Frequent moves, employment challenges, training exercises, deployments, living away from your support network. As a military spouse, it is likely you have had to navigate your way through some or all of these hurdles. You may even be going through a few right now. These experiences can be hard logistically and emotionally. They can also take a toll on your family’s financial health. Recent reports and surveys indicate that some military families face challenges with putting food on the table, finding affordable housing, and making ends meet. Recent cost-of-living increases can amplify these challenges.

Healthy Service members and families are key to family well-being and mission readiness. Strategies on controlling food costs, such as advanced meal planning based on healthy and affordable recipes, can help lower the cost of groceries. The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) offers resources and assistance to military families in need of nutritional information and support at Commissaries.com.

The recent hot housing market has reduced availability and increased prices in many parts of the country, making it more challenging for some military families to find affordable housing that meets their needs. Installation Military Housing Offices track the availability of on-base and off-base housing and rental prices. They can provide housing referral services to assist families. There are many housing resources available to help minimize stress and provide education to help you find affordable housing to meet your family’s needs.

MilSpouse Money Mission is a free resource to educate and empower military spouses to make smart money moves. From debt reduction strategies, to learning how to create and follow a spending plan, to preparing financially for a deployment, we have actionable content to improve your financial know-how during your busy life.

You are not alone if your family experiences financial challenges. Help is available for you and your spouse through your installation, community, and military relief societies.

Installation Support

The Military Family Readiness System can provide support and assistance on many aspects of military life, including help getting connected to programs and resources in your local community. Personal Financial Managers are available at your installation or through Military OneSource. Click on the links below to find the family readiness program for your branch.

• Army Community Services
• Marine and Family Programs
• Fleet and Family Support Program
• Airman and Family Readiness
• CG SUPRT

Federal Food Assistance Programs

• The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps families buy nutritious food with an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card, similar to a debit card. Benefit eligibility is based on income and family size. This program is administered at the state level. Click the SNAP State Directory of Resources for more information. An important note for military families is that combat pay, hostile fire pay and imminent danger pay are not counted as income but all other pays and allowances, including Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), are counted as income for SNAP eligibility.
• The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) seeks to provide nutritional and health care support to women and children up to age 5. Like SNAP, it is federally funded but administered at the state level. Each state has the option of excluding income such as BAH, Family Separation Housing (FSH), Overseas Housing Allowances (OHA), etc. Learn more about eligibility and how to apply.

Military Relief Societies

The relief societies are nonprofit organizations helping support military families with financial, educational, and emergency assistance. Get more information on your branch’s relief society at the links below.

• Army Emergency Relief (AER)
• Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS)
• Air Force Aid Society (AFAS)
• Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA)

Military life can be tough sometimes, but you are not alone. Reach out to supportive services on your installation, in your community, and online.

MilSpouse Money Mission® is a Department of Defense resource that offers FREE personal financial education specifically geared toward spouses. There is a Money Ready guide for various stages of financial life, a MilLife Milestones section to help you through the big moments in your military journey, a blog, spouse videos, quizzes, calculators and more!