning franchises may be so large because of all the help available to make business ownership possible. There are many tools veterans and their spouses can use to help make the decision to buy one of the numerous franchises.

Also hundreds of companies offer incentives for veterans to become a franchise owner. Here are a few things you need to consider if you are interested in franchises.

Tips for Veterans Who Want to Be Franchise Owners

Veterans are buying into franchises at a record pace. Here are a few things to consider if you are interested in owning one.

Is buying into a franchise a good decision for my military family?

Many veterans and military spouses dream of owning their own business. My husband wants to own a small bar when he retires. He has talked about it casually for years. I have always wanted to own a coffee shop. While we both dream of these things, I have to wonder if either of them will ever become a reality.

Do you dream of owning a business? Would it be one of the thousands of franchises in America?

The first things you need to do when considering opening a business is to decide if owning a franchise is the right thing for you and your family.

Ask yourself the following 4 questions:

  1. Are you passionate about the industry you are considering?
  2. Is this merely a hobby you enjoy or will you actually like to take this on as a business?
  3. Is there room in the market for this business?
  4. Is this the right time in your life to open a business?

Think about your family’s circumstances, financial stability and viability of franchise ownership. If your family decides that owning one of the franchises available is the right move, then you need to look into how to choose one of the franchises.

How do I become a franchisee?

Start your research with the U.S. Small Business Administration. They have a veterans business outreach center (VBOC) program. They offer services to help veterans with business training, counseling and referrals. This includes workshops on business development for issues such as being self-employed. There are business counselors available to help on a one-on-one instance as well.

The VBOC program also offers a feasibility analysis to help veterans determine if a business will be successful. They will review your business plan in doing so.

There are 8 things to do to own one of the franchises available in the United States. First, decide which type of franchise you would like to own. Next you should look to see what franchises are available in that industry. You will want to take into consideration the requirements to own a particular franchise in that segment. You should also research the market in the place you wish to open your business.

If all looks well, then you can send an inquiry to the franchise. You’ll need to fill out an application for the franchisor. They will want to see if you are a good candidate to own one of their franchises. When you get a reply, if it is positive you will need to think of the next steps. This will start with finances. You need to decide how you will fund purchasing a franchise.

What incentives are available to veterans for starting a franchise?

Most businesses require a buy in and you might not have the startup money for it. Luckily, many businesses offer incentives and discounts for veterans to open one of their franchises.

There are 650 franchises listed with the International Franchise Association that offer these incentives and discounts for veterans and their spouses.

The Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative, VetFran has helped 2,089 veterans become small-business owners with their financial incentives.

Politicians are getting into the spirit of veteran-owned businesses as well. The Veteran Entrepreneurs Act of 2017 was introduced at the beginning of the year. Its purpose is to provide entrepreneurship training to veterans and their spouses. The bill would amend the Small Business Act to include a female veterans business training program as well as one for disabled veterans. An outreach center will provide financial assistance including financial management, marketing advice, training and technical help.

While that bill is lingering in Congress, you can look into the incentives the franchise you are interested in purchasing to see if they are big enough to make ownership a reality.

What questions do you have about franchises?

7 Tips from a Military Spouse to Her Younger Self

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I won’t say I’m old, but if there was a miracle pill to knock a couple of years off, I’d be interested.

For all of my fears and frustrations about getting older, I know I have earned every gray hair, every fine line. They tell the story of a life that, while it’s had its ups and downs, I really can’t complain about it too much.

But as I watch my oldest child begin to figure out her place in the world and prepare to move out on her own, it got me thinking about myself at her age.

If given the chance what would I want my younger military spouse self to know? What imparting wisdom could I dish out to help make my future just a bit better?

Here’s what I came up with:

7 Tips from a Military Spouse to Her Younger Self

If given the chance what would I want my younger military spouse self to know?

7 Tips from a Military Spouse to Her Younger Self

Attend College

Less than half of American adults have a college degree. I was part of the majority without one until just a couple of years ago.

While a college degree won’t solve every problem, it can open doors and help with career advancement and employment.

