By Kathy Adams
Amber Reeves was on a mission.
Grasping a handwritten list, she browsed the aisles at the Food Lion near her Chesapeake home on payday last Friday, comparing prices and filling her cart with necessities: white bread, canned vegetables, ground beef. She stood firm when her two children reached for junk food.
"No, sir. Put it back," she told her 9-year-old son, Larry, as he grabbed a box of Twinkies.
Only one extra item made it into the cart: a bag of Bugles.
For Reeves, staying within her family's budget, which allows only $250 per month for groceries, takes careful planning, smart shopping and discipline.
And some key help from the military.
Reeves said it would be almost impossible to make ends meet if her husband, Petty Officer 2nd Class Thomas Reeves, weren't in the Navy.
The military offers resources and benefits that, in these tough economic times, give families a vital financial buffer: comprehensive medical and dental benefits; reduced-price, tax-free groceries at the commissary; and housing with fixed-price utilities.
Reeves shops at Food Lion and Wal-Mart, looking for sales and generic brands because there isn't a commissary nearby. But living in military housing and having good medical benefits for her two children, who both have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and bipolar disorder, makes all the difference for her family.
"It does help a lot because if we didn't have the base housing, I don't think we could make the bills that we have," Reeves said. "So that makes it a very big blessing to be able to have that."
Military housing saves the family money on rent and utilities and gives them some extra room in their budget for emergencies or the occasional luxury, such as a recent trip to the movies to see Disney's "WALL -E," Reeves said. They're also careful to avoid debt and put aside money each month for extra expenses, such as frequent repairs on her husband's 2001 Oldsmobile Alero.
"Fortunately we don't have a lot of bills because we've been very careful about that," Reeves said. "It's a lot about budgeting and planning. It really helps a lot."
Other military families also are feeling the pinch.
"Money's been tight. Really, really tight," said Latoya Haywood as she and her husband, Army Spc. Ramon Haywood, loaded groceries into their car outside the Oceana Commissary on July 1, a payday. "We're trying to stretch the dollar."
She recently began a home child care business to bring in extra income, she said.
Though military families have additional resources and benefits available to them, the rising costs of gas, food and utilities are pushing more of them to seek extra help. That's where military aid organizations such as the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and Army Emergency Relief come in. They offer emergency financial assistance and education to service members and their dependents.
From January to June in Hampton Roads, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society handled 74 percent more cases and gave out 22 percent more aid than during the same period last year. This aid totaled more than $2.7 million in grants and loans for basic living expenses, transportation needs and emergencies, such as a death in the family.
During that time period, assistance doubled for transportation expenses such as gas and insurance, said Kathy Nelson, director of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society in Norfolk.
"We see a number of sailors or Marines and their families who are living very close to the margins," she said. They just might be "squeezed" financially or they "may have made poor choices," so when prices increase or emergencies arise, they have no extra room in the budget to absorb the costs.
The society's appointments are booked solid almost every day.
The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society does more than just dole out money. Its volunteers create a detailed budget for each client.
"Sometimes our best assistance for them may not be money," Nelson said. "The reason people come to us is because they need money, but our best help may be doing a budget."
Teaching the relief society's clients financial responsibility plays a big role, she said. The organization provides classes and counseling on how to budget, save, use credit responsibly, and avoid payday lending and high-interest debt.
"We find that many people did not have good training or education or role models, and so they've made financial choices that have not always been very wise," Nelson said, "and that has put them in a situation where they could not pay for some of their basic living needs."
The Navy's Fleet and Family Support Centers of Hampton Roads offers pre-deployment briefings, one-on-one counseling, money-management classes and a Spouse Employment Assistance Program.
These resources are essential for preventing financial problems that can distract service members and hurt their performance at work, said Jamie Forrest, financial educator for the Fleet and Family Support Center at Little Creek Navy Amphibious Base.
