{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T17:23:42+00:00","modifiedTime":"2016-03-26T17:23:42+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:06:54+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Business, Careers, & Money","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34224"},"slug":"business-careers-money","categoryId":34224},{"name":"Careers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34256"},"slug":"careers","categoryId":34256},{"name":"Military Careers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34266"},"slug":"military-careers","categoryId":34266}],"title":"Determining a Military Family’s Monthly Expenses","strippedTitle":"determining a military family’s monthly expenses","slug":"determining-a-military-familys-monthly-expenses","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"You should review your finances any time your family starts on a new career path, and the military is no exception. Know how much money you really need to purch","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"<p>You should review your finances any time your family starts on a new career path, and the military is no exception. Know how much money you <i>really</i> need to purchase essentials for your family — food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and insurance. Most of these required expenses are provided by, or supplemented by, the military. The following is a list of the types of expenses incurred by a typical military family.</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Shelter:</p>\n <ul class=\"level-two\">\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Home mortgage or rent</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Utilities: electric, gas, water, sewer, trash pickup, and basic telephone service</p>\n </li>\n </ul>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Protection: Life, disability, homeowners, renters, health, and auto insurance</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Healthcare/medical and dental care</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Prescription drugs</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Childcare</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Savings: minimum of 10 percent of gross income</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Food:</p>\n <ul class=\"level-two\">\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Groceries: basic essentials only</p>\n </li>\n </ul>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Clothing and clothing maintenance</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Basic hygiene:</p>\n <ul class=\"level-two\">\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Personal: toothpaste, deodorant, haircuts</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Household: laundry detergent, toilet paper</p>\n </li>\n </ul>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Transportation:</p>\n <ul class=\"level-two\">\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Automobile loan or lease payment</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Auto maintenance</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Gasoline</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Other: tolls, parking, public transportation</p>\n </li>\n </ul>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Legal requirements:</p>\n <ul class=\"level-two\">\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Real estate and property taxes</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Child support</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Alimony</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Other debts: school loans, personal loans, credit cards, and so on</p>\n </li>\n </ul>\n </li>\n</ul>\n<p>You won’t find an expense category for dining-out, entertainment, subscriptions, health club memberships, summer camp, birthdays, charitable contributions, cable television, or mobile phones. These types of expenses, although very common and convenient, are discretionary expenses.</p>","description":"<p>You should review your finances any time your family starts on a new career path, and the military is no exception. Know how much money you <i>really</i> need to purchase essentials for your family — food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and insurance. Most of these required expenses are provided by, or supplemented by, the military. The following is a list of the types of expenses incurred by a typical military family.</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Shelter:</p>\n <ul class=\"level-two\">\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Home mortgage or rent</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Utilities: electric, gas, water, sewer, trash pickup, and basic telephone service</p>\n </li>\n </ul>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Protection: Life, disability, homeowners, renters, health, and auto insurance</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Healthcare/medical and dental care</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Prescription drugs</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Childcare</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Savings: minimum of 10 percent of gross income</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Food:</p>\n <ul class=\"level-two\">\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Groceries: basic essentials only</p>\n </li>\n </ul>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Clothing and clothing maintenance</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Basic hygiene:</p>\n <ul class=\"level-two\">\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Personal: toothpaste, deodorant, haircuts</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Household: laundry detergent, toilet paper</p>\n </li>\n </ul>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Transportation:</p>\n <ul class=\"level-two\">\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Automobile loan or lease payment</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Auto maintenance</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Gasoline</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Other: tolls, parking, public transportation</p>\n </li>\n </ul>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Legal requirements:</p>\n <ul class=\"level-two\">\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Real estate and property taxes</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Child support</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Alimony</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Other debts: school loans, personal loans, credit cards, and so on</p>\n </li>\n </ul>\n </li>\n</ul>\n<p>You won’t find an expense category for dining-out, entertainment, subscriptions, health club memberships, summer camp, birthdays, charitable contributions, cable television, or mobile phones. 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She founded the Garrett Planning Network and is the author of <i>Personal Finance Workbook For Dummies</i>. <p><b>Sue Hoppin</b> is the Deputy Director for Spouse Outreach at the Military Officers Association of America. In 2007, Military Spouse magazine placed Sue on their 2007 Who's Who of Military Spouses list.</p>","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9920"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":34266,"title":"Military Careers","slug":"military-careers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34266"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":[{"articleId":175788,"title":"Trig Identities for Pre-Calculus","slug":"trig-identities-for-pre-calculus","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","math","pre-calculus"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/175788"}},{"articleId":147241,"title":"How to Use the Z-Table","slug":"how-to-use-the-z-table","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","math","statistics"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/147241"}},{"articleId":192609,"title":"How to Pray the Rosary: A Comprehensive 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Determining a Military Family’s Monthly Expenses

By: Sheryl Garrett and Sue Hoppin and

Updated: 03-26-2016

From The Book: A Family's Guide to the Military For Dummies

A Family's Guide to the Military For Dummies

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You should review your finances any time your family starts on a new career path, and the military is no exception. Know how much money you really need to purchase essentials for your family — food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and insurance. Most of these required expenses are provided by, or supplemented by, the military. The following is a list of the types of expenses incurred by a typical military family.

Shelter:
- Home mortgage or rent
- Utilities: electric, gas, water, sewer, trash pickup, and basic telephone service
Protection: Life, disability, homeowners, renters, health, and auto insurance
Healthcare/medical and dental care
Prescription drugs
Childcare
Savings: minimum of 10 percent of gross income
Food:
- Groceries: basic essentials only
Clothing and clothing maintenance
Basic hygiene:
- Personal: toothpaste, deodorant, haircuts
- Household: laundry detergent, toilet paper
Transportation:
- Automobile loan or lease payment
- Auto maintenance
- Gasoline
- Other: tolls, parking, public transportation
Legal requirements:
- Real estate and property taxes
- Child support
- Alimony
- Other debts: school loans, personal loans, credit cards, and so on

You won’t find an expense category for dining-out, entertainment, subscriptions, health club memberships, summer camp, birthdays, charitable contributions, cable television, or mobile phones. These types of expenses, although very common and convenient, are discretionary expenses.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

A Family's Guide to the Military For Dummies ,

About the book authors:

Sheryl Garrett is a financial advisor, author, and speaker. She founded the Garrett Planning Network and is the author of Personal Finance Workbook For Dummies.

Sue Hoppin is the Deputy Director for Spouse Outreach at the Military Officers Association of America. In 2007, Military Spouse magazine placed Sue on their 2007 Who's Who of Military Spouses list.

This article can be found in the category:

Military Careers ,