2019 MF JANUARY

We Do Right By You

As a not-for-profit, member-owned credit union, we put our members first. We offer products and services to support over 1 million veterans and their families through every stage of life.

• 24/7 access to a stateside member rep

• Digital banking2—anytime, anywhere

• More than 300 branches worldwide

Learn more at navyfederal.org.

We still believe in the power of New Year’s resolutions, and so do military families! We asked readers about the financial goals they are committed to working on in 2019. Here’s what they

“It seems as though people are open to speaking about politics, religion, business, but speaking about personal finance can be taboo! I am a personal finance nerd, and wish it was more accepted to speak about personal finance with military spouses. I’ve been married close to 16 years, and have been working on retirement since the early years. My goal for 2019 is to have our passive income cover our expenses, that way, regardless of his income, our expenses are covered. It’s been a long hard journey, but 2019 is the year to hammer down.”

—Jenny W.

said:

“Ours is to put more money into savings and our kids’ college funds. And to make a budget that we actually follow.”

—Erin N.

“Ours is to start saving for vacation fund. Now that our kiddos are older (6 and 7), we want to start bigger family trips. Not just trips to go back and visit family. 2019...hopefully saving for Disney!!”

—Stacy B.

“Pay down debt and invest.”

—Elizabeth C.

TSP”

—Lakesha C.

Paying off Debt as a Family

by Rebecca Alwine

Military Families Magazine by AmeriForce Media, LLC, is published 12 times a year for active duty service members and their families. Copies are available through participating family service centers, relocation offices, transition offices, base lodges, libraries, daycare centers, MWR activities and other locations by request. Unit distribution requests can be made online at www.AmeriForceMedia.com/ mf/print-magazines/

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Honoring a President

Joint Service Pallbearers representing the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard, prepare to carry the flag-draped casket of George H.W. Bush, 41st President of the United States, to the United States Capitol, Washington, D.C., Dec. 3, 2018. Nearly 4,000 military and civilian personnel from across all branches of the U.S. armed forces, including Reserve and National Guard Components, provided ceremonial support during the state funeral for the former Commander in Chief after he passed away November 30, 2018, at the age of 94.

The Navy honored the former naval aviator and World War II veteran with a largest-ever 21-aircraft missing man formation as part of his Dec. 6 interment ceremony at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas.

DoD photo by U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Paul A. Ochoa

JANUARY 2019 ISSUE

Andrea

is a freelance writer, Accredited Financial Counselor® and retired Navy spouse from Bainbridge Island, Washington. She received her accreditation as an AFC through the FINRA Military Spouse Fellowship program.

Heather-Martin

is a photographer, military spouse and mama to a sweet young girl, and two fur babies. She’s a Rhode Islander at heart, and consider myself blessed that the Navy sent their family to Pensacola, Florida, where the beaches are only 15 minutes away. www. heatheralexandraphotography.com

Rebecca

is a freelance writer, Army wife, and mother of three. Over the past decade, she’s discovered she enjoys coffee, lifting weights, and most of the menial tasks of motherhood. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found hiding behind the sewing machine or with her nose in a book. You can follow her on her website, whatrebeccathinks.com

Kayla

is a business advisor for military spouse entrepreneurs and creator of The Work from Anywhere Business Academy. She advises how to build PCS Proof businesses through classes at KaylaRoof.com

Maria Bautista

is an Army Wife and mother of three. She is the published author, freelance writer and blogger. She is also the co-founder of The Bautista Project, a custom décor and apparel company using a percentage of their profits to provide for homeless communities.

On the Cover: Jason and Heidi Watkins are enjoying their new Pennsylvania home, thanks in part to the efforts of New Day USA.

Photo courtesy New Day USA.

Downing Peck

Roof

Alwine

Paying off Debt as a Family

By Rebecca Alwine

Over 19 months, this Coast Guard family paid off $60,000 in debt. They didn’t inherit anything or win the lottery — they lived off of one enlisted service member’s salary, and worked a lot of side hustles to do it. And now they share their story, to show others that it isn’t about luck, it’s about hard work.

Just like everyone else

As high school sweethearts, Dan and Carissa spent like everyone else. “Dan worked full time, I went to college, and I thought I had so much money,” Carissa said. The couple lived like those around them, they bought a

car, went out to dinner frequently, paid the bar tab for friends, and enjoyed giving lavish and expensive gifts. “It never occurred to us that not having debt was how you should live,” she said. “It seemed normal that people had debt. Like this is how you were supposed to live.”

Then, for the first eight years of their marriage, they clung to the “keeping up with the Joneses” mentality. “I had an affection for luxury vehicles,” Carissa admits. “It seemed like the more money we had, the more expensive things we wanted.” Each anniversary was a vacation we thought we could afford, but Discover was paying for everything.

With their first child on the way, the couple thought they were coming to their senses regarding debt and their financial future. But in reality, they didn’t even know how much they owed. They never had a plan; they didn’t talk about the numbers. And they didn’t make any progress.

Flipping the switch

Baby number two opened their eyes. “We realized we were going to have to feed them, they were going to want things, they were going to go to college and [would] want cars,” Carissa said. The amount they owed was growing, and a PCS was looming. Luckily for the family’s finances, Carissa first heard about Dave Ramsey on base when they moved to Florida. And it lit a fire in her to do something about their massive debt.

The pressure was mounting, as their third child was on the way. So they buckled down. They added up all their debt – luxury car, credit cards, and student loans. It came to almost $60,000. In shock, and as a stay at home mom with no income, Carissa started researching as much as possible. “We were so strict we didn’t even buy the book or do Financial Peace University,” she admits. “I used Pinterest, I listened to the podcasts, and

Dan and Carissa Flanigan were shocked when they realized just how much debt they had. “We didn’t start a new chapter,” Carissa said, “We opened a whole new book.”

Photos of the Flanigan family by Heather Alexandra Photography, Pensacola, Florida. www.heatheralexandraphotography.com

we talked weekly about our progress.”

Making a plan

It was more than just paying off debt; it was looking at their spending. “I spent money because I had the time. I’d meet friends for coffee or go out to lunch,” she admits. But that had to stop. The couple sat down and talked about what they wanted their life to look like in 10 years. They asked each other what they wanted retirement to look like, they wrote down their dreams, and what those dreams would cost. “Our mentality completely shifted,” Carissa said. “We went from feeling like we should be able to do all of these things because everyone else did, to thinking about our future. I don’t care what they are doing; I care about the foundations we are laying for our future.”

So, how did they do it? The Flanigans worked hard. Really hard. Dan drives for Uber, cuts grass, donates plasma, and does any other odd job he can find and do. Carissa babysits, cleans houses, walks and boards dogs, and now has a full-time nannying position. Staying home with her kids is important to her, but she knew she still had to contribute to their progress. “Our progress really didn’t have that much to do with income,” she explained. “It’s really about how much I can save — not how much we can make.”