"A lot of the emphasis that we give is on education and preventative measures," she said. "We want to give them the skills to build wealth and not debt."
Various community organizations also help military families in need.
Operation Homefront, for example, offers school supplies, home appliance and auto repair, moving assistance, and other services. One of its programs donates computers to families so they can better communicate with deployed service members.
That's how Amber Reeves got involved with the nonprofit. Operation Homefront gave her a computer so she could e-mail her husband during deployments when he was stationed on the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman. Now she volunteers with the organization to help struggling families in her neighborhood.
While civilian families are also feeling the pinch, military life can provide extra financial challenges, Forrest said. Deployments and frequent relocations often make it difficult for a service member's spouse to find work and build a career, and maintaining a two-income household can be especially difficult when one spouse is deployed and child care costs are high.
"Just with the tempo of deployments and all the demands that are put upon the military because of everything that's going on in the world... that has an impact on the family and finances," Forrest said. "It may be left up to one person in the couple to make a decision about the family's finances."
Reeves said one of the hardest sacrifices is being unable to afford a home.
It's "really sad because we'd like a home of our own, but that's not an attainable goal right now," she said.
But she's thankful for what her family has and for the help the military community provides.
"It's not that bad. We don't feel like we're missing out on anything. We're not going without. We're not starving," Reeves said. "God blesses us in many ways."
Kathy Adams, (757) 446-2583, kathy.adams@pilotonline.com
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as i see it
People signed up for the job knowing the benefits, and reportedly to "serve their country", and we thank you for that, but your challenges are no different than any other group of people wehn it comes to benefits.
WHO IS COMPLAINING HERE?
It looks to me like there is more complaining being done by the "civilians" on here than the military folks who have commented.
Instead of complaining, why don't you try and do something positive,tell someone in the military "thank you" for putting their life on the line for your freedom!! Most of those who have posted have no clue what benefits the military receive, you are only going by heresay. Until you walk a mile in their shoes, your opinion about thier pay means nothing. If you think the military gets paid better than you, why don't you go sign up? I bet you change your mind once they give you orders to Iraq!
To all that serve......thank
To all that serve......thank you for your service to our country!!
You made the choice
You made the choice to join the military. We do not have mandatory service in this country, but maybe we should. You could have gone to college (had thousands in student loans) and after 5 years, gotten a job making more than you are making after 5 years in the military but not many benefits though. It was your choice, no one forced you to join.
Sure the base may be a little bit of a drive, but there are two commisaries in this area, one in Norfolk and one in Va Beach. Less than 20 miles from anywhere in Tidewater. Gas an issue? Join forces with other military families and share the ride. I would spend $20 in gas to buy .50 eggs, 1.50 bacon AND not pay sales tax.
Stop making babies and live within your means. You are sounding like the people that complain about being on welfare. Ya don't like it, get a job.
I guess people will always gripe -
but, I will never get used to it. You try going on board a ship and leave your family for 7 months and see how well you fare afterwards mentally and physically. The deserve every penny. And I wish there were better finance education programs for the newbies because everyone will give them credit with their proof of military meal ticket. It's a shame. And the military does give them guidance, but not everyone takes it. Just like in every other job - people live above their means and don't budget and then come crying. The military definitely doesn't hand it out - it will get paid back like any other loan. And if I had to drive 20 miles to get to the commissary, I'd do it. I am a creature of habit and tend to buy the same foods over and over for the past few years and I noticed a huge difference from the major chains around here vs. the commissary. And a little trick - go on Ebay and look up coupons. May seem crazy, bu
Same old song and dance
Same old stories and half truths about the prices in the commissary and exchanges. Funny they never seem empty on any given day unless it’s close to payday. This story will never die and people eligible will still shop the commissary and exchanges. They moan and grown but continue shopping because they do save money. They just like to gripe to the Pilot or any military rag that will print it, every year…
I have noticed after years
I have noticed after years of working with the Navy that most military spouses do not work while still popping out baby after baby. Check the statistics of how many babies are born each month at NMCP.
