r/MilitaryFinance

I’ve posted in here before but financial plan once I enlist has changed/ new updates to my contract. Currently In DEP going in as an e4 in the Air Force . Current plan is to max out my IRA (still working on my etf allocations o will update this post once I figure them out). What I’m really looking for is a ref with international exposure so I can cover the market that the I find doesn’t.

TSP contributions will be 22% with the following allocation. 65% C 20% S 15% I . I plan on using the VA home loan on a multi family property if it’s feasible in my area. My paycheck will be going into Fidelity (SPAXX) earning interest.

I’m just looking for as much advice as possible. I feel like everyone has it figured out when they enlist and I feel behind.

I ship in November, United States navy, my job is EO(Seabees).

So I will more then likely will not spend any time on a ship. I don’t know if that will help or not help me get more money.

what exactly should I put my money into?

I will be sad if I do not end my 5 year contract at 26 with at least 90,000-100,000$ to my name.

I do not plan on buying a 30,000$ car or buying stupid stuff like 500$ shoes or 100$ hoodies/shirts I’ve never been materialistic. I plan on keeping my car( my current biggest asset if I sell) which I paid for in cash or selling my car here soon, and buying one for like 5000$ once I’m done with school and Bootcamp since I won’t be using it for the next few months.

What exactly should I be investing per month? And into what? I want to minimize what I spend but I also don’t want to live as if I’m poor.

I’m an Airman straight out of tech school and this was my first PCS. I honestly wasn’t given much of a briefing about doing a PPM before I left.

For context, I’m not moving with just tech school bags. I’m a grown man, single and had my own place back in my home state before joining, so I already had quite a bit of personal property and household stuff to move.

When I got to my first duty station, Finance told me I could still file the PPM through DPS. The problem was that I didn’t get an empty weight ticket back when I went home for RAP before driving to my duty station.

They told me I could unload/reload my stuff here and get an empty and full weight ticket now, so that’s what I did.

My weights are:
Empty weight: 4,620 lbs
Full weight: 9,020 lbsPCS
weight entitlement shown in DPS: 5,000 lbs
Distance driven: 2,206 miles

I loaded my belongings into my vehicle got the weight tickets, and I also kept/compiled my fuel receipts.

I currently have a draft PPM shipment in DPS, but I’m a little confused about what happens next.

For anyone who has done this before:

1. What exactly do I need to submit to finish the PPM claim?
2. Do I finish everything through DPS or do I need to take paperwork to TMO/Finance as well?
3. Are my empty/full weight tickets still valid even though they were taken after I arrived, since I was told to do a re-weigh here?

This is my first PCS, so I’m just trying to make sure I do everything correctly and take advantage of the PPM I was authorized.

Thanks for the help!

I’ve been building my Amex arsenal for the better part of a decade. I have a lot now, to say the least. As many of y’all know, you can’t reorganize the order of them.

Until today! Logged in this morning and saw that “new feature” like a little pre-weekend present.

It sounds small, but I’m overjoyed!

Any recommendations for brokers/lenders licensed in Illinois for VA Loans with the best rates?