Originally Posted by allinaugust

I think any time you post on a public message board, you are opening yourself up to whatever comments come your way. You won't always like those comments, as was displayed here.

You chose to get in the "conversation" by posting and telling people your experiences of military life and money. Others gave their two cents and commented on what you "said". No, I believe you were one of the people who ran with things and replied in a snotty manner.

From someone who knows the workings of the military pretty well, and the pay scales, etc. I have no problem stating what I think of the situation based on the information you gave.
I thank you to understand that my dh served 21 years in the military. I was married the entire time. Pay charts do not tell the entire store.. Some E-2's make more with hiring bonuses..some E-2's work in cushy offices while others are snipes in the boiler room. You have the gall to act like you are the be all end all of the military. Were you ever stationed in my commands ? How can you know what it is all about if you were not stationed there. Are you telling me the military of today is the same when my dh enlisted ? Mid-80's ? We did not even have email back then. So, please, do not act like you are the final authority on military life.

If someone is living rent and utility free, with a steady income, FREE medical, discounted groceries (can't forget those) and still claiming they have it so bad they are picking out poo from a baby's diaper.....um, yeah, something's wrong with that picture and I'm going to say so. If someone is living rent and utility free..ok, let's go there. The BAQ MY dh would of gotten if he did not live in housing would be added in his check..since we lived in housing..they DEDUCTED the BAQ from his check..same with utilities money..so, it was NOT " FREE" living...Nowadays they have BAH, but hey, guess what..this was BAQ allowance..dare you go there with talking how BAQ differs from BAH today ? I didn't think so..

Free medical ? Oh, by that do you mean a clinic..NAVCARE..where you could not make an appts..you sat in a chair in a crowded room for hours on end, waiting to be seen..a 6-7 hour wait was the norm..only to be given the bum's rush with a fussy sick baby. & let's talk the old CHAMPUS method of military care..let's talk "free"..everytime my child went to the ER, I paid $1,000 at LEAST...Free ? I think not..now they have TRICARE..but this was the Navy I was in..and medical care was not always free.

Discounted groceries ? In Cuba we had ONE grocery store, the commissary..food came by barge every 2 weeks from the states..many times our shelves would be bare..no chance to shop around,,and you could not go off base..Commissary shopping does save money, but when your shelves are limited because the barge of food did not come in, you don't have much choice.



Rhetorical Question, but, Cubmom2, did you ever consider going to Navy Relief?? For those unaware of Navy Relief, it is a sort of military self help for those struggling. They give no interest loans for car repair, give you groceries, emergency funds if needed.....and if warranted. If you go, and they see you are spending frivilously, don't count on any money from them. They also offer budgeting courses. Really, the resources are so very plentiful, I just hate to hear people speak of how awful they had it.