Many military spouses already have a degree or some form of formal training before they become military spouses, which is amazing!  But don’t stop learning. If you’re like me and on the 20+ year plan or you are looking for a second or advanced degree, utilize the resources the military community has to offer.

Programs like MyCAA can help junior enlisted and officer spouses to obtain or continue pursuit of a degree. There are scholarships only available to military dependents and there are a great many programs and universities who offer discounted rates to military spouses.

Get your college degree – it will pay off in so many ways.

Find Your Passion

As you move from place to place, a passion or hobby can make wherever you are stationed feel like home.

A passion gives you something to occupy your time when your spouse is fighting in parts unknown.

A passion gives you something to look forward to when those horrible-terrible-no-good-very-bad days rear their ugly heads.

And your passion just might be the icebreaker you need to make new friends who share a similar interest or who are interested in learning.

Learn to Budget/Schedule/Plan

Mind-numbing waiting at the doctor’s office, empty bank accounts and frantic searches for missing berets or boots at zero dark-thirty can all be avoided with some forethought.

If creating spending plans (and sticking to them) or developing schedules and plans doesn’t come naturally to you, buy a book, or take a class or print off one of the million or so examples on Pinterest.

Get good at being organized. It will pay off a thousand-fold in both your finances and sanity.

Pick Your Friends Wisely

It is all too easy to latch onto an unhealthy friendship when you feel out of place or lonely. But, sometimes those friendships born of low-hanging fruit can do more harm than good.

Put in the effort to build real friendships that last. Don’t write people off because of appearances or even first impressions.

Hint: real friendships don’t equal drama, drama, drama!

Save for a Rainy Day

Before you know it, you’ll be looking at retirement.

Or the need for a new car.

Or the desire to buy a house.

Or the desire to have a baby (or two or three!).

This lesson isn’t really military spouse specific, but it is one I wish I had learned much sooner.

Always, always, always, pay yourself first. Even if it’s just $10 a paycheck, get into the habit of putting money away. Your future self with thank you, trust me.

Buy Smart and Don’t Buy on Credit

Hand in hand with saving, be smart about your money. If you can at all avoid it, skip using credit cards for anything other than emergencies.

That $500 want-it-now purchase suddenly turns into a $1,000 burden when you add in all the interest.

Be patient and save until you can afford to pay cash for what you need.

At the same time, don’t deprive yourself of things. Go back to the lesson about budgeting and figure out a way to be smart about what you buy.

Enjoy and Experience

Don’t let the experience of being a military spouse pass you by without taking time to enjoy it.

While the challenges are difficult and never-ending, the benefits and experiences this life has to offer are second to none. See the world, taste the food, take pictures. Meet people, try new things, explore.

Learn to laugh at mistakes, empathize with your neighbor and trust that your presence in every place and moment has a purpose and a reason.

What advice would you give to your younger self? Share it in the comment section.

The Hardest Part of Being a Military Spouse

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In September, I will have been a proud Army wife for 19 years.

I’ve had it easier than some as I grew up in a military family, watched both of my parents put on a uniform on a daily basis until they retired my senior year of high school. I traveled abroad and across this country. I embraced the good and then stuck alongside my spouse. Along the way, we’ve raised 3 amazing kids and the official countdown to retirement has begun. The light at the end of that particular tunnel is just under 2 years away.

As I look back over my time as a military spouse, there is much to celebrate, much to be proud of and only a handful of regrets. Surprisingly, the hardest part of this entire journey has only recently come to light.

Hubby and I sat at the kitchen table, him with a cup of coffee, me drafting the weekly shopping list. The conversation turned to the future, as it often does, and I asked him what he wanted to with his life after he retired from the Army. As the words left my lips, a startling reality took root in my gut.

What was I going to do after he retired? Who was I if not an active-duty Army wife?

Somewhere in the midst of all the PCS orders and moving boxes, at one of the countless unit functions or while watching his boots go from black to brown, I had pinned a shiny, golden “exemplary military spouse” badge to my chest and let it define who I was and how I lived my life.

