What to Expect When Your Loved One Attends Basic Training
by Meg Flanagan Your loved one is off to join the military. As they head to basic training, often called “boot camp,” you’ll need to do a little learning of your own. Welcome to your new role as a military-connected family member! Let’s walk through everything you need to know so you can be ready, […]
Here’s How Military Brides Can Get Free Wedding Dresses
I did not have a “say yes to the dress moment.” I had a lot of, “oh my gawd, no” moments, but when I put on the dress that I would eventually pick for our wedding, I didn’t cry or get choked up. I didn’t proclaim to my assembled family that this was “the one.” […]
How to Make Ends Meet as a Military Family on One Salary
Less than $5,000. That’s what I made–cumulatively–during the first half year I was a military spouse. I had a master’s from a major university. I had five years of work experience with outstanding recommendations from my superiors. I had worked hard– really hard– during that first half year of marriage. I was teaching as many […]
Dear “Just a” Military Wife: To the Spouse Who Feels Out of Place
Dear “Just a” Military Wife, My phone dinged the other day and I found myself habitually reaching for it, swiping the screen, and reading your email. You asked me how to feel part of the military community, how to get support– after all you were just a National Guard wife. It’s a refrain I’ve heard often […]
Military Spouse, You Don’t Have to Give Up Your Career
The first thing I worried about when John popped the question was… my career. How was I going to maintain my sense of self and my career during John’s military career? I didn’t want to look back five, 10, or 20 years later wistfully sighing, “If only…” I wanted to care for my career path. […]
9 Insanely Easy Ways Milspouses Can Protect Their Privacy Online
The internet is awesome. It has connected me to people from all over the world. It helped me land a job. It gives me the ability to be an entrepreneur. But it can also be a little scary– especially if you haven’t been exactly diligent about guarding your identity and your information online. But don’t worry; […]
27 Tested, Mailable Recipes for Care Packages
I was a really dumb military girlfriend. When John deployed, I dug right into care packages. I didn’t do much research. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. Sure, I was worried about things breaking or going bad, but I didn’t research things extensively. Looking back now, I should probably have asked around […]
10 Facts You Don’t Know About the TRICARE Dental Program
This post was sponsored by the MetLife TRICARE Dental Program as part of an Ambassador Program for Influence Central. When I first became a military spouse, I was a little skeptical about the health care services available to me. After all, I had heard a lot of complaining and cynical comments about it all. It […]
6 Money Hacks to Save More at the Commissary
There are a lot of misconceptions about Commissaries, especially when it comes to the variety of products and the price of them. It’s true, shoppers at Commissaries are able to save money, but I think a lot of people think that the savings are unbelievable. By law, Commissaries must sell their products at cost. Commissaries […]
Commissary 101: The Basics
The Commissary is not your average off-base, civilian grocery store. I’m not saying that to scare you; I’m just letting you know. Especially if you’re very new to military life, it can be a little intimidating. (I know I was the first few times we went!) There are certain procedures, rules, and policies put in […]