Losing more than debt

And after 19 months of hard work, the Flanigans were debt free. It’s not quite that simple of a story though. Carissa shares that people thought they were weird working so much, almost like it was abnormal to work hard. When they hear about us being debt free, they talk about luck. “That offends me. Luck has nothing do with how we ended up here. Sacrifice had everything to do with how we ended up debt free,” Carissa said.

It was a mindset shift more than anything else, and it was hard. “We lived in Florida for three years, and we never went to Disney. We didn’t take any trips,” she said. Carissa likes to dress the kids in matching outfits for photos and holidays, but she gave that up. “I constantly sold things instead of donating them. I shopped consignment. We never bought coffee out.” These are all things that most people don’t think about, but they thought about them every day.

“We lived strictly on the cash in the envelope. I made it into a game to see how much was left at the end of the month,” she said. Carissa also gave up her luxury car. The Flanigans paid to get out of their lease early and then paid cash for a minivan with over 100,000 miles on it. $23,000 of their $60,000 debt was the car she wanted to keep but realized she couldn’t afford.

Giving up the car was hard, but what hurt the most was losing friends. “People just thought we were crazy. They thought we were weird for doing this,” Carissa said. “I chose not to go out to lunch weekly, or meet at Target and spend money, and I lost friends along the way.”

Setting the standard for their kids

A lot of marriages falter over finances, and this was one area where the Flanigans joined together. “Having kids put us on the same page,” Carissa said. “We were going to have a third child, and we didn’t have more than $1,000 in our bank account. We were

32 years old and when we had an emergency, we had to call a parent for help. It was a rude awakening.”

They were on the same page overall, but throughout the 19 months of hard work, there were times where one of them would waiver. They had to reel each other in, support each other, and keep their eyes on the goal. Their kids helped with that. Their two oldest children, know Dave Ramsey. They know his voice, they know the intro music to the podcast. When their oldest, who is 5, earns money for a job she does, she saves some and she spends some, without complaint. “Our kids don’t ask for things at the store – they know the answer will be no,” Carissa said. “But it makes it more fun when I do treat them.”

Maintaining their debt-free lifestyle

With so much focus on being debt free, the Flanigans weren’t sure what to do after that. They knew they didn’t want to borrow money again, but they weren’t quite sure how to make that happen. “It took us a few months to get back on track with saving,” Carissa said. It took them a few months to put $10,000 in the bank for a rainy day, and now they are looking at investing. “Investing is a bit intimidating because we don’t know much about it,” she admitted. But the couple is still making some big plans. Among those are paying cash for a home, building a nest egg for retirement, and making good choices. As they near another PCS, they have taken a new path – planning for it. “We have a different way of approaching things,” Carissa said.

Now they are debt free, prepared for an emergency, and moving on with their lives.

Service members and their families will see the largest pay increase in nearly a decade in 2019, with a 2.6% bump in pay. Retirees and those receiving disability or other VA benefits also will see a boost in their pay — at 2.8%, it is the largest Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase in seven years. The pay increases will go into effect on January 1, 2019. We asked some financial experts if they had any advice for service members and their families to make the most of their 2019 pay increase, and this is what they said:

If you are participating in the BRS, you should increase your TSP contribution to at least 5% of your pay. This will maximize the matching contributions from the DoD and grow your nest egg more quickly.

Another great option for your COLA raise is to work on eliminating any non-mortgage debt you may have. Eliminating debt frees up cash flow each month, helping you reach other financial goals more quickly.

Ryan Guina served 6.5 years in the Air Force as an aircraft mechanic, joining the Air National Guard in 2014 after a 8.5-year break in service. Ryan currently runs The Military Wallet website at https:// themilitarywallet.com, a personal finance and benefits website for military members, veterans and their families. He also run the personal finance website, Cash Money Life at https://cashmoneylife.com, which covers personal finance and money management topics.

There are so many smart choices!

• Put it in your emergency fund/transition fund

• Pay off debt

• Make sure both spouses have IRAs

• Increase your TSP ( Ryan is smart!)

• Buy that life insurance you need but have been postponing

• Starting a savings account for a specific need, like vehicle replacement

• Put it in a 529 account for college

Kate Horrell is a wife, mom, military spouse and self-described “personal finance geek.” She has been writing about personal finance for eight years on The Paycheck Chronicles blog, and has branched out into individual counseling and public speaking. On her personal blog at www.katehorrell.com , she writes about many of the same topics she does at The Paycheck Chronicles, but says, “I have a bit more leeway to go off on random tangents or write about something that I absolutely love or hate.”

Throw yourself a little party, and then try to save/ invest at least 80% of that pay raise.

Incidentally, this is why the DFAS allocations to the TSP are in percentages instead of dollar amounts. It’s highly annoying to have to figure out TSP contributions in percentages, but every year (and with every promotion) you automatically contribute more dollars to the TSP.

Doug Nordman retired at age 41 after 20 years with the U.S. Navy’s submarine force, and today runs The Military Guide at https://the-military-guide.com, a website dedicated to helping service members and veterans achieve financial independence. Doug and his retired Navy Reserve spouse raised their daughter in Hawaii, where Doug enjoys surfing, reading martial arts and is a veteran of many chaotic homeimprovement projects.

Saving Spenderella with

by Andrea Downing Peck

How much does it cost to feed a family of four? The United States government estimates families spend anywhere from $562 to $1286 a month for groceries depending on whether their budgets are “thrifty” or “liberal.”

Navy spouse Ashley Dougherty says think again. She contends your total monthly bill should be $400–$1000

per person per week–even if you are stationed in a higher-cost area like Hawaii or on the East or West Coast.

“To be honest, I don’t think it matters where you live. I’ve lived now in two of the most expensive areas of the country,” said Dougherty, pointing to Hawaii and San Diego. “If I was able to do it for our family, anyone can do it.”

Dougherty, whose family currently is stationed in Augusta, Georgia, says training yourself to search grocery advertisements and buy what’s on sale is key to lowering spending for groceries.

“To get the best deals, you may have to hop around to two or three different stores a week versus the one store you now go to weekly,” she says.

Dougherty also suggests becoming a frequent visitor to grocery store clearance sections–often located at the far end of the meat case and on racks at the rear of the store–where discontinued, late date or dented items can be as much as 75% off.

Dougherty, 35, shares her moneysaving tips on her blogs, The Spenderella www.TheSpenderella. com and Military Spouse Living www.militaryspouseliving.com . She says frugal living comes naturally to her since both her mother and grandmother relied on coupons to save money on most everything they did or ate.