The Hardest Part of Being a Military Spouse

My standard answer to “tell us about yourself,” was always “Proud Army wife and mother of 3.” But is that really all I am?

He took a sip of his coffee and rattled off his new career wish list, the beginning stages of a plan of attack for his transition forming as he spoke. I sat trying to stay calm and not let on that I was staring straight into the face of an honest-to-God identity crisis.

Who was I going to be after the Army? Who was I now?

How many jobs had I passed up or quit because the “needs of the Army” meant the needs of our family became my sole responsibility?

How many times had the powers-that-be seemed to foresee pending natural disasters or medical emergencies and sent my spouse off into the world to do his duty, while leaving me to pick up the pieces?

How many times had I swallowed my own fears and wants so as not to be a burden to my service member as he carried the weight and responsibility of leadership on his shoulders?

How many times had I polished that “exemplary military spouse” badge and told myself that sacrifice was a a requirement? That duty to country trumped all other needs? Would I be able to handle a change of priorities?

The Army has given me a community, a way of life, but it also repeatedly put me at a crossroads between living my own dreams and being the support system my service member needed while he chased his.

It has provided the financial stability that has allowed me to start a business, complete a degree and buy a home. But it has also forced me to put any and all of those things on the back burner when duty calls.

Up until that moment, the standard answer to “tell us about yourself,” was always

“Proud Army wife and mother of 3.”

But is that really all I am?  When the day arrives that I am no longer married to the military, how will I lead off?

True to form, I kept my concerns about my future to myself and finished up the shopping list. As we headed to the commissary it occurred to me that of all of the challenges I had faced as a military spouse, the hardest part, it would seem, was developing a sense of self that would sustain me for the majority of life that would come after the Army.

I am still coming to terms with the idea that life will go on, even if we don’t hear revelry and retreat. Even if there are no longer combat boots in the foyer. Even if I have to start checking the box, “retiree spouse.” I am, however, incredibly thankful for the life I’ve had as a military spouse. The lessons learned will make my journey of self-discovery easier. Of that, I’m certain.

Maybe the hardest part of this whole thing hasn’t been the separations. Maybe it hasn’t been the worry about where he is or when he’ll be home. Maybe it hasn’t even been the struggle to figure out who I am in the shadow of his service.

Maybe the hardest part of being a military spouse will be leaving it behind.

What do you think is the hardest part of being a military spouse? We would love to hear your story. Share it in the comments section.

Military Retirement or Promotion Gifts Your Service Member Will Treasure

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Promotions and retirements are marked with a ceremony and plenty of military pomp and circumstance. But in addition to all of the official protocols, a thoughtful gift can help show your support to their military career and provide a reminder of their years of service when it is time to retire or transition.

Do a quick online search and you’ll find thousands of vendors offering up some really great promotion or retirement gift ideas. It can be a little overwhelming.

How do you pick the right gift? The one that says “I support and love you” and “I am proud of your accomplishments?”

Here are 10 ideas to inspire you.

Military Retirement or Promotion Gifts Your Service Member Will Treasure

Have you given your service member a promotion gift that he or she loved?

For Promotion

The Traditional Black Pen

No soldier’s uniform is complete without a black pen, so they make a perfect gift. Just make sure the barrel isn’t too wide to fit into the pen slot on their uniform and make sure the color is within regulation. Have it engraved with the new rank and date of promotion or total days of service. You might even consider making this gift a tradition with each promotion. That way, you’ll have a whole collection when it comes time to transition or retire.

A Cup of Memories

Coffee, tea, water or beer, pick his or her favorite beverage and make it a promotion gift. Have it personalized to reflect the new rank or a motto that resonates with your spouse.

Books of Interest

Consider a military strategy book or a biography of a military hero as a gift. Make the gift even more special by asking members of the service member’s unit to add a note of encouragement to the inside pages.

Photographs

Make sure you take photos of the promotion ceremony and consider having professional photos taken with your newly promoted family member. If you are having a post-promotion celebration, make sure you take a group photo and have attendees sign the matting or a card that can be included when the picture is framed.

