Bargain Shopping

People are finally realizing there are many many ways out there to save money and not have to pay full price for things. Now I'm not an extreme couponer like some of these people, however if I went and bought ink for my printer well then I could probably save a ton of money. I like bargains, and I love not paying full price for things!! I don't see the point. Now to find a coupon to not pay full price for an ink cartridge and go buy a news paper... Those are the goals for today!

Well Sure

For starters. See you all freaked out over nothing. We're still getting paid, the right and on time. Just in 2 increments. Of course I was also annoyed about not getting a full check, but until these things actually happen do what you have to do to cover your butt and wait and see. It'll be okay.

Next. I'm not even sure why I'm so annoyed about this, but here it goes. I made a list and asked someone's opinion and they gave me their opinion but it completely changed everything. I know I don't have to agree to it, but it really bothers me that I said I'm pretty positive about these things --- and a little unsure about these things --- and the feedback comes back with completely different things. I guess it's just at the point where I don't fit in that world and I never have and I'm not sad that I never will. We aren't who we use to be and it's stupid to pretend that we are. We came from the same place but took two totally different paths and now we're on complete oposite ends of the world and I don't see the point in pretending other wise. I think I might just hand over the reigns and back out. I think it will be much easier. I'll go to my cook out with beer in the backyard and you go sip your Martini's in the grand ball room maybe one day our paths will circle back around.

Pay Day!

Alright, so blogs are a place for venting right? Well here goes in an effort to not upset anyone I'll vent on here rather than my facebook status like everyone else. Okay so the gov't might shut down tonight at midnight and as a result we the military will only receive half of our pay. Does this suck? Yes of course it does anyone that works and doesn't get paid for it should be pissed off, but pay day hasn't happened yet!!! So the gov't shuts down and a ton of stuff closes (including the comissary, OMG), but does this really effect us until the 15? NO! Yes go look at your LES and it'll say that you're only getting half of your pay check. BUT then realize that it isn't pay day yet and DFAS can access your account anytime any day, and therefor can put in 2 allotments on pay day. Your first weeks pay and your 2nd weeks pay. So shut up! Just shut up!! Nothing has happened yet! Am I pretty freaking unhappy that I might not get paid? YES But is it the end of the freakin world. NO life will go on and we'll all figure out how to make hot dogs and mac'n cheese for the next few weeks!!

McDreamy Got Me

Random Fact #1: When I was at Basic Training David started to watch Greys Anatomy. I teased him and called him a bandwagon jumper. When I returned home he was watching it and of course I got sucked in and now I love Greys. I just can't help it! When it's on Aiden will come in the room and ask what we're doing. I usually tell him watching doctors and he says "Aiden watch doctors too." So he'll sit on the couch with me and watch "doctors" with me. Oh, and yes he talks in 3rd person. He's getting better but for now it's just absolutely adorable.

Wait For "Happy Birthday"

For those that don't know yet! We're expecting #2. This is peanut at 9 weeks. We're excited and nervous! We find out next month if it's a boy or girl, but of course the only thing that matter's is if he/she is healthy!! The doctor asked me last week if we wanted a boy or a girl. My answer: we want breathing and kicking!

Now some pictures of the boys:

Aiden and Daddy at Bass Pro Shop

Altlanta Aquarium

Playing Outside

Thanksgiving Headdresses

His Ginormous Wagon Made by Pap Pap

Since Aiden's birthday he keeps saying "Happy Birthday!" I kept telling him that Mommy's Happy Birthday is next, and he kept ask "And Aiden's Happy Birthday?" I tolld him he would be here too, so yes he would have Happy Birthday too.

Yesterday I took him to meet Pap Pap so he could visit at Grandma's house for the weekend. Aiden said "Wait for Happy Birthday!" So my birthday is on hold until Monday, or at least Aiden thinks so.

Every year people make New Year's resolutions and give up things for lent. I instead USUALLY give up something around the begining of ive up something around the beginning of February through my birthday. This year life has been crazy and I didn't even think about so my Birthday resolution this year is to blog more. At least once a week that way if there's anyone out there reading they'll have something to read. Not to mention one day when I'm 90 I'll have something to laugh at with my great great grand children.

Good Guy, Bad Guy

http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpp/news/local_news/032709_Philly_Police_Officer_Arrested_As_Drug_Dealer

I do feel sympathy for the officers families who have died in the line of duty. Just as I do for all of our military men and women and anyone else that takes on a life risking job. But on the other side of the police department we have drug dealers.... I just can't say more than that. Read the story.

