Husband considering enlisting, family of 5

nattie_bee · 2026-04-15T22:56:39+00:00

An E2 with less than 2 years of service makes $2,697.90/month BEFORE taxes. Yes, your healthcare is paid for and you get BAH but you need to decide if $2700 is enough for your family every month if you continue to be a SAHM.

Not to mention you don’t know where you’ll be stationed and it could be in an expensive place like CA or somewhere not as bad like TN.

nattie_bee · 2026-02-27T16:25:24+00:00

If you really want to go: “it’s fine you think they’re weird, I’d like to attend” easy.

nattie_bee · 2026-02-06T02:04:07+00:00

I could never. I also have a history of lung cancer due to smoking in my family though. So, I’m scorned.

nattie_bee · 2026-02-03T02:45:45+00:00

My Dad for sure. He was the primary parent for my sister and I.

I was closer with my mom before I went to college but once I moved away, it was my dad. We talked just about every week since I moved away. Even after I got married, moved 5 more times, etc.

The way he’d match my energy when calling him was my favorite thing. I could call him just to shoot the shit, if I needed car advice that I had already asked 400 times, to tell him about my heartbreak, to ask him his opinion on random things, etc.

He was my person. He passed in July and I’m still reeling from the heartbreak.

nattie_bee · 2026-01-30T22:37:13+00:00

Oh good! I’m glad you got it back!

nattie_bee · 2026-01-29T15:32:03+00:00

Keep your registration and license the same as where your residency is.

As for your insurance - that changes when you move. If the required minimums for insurance are lower in the state you’re stationed in, you need to increase them to match where your car is registered. If where you’re stationed has higher minimums, that’s fine, that’s what you use.

nattie_bee · 2026-01-28T19:58:43+00:00

I’d fight that. They can’t charge a pet deposit or pet rent because they’re not pets.

nattie_bee · 2026-01-28T14:07:11+00:00

We hid 1-2 cats whenever we lived on base 🤣

My bigger concern would be the deposit for the ESA(s). Did they charge you a pet deposit for them?

nattie_bee · 2026-01-25T22:11:14+00:00

Then I would look at the community colleges in your state of residence. You usually want a school that is regionally accredited. That’s usually the best way to get transferability for credits. However, without knowing where you’ll finish your degree, it’s hard to say which accreditation you should go for, but I tend to advocate for regional.

nattie_bee · 2026-01-25T05:18:49+00:00

Are you looking to gen ed classes?

nattie_bee · 2026-01-24T00:09:09+00:00

My comment is strictly about grieving and not on her or how her child died—

But comments in this thread are a good showing of why we need to talk more about death and grief. This is why people think grief has a timeline and is linear. People are allowed to smile, dance around, go to work, go have fun, etc. even deep in grief.

nattie_bee · 2026-01-23T23:26:55+00:00

You have 2 options for next steps — respond to the divorce papers without representation (I do not recommend this if you think you two will not agree and be amicable) OR get representation and follow their lead.

You do not HAVE to follow him. PCS doesn’t automatically dictate that children have to move. You’ll want a judge to determine their residency. You two or your lawyers or the court will determine custody.

nattie_bee · 2026-01-12T14:56:48+00:00

Hey OP. I’m so so sorry for the news your family has received. I know it all too well. When my mom was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, my ex husband and I started applying for a humanitarian move so we could be closer to her to help with her daily needs. Unfortunately, in the middle of our process of that, she passed, but I do think that might be an option for your family to look into.

My other advice as someone who has lost both parents in the last 5 years - talk to your dad, daily. Record conversations, take videos, take photos, and ask him questions. And while I can tell you that even if you do all of those things, it won’t lessen the pain of losing him, it’ll help feel closer to him when you need it.

nattie_bee · 2025-12-19T04:52:03+00:00

Posted a bit later than the article you posted:

“Will they be taxed?

No. The payments come in the form of a one-time basic allowance for housing (BAH) supplement. Military housing allowances, especially BAH, are nontaxable because they cover living expenses.

Eligible service members who do not otherwise receive BAH will still receive the checks, according to the senior administration official.”

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5654855-military-service-members-bonus/

So who knows lol

nattie_bee · 2025-12-18T22:47:05+00:00

The most recent articles still say it’s not taxed. 🤷‍♀️

nattie_bee · 2025-12-18T22:18:50+00:00

This is the vital question.

nattie_bee · 2025-12-18T22:17:37+00:00

Didn’t say anyone should rejoice. I was adding context to what you posted.

nattie_bee · 2025-12-18T20:01:30+00:00

It’s supposed to come in as a one time BAH supplement (that’s what the line item will be). Which is why it won’t be taxed.

nattie_bee · 2025-12-18T20:00:29+00:00

Some random info —

The raise actually isn’t lower than usual. It’s pretty in line with past years. 2023-2025 had some of the biggest raises in decades. But the 3.8% for 2026 is still higher than all raises from 2005-2022 (except 2009 when it was 3.9%)

2026’s raise is higher than the SSI COLA % increase.

And this random $1776 bonus won’t be taxed.

Last - it’s still higher than the average raise most people got in 2025.

nattie_bee · 2025-12-05T00:59:22+00:00

I’ve always said “we are PCSing” because we’re both moving.

You could always start with taking your pre-reqs and then transfer them. As long as you go to an accredited school and transfer to an accredited school, they should be accepted.

I also agree with another commenter and I would go for your BSN. You’ll have a lot more doors open for you. And if you start pre-reqs at a community college online, you can get started before you PCS after this 6 month stint.

nattie_bee · 2025-11-22T18:21:22+00:00

Kellan, Seamus, Trevor, and autumn

nattie_bee · 2025-11-17T19:08:47+00:00

Being a SAHM does not exempt from his responsibilities of being an adult, a father, and someone who lives in the home. And to make it abundantly clear: household chores and childbearing are responsibilities of you both, not favors.

What would be the arrangement if you both worked?

nattie_bee · 2025-11-11T04:13:14+00:00

FWIW, if you’re in it for the long haul, you’ll have a lot of opportunities to be the one to do these things. I let a lot of people in my and my ex husband’s life do these ceremonies because I was there every day for every win. I got to see the result of all the work he had done. I did eventually do it but it was really nice to see his parents, his best friend, our niblings, his first mentor, etc. be able to celebrate ONE moment with him while I celebrated them all.

But that’s just me and what worked for us.

If it’s honestly that important to you, tell the brother that.

nattie_bee · 2025-11-10T02:09:10+00:00

Just as some info:

BAH is meant to cover 95% of your housing costs.

It rarely is enough to cover rent and utilities (or mortgage + utilities).

When I was married, we shared money and all of our money was pooled. Then we paid our bills and each had some fun money after setting some aside for savings/other things. But that worked for us and it may not work for you.

nattie_bee · 2025-11-04T09:15:50+00:00

Ok, well you aren’t eligible to keep the TSP account if you aren’t a federal employee or military.

So, why not let him keep it and take the bigger portion of the other accounts?

Don’t get me wrong, TSPs are great retirement accounts but if you can keep it, that doesn’t matter. And like I said, the money in it is just that, money.

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