Tools of the Trade

As service members move up in the ranks, their responsibilities grow. Consider gifts that help them establish their office or help them in the field. Things like a name placard for their desk or a multi-purpose utility tool.

For Military Retirement

The Shadow Box

All of those old unit insignia, rank pins, medals and awards perfectly arranged into a piece of art. Go traditional or something a little more unique, shadow boxes are definitely not one-size-fits-all. Check out these ideas or if you’re feeling up to it, this gift makes for a great DIY project.

Flags

Many veterans like to fly flags in front of their homes. With a little advanced planning, you can request a U.S. flag that has been flown over the U.S. Capital. Or consider coordinating with the installation command of a favorite duty station and request a flag flown there.

If your service member is just beginning their career, consider purchasing a flag at your first duty station and have it flown at each one up until retirement! Just make sure you observe proper flag protocols as you take it from place to place. You might also consider a Corp or Branch flag. Check your local exchange or military surplus store to buy your flag.

Words of Wisdom

Ever hear that story about the Dad who bought a copy of “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” and had his child’s teacher’s sign it as she was growing up and then gave the book to her at graduation? As service members grow through the ranks, they serve with many leaders. Consider modifying this idea by finding a really great military leadership book and having unit leadership add a note to your service member as they depart each duty station.

Or use social media to reach out to those service members your spouse served with in the past and ask them to send you a card or note, along with a picture, that you can have printed into a bound memory book.

Memory Boxes

Kind of like a hope chest, memory or keepsake boxes are wooden chests used to house all of the memories of service. You could include a uniform, pictures, awards and all the other bits and pieces that come with a long military career.

A Lasting Impact

Consider donating to a nonprofit organization and purchasing a stone or plaque in your service member’s honor (Check out the Name-A-Seat program at the Pritzker Military Museum). This gift takes a little more research, but if there is a cause or location near and dear to your service member, this might be the perfect way to commemorate their service and give back at the same time.

Have you given your service member a gift that he or she loved? Tell us about it in the comments section.

How to Use a VA Home Loan to Build Your Custom Home

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On any given Saturday, you’ll find me enthralled by the latest episode of a home-improvement show. I marvel at the shiny bathroom tile or the hand-scraped hardwood floors. It’s hard not to image what it would be like to build my dream home.

Would it be somewhere in California overlooking the ocean?

A Rocky Mountain hideaway in Colorado?

Or maybe a red-brick colonial in the suburbs of D.C.?

And I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who has spent hours imagining it all, right down to the drawer pulls and carpet colors.

But did you know that financing home construction is vastly different from a traditional mortgage? Did you know your VA benefits can help you make your dream home a reality?

Here’s the skinny on how to use your VA home loan benefits to build your custom home:

New Construction Financing 101

Unless you have enough money to pay a builder cash for materials and labor, it’s likely you’ll need to take out a loan. New construction is typically financed with a construction loan during the building process, then converted to a traditional mortgage once building is complete.

Some real estate developers and builders will pay for the construction phase so that approved homeowners only need to secure a traditional mortgage. Often this means you’re building a house in a planned community and can customize your home from a variety of plans and options offered by the builder.

However, if you want an entirely custom home (from your own blueprints) or if you want to build outside of a planned community, you may need to apply for your own construction loan.

How to Use a VA Loan for Your Custom Built Home

There was a time when VA construction loans were readily available, but thanks to many of the issues that tanked the U.S. housing market in recent years, a straight VA construction loan may be hard to find.

During the construction loan process, the bank will review your building plans and release funds, as needed, for each phase of the building process. Generally, a homeowner will pay the interest on a construction loan during the building process, though interest is accrued only on the money that has been released to the builder. Interest rates for construction loans vary and many of the same financial requirements needed for traditional home loan approval will apply.

VA Construction Loans vs. Construction to Permanent VA Financing

One of the benefits of using a VA construction loan is that you will not be required to make any payments during the construction phase. Instead the builder is responsible for all fees and interest. Once the home is completed, the VA issues a certificate of completion, pays the builder and converts your loan into a regular mortgage.

