How much does a person make their first few years in the army?
kids bedroom ideas on a budget
image
April
my husband is thinking about joining the army. we have three small kids together. we are pretty sure the army is a good schoice for our family, although it will be hard. one reason we think this is a valid option is bc of the financial stability the army entails. we dont know his mos will be but he is going to study to try and score at least a 50 on his asvab. if someone knows the range of housing allowance as well as salary i would greatly appreciate your input!
Answer
Depends on how quickly he gets promoted. The first couple of ranks make about 25000 a year, give or take a little, in base pay, but the additional benefits bump that up sometimes more than double depending on where you're stationed. When I was stationed in Maryland I was making almost as much in housing allowance as I was in base pay, and housing allowance is non-taxable. As the other person said, the pay charts are online. They're the same for all services, just do a search for 2010 or 2011 military pay charts, and you can get an idea. If you're curious about specific BAH rates, they are tailored based on the average rent in that area, and change based on rank. With three kids, I'd just live in base housing, because what they pay you in BAH is designed to basically pay for a 2 bedroom apartment, and it's not going to completely cover your rent, but if you're in military housing they assign it based on the size of your family. You guys would get at least a 3 bedroom home, maybe a 4 depending on the ages and genders of your children. Health care is free, which I love, and at most bases, the housing is close enough that he could bike to work to save on gas if it was really tight for you. Once he's been in for four or five years, the finances ease up considerably. So, in a nutshell, the base pay (in the charts) is the only thing out of your military benefits that's taxable. I've been in 10 years and am an E6, and my taxable income is about $35,000 a year, but because I have four kids I'm never liable for any taxes. In fact, I generally get back considerably more than I paid in. The financial stability is great, because I don't have to count hours and figure out if my budget can take me taking a vacation or staying home sick, and I don't have to weigh the cost of prescriptions against how sick I am and take risks with my health. Honestly, if you're good at living within your means, it is very easy to live comfortably in the military, just do your best to stay out of debt. I buy older cars for a few thousand cash and drive them until they die rather than shelling out tens of thousands for a new car that won't be worth anything by the time I pay it off. We budget our money and plan out what we are going to eat for the month, and only buy those groceries. If we want expensive furniture, we save up for it and buy it when we have the money rather than putting it on credit. That might all sound a bit money-nazi, but it's allowed us great freedom with our finances, and because we're good at saving money, we can afford to travel places like Disney for family vacations (yes, with four kids), take diving lessons, go out to eat a few times a month, etc. It's by no means upper class living, but it's stable and it's comfortable if you know how to watch your money. Hope this helps!
Depends on how quickly he gets promoted. The first couple of ranks make about 25000 a year, give or take a little, in base pay, but the additional benefits bump that up sometimes more than double depending on where you're stationed. When I was stationed in Maryland I was making almost as much in housing allowance as I was in base pay, and housing allowance is non-taxable. As the other person said, the pay charts are online. They're the same for all services, just do a search for 2010 or 2011 military pay charts, and you can get an idea. If you're curious about specific BAH rates, they are tailored based on the average rent in that area, and change based on rank. With three kids, I'd just live in base housing, because what they pay you in BAH is designed to basically pay for a 2 bedroom apartment, and it's not going to completely cover your rent, but if you're in military housing they assign it based on the size of your family. You guys would get at least a 3 bedroom home, maybe a 4 depending on the ages and genders of your children. Health care is free, which I love, and at most bases, the housing is close enough that he could bike to work to save on gas if it was really tight for you. Once he's been in for four or five years, the finances ease up considerably. So, in a nutshell, the base pay (in the charts) is the only thing out of your military benefits that's taxable. I've been in 10 years and am an E6, and my taxable income is about $35,000 a year, but because I have four kids I'm never liable for any taxes. In fact, I generally get back considerably more than I paid in. The financial stability is great, because I don't have to count hours and figure out if my budget can take me taking a vacation or staying home sick, and I don't have to weigh the cost of prescriptions against how sick I am and take risks with my health. Honestly, if you're good at living within your means, it is very easy to live comfortably in the military, just do your best to stay out of debt. I buy older cars for a few thousand cash and drive them until they die rather than shelling out tens of thousands for a new car that won't be worth anything by the time I pay it off. We budget our money and plan out what we are going to eat for the month, and only buy those groceries. If we want expensive furniture, we save up for it and buy it when we have the money rather than putting it on credit. That might all sound a bit money-nazi, but it's allowed us great freedom with our finances, and because we're good at saving money, we can afford to travel places like Disney for family vacations (yes, with four kids), take diving lessons, go out to eat a few times a month, etc. It's by no means upper class living, but it's stable and it's comfortable if you know how to watch your money. Hope this helps!