“As a kid, everywhere we went my mother had a coupon, whether it was going to Burger King or Wendy’s or clothes shopping,” Dougherty recalls. “It was the same thing with groceries. She always had coupons.”

Dougherty first began doling out money-saving advice in 2011 while living in Hawaii. She became known as Hawaii’s “Coupon Queen” after her family moved to Oahu from San Diego and she was unable to find a job as a building design drafter. Hawaii’s high cost of living forced her to find new ways to save money.

Extreme couponing was the answer. Wielding a coupon-stuffed binder down grocery store aisles, Dougherty routinely fielded questions from other shoppers who wondered what she was up to and whether it worked.

Ashley Dougherty and her husband, U.S. Naval Officer Kevin Dougherty. Courtesy photo

“People saw my binder and had a million questions for me,” says Dougherty, who once couponed her way to paying $9 for $900 worth of groceries at the commissary. “I thought I’m going to throw it all online and then I can tell people to visit my site. I don’t have to stop at every store and give people a 30-minute lesson.”

Dougherty’s Hawaii Shopaholics blog became one-stop shopping for couponing tips and local restaurant and shopping deals. Dougherty also began offering couponing classes and organizing coupon and grocery swaps. Soon, Dougherty wasn’t only saving money, she was making money too. In its heyday, Hawaii Shopaholics was attracting 16,000 visits a day, a level of website traffic that began generating a steady income that increased to more than $40,000 a year after Dougherty’s book Couponing in Hawaii was published. Dougherty was as surprised as anyone by her success.

“I literally learned everything about how to create a website and how to make YouTube videos off of YouTube,” Dougherty explains. “If you have time, grab a glass of wine, sit in front of a computer and watch a bunch of YouTube videos on how

to create a website, how to start a blog, how to make money blogging. A million YouTube videos will come up to guide you.”

Yvette Alford, a retired Navy spouse, is grateful Dougherty turned her couponing hobby into a business. Alford attended one of Dougherty’s coupons classes nearly a half-dozen years ago and continues to use tips she learned, such as looking inside magazines and product packaging for coupons and routinely going to manufacturer’s websites to request coupons for products she uses or wants to try. Alford estimates 80% of companies she contacts-from King’s Hawaiian Bakery to Chobani yogurt–respond by sending coupons for free or discounted products.

“Everything I know and all the money I’ve been able to save over the years has been in part due to Ashley,” Alford said. “She’s so smart.”

Dougherty rebranded her blog The Spenderella when her family left Hawaii, but the decision also reflected couponing’s shift from paper to app-driven deals. This year, Dougherty dropped couponing from The Spenderella altogether, a move made in part due to her dismay with the growing “glitch community,” couponing groups

devoted to exploiting errors in coupon scanning to use a highvalue coupon for one product when buying another.

On The Spenderella, Dougherty blogs about online shopping and free shipping deals, smartphone apps, travel discounts and military spouse-made products.

“It’s a place where you can come and learn how to save money from the comfort of your home,” she says. “It’s shopping made easy.”

Examples of the deals she highlights include Gymboree girls’ tees for $2.99 and dresses as low as $5.59 plus free shipping, a Safety 1 st Baby Walker with Activity Tray for $25.15 (regularly $44.99) and a Cuisinart 3-Piece Grilling Tool Set with Grill Glove for $13.59 (regularly $24.99).

Dougherty was particularly thrilled by Gymboree’s 80% off sale, which reinforces her advice to parents to stretch their dollars by “always buying a season ahead.”

Dougherty’s new mantra is put down your coupon-cutting scissors and turn to the internet for the best deals.

“There are ways you can buy brand name items for a fraction of the cost,” Dougherty says. “It is just knowing the websites that are out there.”

Ashley, Kevin, Avery and Alyvia Dougherty on a recent trip to Washington, D.C. Courtesy photo

Ashley Dougherty is Spenderella! Courtesy photo Ashley Dougherty and daughter, Avery, in Hawaiian attire. The family was stationed in Hawaii for a few years. Courtesy photo

2019 Military Spouse Guide to Scholarships

Completing an education is hard enough without having to stress about how to pay for it. If you are a military spouse thinking about college or already working on a degree, you’re in luck. This is the time of year when organizations start accepting applications for military spouse education assistance programs. Yes, that’s right. There are programs – scholarships, loans, and grants -- designed with you in mind. But, it’s going to take some work and a lot of organization.

A few things to consider ahead of time:

1. Read all of the criteria early so that you can plan for any timeconsuming requirements, like letters of recommendation.

2. Create reminders for deadlines so that you don’t miss any important dates.

Here is the latest list of 2019 offerings from around the military community:

YEAR-ROUND SCHOLARSHIPS

National Military Family Association

Link: https://scholarships. militaryfamily.org/offers/nmfaspouse-scholarship

What’s the basics:  Awards available for career funding, degrees, clinical supervision towards licensure in

the mental health profession, and business expenses.

Deadline: Yearround.

MyCAA (My Career Advancement Account)

Link: https://mycaa militaryonesource.mil

Who’s eligible: Spouses of service members with the rank of E1-E5; W1-W2; O1-O2.

What’s the basics: Maximum tuition assistance benefit of $4000 to be used toward an associate degree, license or certification.

Deadline: Rolling basis.

BRANCH AID SOCIETIES

Each service branch has an equivalent branch aid society that supports service members and their families through various programs –including education assistance.

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society

Link: http://www.nmcrs.org/pages/ education-loans-and-scholarships

Who’s eligible: Spouses of active duty or retired sailors and Marines.

What’s the basics: Interest-free loans and grants for undergraduates

at an accredited 2- or 4-year education, technical or vocational institution.

Deadline: May 1, 2019.

Air Force Aid Association

Link: https://www.afas.org/howwe-help/general-henry-h-arnoldeducation-grant

Who’s eligible: Spouses of active duty and Title 10 Reservists, and widows.

What’s the basics: Needs-based grant ranging from $500 – $4000.

Opens: Jan. 2019.

Army Emergency Relief

Link: https://www.aerhq.org/ Apply-for-Scholarship/MilitarySpouse/2019-2020-Academic-Year

Who’s eligible: Spouse of an active duty or retired soldier or the widow of a soldier who died while on active duty or while retired.

What’s the basics: Need-based scholarship program for spouses pursuing their first undergraduate degree.

Application cycle opens: Apr. 1, 2019.

Coast Guard Mutual Assistance

Link: https://www.cgmahq. org/programs/education/ educationGeneral.html

Who’s eligible: Spouses of Coast Guardsmen.

What’s the basics: Loans and grants for a degree, license or certification.

Deadline: Rolling basis.

PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS

ThanksUSA

Link: https://www.thanksusa.org/ scholarship-program.html

Who’s eligible: Spouse of US military personnel pursuing an undergraduate course of study at an accredited two- or four-year college or university, or vocational or technical school for the academic year.

Application period: Apr. 1 – May 15, 2019.

Pat Tillman Foundation

Link: http://pattillmanfoundation. org/apply-to-be-a-scholar

Who’s eligible: Current spouses of veterans or active-duty service members, including surviving spouses.

What’s the basics: $10,000 scholarship to assist with academic expenses, such as tuition, fees, and books.

Opens: Feb. 2019.

CTU Patriot Scholarship

Link: https://www.coloradotech. edu/military/CTUPatriot

What’s the basics: CTU will award 50 scholarships.

Opens: Spring 2019.

Southeastern Council on Military Education (SECOME)

Link: http://www.secome.org/ scholarships

Who’s eligible: Students (spouse, veteran, active duty, and/or guard/ reserves) attending 2019 member institutions (member institutions

are posted on our website) who reside in NC, SC, GA, or AL are eligible.

What’s the basics: The organization will award scholarships ranging from $500-$1500.

Opens: Feb. 2019.

Council of College and Military Educators (CCME)

Link: http://www.ccmeonline.org/ scholarships

What’s the basics: The organization awards $1000 scholarships with the application process typically running July to November.

LOCAL SPOUSE CLUBS

There are dozens of spouse clubs co-located to military installations around the world. (Yes, we said world – including OCONUS locations). These organizations are a place of camaraderie for spouses, but also participate in philanthropic activities like scholarships and charitable giving. At the start of each new year, the clubs usually open up applications for scholarship programs with specific eligibility requirements. Some require applicants to be a member and some do not.

How to find them: A simple internet search of your installation and the phrase ‘military spouse club’ should produce results. Also, the club may be officer, enlisted or combined. Below are a few examples of those currently offering education assistance:

Lackland Spouses Club (TX)

Link: http://www.lacklandsc.org/ philanthropy/scholarships

Details: Available for Fall 2019.

Monterey Bay Officers Spouse Club (CA)

Link: http://mbosc.net/ScholarshipInformation-and-Eligibility

Details: Deadline to apply Tinker Air Force Base (OK)

Link: https://www.tinkerspouses. org/what-we-do

Details to come. Fort Bragg (NC)

Link: https://fortbraggabs. membershiptoolkit.com/ story/70930

Details: Opens Feb. 1, 2019.

NATIONAL SPOUSE CLUBS

Just as there are local spouse clubs, similar organizations exist on the national level and yes, they want to support military spouse education too.

Navy Wives Clubs of America

Link: http://www. navywivesclubsofamerica.org/ scholarships

Who’s eligible: Various offerings, including a scholarship for spouses of Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps.

Deadline: Mar. 31, 2019.

If your organization has a military spouse scholarship program that you want to be added to the list, email the details to managing.editor@ ameriforcemedia.com .

It’s a New Day for the Watkins Family

Family Finds Forever Home With Some Help from an Unexpected Source

By Jennifer G. Williams

Master Sgt. Jason Watkins retired from the Marines four years ago in Georgia, the state where he was raised and where his last duty station had been. He and his wife Heidi met at a bowling alley at Penn State, have now been married 24 years and have three children.

Their older two children had graduated from a private school in the area and were both attending college. Their youngest daughter, Karaliah, was a freshman at the Georgia school. The couple planned to have her graduate and get their children through college before thinking about making the move back closer to family.

Then fate stepped in. Karaliah became the victim of severe bullying at her school during her sophomore year—so bad, she developed severe depression and started seeing a counselor.

“We talked with the school, and they were trying to do things to prevent it,” says Heidi, “but with

the internet these days, you really cannot get away from it however much you try.”

Before Karaliah’s junior year, Jason asked her if she could make it just one or two more years, and her response was, “I don’t know if I’ll still be alive if I have to be here another year,” says Heidi.

A hard move

That did it.

Jason had to stay with his Federal contractor job in Georgia, but Heidi packed up and took Karaliah back up to Pennsylvania, where she attended a large high school in Harrisburg. There, she thrived — even becoming a Varsity

It was a long and winding road for the Watkins family to find their retirement home in their home state of Pennsylvania.

Jason and Heidi Watkins found and bought their retirement home in Pennsylvania with a little help from New Day USA Photo courtesy New Day USA

The Watkins family at oldest daughter Mariah’s graduation from Wake Forest University in 2018. From left: Zach, Jason, Mariah, Heidi and Karaliah Courtesy photo

Sponsored by

Cheerleader. Karaliah graduated and was accepted to West Virginia University, where she currently is in her second year studying Psychology and is thinking of becoming a counselor to help others.

“You do what you have to do for your children,” says Heidi. “We really couldn’t afford to do it — especially with two in college at the same time this was happening, but we did, and it created a financial hole we then had to dig out of.”

The family owned a house in North Carolina and the one in Georgia. Heidi and Karaliah lived in a small rental house near her new high school while Jason tried to sell their Georgia home and find a job near them.

It was tough being separated from each other, but the family could see it had been the best move they could make for their daughter. Jason was able to move up into the rental after about a year, and they stayed there until Karaliah graduated high school.

Jason and Heidi started looking to move, but were surprised to learn that their two-income family who had owned homes in the past (and still owned one in North Carolina) could not qualify for a mortgage.

“We were shocked,” says Heidi. “We’d always had great credit, but we’d basically been paying $5,000 a month that we didn’t have to maintain the separate households and had completely drained our savings. The kids did not know we were in this financial shape, and we just did not know what to do.”

“We were so ready to get out of that rental and into our own house,” says Jason, “But we just didn’t know how to make that happen.”

Finding a way

Then, one day last July, Jason saw an advertisement for New Day USA, a Mortgage company that specializes in VA Loans. He was intrigued.

“What got me was the line, ‘your

service is your down payment,’” says Jason. He called his wife at work and told her he was going to call the company and talk with them about getting a home loan.

“I told him not to do it—we had a plan to keep trucking along and try again in six months or a year, but he was determined,” she says.

Jason called and spoke with New Day Account Executive Ryan Seybuck, who listened to their story, which included taking in Heidi’s ill father in 2011 and caring for him. “I told him that I’d seen their commercial and was skeptical,” says Jason. “And added that the American government had put their trust in me to work on their F-18 aircraft while in the Marines, so I was looking to take them up on their slogan.”

“He listened to my whole story and then told me they could help,” says Jason. “It really got my spirits up — I actually cried!”

Other companies seemed to only look at the numbers, says Jason, but New Day took the time to get to know their family and their circumstances.

“They are so genuine,” says Heidi. “I would recommend them to anyone.”