Sounds great, right?

There was a time when VA construction loans were readily available, but thanks to many of the issues that tanked the U.S. housing market in recent years, a straight VA construction loan may be hard to find. If you find one, make sure you do your research before agreeing to any terms.

Currently, it is much easier to find lenders offering construction-to-permanent loans. In these cases, a construction loan is financed through a traditional or local lender. At the same time, a pre-approval letter for a VA loan is obtained with specific verbiage mentioning the intent to convert a construction loan to a permanent VA loan once the house is complete.

While this doesn’t guarantee you’ll get approved for a construction loan, it can make it a little easier. You will likely still be required to pay interest on the construction loan, and depending on your credit history and amount financed, you may be asked to provide a down payment.

VA Financing Special Requirements

Like a traditional construction loan, a VA lending institution will assign an inspector to your building project. The inspector is responsible for making sure each phase of construction is complete before money is issued for the next step of construction.

Also, in order to use the VA loan as part of the construction-to-permanent process, the builder must be registered with the VA and offer a minimum one-year warranty.

Just like a more traditional VA loan, there are limitations and restrictions. You must obtain a letter of eligibility from the VA before a lending institution can approve a VA loan. And a newly constructed home must still be inspected and appraised as part of the mortgage process. Deadlines and processes vary by state, so make sure you do your research ahead of time to avoid any surprises.

And don’t forget, there are caps on how much the VA will guarantee that vary by location. If you need a loan over that cap, you will be required to provide 25% of the difference between your loan amount and the cap as a down payment. But, even if you are buying over the VA cap, you’ll still enjoy the benefit of not having to pay PMI.

Have you financed your custom built home using a VA loan? What hurdles did you encounter?

8 Financial Stressors Military Couples Face and How to Overcome Them

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There are many things that set military couples apart from civilians, but financial stressors we all share. Sure military families have different financial stressors than civilian families, but they are there nonetheless.

Here are 8 financial stressors military families face and how to overcome them.

8 Financial Stressors Military Couples Face and How to Overcome Them

Not Agreeing on How to Handle Finances

Most couples are made up of one spender and one saver. This can be great as the saver can keep the spender in check and the spender can get the saver to live a little. When a couple can’t decide together how best to handle money, financial stressors occur.

To overcome this, sit down and talk to each other. Set aside time when children are not around and there are no interruptions so that you can have a serious financial discussion. Don’t leave the table until a decision has been made.

Not Communicating

Communication is key in a healthy relationship. If you are not being honest with yourself or your spouse about spending, more financial stressors will occur.

Do you hide shopping bags in your car until your spouse isn’t home so they don’t see how much shopping you’ve done?

Ask yourself why you feel the need to do so. Did you spend more than you should of? Are you worried they will be upset with you for this?

Not Creating a Budget

Forget financial stressors, money-conscious couples that set budgets have less stress. Knowing how much money is coming in and going out will bring relief.

Knowing that you have enough money to pay all the bills by allocating money each month will set fears aside. As a couple, decide how much money you want to save and how much you’re comfortable spending each month.

Putting Off Saving for Retirement

When you’re young and facing bills, saving for retirement might be the last thing on your mind. Savvy savers know that saving now for retirement can alleviate financial stressors. You can contact a financial planner, attend a saving for retirement seminar or do your own research.

The sooner you start saving for retirement, the better off you’ll be when the time comes.

Not Having an Emergency Savings

It is recommended to have an emergency fund with the greater of either 2 weeks’ worth of pay or $1,000. You can use an emergency fund calculator to determine the right amount that your family should save. When an unexpected event occurs that brings in a large bill, financial stressors arise. Help lower the stress by having a plan already in place.

Taking on More Debt Than You Can Handle

You and your spouse need to be realistic on what you can afford. Keeping up with the Joneses is what gets military families into trouble.

If you can’t afford it, don’t buy it.

Just because your neighbor has a new car or put in a pool does not mean that you need to do the same thing.

How many financial stressors do you need in your life?

