Archives for 2014

Do You Really Need An Allotment?

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: June 12, 2019 Leave a Comment

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Starting in January 2015, active-duty servicemembers can no longer take out allotments to buy or rent "personal property": vehicles, furniture, electronics, appliances or recreational gear. If you have an existing allotment in place before 1 January, then that allotment will continue until you stop it. The new rule only applies to active-duty … [Read more...] about Do You Really Need An Allotment?

Why I Won’t Buy Long-Term Care Insurance

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: December 5, 2018 21 Comments

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Note: My Dad passed away on 18 November 2017 from end-stage Alzheimer's. This post is about my experiences with his insurance during the years 2011-2014. There are hundreds of posts on the pros and cons of long-term care insurance, but most of them approach the question from a financial perspective. Today we're going to look at other aspects of … [Read more...] about Why I Won’t Buy Long-Term Care Insurance

Book Review: Rich As A King

Humor me on this post. I'll make it relevant to financial independence in a few paragraphs. [Sidebar: If you read this post all the way to the bottom, then you'll see a fundraising link for cool swag to crowdsource the Hawaii Chess Academy. That link (not affiliated with The-Military-Guide.com) will also give you a chance to hang out with the … [Read more...] about Book Review: Rich As A King

How To Get Military Discounts On Flights

Author: Curtez Last Updated: August 11, 2021 2 Comments

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Our airlines are very much in tune with how appreciative the country is for our Service Members. After all, there are pilots, mechanics and more working in the industry who came straight from a Military career. In fact, AOL Jobs named a pilot as one of the top 10 jobs if you're leaving the military. That ensures a close connection between the … [Read more...] about How To Get Military Discounts On Flights

Book Review: Gold Diggers And Deadbeat Dads

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: July 12, 2018 Leave a Comment

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I read a lot of personal finance books. They'll talk about financial independence and budgets and saving and investing, of course. Some of them start with getting out of debt while others help you create your retirement plan. The vast majority focus on the dollars and the investment math. You would think that the genre has been thoroughly … [Read more...] about Book Review: Gold Diggers And Deadbeat Dads

Military Discounts Are Not Entitlements

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: August 11, 2021 4 Comments

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So, you're like me. You walk up to the register at a popular retail store; there are three people in line behind you. Although you're only twenty minutes from a military base, you've done your best to grow your hair out and blend in with the civilian population. You're facing the same dilemma so many of us feel: is it embarrassing to ask for a … [Read more...] about Military Discounts Are Not Entitlements

One More Year Syndrome

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: June 27, 2018 2 Comments

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Many of my posts on financial independence come from reader questions. I answer roughly five e-mails or Facebook queries for every post that you see here. I'm not just recycling my keyboard wisdom into the blog, although that efficiency appeals to my frugal nature! I'm also showing you that many servicemembers, families, and even retirees are … [Read more...] about One More Year Syndrome

Reduce Your Driving Risks After Deployment

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: February 11, 2019 4 Comments

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Would you like USAA to pay you $25 to take their driving assessment? They want to hear from members who are on active duty or in the Reserves (or their spouses), or who have retired or separated within the last six months. You must have returned from an overseas deployment in the last six months. The full list of requirements is at USAA's … [Read more...] about Reduce Your Driving Risks After Deployment

“Do I Really Need Servicemembers Group Life Insurance?”

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: August 11, 2021 7 Comments

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A reader asks about the post how much life insurance is necessary: I just thought of a follow-up question to this article because it really got me thinking about getting rid of our SGLI coverage. What kind of benefits will a spouse or family receive if an active duty member dies? I found this report about survivor benefits: It states that the … [Read more...] about “Do I Really Need Servicemembers Group Life Insurance?”