If you have a mortgage, you probably have a mortgage escrow account. Depending on your lender and your personal situation, you might not even have a choice about it - having an escrow account is … [Read more...]
From The Mailbag: Unhappy Landlords
June 08, 2013 | KateUsually, I get emails from people wanting to break their lease because they are PCSing or deploying. Occasionally, however, I get emails from landlords who are unhappy with the way the … [Read more...]
Navy Housing Website Simplifies Process
April 09, 2013 | KateHeaded to a Navy base, and interested in living in Navy housing? The Navy has created a new tool that is supposed to improve the housing information and application process. While I have a lot of … [Read more...]
Focus On The Big Wins
February 12, 2013 | KateI spend a lot of time trying to save money. I clip coupons, I buy gas when it is less expensive, and I try to make meals out of less expensive items. And no one would disagree that this is … [Read more...]
Rental Property Requires Upkeep
February 03, 2013 | KateI am an accidental landlord. Well, sort of. I never said, "Oh, I want to own rental property!" But we bought a house, and PCSed, and decided to rent it out. Ten years later, we did the same … [Read more...]
Drip, Drip, Drip…Damage
December 23, 2012 | KateWater - it is one of our most valuable resources, and also one of the most problematic things in our world. Even inside our home, out-of-control water can cause high bills, annoying sounds, and … [Read more...]
2013 BAH Rates Released
December 17, 2012 | KateBasic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates for 2013 have been announced. We have a complete listing of the new BAH rates right here at Military.com. Rates are generally going up, but lots of … [Read more...]
From The Mailbag: Breaking A Lease
October 28, 2012 | KateThe Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act (SCRA) provides many protections for military members and their families. Knowing the terms of the SCRA can be very useful in a variety of financial … [Read more...]
Rental Properties, Vacant Time, and Utilities
October 08, 2012 | KateOh, the joys of being a landlord. Many military families find themselves renting out property, either by plan or by lack of other options. One of the small, but important, hassles of owning a … [Read more...]
From The Mailbag: New Military Pay Questions
October 04, 2012 | KateAs if entering the military weren't stressful enough, there are all those pesky pay issues that come along with territory. One dad wrote me, wondering how his daughter would manage while his … [Read more...]
From The Mailbag: Overseas Retiree Wonders About COLA
September 27, 2012 | KateThe transition from active duty to retiree is full of changes, including pay changes. Knowing what you will receive helps eliminate surprises. Kate: Just retired this past Dec 31......Ireceived … [Read more...]
Those Real Estate Valuation Websites
September 19, 2012 | KateIf you've ever bought or sold a house, or are even just real estate curious, you've probably taken advantage of the free, online real estate valuation services offered by companies like Zillow and … [Read more...]
51 Ways to Save On Utilities
September 09, 2012 | KateOne place I've never done a very good job of scrimping is on household utility expenses. Sure, I do the usual things, like choosing Energy Star appliances when replacements are necessary, and using … [Read more...]
Insurance Is For Disasters
September 08, 2012 | KateSo, the other day, my friend posted a picture of a small fender-bender and the caption mentioned something about having to pay the insurance deductible. My personal finance side screamed, "What? … [Read more...]
