Casey

Should You Sign Up for a Military STAR Card?

June 24, 2016 by Casey

No. No you should not sign up for Military STAR card, ever.

Every time I see a promotion for Military STAR card at the BX, a part of me dies inside. I was once a young Airmen shopping at the BX, naively thinking a STAR card would be ‘good for me’ and allow me to grow my credit. A year later my STAR card was maxed out, and just another bill to be paid on top of several others.

Here are several reasons to avoid the STAR card.

You Do Not Need a STAR Card to Build Credit

I know what you are thing… ‘I’m young and have no credit. This is a great way for me to get started.’ What do you need credit for anyway? To buy a car?

Well guess what, you know who already has sufficient credit to buy a reasonable car? People in the military with a steady job and income!

Local credit unions and banks such as USAA are willing to give you a car loan at a decent rate based solely on your active status in the military. So you do not need to build credit via credit cards to appear attractive as a borrower in their eyes.

You Are Unlikely to Pay Off the Card Every Month

If everybody got a STAR card and paid it off every month, then the program would no longer exist. The reason the offer 10% off your entire first purchase just for signing up, is they know you will rack up a balance on the card and not pay it off.

When you pay the minimum balance on that card, you are paying interest directly to the card company, which as of December 17, 2015 is 10.49%. According to this credit card calculator, it will cost you $10 per month and 11 years to pay off the card! That is basically $10 per month out of your budget, going nowhere!

You Will be Penalized for Late Payments

no fees — Not true. Your interest rate will increase if you pay late. That is essentially a fee.

Paying a $500 balance on time will cost you around $10 per month. But if you are late on your payments, the interest rate goes up to 18.49%! It would now take you 21 years to pay off that same balance using the minimum payment.

As a bonus, AAFES can contact your military leadership if you late on payments, negatively highlighting you.

The Rewards Program is Not Worth the Risk

So the Military STAR card gives you 10% off your first purchase when signing up for the card. You can also get 5% off when purchasing gas (same as most grocery stores offer with no credit card). Say you spend $300 during that first purchase and save $30. The card company will make that money back (and you will lose that money to interest) in about six months if you do not immediately pay off the balance.

Need new boots like the guy in this video? First – talk to your resource advisor and see if you can get boots through your unit. As a second option, save up the money and buy them with cash! If you have a steady paycheck and are being responsible then why is your first option to buy boots on credit?

Shame on AAFES for putting military in uniform into these videos.

Need more reasons to not get a Military STAR card? Check the top comment to a Reddit thread discussing the same question:

There are lots of better options out there. If you have absolutely zero credit or something, it can get you started, but it’s really not a great card.

To sum it up, you don’t need a STAR card to build your credit, the rewards program is crap, and your credit will be negatively impacted if you pay late.

Stay away from Military STAR card!

The Best Portable Phone Charger

June 23, 2016 by Casey

Have you every been on a long plane ride and had your phone die? Or had to search for plugs in airport only to find half of them don’t work? It’s happened to me many times and is very annoying!

I now have a Jackery Giant portable phone charger and am able to charge my phone and iPad almost anywhere.

Why You Need a Jackery in the Military

The Giant is around $20 and can fully charge an iPhone 6 four times, a Galaxy S6 three times, and iPad Air once.

We use it for the following:

Deployments – ideal when you are unsure of foreign electricity outlets
Long car rides
Traveling through airports
Vacation – put one in your backpack before going into Disney World

They have several other sizes available if the Giant is too big for you.

The Best Water Bottle

June 22, 2016 by Casey

Carrying a water bottle to PT, on flights, a deployment, or even around the office is a great way to keep fresh water at your fingertips. In this post I will compare three water bottles I’ve owned over the past 10 years in the military and show why I feel the Hydro Flask is the best ever!

Water Bottles Compared

Nalgene 32 Oz
The Nalgene Wide Mouth was my first water bottle. This water bottle is tough, lightweight, and BPA free. What I did not like was how fast water would warm up while exposed to heat. Water is fairly gross when warmed up to a certain temperature. Also, the Nalgene ages quickly, meaning the bottle will become very faded and somewhat cracked over a couple years.

camelbak eddy

The CamelBak Eddy was my water bottle of choice for many years. It’s smaller than the Nalgene. I think it’s best selling feature is the flip-up drinking spout. I’ve seen A LOT of military using the CamelBak Eddy. This water bottle feels fairly strong.

My current water bottle and favorite so far is the 32 oz Hydro Flask.

What I Like About the Hydro Flask

This water bottle keeps water cold for a VERY long time. Ice can easily last in it overnight, and often times to about 24 hours. The Hydro Flask is durable and leak free.

Their company provides great support as well. I dropped my Hydro Flask in an airport recently and cracked the lid. It still didn’t leak, but I used the company’s warranty form to see if I could get a replacement lid. They sent me a new lid for free, no questions asked!