Are there any nice affordable suburbs within a 45 minute commute from the Marylebone area of London?
krolyk55
I may be transfering permanatly from the US to a job in London soon. Specifically in the Marylebone area. I've never been to London before. I have no idea where to start looking for a home.
I have a family of 4, two small kids with one or two more coming in the future. I would like to within a reasonable commute to the Marylebone area, but would like to rent a 4 bedroom house, for between £1000-£1500/month. I would like to be in a safe area with good schools if possible.
From what I can see this won't be possible to find in the city, can anyone give some suggestions on good suburbs to look at?
Answer
You'll be very hard pressed to rent a 4 bedroom "house" for £1000-£1500/month in a good area - particularly if you want it to be so close to central London.
You'll have to weigh up the advantage of moving further out of London, with the very expensive cost of transport to get into work. Also, factor in council tax when looking at wherever you're planning to rent - as it varies by council and can add up to another £100/month, which the tenant is responsible for.
My strongest piece of advice would be to really think about all of the costs involved with where you move - as they'll surprise you - and be prepared to make some genuine compromises about what you're prepared to live without. That includes the costs of your family enjoying their time there, as I know friends (couples & families) who've moved to an outer suburb and end up spending large amounts of money on taxis or public transport to always travel miles for shopping and/or entertainment.
A lot of the inner London schools suffer from very poor educational standards and discipline - so choosing an area with a good school invariably means you're paying extra, particularly for a house.
If your work is prepared to do so you HAVE to insist on being put up in a hotel or similar for a month or so whilst you look for your home - as you'll never get the feel for it by trying to arrange anything from abroad. Shipping of your personal belongings to the UK and back when you leave are also musts, if they're prepared to do it - as that's very expensive.
Also, speaking the same language is deceptive, as the culture shock is always bigger than you imagine (advice you'll see repeated an any and all expat forums). Don't worry about asking for estate agents (realtors) to explain anything. They charge a lot, so should earn their money.
You might find a 3 bedroom flat (apartment) somewhere like Wimbledon/Southfields in the South-West for that money - and it'll take you about an hour to get to Marleybone with train and tube. There are good schools out there, and you're able to enjoy Wimbledon Common, Richmond Park, etc. with the kids.
You should also look at Putney, Clapham, Balham or possibly even Vauxhall - all South of the river "safe" areas with good schools and a young family feel. Your budget will possibly get you a three bedroom house or more likely part of a house and a little space. Queens Park in the North, not too far from Marylebone, has good schools and is a really nice pocket of London that often has good spaces (plus a little bit of a urban village feel) as well.
Most other parts of London that are within an hour's commute to Marylebone, are either too expensive or aren't very savoury and don't have decent quality schools (e.g.: Elephant & Castle, Bermondsey, Kilburn, Acton).
A left-field thought would be to find a large two bedroom flat close in, where the kids can share a room and you can walk to work as well as enjoy the excitement of London without the high expense of public transport. For example, Bayswater would be twenty minutes walk from Marylebone High Street, and you'd have Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens as well as the West End all strolling distance away - so more fun for your wife and children, as the outer suburbs of London tend to be a little lacking in things to see and do! Maida Vale, also walking distance, is also an area you might be lucky enough to find a two or two and a half bedroom flat in your price range.