I hardly know any family in the civilian sector that doesn't have both parents working. Maybe if they cut down on the number of children they have they wouldn't have to stay home due to the price of daycare and could contribute to their households.
Crazy
I don't know why I read the comments anymore - they just fire me up. I am not sure which commissary you all speak of - but the one in Norfolk is way cheaper than any other grocery store chain I have seen. And yes, a surcharge plus you tip the person who brings the bags to the car & loads them - but small price to pay. The military is a choice, and I willinginly married into it, was unwillingly born into it, and it really saddens me that so many people have such negative attitudes about our military. Maybe if some corporations out there took care of their employees like the military branches can - then you all wouldn't be complaining. But don't complain because my husband makes a certain amount and you don't. He's put in 21 years in the Navy and my father did 30 - and they darn well deserved every penny they got and the retirement pay as well.
NOT JUST MILITARY
While it is true that back in the day the commissary and exchanges saved the servicemember and their families money, that is no longer the case. There are a few items in each that are below market prices, but they have lost their advantage. Comparison shopping is alive and well.
As for the pay. I just retired and I agree with the other posters that the military members are paid well and know what we are obligated to do for the pay (For the most part). Some would not make the incomes that they do if they weren't in the military. There are alot of servicemembers that do live beyond their means and don't have solid financial plans (single or family)beyond living paycheck to paycheck (I was a Financial Specialist for over 9 years). These are hard times for everyone and the miltary does cut down on some expenses (life, health, and dental insurances at reduced cost)(tax fee when deployed and no vehicle tax
My-view
You can get help too, go take out a loan. That's what Navy Relief, CG Mutual Assitance, etc are. They LOAN you money and take it back out of your pay. Exchanges aren't any cheaper than WALMART or Best Buy, just no tax. Commissary, unless you live close to one, it takes awhile to drive there, some items may be cheaper, still pay a surcharge, so it balances out. Yes, everyone is hit hard during these times. Everyone just needs to live within their means.
Just my Opinion
Well being former military, I do feel it is a job. You are trained in field, and you go to work. I had duty every three days, including Holidays, I did it and didn’t expect anything in return. Also not everyone in the military works 7/24/365 in some military commands some areas have duty every six weeks (fact) And those same people work with my husband, who I might add does not get over time too! Times have changed and now a days some think they are owed the world! You can get $6000.00 to reenlist and what do some do with that extra cash-buy SUV's, Xbox, games and so on.... Heck I saw one guy complain he couldn’t take his family to Disney World on his military pay?!?!? Is that a need??? I really think the military does a lot for their members and families. Like I said before its hard for a lot us, military is not alone in this. Just the military is getting a little help, and we aren’t.
It all come's down to...
A LOT of people are struggling out there, one poster said the military should be taken care of b/c they put their lives on the line, well so do the police & firemen, hell even the mail people have their risks! Just b/c you're military don't think that gives you a sense of entitlement...especially the wives (of course that is a whole other topic). I'm not here to bash b/c I have been on both sides...
"comment"
"Reeves said it would be almost impossible to make ends meet if her husband, Petty Officer 2nd Class Thomas Reeves, weren't in the Navy."
This statement plainly states that being in the Navy is better for them.
actually Steve...continued
a teacher in Chespeake VA, in 2007, according to http://www.teacher-world.com/teacher-salary/virginia.html, the closest years exp was 8. These days a teacher must have a Masters Degree to teach so, they make 46,278.00 gross, again, 21% tax bracket, 9718.38 annually in taxes...leaving a net of 36,559.62 annually, or 1406.33 on the 1st and 15th of every month, the teacher doesn't work weekends, holidays, or summers, unless they want to teach summer school. The military member may not have a degree from a college, but has been through several schools, advanced schools and so forth for their field. I'll let you figure out the hourly rate for each of them.