Heidi says she wants to make sure every veteran understands the benefits they’ve earned — and how to take advantage of them. “They’ve given so much of their lives for this country,” she says. “We can be a

prideful bunch, for sure, but we as military families and veterans need to know what we are eligible for.”

Jason agrees, “Give [New Day] a chance to work with you— don’t let your pride get in the way. They will probably surprise you with what they can do—they did us!”

A new beginning

The couple closed on their new home — an idyllic, mountain retreat complete with a workshop and some acreage— in September, and hosted Thanksgiving for their extended family at their new house. Their three children joined them, including Karaliah, son Zach, 22, a senior at Penn State; and oldest daughter Mariah, 23, a recent graduate of Wake Forest who served through ROTC, was commissioned in May, and is now a member of the Army Reserve. Mariah used her ROTC scholarship to help pay for school and the younger two kids are using their Dad’s transferred GI Bill benefits— another of the great benefits service members earn and should definitely use, say the Watkins.

Needless to say, the empty nesters are enjoying their new home. “It’s so beautiful waking up and looking outside,” says Heidi. “There are a few things here and there we want to change, but it really is a dream property. And we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the wonderful people at New Day.”

Heidi and Jason Watkins have a chance to thank New Day USA Executive Chairman Rear Admiral Thomas C. Lynch (USN, Ret.), for all his company did for them to get them into their new home. Photo courtesy New Day USA

Healthy Budget on a

By Jennifer G. Williams

Leading a healthier lifestyle— whether by eating better, exercising more or both—is a common resolution this time of year, but many people think attaining this will take a big bite out of their wallets.

Not true! Yes, you can spend a lot of money buying all organic food at expensive specialty stores, and getting a gym membership at a fancy new gym in town, but you don’t need to do those things to reach your health goals.

Shop smart

Many grocery store chains are adapting to changing food shopping habits and now offer more in the way of organic and health foods. Some people think the key to healthy eating is to buy everything organic, but experts say that is not necessary. One thing to look for is fruit and vegetables that do not need peeling, such as strawberries, peaches and apples—those are the things that can absorb the most pesticides and other contaminants. Things like bananas, onions and eggplant have thicker skins and do not seem to absorb things like pesticides. Asparagus, cabbage and sweet corn are also known for being

pesticide-resistant, so there is no need to buy those organic.

Check out your local store’s “sale” area—usually towards the back of the store—for deals on those healthy foods from the aisles, or watch your store sales. Also take advantage of any virtual coupons you may be able to use by using your store’s loyalty card—bonus that many stores offer fuel or other incentives to redeem based on your purchases.

Meal prep may take a little time during the week, but it can pay off big time when it comes to eating well on those busy days when work, kids and chores seem overwhelming. By planning ahead, you no doubt will eat better, and can even plan for using leftovers from one meal to the next. Look to the internet for healthy meal prep and menu ideas—there are so many out there, so just take your pick as to what works best for your family.

No need for a gym

There are many ways to get a good workout without paying for a gym membership, and most of those have to do with using your own two legs. Walking is one of the best, low-impact

exercises you can do, and there’s really no fancy equipment needed—just a pair of comfortable shoes (and no, they don’t have to be name brand).

There are so many workout videos you can buy out there today, but there are also thousands of workouts posted on free sites including YouTube, if you want to vary your workout a bit. Everything from step aerobics classes to yoga and even spin classes can be found on YouTube, so get clicking and find a workout that works for you. Also keep in mind things like taking the stairs at work or getting off the bus or train a stop early on a nice day and walking the rest of the way to work or back home. Take a little time from sitting at your desk and staring at your computer to do some stretching exercises to break up your day and keep you from becoming too sedentary at work.

There are so many options these days for a little-to-no cost workout or healthy, delicious meals, that there’s really no reason to break the bank to get back into a healthy habit — something that can save you more than just money in the long run.

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Why Military Families Need Protection from Predatory Lenders

By Andrea Downing Peck

What do you do when there’s more month than money? For many military families, payday loans and other predatory borrowing options become a source for quick cash.

An estimated 44 percent of active duty military used payday loans in 2017, while 68 percent tapped tax refund anticipation loans, according to research by Javelin Strategy & Research. While payday loans can seem like a lifesaver in an emergency, these unsecured short-term loans typically carry a 36 percent Military Annual Percentage Rate (MAPR) that includes interest and other fees. These high-interest loans can trap military members into a costly borrowing cycle that leads to larger financial problems.

Now, changes in how the federal government’s top consumer watchdog supervises payday lenders could lead to a resurgence of “fast cash” financial products targeting military families. At issue is the decision by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) Acting Director Mick Mulvaney to weaken enforcement of the Military Lending Act (MLA) by eliminating proactive examinations of creditors for violations. The CFPB has proposed investigations into potential MLA violations be conducted only in response to service member complaints.

During the Obama administration, the CFPB claimed authority under the Dodd-Frank Act to not only enforce the MLA but also to conduct routine examinations of creditors for MLA compliance. In addition,

the Dodd-Frank Act’s passage extended MLA protections to a broader range of products to include credit cards, certain installment loans and overdraft lines of credit. Since its creation in 2011, the CFPB has returned a reported $130 million to service members, veterans and their families.

Scott Astrada, director of the Center for Responsible Lending, labels Mulvaney’s actions as “unequivocal obstruction” and called on the CFPB to resume stringent enforcement of the MLA within an industry that has been “aggressive to find regulatory loopholes in consumer protection gaps in protection.”

“The actions to roll back enforcement of the MLA are extremely concerning and are cause for alarm,” Astrada said. “The worstcase scenario is the same dangers and the same harms that service members and their families were subject to before the MLA will return and all those same negative impacts

and dangers that they faced will return. It’s putting service members back in the crosshairs of predatory lenders.”

The MLA, which protects activeduty military members, National Guard and reservists (on active orders for 30 days or longer), spouses and their dependent family members, originally was signed into law in 2007. Its 36 percent APR cap includes finance charges as well as credit insurance premiums, application fees, add-on products and other fees often tied to predatory loans. Prior to passage of the MLA, predatory payday loan shops targeted service members with fast-cash schemes carrying interest rates of up to 400 percent.

This federal law also prohibits: Requiring military members to set up an allotment as a condition of receiving the loan. Requiring the use of a vehicle title as security for the loan. Requiring service members to waive their rights under the Service Members Civil Relief Act or any other federal law. Denying the opportunity for military members to pay off the loan early and any earlypayment penalties.

