Military Life

Delivery of W-2 forms is a little bit easier this year, thanks to myPay. All military and Defense Finance and Accounting Service civilian users who request or already have a myPay personal identification number and ...

My grandmother, Big Mama, was a stickler for order. From Big Mama I learned to look at a financial situation and come up with a plan. I try to pass on that wisdom to readers, ...

"The line between success and failure can be expressed in five words: 'I did not have time.'"--Franklin Field Flake is another word for loser--plain and simple. Having both studied, represented, and befriended extraordinary, successful people, ...

Should you fear the Internal Revenue Service? Not if you know your rights as a taxpayer and you respond to the first notice you get from the IRS, says Scott M. Estill, a tax attorney. ...

I was inspired to start my first business when I found a hand buzzer in my corn flakes cereal box at age seven. I began charging my classmates for handshakes at five cents for girls ...

Are you a serial returner? By that, I mean, do you routinely return items, especially holiday gifts? If so, be forewarned. Some retailers have resorted to using a computer database to track customer returns and ...

You just signed on the dotted line that all your household goods arrived safely at your new home, and the movers disappeared faster than you can say "abracadabra!" That's when it hits you: You haven't ...

You just signed on the dotted line that all your household goods arrived safely at your new home, and the movers disappeared faster than you can say "abracadabra!" That's when it hits you: You haven't ...

The myriad military pay entitlements for members of the uniformed services can seem confusing, even overwhelming. Several factors determine the actual pay amount a service member receives – the service member’s rank, military specialty, length ...

Everybody complains that their paycheck doesn't go far enough. So what can be done to maximize your income with the least amount of effort? For military folks, there are a surprising number of options. Here ...

The minute my husband was notified of his first duty station, I began doing my homework. I scoured the Internet, reading apartment reviews and online housing forums, and emailed local buildings with vacancies. As a ...

Much of America was introduced to Lajes Field, the Azores, as the site of the March summit meeting where President Bush and the leaders of Great Britain, Spain and Portugal met to prepare for war ...

Military spouses applying for jobs are faced with tough questions. But with a little preparation, you can be ready for whatever an interviewer is likely to throw at you. There are two things any job ...

I'm a military wife and stay-at-home mom. I spend my days eating chocolate kisses, meeting my girlfriends for extended lunches and playing bunko. I do all this while cleverly and conveniently avoiding work and my ...

How can you get the military to give you a $1,167,448 bonus? It's simple: All you have to do is retire with an annual pension of $35,000 at age 43 after 20 years of service. ...

Small Island, Big Military Presence Many soldiers and sailors know the Territory of Guam as the faraway place where their plane or ship stopped on the way to another destination. But the tiny island is ...

Members of the military dealing with credit card debt face an extra level of penalties if that debt becomes delinquent or excessive: They could lose their security clearance, be denied promotions and, in extreme circumstances, face dismissal. ...

Spring is set to arrive and, for many military families, it's relocation season again. Yet some will spend too much time enjoying the fresh air and not enough on basic planning that will help avoid ...

Budget Vacation Destination The sun sets into a haze of orange and pink as a few scattered surfers try to catch the last waves of the evening. Joggers and couples holding hands stroll the strand. ...

By Michelle Singletary Job applicants have to painstakingly pore over their resumes and cover letters because studies show that hiring managers have little tolerance for any mistakes. And now, there's something else for an applicant ...

If you have a teen who is learning to drive, start preparing your budget for a car insurance rate increase: Adding a teen driver to a parent’s policy typically increases the bill by 44 percent – ...

A new military pension plan — called the Blended Retirement System — will take effect on Jan. 1, 2018. It’s the first major change to military retirement since World War II, so predictable questions have ...