Failing all of the above, you could look at moving further out to somewhere like Dorking or Reigate in Surrey - which is a safe and nice area outside of London in the South. You might get a house for that price, and the local schools are very good. Your commute to Marylebone will be about an hour and a half door to door, and it'll cost you around £25 per day for the train tickets.
----
I've also just done a quick search for expat forums, particularly for Americans in order to have genuine comparisons. Listed below, but you should be able to find more if you like:
http://www.geocities.com/thetropics/shores/9910/
http://www.londonexpatriate.com/
http://www.expatfocus.com/expatriate-london
http://www.easyexpat.com/london_en.htm
http://www.moveandstay.com/london/info_info_for_expatriates.asp
You'll be very hard pressed to rent a 4 bedroom "house" for £1000-£1500/month in a good area - particularly if you want it to be so close to central London.
You'll have to weigh up the advantage of moving further out of London, with the very expensive cost of transport to get into work. Also, factor in council tax when looking at wherever you're planning to rent - as it varies by council and can add up to another £100/month, which the tenant is responsible for.
My strongest piece of advice would be to really think about all of the costs involved with where you move - as they'll surprise you - and be prepared to make some genuine compromises about what you're prepared to live without. That includes the costs of your family enjoying their time there, as I know friends (couples & families) who've moved to an outer suburb and end up spending large amounts of money on taxis or public transport to always travel miles for shopping and/or entertainment.
A lot of the inner London schools suffer from very poor educational standards and discipline - so choosing an area with a good school invariably means you're paying extra, particularly for a house.
If your work is prepared to do so you HAVE to insist on being put up in a hotel or similar for a month or so whilst you look for your home - as you'll never get the feel for it by trying to arrange anything from abroad. Shipping of your personal belongings to the UK and back when you leave are also musts, if they're prepared to do it - as that's very expensive.
Also, speaking the same language is deceptive, as the culture shock is always bigger than you imagine (advice you'll see repeated an any and all expat forums). Don't worry about asking for estate agents (realtors) to explain anything. They charge a lot, so should earn their money.
You might find a 3 bedroom flat (apartment) somewhere like Wimbledon/Southfields in the South-West for that money - and it'll take you about an hour to get to Marleybone with train and tube. There are good schools out there, and you're able to enjoy Wimbledon Common, Richmond Park, etc. with the kids.
You should also look at Putney, Clapham, Balham or possibly even Vauxhall - all South of the river "safe" areas with good schools and a young family feel. Your budget will possibly get you a three bedroom house or more likely part of a house and a little space. Queens Park in the North, not too far from Marylebone, has good schools and is a really nice pocket of London that often has good spaces (plus a little bit of a urban village feel) as well.
Most other parts of London that are within an hour's commute to Marylebone, are either too expensive or aren't very savoury and don't have decent quality schools (e.g.: Elephant & Castle, Bermondsey, Kilburn, Acton).
A left-field thought would be to find a large two bedroom flat close in, where the kids can share a room and you can walk to work as well as enjoy the excitement of London without the high expense of public transport. For example, Bayswater would be twenty minutes walk from Marylebone High Street, and you'd have Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens as well as the West End all strolling distance away - so more fun for your wife and children, as the outer suburbs of London tend to be a little lacking in things to see and do! Maida Vale, also walking distance, is also an area you might be lucky enough to find a two or two and a half bedroom flat in your price range.
Failing all of the above, you could look at moving further out to somewhere like Dorking or Reigate in Surrey - which is a safe and nice area outside of London in the South. You might get a house for that price, and the local schools are very good. Your commute to Marylebone will be about an hour and a half door to door, and it'll cost you around £25 per day for the train tickets.
----
I've also just done a quick search for expat forums, particularly for Americans in order to have genuine comparisons. Listed below, but you should be able to find more if you like:
http://www.geocities.com/thetropics/shores/9910/
http://www.londonexpatriate.com/
http://www.expatfocus.com/expatriate-london
http://www.easyexpat.com/london_en.htm
http://www.moveandstay.com/london/info_info_for_expatriates.asp
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Title Post: How much does a person make their first few years in the army?
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Rating: 97% based on 9598 ratings. 4,8 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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