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Hello All!
We are so excited to have successfully launched our blog and are currently in search of experts who have great information to communicate to the military community. If you are a real estate agent, a military spouse, a veteran, a retiree, or just have great knowledge that would benefit this community, we welcome you to share it here! Please use the contact us button at the top right of the page to let us know you are interested and we will send you more information. We look forward to hearing from you!
Making Valentines Day Special for those Deployed
With Valentines Day fast approaching, if your loved one is overseas you need to send your package as soon as possible! Whether you send a care package or just a card, the effort that you took to think of them will brighten their day. Depending on where exactly your military member is deployed to your care package could take anywhere between 5 days to 2 weeks (I once got a package that took 3 weeks to get to me, but that was a worst case scenario), so plan ahead!
Remember that when you’re deployed there is very little private time or private space, so keep it classy! Be careful to avoid anything that could get your military member in trouble, as other people will likely see the contents of your care package. Instead, send them a thoughtful package that contains items that can be used or eaten, if you send other items, keep them small in size because they have to bring everything back to the US with them.
I’ve listed a few ideas for the contents of a great care package, Valentines Day or not!
- DVD’s
- Magazines
- Books
- A CD that you burn with new music you think they would like
- A Homemade Baked Treat (send it in a disposable tupperware with a piece of bread sealed inside to keep it fresh)
- Candy
- Gum
- Hand Sanitizer
- Baby Wipes
- A drawing by the kids
- Pictures from home
- Bath products (shampoo, soap, lotion, etc.), seal them in a plastic bag, in case they break.
- Uniform Socks
What things do you add to your care packages?
Posted in Deployment, Military Life | 
Tags: Care Package, Deployment, Military LIfestyle, Valentines Day | 
No Comments »
It’s That Time of Year
Well, as we near the end of January I have started thinking about the inevitable… my taxes. It’s the time of year to start readying your financial data and preparing for April 15. So, with that said, my advisor on all things taxes sent me some valuable information that I wanted to share with you. Check out these helpful Military Tax Tips published by the IRS, and make sure you get all the deductions that you are entitled to.
Posted in Military Benefits, Military Discounts, Military Life, PCS | Tags: Military Benefits, Military Tax Tips, Taxes | No Comments »
Military Housing: How Much House Can You Afford?
For military members who make the decision to live off base, some effort must go into determining exactly how much you can afford to spend on your home. Fortunately, the answer to how much you can afford to spend on a rental or on a mortgage is pretty simple. Basic Allowance for Housing (commonly referred to as BAH) is a military housing allowance that is given to members who choose to live off base. This allowance is paid with the twice monthly paycheck and the amount fluctuates based on location, rank and dependent status (if you have dependents you will receive a larger allowance).
Using a BAH calculator is often the best way to determine how much your housing allowance will be. This information can help set a baseline for how much to spend on rent or a mortgage. If you spend less than your housing allowance, you get to pocket the difference but if you spend more, you will have to cover the remaining cost. Your unique situation will help guide you to make the right decision for your family.
Once you’ve determined how much you can spend it’s time to start house hunting! A great place to start looking for off base military housing is right here on MilitaryMoves.com.
Quick Savings Tip: Military Discounts!
A few weeks ago, I had to take my car to the shop… and it turned out to be one of those trips that cost me more than $500. However, as I was checking out, I thought to myself, it can’t hurt to ask if they have a military discount. Sure enough, the mechanic’s office removed the majority of the service costs and reduced my bill by $150! There are certain places where military discounts are common, and then there are some places that you just get lucky; but if you don’t ask, you may be missing out on an easy way to save money.
Don’t forget to ask about military discounts when booking a hotel; the vast majority of hotels have military rates that they will give you if you show a military ID upon check-in. Another great place to ask about military discounts is when you’re car shopping; many dealerships offer cash back on your purchase and this is such a big expense that any amount of savings can really help! I’ve also had great success asking about discounts on cell phone bills, at theme parks or on lift tickets at ski resorts.
In the future we will routinely post about different discounts that we learn about. What are your favorite military discounts?
Posted in Military Benefits, Military Discounts, Military Life | Tags: Military Benefits, Military Discounts, Military LIfestyle | No Comments »
Making the Decision: On Base Housing vs. Off Base Housing
Notification of an upcoming PCS brings with it a laundry list of things to be done. One of the most overwhelming of which is finding a new home in an unfamiliar place.
A good place to start is determining what your options are. In most cases this will mean that you can elect to live in on base housing or you can decide to rent or buy a home off base. However, there are some military installations that have no available base housing and there are even some bases that have rules requiring some or all military members to live on base. The best place to find out this information is by calling the housing office at your new assignment or checking with your new unit.
There are pros and cons to both options. Here are a few things to think about:
On Base Housing:
- No rent or mortgage to be paid! Basic utilities like water and electricity are also covered.
- The community is generally very close knit, and you would live near other families with similar lifestyles.
- Close proximity to the job for those that work long or unusual hours.
- Most bases have great child care programs and activities.
- Renters insurance should be purchased to help protect your belongings in case of fire, flood, etc.
- Some bases have great housing, others have very old, poorly kept housing. Do your research!
- You will be required to abide by the rules of the base and can be ticketed for not doing so.
Off Base Housing:
- If your rent or mortgage is below the BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) you get to pocket the difference.
- Living off base can provide a break from the rigid military lifestyle.
- Off base housing has a larger array of available grocery stores, churches, gyms, entertainment, etc.
- Renters must ensure that their lease has a Military Clause to allow them out of the lease if they get orders.
- VA homeloans are available to those looking to buy, and are a great benefit of military service.
- There is much wider variety of off base housing options in varying sizes and styles.
The decision is different for every family. How did you decide whether to live on base or off base?
Posted in Military Life, PCS | Tags: Air Force Housing, Army Housing, BAH, Marine Housing, Military Homes for Rent, Military Housing, Military Rentals, Navy Housing, Off Base Housing, On Base Housing, PCS | No Comments »