I’m a minimalist mom, and my daughter is a hoarder. To be fair, she’s only six. Still, she’s never met a toy she didn’t have to have. She’s never met a rock that wasn’t so pretty. She’s never drawn a picture that wasn’t a work of art. Here’s the problem: Until two months ago, we […]
10 freebies for kids every military family should know about
MilSpouseRule number one for military families looking to save money: Always, always ask if there is a military discount (a lot of stores have one but don’t advertise it). Rule number two: There are some things your kids (or your family) can get completely for free. Here are ten freebies to check out: Quilts Related: […]
My six-year-old daughter’s first ‘mean girl’ encounter
MilSpouseAt the beginning of this school year, my six-year-old daughter came home from her first Friday of first grade with her lower lip trembling. “Can I talk to you?” she whispered in my ear after her sister got out of the car. We sat down on the porch, and my little girl said, in her […]
AIN: Service academy grads investing in veteran businesses
Service Member ResourcesVeteran-owned businesses employ nearly 6 million Americans and bring in a revenue of $1.14 trillion annually. But access to financial capital continues to be the biggest hurdle in veteran entrepreneurs’ success. In a 2019 Syracuse University study, for example, only 1% of respondents said they used equity investment in starting their business. 84% said they […]
9 things I wish I’d saved on as a mom on a military budget
MilSpouseRetrospect brings a lot of wisdom. I spent nearly 10 years as a spouse of an active-duty service member, and six of those were also as a mom. Sometimes I cringe thinking of all the things I spent money on, instead of saving it. Here are my biggest regrets: Swimming Lessons No number of […]
10 resources all military spouses should know about
MilSpouseThere are plenty of free resources for military service members and veterans, but many spouses don’t realize that there are also programs that can benefit them (and save them a lot of money). Here are ten to check out: The GI Bill: A lot of military families think this is only for service members to […]
6 tips to adjust to being a new military spouse
MilSpouseSo, you’ve just gotten married to a servicemember – congratulations! You may be wondering, “Now what?” or even, “What have I gotten myself into?” And that’s okay. Navigating the military world can be challenging and overwhelming at first. It may seem like everyone else has it all figured out (they don’t). There are a lot […]
6 nonprofit organizations that serve our military veterans
Off DutyNonprofit organizations are those that qualify for tax-exempt status by the IRS. With over 1.5 million nonprofits in the United States, over 45,000 of those are dedicated to military veterans and their families. One way to honor those who served is to donate to a nonprofit organization with military-related missions. I rounded up a few […]
Milspouse spotlight: Professional artist Sidra Hassan-Brown
MilSpouseI first discovered Sidra Hassan-Brown on MilSpoFan (an amazing site showcasing military spouse artists), and I was blown away by the quality of her work. She paints both realistic and abstract art that is infused with an otherworldly essence, and I found myself completely immersed in them (and then purchased one for myself). Sidra’s story […]
Happy Birthday, DoD!
Off DutyLet’s raise a glass to the Department of Defense (DoD), which celebrates its birthday today! Although the federal government has overseen the U.S. Armed forces since the nation’s inception, a centralized defense department did not previously exist in the U.S. before August 10, 1949, when an amended National Security Act created the agency as we know […]