Actually Steve
I just looked at the recent pay charts. Figuring a normal 6 month deployment, an E5 with dependents gets 3597.03 a month, before taxes, and yes they pay taxes, and that includes BAH, food, and clothing allowance. Now figure they get taxed in the 21% bracket, that's 755.38 in taxes, leaving 2841.65 net, meaning 1,420.83 on the 1st and 15th of every month. Giving them a net of 36,941.45 per year. And they have all the same bills as a civilian, unless they are in government housing, in which case they lose 815.70 per month gross. And then if they use too much electricity or gas or oil for heat or whatever, they get charged the difference between what is allowed and what was used, and are at risk of losing their government housing. Now, lets look at say, a teacher. continued on another post.....
Volunteer for Service?
Military members do willingly join the armed forces, but isn't that the same as a civilian choosing the jobs he wants to apply for? We, military and civilian alike, all choose to some degree our occupations. A single mother who's a civilian might apply to and accept a job at any grocery store that hires her just to make ends meet. A military member might join for the same reasons-to have a secure job that guarantees he or she will be able to make ends meet. Just because they choose to join doesn't mean they don't deserve to be appropriately compensated for doing their jobs, and when there are so many military families that are struggling financially while trying to serve the an ungrateful and undeserving public, something is very wrong.
Military Benefits
I feel that being in the military is a distinct honor and feel the US should pay appropriately to take care of those serving and their families in whatever way the rest of us work to take care of ourselves. This does include each family needs to manage what they have to work with as all of us do. Those that are complaining about not having enough this and that, excuse me: Didn't you volunteer for the Armed Forces? You knew when you signed up that you may have to go to war and give your life, heaven forbid. All this to say is you didn't HAVE to go into the military so appreciate what you have. Most families in the civilian work two jobs if they have to. I appreciate the military and when I hear jets flying at night over my house while I'm watching my tv, I say to myself "That's the sound of freedom". Thank you to all who serve willingly in the military.
RE My_view
A job is job? an E-6 makes more money then my husband and they do the same job
No, unless your husband is also in the military. The military is a way of life - a lifestyle, not a job.
If your husband were required to be on call 24/7/365 he might expect to be compensated accordingly. If he were required to leave home for months or years at a time he might even expect them to provide him with a place for his family to live. Don't insult the military by comparing what they do to a 'job'.
Young military families struggle just like young civilian families and it all comes down to living within your means. Yes in some ways the military has it good but they don't get their bennies by putting in 40-hour weeks. (BTW, military housing ain't all that!)
God bless our military men and women.
jmo
RE: to rlesley74
You do the math
I was an E-6 with 5 years in, it was about $2400 I think
Married BAH as an E-6 was about $1300(tax free)
Comrats about $300 tax free, SeaPay Over 4yrs, plus kicker roughly $400,
and I was getting supervisory ProPay which was $275 I think
So I may have been off it might have only been $4300 take home. Sorry
Right now I get less than that before taxes, forget about take home
In response
Just because you are deployed does not mean your pay is tax free. If it happens to be, its federal.I figure you spend months at a time away from your family so whats $4000? My husband is on his way to a one year deployment in Afghanistan- I'd rather have him home then see the tax free money.
Interesting article and
Interesting article and comments. I have a friend in the military (he is not an officer and I do not know what he makes), but he told me the other week he's worried about how he's going to take care of his family and pay all the bills when he is OUT of the military. I asked if he was doing ok right now, because I had always heard the military is not paid well. He told me "yes we are fine now, it's after the military I'm worried about". I found that a surprising comment.
If the benefits are so great
Then please, by all means go down to your local recruiting office and sign on the dotted line. It is hard for military families who move around all over the place and never know what they are going to be paying from one area to the next. Yes we get benefits, but I'll tell you what, it's pittance compared to the long hours of work and dedication to our country that these brave men and women put in.