A Majority of Active Military Seek out Alternative Loans

This is not the first time CFPB’s oversight of payday lenders has come under threat. In 2017, the House of Representatives passed the Financial CHOICE Act, which had the support of 186 Republicans and no Democrats, but failed in the Senate. The bill would have made sweeping changes and repealed provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, in part by weakening the power of the CFPB. Retired Army Col. Paul E. Kantwill, a senior fellow at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, served as CFPB’s Assistant Director for Servicemember Affairs, from December 2016 to July 2018. He fears the CFPB’s rollback of military consumer protections–both on student loans and payday lending products–will be detrimental to service members, especially in light of the Department of Defense’s recent decision to “continuously” monitor the financial status of service members with security clearances.

“It all poses a threat to financial readiness, which poses an attendant threat to military readiness and, consequently, national security,” Kantwill said. “If folks get in [financial] trouble, they have the potential of having their security clearances suspended or perhaps revoked. That poses problems for individual units and the military as a whole. It also poses great problems for military families. Finances are a big predictor of military success. There are a bevy of potential consequences here and all of them are bad.”

Military and veterans service organizations and consumer organizations are speaking out against any weakening of MLA protections. This fall, Veterans Education Success published a letter headlined “Don’t Abandon Military Families” in newspapers near military bases. The letter, signed by more than two dozen military groups, called on the CFPD and DOD to preserve service

members’ rights under the MLA. An online petition at https:// keepmilitaryprotections.org/ is bolstering their effort.

The Military Officers Association of American (MOAA) is among those groups arguing for preservation of strong oversight of payday lenders.

Aniela Szymanski, MOAA director of government relations, is hopeful CFPB Director nominee Kathy Kraninger will “reconsider the bureau’s position on the MLA when she takes the helm.”

“Right now, servicemembers are essentially being provided assistance by the bureau than

the general public,” Szymanski states. “The bureau is still doing supervisory exams. They are still going in and looking at financial institutions’ compliance related to the Truth in Lending Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Acts, but they are purposefully excluding the MLA, if they are doing what we suspect they are doing. That means every other consumer in America is getting oversight assistance from the bureau except the military community.”

The CFPD did not respond to multiple requests via email and telephone for comment.

The military relief societies– Navy Marine Corps Relief Society, Air Force Aid Society, Army Emergency Relief, Coast Guard Mutual Assistance–all offer expedited, interest-free emergency loans to eligible service members in amounts from $500 to $1,000, depending on the military branch. Requests for larger denomination interest-free loans and grants require an appointment.

Operation Homefront http://cms.operationhomefront.org/ provides financial assistance for overdue bills, auto repairs, childcare expenses, travel or other needs to eligible enlisted service members, E-1, E-6, with DEERS-eligible dependents. Assistance is prioritized by critical need.

Veterans of Foreign Wars’ Unmet Needs program https://www.vfw.org/ unmetneeds/ provides grants of up to $1,500 to service members and their families who have run into unexpected financial difficulty due to a deployment or other military-related activity or injury.

Negotiate a payment plan with your creditors and adjust your payment due dates to better align with military pay dates.

Consider joining a credit union, many of which offer lower-interest personal loans.

Service Members Civil Relief Act (SCRA) https://scra.dmdc.osd.mil/ scra/#/home requires lenders to cap interest rates on loans and credit card balances on pre-existing debt accumulated prior to entering military service. However, several credit card companies (Capital One, USAA, American Express, U.S. Bank, Bank of America and Discover) extend those benefits and may offer lower interest rates or waive or refund annual fees and late fees on charges accumulated while on active duty.

Military life brings challenges such as deployments, frequent moves and underemployment of spouses that can make keeping your financial house in order a tall order. Even so, there are places to turn other than payday lenders when money is tight.

My Exceptional Military Family

By Marla Bautista

Did you see that family at the Capitol Building in Washington D.C., trying to take a picture with the kid that kept screaming, “We’re all going to die!”? Well, that was us, the Bautista family. We may seem like we have it all together, but we are one meltdown away from complete chaos.

Do you know what it’s like to have a child that needs special care but your duty station doesn’t exactly meet the exceptional care guidelines you were hoping for? That’s my journey, struggling to find a happy medium between a good duty station and proper medical care for my child. The choices are already limited.

I am always hopeful the Army’s decision to relocate us is what’s best for everyone. Usually, we get either a great post and mediocre medical care or vice versa. But hey, just look at it like this, in another three years we get to play this game

again. “Yay, we love transitioning!” said no special needs parent ever! Unfortunately, the disconnect between actual Tricare ECHO services, EFMP programs, and HRC has often created a less than positive experience for many families when PCSing.

A journey to motherhood

I’m Marla, an Army wife and autism mom.  My son, Junior, is the coolest, most clever, autistic kid you’d ever meet. He was diagnosed at the age of two with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Sensory Processing Disorder.

In 2010, after a relatively easy pregnancy and a yearlong deployment for my husband, we welcomed the most beautiful baby I’d ever seen. I was in love. He was perfect, and I was finally a mom! After two miscarriages and a

myomectomy, I never thought this day would come. But, it did, and my rainbow baby was here. Junior was a normal infant, breastfeeding about 24 hours a day — that’s normal right? He did all the things babies were supposed to do, at the age they were supposed to do them. He rolled over, sat up, crawled, and began standing all in what the pediatricians called a ‘normal’ developmental pattern.

In 2011, when my family was living abroad, we noticed Junior had trouble eating. In the past, we chalked it up to him being a picky eater, but he was older now and his food preferences hadn’t changed. He had a hard time eating solid foods, especially meat. He would regurgitate it every time it was offered, and I became a little concerned when he wasn’t gaining weight.

‘No longer checking yes’

During his 18-month checkup, after filling out the redundant developmental milestone paperwork, I realized I was no longer checking yes to everything. He wasn’t making eye contact, pointing at things he wanted, or throwing a ball. Though, throwing a tantrum was something he accomplished with ease. Don’t believe me? Just ask our church’s watch care providers. The primary pediatrician referred Junior to a developmental pediatrician for further testing and to a program called EDIS (Educational & Development Intervention Services).

As we waited for our initial appointment, I grew worried. I didn’t understand what was happening and I became overwhelmed with stress. I was receiving medical referrals, packets of medical questionnaires, and so many other things I did not fully

The Bautista Family. Courtesy photo

comprehend. We lived in a location that was being eliminated, so our services were minimal, at best. After a few weeks, an EDIS representative came to my home to conduct an evaluation on Junior. I was excited, but also nervous because I wasn’t sure of his capabilities. They suggested we get started with speech therapy and said we were entitled to a respite care provider. She

not only helped my son, but she helped me better understand the medical process he was undergoing. Junior was then enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP).

Limited medical resources

Fast forward two duty stations, and our family is now stationed at Fort Drum, NY. This place is a logistical nightmare for any person with a child like mine.

