Because your military family faces some financial realities that are different than civilian households, careful budgeting is a must. If you use a standard budget worksheet, though, you may get the nagging feeling you are missing a few key categories. Here are some types of income, spending and saving you should take special care not to forget.
Income
- Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)
- Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS)
- Military Pay Allotments
- Hazardous duty pay
Expenses
- Uniform-related costs
- Commissary or exchange charges
- On-base activity fees
- Military loans (try to avoid)
- Equipment needed for deployment
- Care packages during deployment
- Services during deployment (childcare, landscaping, home repairs)
Savings
- Savings for deployment period
- Savings for anticipated relocations
- Thrift Savings Plan
- DoD Savings Deposit Program
It’s also wise to complete separate deployment and stateside budgets. That way, you can have a financial plan that will cover you for all the situations your family encounters.
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