As for having families one cannot afford? How about the fact that 4 years ago some of them could easily afford the family they have and while the familial needs have not changed the economy has. I thank god that I have a roof over my head, food in my mouth and clothes on my back, and I have my Navy husband to thank for that, but to tell you the truth, without the benefits, NO military other than officers would be able to afford living in the outside world.
You make your bed you lay in it. Want the benefits, join up. Don't com
50 grand a year
According to the pay charts, an E5 married with six years in and three years of sea time gets around 4200 a month. That includes his housing and food allowances, as well as sea pay. If he is deployed, chances are good that all that is tax free. The average enlisted military retiree gets 1500 a month retainer, plus maybe three grand a month as a contractor. He doesn't work OT by govt. edict, doesn't get promotions, only COLA pay raises, looks for a new job every three years or so, and pays the full range of taxes and fees for everything. Now the civilians on this board can compare apples to apples.
4 comments delayed...Why Pilot?
I have 4 comments that you have delayed and for no good reason. I have not broken any guidelines. If you are going to delay comments at least send us an email and tell us why. We can't fix something unless we know it's broken!
Why does all of the media want to portray military pay as so low
that it takes pinching pennies to survive. I left only a few years ago, and I did just fine. I didn't understand how some of my contemporaries were so stretched. I remember a couple only having $50 a payday coming to them while deployed (the rest went back to momma - who may or may not have had a job). I enjoyed the sights, purchased almost anything I wanted and still my household remained intact. I guess having a gas-guzzling Expedition as a daily driver may have an impact. Also, the Bingo and other little niceties that weren't mentioned in the story contributed to the low fund reserve. One thing I can suggest - tell mom to get off her fat butt and find a job; General Hospital isn't putting one dime into your pocket!
a Job is a job....
There always has to be somebody who brings up that the military is out to sea for months. But come on your in the Navy, you will be out to sea and that’s part of your job. Just like the firefighter who runs in to a burning home to save the family in side. Nobody's job is perfect, but let’s stick to the story. Cost of living in this area is outrageous and with cost going up, families are losing their homes, or jobs. Some families in the military are free of mortgage or rent, not many civilians can say that. Look at the military homes on Princess Anne, beautiful homes and at no cost. Some civilians have more bills (car tax, home, electric) and less money in their paycheck. I know people in the military, and an E-6 makes more money then my husband and they do the same job and we support a bigger family. Bottom line, a lot of people are struggling but let’s not make this a problem only put on the military. The Pilot nee
Good grief!
Some of you are real Negative Nellies! This particular story was about the increase in military families seeking assistance. Crying about your own issues in response to this story is like a renter crying about an article on home foreclosure! Not every story applies to every person!
The military serves a very valuable purpose and they are not highly compensated at all. My husband retired after 21 years (and I am afraid I really do need to throw down the proverbial flag on the 6 year veteran who claimed to be taking home $4500 per month...as that is roughly what my husband was grossing as a 21 year Chief on shore duty in 2005), we missed birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and many baby "firsts"...and there were tough times such as serious illnesses when there was no family to turn to for help because of geographic separation.
Those of you who think its an easy life, easy money
VA pilot watchdogs Be polite
I have posted 3 comment and you have delayed all 3. There has been nothing wrong with my comments and they meet all guidelines. If you are going to delay or remove comments please have the common curotisy to emasil us and tell us why.
lets not forget military retirement and
Health care, plus education benefits. No other sector has such benefits.
Boo Hoo Sob Sob!
Another weepy whiney story about living on military pay. Most of these guys who can't make ends meet in supporting a family are COLLEGE aged for crying out loud. Anybody feel sorry for an undergraduate who cannot support a wife and kids?
Unless these military guys are total screw ups, then by the time they are old enough to be college graduates they are making more money than teachers, nurses, police officers, and legions of other civilian counterparts with college degrees... but without student loans!