His developmental pediatrician is located about two and a half hours from our home. His psychiatrist’s office is here in town, but the doctor himself, we’ve never met personally because he’s located in Naples. He sees my son through Skype, which wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t have an autistic child who has a hard time verbally communicating his needs, wants, or other issues. I don’t feel comfortable with a doctor prescribing meds when he cannot effectively interact with my child.

He also goes to therapy five days per week, which of course is difficult, but the therapy center he attends does go above and beyond in their care. They have truly been an advocate for him throughout our tenure here.

Become a voice

Over the years, I’ve learned that I am my son’s best advocate and conducting my own research can sometimes help, but often results in more questions than answers. My son is okay. Yes, he has autism, but he’s fine. Plus, he’s an Army brat so resiliency is kind of his thing. If you have an exceptional family member, be their voice. Yes, you may be lucky and move to a duty station that encompasses everything your family needs. If you don’t, advocate, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to ask for more than one medical opinion.

Add this to your checklist PCS

• Check out your installation’s MEDDAC website for more information about the health services offered at your post’s health clinic.

• Do a little research on your new duty station’s EFMP programh.

• Call local medical offices and find out new patient in-processing wait times.

• Hand-carry hard copies of EFMP Paperwork, IEP’s, and other pertinent information that may be immediately needed upon enrollments in schooling or other programs.

If you need help, call or stop by your local Exceptional Family Member Program office. They can help you fill out paperwork and even explain some of the processes you may incur during your move. Ask questions. Make sure the services your military dependent needs are available in a reasonable timeframe.

It’s not easy, but do you know what’s harder? Living for years, in a place where your dependent cannot receive proper medical care.

It can’t hurt to be prepared, but it can hurt if you’re not.

Junior Bautista was diagnosed at the age of two with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Sensory Processing Disorder. His family has been navigating the world of the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP). Courtesy photo

Junior Bautista gives a salute. Courtesy photo

Money Apps to Help Kids Become Financially Literate

By Jennifer G. Williams

Kids today are incredibly techsavvy. I hand my cell phone or tablet to my kids when I have an issue that needs to be resolved and they usually can swipe it back into submission.

But when it comes to learning about money, kids tend to be less in command. Children learn by watching what you do and how you do it. One way you can help your children understand the value of money is by talking them through your decisions at the store: “This bigger box of cereal actually costs less than the smaller one of the same size,” “Hmmm…I don’t think we need to get the giant container of salad, since we likely won’t eat it all before it goes bad.”

But it gets a little harder when you get to the checkout line.

We are fast becoming a cashless society, and are much more likely to directly deposit our paychecks, set up automatic payments for our monthly bills, swipe a debit or credit card at the grocery store, even use Apple Pay or PayPal to make online purchases—so kids can interpret this as we get magically paid, then magically use plastic or our fingerprint to pay for things we want or need.

So how do we teach our children to be financially literate? The answer may be in the technology they so readily embrace. There are many financial apps out there for kids of all ages, to help them understand earning, spending, saving, giving and even using credit.

Here are just a few apps and websites to try:

Bankaroo — A virtual bank for kids, to help teach them about the value of money in a safe environment. Kids will learn how to budget, save up for goals and spend responsibly using this easy-to-use app and website.

www.bankaroo.com

Rooster Money Allowance

(ages 4+) Lets kids keep track of their money, while parents oversee what goes in and out. Parents remain the Bank of Mom and Dad and no deposits are required. Children can upload goals to save for. This could be something they want to buy, or to just save up. When they reach a goal, parents can approve and fulfill the goal.

www.roostermoney.com/us/

FamZoo — A website and app that allows older kids to take more responsibility for their spending. The site offers prepaid cards or IOU accounts to help keep tabs on your child’s spending an savings habits. It is designed to help teach kids about spending, saving and using credit wisely in a controlled environment.

https://famzoo.com

iAllowance (ages 4+)-- helps you manage all your children’s chores, allowances, and rewards. Track all your children’s chores and use the reminders to push alerts to your kids. Teach children about earning, saving, and spending — while making parents’ lives a little easier. www.jumpgapsoftware. com/allowance/index.html

Youth Give — This website and app seeks to connect youth to fun service opportunities by highlighting cool ways to make a difference and by uniting existing nonprofits with new volunteers and donors. The program currently is focused on a few large metropolitan areas, but is working to expand all across the country.

www.projectgivingkids.org

8 Low-Investment Business Ideas for Military Spouses

by Kayla Roof

Have you ever thought about creating a second income for your military family? Entrepreneurship is a great way to have a career, work from home, and generate extra cash. However, there’s a big misconception out there that businesses are expensive to start. The days of having to rent retail space, buy up thousands in inventory and spend your savings to launch are over. Here are 8 low investment business ideas military spouses can start today.

Sell a service

One of quickest ways to start a business is to sell your own services. You can offer social media management, virtual assistance, tutoring, caregiving, editing, translating, vacation planning and more. Get started by listing your services via industry-specific online platforms such as UpWork , Care. com or Rover.com . Or, you can build your own website and social media presence to get the word out about how you can help.  Joining Facebook groups where your ideal customers might be hanging out is also a great way to let people know about your services.

Start a blog, vlog or podcast

Blogging is simply creating content, developing a following of readers and then monetizing that content through advertising, sponsorships, affiliate marketing and/or selling digital products and services. Enjoy making videos? Try vlogging (video blogging). You can start a YouTube channel and monetize similarly to blogging. Hate writing and video? Podcasting might be the avenue for you. No matter which method you choose, you’ll be developing content for your audience on a regular basis. To get started you’ll need a website host, which runs as low as $5 per month and a theme for your website, which can run anywhere from $0-$100 depending on the design you choose.

Become a drop shipper

Drop shipping has become increasingly popular for those that want to break into e-commerce without breaking the bank. Typically, when you start an online store, you have to purchase inventory to sell. However, with drop shipping, you get the benefit of running an online store, without the expense of buying up all the products before you sell them. Simply find a product to sell, preferably at wholesale prices, then list it for sale on your site, eBay, Facebook, or another online platform. When you make a sale, the supplier sends it directly to the customer. You never have to touch the product or hold inventory. Shopify has great information on how to get started as a Drop Shipper.

Create a digital product

Bottle up all of your knowledge on a topic and create an eBook, eCourse, membership site or online program. Create your own training program, how-to guide or group program. You can deliver that content through video, audio, PDFs, worksheets, checklists or live video via Facebook, Zoom or other online webinar programs. For more options on creating digital products, you can check out this free video training on 15 Ways to Monetize Your Brilliance.

Create a coaching, advising or mentorship program

Do you have an area of expertise that could help others? Offer your services in the form of one-on-one sessions, group coaching or online training programs. Health, fitness, parenting, career, business, finance, fashion, home, are all popular topics for coaching, advising and mentoring. There is a need for people that can help in these areas.