Military Pay

Original Post:
I also don't buy the line about people in the military being underpaid. I have seen it come as a rude awakening to people who left the military only to find that they were in fact being OVERpaid based on the kind of wages/salary that their skill set commanded in the civilian world.
Postees reply to above post:
HA! you must be a POG or an officer that doesnt leave the ****ing green zone.COMBAT troops are under paid. My husband brings home 1600 a month. even when he picks up sgt he wont be making much more. So please tell me how hes over paid when a manager at micky d's is making more, or a wife working at the px is making more than he is.And if it wasnt for the BAH we couldnt afford to live on our own.So next time you decide to make a comment like that think about all the e-5's and below who are on the front lines watching their buddies get shot and killed for less than 8 dollars an hour all while wives like me are home trying to make each dollar count, and cutting costs any way they can.And FYI Infantry, mainly 0351 are some of the hardest MOS's to pick up rank in. Well in the Marine Corps anyway.
My reply to postee:

Okay I’m allowed to comment on this because I’m the fiancé of a former Marine and someone going into the Air Force after September. I’m assuming from this post that you’re husband is Cpl from the comment “even when he picks up sgt…” I will agree that your hubby most likely brings home a base pay of 1600 a month, but I will also say that you are receiving BAH as you said in your post, you’re also receiving other allowances that increas his pay. And as you say COMBAT troops are under paid yes fact I won’t argue with this however, if they are out there on the front line they are receiving even more in there pay check. As well as receiving money for you to sit at home miss him. Being over seas he has very little time to spend any of his hard earned money which means he goes busts his butt and trusts you to spend the money where you seem fit. Yes we sit at home making every penny count, but I’m also out working a full time job while raising our son. If you can’t figure out how to manage say an E-3 pay grade of well looks at the chart: E-3 is 1650, but you yourself said he’s a Cpl which brings in what? 1828 a month plus on average 1000 in BAH plus about 200-300 food allowance equals 3028 a month. Then what the heck are you doing with all of his money. Now I’m not posting this as is because I don’t know you I don’t know you’re situation, and therefore don’t want this to come off as a personal attack because it’s not its just annoying that military wives go in thinking oh my Marine or my Soldier or my Airman or my Sailor is going to provide me a fabulous wonderful life while I sit on my ass and do nothing.


Alright folks it’s time for me to explain all of this gibberish at the top. I’ve been reading this forum and the above is something that someone wrote on the topic of our Military Servicemen being underpaid. I feel very strongly about this because David just got of the Marine Corps, which appears to be the branch this “postees” husband is in, and I’m joining the Air Force after the wedding which means that I’ve been doing nothing but research on the topic for the past year+. Above “postees” husband would have to be the same rank as David was when we first got together, and therefore I know what his pay was and a little about managing this amount of money from month to month. The above chart shows that someone at their pay grade of E-4 for someone that’s only been in for LESS than 2 years (which if you go in right out of high school and have no way of receiving advance rank before you enter is pretty unlikely unless you bust your ass, of course if you’re a Marine then this is a hands down no brainer and you should be doing this anyway) None the less, The BASE pay is: 1828 a month. For those that don’t know this is more like your wages that are taxable and so they probably bring home around 1600. So lets divide this out: David was I&I so he worked approximately 60 hours a week (at least) so that’s $6.67 an hour. Extremely underpaid, HOWEVER what people don’t tell you is that he also receives 1675 a month of BAH. (Money given when you have dependents and live off base OR when you’re active duty and stationed at a reserve center that doesn’t have military housing. This amount depends on your zip code) This amount of money is considered an allowance which means it is NOT taxable so that entire amount is divided up into your 2 pay checks. So lets add that on ($1600(base pay)+$1675(housing pay)=$3275 and at 60 hours a week=13.64/hour) $13.64 still underpaid okay I’ll give you that. HOWEVER every military member living off base also receives BAS ((money to offset the cost of food and meals for the military member(not his/her family)) in an amount of $323.87 Lets add (3275+323.87=3598.87/month=$14.99/hr) okay so sure still underpaid, but lets add in the factor of free health care for you and your entire family (3598.87-0=3598.87 still brought home a month), plus free education for your family if you’re willing to do the research (3598.87-0=3598.87 still brought home a month), plus life insurance worth a quarter million dollars, free training, 99% job security in today’s economy, a retirement plan that can’t be compared to ANY other plan, plus the ability to buy a house for little or NO money down and low mortgages, plus if he unfortunately does get deployed and is away from dependents for more than 30 days he receives FSA of 250 a month, he also receives other bonuses for being deployed to certain areas. I’ve known many many many military men and women that have come back from a combat zone after 6 or 7 months with an EXTRA AFTER ALL OF THAT PAY approximately $25,000. AND the BIGGEST reason this gets to me is: NO ONE SAYS YOU HAVE TO JOIN THE SERVICE. It’s a choice!! The pay charts are right in your face before you sign that contract. AND if you’re a wife (or husband) that wants to complain about what your other brings home if you can’t make 3600 dollars a month work then you need A. money management classes and/or B. go get a job!! It’s not that hard of a concept there are hundreds if not thousands of sites out there for jobs for military spouse employment help because businesses know the military travels so often and therefore they’re understanding! Not only that but I’d also like to mention all of the places that offer military discounts to help you save money, some places all you have to do is ask and they’ll hook you up! We went to a Phillies game and “normally they don’t do this” but we paid for 1 ticket and got the other free. AND the above calculations are for a person of an E-4 rank with less than 2 years of service. Each year of service receives an increase of pay, a clothing allowance as well increase of pay with promotion which depends on how hard you bust your ass. AND if you’re into receiving an education many many many schools offer online classes, a military discount to service members as well as spouses and dependents and military leave/deployment option. You put your education on hold while you’re deployed and resume classes when you return. I could go on and on, but I won’t I think I’ve made my point. On the other hand I will say that our military does put there life on line however as I said above it’s a choice in life not a requirement.
If anyone would like my sources on this info I will be more than happy to give you my researched information.