Wanna Be Broke, Or Go Camping?
Let’s address the elephant in the room: military spending culture. Future veterans without a spending plan for retirement. For young troops, a steady paycheck combined with free housing, food allowances and medical care can create a dangerous illusion of wealth. When you have few mandatory expenses, that bi-weekly direct deposit often burns a hole in your pocket. I pissed away almost everything.
Factor in the high stress nature of the military and it’s no surprise that weekends in many military towns revolve around expensive bars, clubs, custom cars, and impulsive purchases. There is nothing wrong with blowing off steam. Future veterans earn the right to unwind. But there is a massive difference between enjoying your weekends and sabotaging your retirement future. That high interest car loan and gear you don’t need isn’t just money gone, it’s compounding interest stolen from your future camping trips and retirement. Every dollar spent unwisely today is an acre of wilderness, a tank of gas or a piece of camping gear you won’t be able to afford when your working days are done.
I really enjoyed the army and most importantly, I learned so much from other military personel. Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas welcomed me with open arms. My life in the “The Hood” was now in the rear view mirror and my future was looking so much brighter. The problem was, I enjoyed myself too much. I spent money, money and did I mention MONEY? I thank God that I learned how to make more money resulting from my military service.