5 Become a social media influencer

Get paid for posting awesome photos and content on social media. Find a niche you enjoying sharing photos about, talking about, or can create a group or following around.  For example, let’s say you created an Instagram account all about vacation hot spots showing beautiful photos of destinations. If you can build a large following, then other brands and businesses will want to leverage your reach. They will pay you to post about their products. Influencer networks are popping up every day with new opportunities.

Freelance writing

If you love to write, you can get paid for it. Content creation is huge right now for publications, businesses, and blogs. Find publications that are looking for writers and start pitching. Network with business owners to find out if they need content creators. Stay persistent and keep pitching.

Create your own t-shirts, kids apparel or accessories and print on demand

With new sites like  Printify and Printful, you can create your own designs of products and sell them on a website or social media platform. Once you receive a purchase, these companies will print and send them directly to your customers. No need to have hundreds of pieces made before you even know if they’ll sell. All you need to get started is a design and an online platform to sell your creations on.

Love these business ideas?

Starting a business doesn’t have to break the bank. You can create a full-time income with any these great business ideas. All it takes is a commitment to take action on making your dreams a reality.

Troops Face Hardship in Feeding Families

By Bianca Strzalkowski

A new coalition is combating food insecurity in the military after a recent survey showed service members are experiencing difficulties when trying to feed their family.

Fifteen percent of survey respondents state they have trouble getting enough food for them and their families to eat, according to 2018 data from the Military Family Advisory Network ( MFAN ). Dr. Shelley Kimball, the organization’s director of research, says although that number may seem small it needs to be addressed.

“Our research shows that not all military families have enough food to feed themselves and their families,” Kimball said. “When the numbers came up we were kind of shocked … From our perspective that number should be zero…and so to have anybody tell us their stories with food insecurity was heartbreaking.”

An additional 25 percent revealed they utilize food pantries in the local community when they don’t have enough to eat. Feeding America, which has 200 member food banks including near military installations, is among the coalition members. Taylor Miller, Community Outreach Manager of Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the

Eastern Shore, says there isn’t any one factor that leads a family to this type of need.

“The thing with food hardship is, it doesn’t necessarily exist in isolation. So, people aren’t just hungry because they’re hungry. There’s lots of underlying root causes to it … in terms of lack of affordable housing, health issues, un- and underemployment, lack of transportation, financial issues, and the big thing right now is simply not having enough to make ends meet,” she said.

Miller, who is a Navy wife, initially connected to the food bank as a volunteer after her husband received orders to Norfolk. She points out that her experience has taught her that no one is immune to the issue of food insecurity.

“With many Americans living paycheck to paycheck, all it takes it that one unexpected car repair, illness, layoff or we could even lump natural disaster to that right now, to unfortunately put someone in a place where they need assistance putting food on the table for their families,” Miller said. And experts find that these types of challenges go well beyond finances, a common misunderstanding surrounding the topic. It simply comes down to expenses exceeding

income, Miller adds.

Rev. Douglas Greenaway, the National WIC Association’s (NWA) president and CEO, agrees. He says in the case of the nation’s military, his organization has long advocated for proper wages for troops so that they do not need these types of programs.

“I just want to be clear that the National WIC Association comes from a place of serving military families first and foremost, and we feel enlisted personnel should be adequately compensated for the tough work that they do so that at the end of the day families should not need to apply for this kind of support and assistance,” he said. WIC serves as a short-term intervention program designed to influence lifetime nutrition and health behaviors in a targeted, highrisk population, according to its website. Clients receive vouchers to purchase approved food items at the grocery store which are meant to supplement dietary needs.

Greenaway wants military families to know that the program exists to advance their quality of life.

“We are a welcoming, nonjudgmental program, and I think that’s the most important thing for people to remember. We are a hand up, not a hand out,” Greenaway said.

Elisabet Eppes, NWA’s Program Innovation Manager, says her organization joined forces with MFAN to ensure military families have greater access to WIC.

“For us, as the National WIC Association we would love for those (coalition) goals to be achieved of military families having better education and awareness of WIC, and clearing up some misconceptions that might exist about WIC,” she said. “Really promoting WIC in this population as something that is an empowering program and a tool for parents to use.”

Staff Sgt. Lance Holtgeerts picks up food collected for the Feds Feed Families food drive at the Fort McCoy, Wis., Commissary. The food drive is a federal initiative to help keep local food pantries stocked; all federal agencies are encouraged to participate. U.S. Army photo by Aimee Malone, Public Affairs Office, Fort McCoy, Wis.

Among those misconceptions facing the military demographic is what does and does not qualify as income when qualifying for WIC.

The NWA officials clarified that basic allowance for housing (BAH) should not be included as income for WIC. Additional military allowances that should not be counted, according to Eppes, are:

• Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance (FSSA);

• Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA)

• Combat pay;

• Overseas Cost of Living Allowance (OCONUS COLA).

Other members of the MFAN coalition include Food Research & Action Center , United Way, American Red Cross , Armed Services YMCA , National Military Family Association , and USO . The group will work together to address three key areas of education on the issue and the resources available, reduction of shame for those in need, and increased access to services.

MFAN Executive Director Shannon Razsadin says her organization brought together these expert groups to ensure a tangible difference can be made for military families—including growing awareness to the issue.

“Food insecurity is not unique to military families, yet we know there are nuances of military life that need to be considered when identifying and implementing solutions. This is a complex issue, but with these organizations involved, we are poised to make a lasting impact, responsibly,” Razsadin added.

If you are a military family in need of food assistance, the full list of Feeding America locations is available at https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank . To find a local WIC office in your area, search http://www.signupwic.com . Visit https://militaryfamilyadvisorynetwork.org to learn more about the Military Family Advisory Network.

Service Area: 4,745 sq. miles.

11 cities and counties.

Number of Total Pounds Distributed: 18 million

Number of Meals Distributed: 15 million

Number of People Served – Unduplicated: 182,000 *est

Number of visits that customers accessed an agency (food pantry or soup kitchen): over 1.1 million

Number of Agencies (food pantry or soup kitchen), Mobile Pantry sites, Kids Café sites, and BackPack Schools: 370

The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore provides one snapshot of the needs being met near military installation communities around the US.

1 in 3 military spouses say they are NOT prepared at all to meet a financial emergency

73%

69%

are spending the same or more than in 2017

23% are saving the same or more than in 2017

43% said financial concerns are the primary reason they experience relationship issues in their family, compared with 28% who said deployments and separations

have more credit card debt than in 2017

1 in 2

have more than $5k in credit card debt

30%

have more than $10k in credit card debt