Is trying to keep up with the social status of your neighbors or friends worth the burden?

Be realistic with your wallet. If you can’t afford the payments on a new car, maybe you don’t need such an expensive one.

Struggling with Finances on Your Own During a Deployment

When your spouse is deployed and you are unable to communicate immediately or even frequently, financial decisions are often made on your own.

It can be extremely frustrating when financial stressors arise during a deployment. You don’t have your significant other to help you make a decision and are forced to deal with it on your own.

Setting time aside before your spouse deploys to discuss what to do in this instance can help significantly.

Not Expecting a Baby to Change Your Finances Dramatically

If you don’t have children yet, you might not understand this but it is true. Children are expensive. The more you have, the more it will cost you. Having a child unexpectedly can create financial stressors if you aren’t prepared. Not everyone gets the opportunity to plan ahead for a growing family, but if you are able to plan financially for your little one, life will be a little easier.

Which of these financial stressors is your military family facing? How are you planning to overcome them?

When the Time Comes to Pick Our Forever Home

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My forever home. For years, I never said those words aloud. I occasionally thought them when unpacking 300 boxes in a new-to-us rental with its oddly shaped kitchen and drab white walls.

My forever home will definitely have a basement. It will have an attic and a screen door. My forever home will be painted bright colors. My forever home must have a large backyard with a healthy lawn for the dog that I promised my daughters we can have in our forever home.

But lately, I’ve been thinking in more concrete terms about the location of our forever home. Maybe it’s because my husband has made it over the hump of 10 years of military service and we are committed emotionally and financially to his military retirement at the 20 year mark.

Maybe it’s because my parents, sisters, in-laws and hometown friends are asking, “Where are you planning to live once you aren’t in the Navy anymore?”

Right now, the Navy decides where we live and we love that we don’t need to make this decision. Truthfully we haven’t decided where we want to live when the time comes to make this decision.

  • Will our forever home be in his home state?
  • Or in a former duty station that we fell in love with 7 years ago?
  • Or will we make our forever home in a city that we’ve only visited?
When We Pick Our Forever Home

How will you decide where you will live once your service member is no longer in the military?

Here are 3 factors that I’m considering when thinking about the location of my family’s forever home.

Job Opportunities. The No. 1 thing we are taking into consideration when deciding where to live after military life is job growth. We are currently researching cities and states where there may be potential jobs for my husband and I. So articles like this one, 2015’s Best & Worst States for Military Retirees tend to catch our eyes. This study ranked North Dakota as the No. 1 state for job opportunities for veterans. It ranked Maryland as the worst state for job opportunities for veterans.

Military Installation Amenities. The transition from military to civilian life is a challenge for anyone, but for me, I think the biggest change would be not living on base anymore. I can’t imagine not shopping at the commissary or working out at the base fitness center. Personally, these military installation amenities are perks that I’m not willing to give up once my husband retires from military service. For that reason, I would prefer it if my forever home is located in a military town. Then I can continue to buy our Sunday steaks at the commissary and daughter’s running shoes at the PX. Plus it would be really awesome to take advantage of Space-A travel with my husband when we have the time to travel.

Community Involvement. As a military spouse, I am accustomed to a life of insta-friends. I know my neighbors’ names, along with the names of their children and their dogs. Every 2 years, I put down roots in a new community and find ways to volunteer both inside and outside the gate. For my forever home, I want to live in a neighborhood where I can ask my neighbor for a cup of sugar. I want to be friends with the people who live down the street. I want my forever home city to have nonprofit organizations that I’m passionate about and want to dedicate time to volunteering with this organization.

Right now, my sister is trying to convince me to live down the street from her and my best friend wants me to live around the corner from her house. But I’m not ready to make a commitment about the location of our forever house. Not yet at least.

I prefer to dream about it. I’ll make that decision with my husband when the time comes…about 5 minutes after his military retirement ceremony.

How will you decide where you will live once your service member is no longer in the military? Will your forever home be located near your family? Near a military base? What factors should you take into consideration when deciding where to live after military life?