The one thing that civilians and military families have in common is a continual desire to save as much money as we can. For military families, finances can be up and down due to the moving, high cost of living, single income, and general living expenses. Therefore, saving money becomes imperative to maintain the current standards of living. One of the perks to being a part of the military family is being able to save a little more than civilians, the trick is, you have to be willing to search and seek out those savings in order to get it.
6 Practical Ways Military Families Can Save Money:
Budgeting and controlling debt: The first step to saving money is to get your budget and existing debt under control. If you are active in the military and currently paying off loans, you may qualify for assistance under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. The program can help significantly reduce the interest rates on your credit cards and mortgage. You will need to budget wisely – determine your monthly bills, separate your needs from your wants and create a healthy, livable budget.
Ask for a discount: The best way to get a discount is to ask for one. Many businesses offer military discounts, some companies make this discount clear while others do not. Make it a habit to ask the store owner or establishment if they offer military discounts. You can save money on retail purchases, entertainment, travel, bills, and food.
Coupons and deals: Comparison shop and search for coupons and deals before you make any purchase. Sites like MilitaryDeals makes it easy to save this way – all you have to do is type in the store that you are interesting in shopping at and a list of valuable coupon codes and/or printable coupons will result if available. You can also search by top trending coupons.
Downsize a bit: Downsizing is an easy way to save money as well as strengthen your priorities. You can downsize by cutting off cable and opting for online streaming. You can also borrow video games from the library instead of purchasing and cut off your landline and just use mobile phones. Additionally, you can downsize by shopping at secondhand stores and by selling a few of your outdated items.
Become a DIYer: You can save tons of money on food and personal care items if you do it yourself versus buying store-bought. You can maintain your own organic garden and grow your own crops and you can purchase inexpensive raw materials and make your own soaps, lotions, laundry detergent and toothpaste.
Take advantage of freebies: Many establishments recognize military personnel by offering freebies on occasions such as Veterans Day, Memorial Day and Military Appreciation day. Taking advantage of the valuable freebies that are offered is one of the simplest ways to save big.
As a military family you have already sacrificed so much, you should not have to sacrifice your living standards to save money. You just have to get your debt under control, search for saving opportunities and make smart financial decisions.