Archives for July 2013

The Bright Side of Solar Power Purchase Agreements

Author: Eddie Wills Last Updated: July 13, 2018 2 Comments

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I recently signed a Solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and had Ten Photovoltaic (PV) panels installed on the roof of the GubMints Home. I have been 'kicking the tires' of rooftop solar for about 2 years now, soliciting bids once every 6-10 months. Until recently, most of the bids involved an outlay of anywhere from $3,000 to $13,000 and a … [Read more...] about The Bright Side of Solar Power Purchase Agreements

I’m Still a Tricare Delinquent

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: June 11, 2019 Leave a Comment

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[As this post goes live, Tropical Storm Flossie is approaching the Hawaii islands. It's borderline hurricane strength, and despite that wussy dental name it's still going to dump 6-10 inches of rain on us. It's quite possible that Oahu electricity & Internet will go out. My tiny little share of a Bluehost server is on the Mainland and I have … [Read more...] about I’m Still a Tricare Delinquent

Entrepreneur Resources for Veterans

We bloggers get to talk with interesting people who you'd rarely see at your local surf break. They share their stories or advice, and occasionally I can help them answer their questions. Many servicemembers (and their families) are concerned about making the transition to civilian life. They're hesitant to leave the military and they're trying … [Read more...] about Entrepreneur Resources for Veterans

Extreme Home Improvement: The Finances of Your Residential Photovoltaic Array

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: June 11, 2019 8 Comments

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A reader writes: I remember reading somewhere that you had installed solar panels onto your house yourself. You mentioned that you were able to do it in cheap enough that the initial outlay of cash was completely covered by tax rebates. My husband and I just moved to California. Out here it is really popular to "rent" solar panels. We would … [Read more...] about Extreme Home Improvement: The Finances of Your Residential Photovoltaic Array

Maximizing Your Civil Service Computation Date

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: August 11, 2021 Leave a Comment

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Here's a unique combination of a reader question about federal civil service-- and a free eBook from GubMints.com. The link below is only FREE until 11:59 PM PDT Friday. If you're reading this post at your usual Thursday morning time, then you probably have less than 40 hours left. First, I'm posting the reader question to see if anyone else has … [Read more...] about Maximizing Your Civil Service Computation Date

Three Reasons to Keep Your Retirement Savings in the Thrift Savings Plan

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: June 11, 2019 6 Comments

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Disclaimer: This guest post is written by an advocate of tactical asset allocation using the Thrift Savings Plan. It's a form of active investment management, and I do not support that. However, despite our different perspectives, we managed to find a few things about the TSP that we agree on. I think this particular message is … [Read more...] about Three Reasons to Keep Your Retirement Savings in the Thrift Savings Plan

“I’m in the Military and I Just Got My Degree! Now What?”

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: June 11, 2019 2 Comments

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[Note: This reader's question has been edited to preserve their anonymity, but the subject also applies to just about any military specialty. If you have a similar story then we'd like to read it too!] A reader writes: I stumbled on your site and was excited to read what you had to say about military retirements. I am a 13 year active duty, … [Read more...] about “I’m in the Military and I Just Got My Degree! Now What?”

Divorce And A Military Reserve Pension

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: August 6, 2019 9 Comments

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A reader writes: My husband was commissioned after ROTC in August 1966, placed on an educational deferment, and did not start active duty until February 1968. How many retirement points did he earn over that period and where is a regulation that addresses this? After some more questions, I learned: The time from commission to active duty had no … [Read more...] about Divorce And A Military Reserve Pension

Book Review: “Rent vs. Own”

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: June 11, 2019 10 Comments

Advertiser Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any other entity. This site may be compensated through the advertiser Affiliate Program. For more information, please see our Advertising Policy.

When you're striving for financial independence, does it really make sense to rent instead of owning your own home? One of the hidden costs of serving your country is relocating all over the world. The moving process is hard enough: my spouse and I have 19 duty stations between us, and we spent more of our careers outside the continental U.S. … [Read more...] about Book Review: “Rent vs. Own”