The other thing I’ve seen people doing in the military is engraving them and giving them away as gifts. A company in Las Vegas called Lazer Ladies engraves Hydro Flasks. I’ve heard the cost is around $30.

engraved hydro flask

How about you? What is your favorite water bottle?

Should You Attend College Online?

June 19, 2016 by Casey

Too many of you are attending online degree programs. I know you are thinking ‘but Casey attending college is a good thing and I’m getting my degree while working around my crazy military schedule.’

Guess what, you have something other people want that is of great value: tuition assistance and the GI Bill (aka $$$). There are hundreds of colleges that would love nothing more than to pair 20 of you up with a professor working out of his home, easily clearing $10K per class due to having no physical overhead. You get an easy path to a degree and they make money. Everybody benefits, right? Wrong!

Nobody is going to discourage someone that wants to get their degree. So education counselors, your supervisor, and others are not going to tell you that your degree program is crap. But the bottom line is you are selling yourself short when you get your bachelor’s through somewhere like American Military University.

Go Brick and Mortar

Why is attending a brick and mortar college so important? Employers have strong perceptions about your degree program. When looking at your college they consider the competitiveness and difficulty in getting accepted to and making it through that program.

These employers can sniff out an easy online program a mile away. When they recognize it, they will disregard that portion of your resume and look for other ways to validate your experience and skills.

Do you really want to spend all that time and money getting your degree only to have nobody take it seriously?

Excuses

Here are some of the reasons I’ve heard that military attend college online:

It is more convenient – it sure is! That convenience comes at a cost
I deploy a lot so am unable to attend college in person – have you talked to your supervisor and asked to have a four-month window at home so you can attend school? I am willing to bet many supervisors would work with someone to reasonably allow them to attend
There are no good colleges in my area – have you considered going to a junior college and later transferring those credits to another college? Or maybe waiting until your next assignment?

Valid Reasons to Attend Online

I know there are some legitimate reasons to attend college online. For the most part, the military does not care where you got your degree from. So attending online to ‘checking boxes’ to meet promotion requirements is valid.

You can also get your degree anywhere online and use it to commission as an officer. If that is your primary goal than an online program could work for you. However, keep in mind when you attend online programs that are good for the military but bad for outside employers, you are limiting your options. I don’t want the military to be my only employment option. So I’m going to go to the best school possible, just in case a full military career does not work out.

Summing it Up

I get that military life is difficult and sometimes only college is your only option. But please don’t consider it as the first option. Maximize your education benefits and take care of yourself. Take the more difficult path and get the best degree you can possibly earn. You will be better off for it.

Your First 60 Days on Island – Hawaii 2017 TLA, COLA, and BAH Rates Explained

June 10, 2016 by Casey

This is a guide to the benefits you receive during your first 60 days on island.

Have a question? Ask the Facebook Group.

The Good News: You Make Good Money While House Hunting

Here’s a little secret about benefits while house hunting in Hawaii:

Hotel cost is reimbursed for a maximum of 60 days
Per diem covers meals for up to 60 days
Cost of living allowance (COLA) starts when you arrive
Full housing (BAH) entitlement starts as soon as you arrive

Hale Koa Hotel — If you can stay off base, stay at the Hale Koa!

You get all of these benefits at the same time. Since you live in a hotel while house hunting, your BAH is pure extra cash that you can use to help you get started on the island. Add in any per diem you save back while house hunting, plus COLA, and it’s reasonable to make an extra $1,400 every 10 days while looking for a home.

It’s surprising that TLA, COLA, and BAH are paid at the same time, but it is perfectly legal. I’ll cover each of these allowances in detail below.

Side note: If you are moving to Hawaii you should check out the Amex Platinum card which offers free access to airport lounges, hotel upgrades, and many other travel benefits, but the annual $550 fee is waived for military. See my post on it here!

The Bad News: You May Need the Extra Money

The only “bad” news is that may need that extra money if you decide to live off base. Let’s say you rent a home for $2,500 a month. Your landlord will likely require one month’s deposit, plus first month’s rent up front.

So within 30 days of arriving on island you may have to pay $5,000 to move into your house!

That’s a big expense. We personally used the extra money to pay back the cost of shipping our second car from South Carolina, as we had already saved up for a security deposit. The military only pays to ship one car to Hawaii, unless you are a dual military couple.

Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA) Explained

TLA is an OCONUS allowance provided to offset “more than normal” expenses while searching for a home. It is provided in 10-day increments and is based on number of dependents and current per diem rates.

Check in with your base housing office to start TLA. They provide a checklist to track homes you look at while house hunting. To continue receiving TLA, you need to show you are actively looking for a home on or off base.

TLA Formula

1. Determine your TLA percentage using the table below

Number Occupying Temporary Lodging	Percentage Applicable
Member only or 1 dependent only	65%
Member and 1 dependent, or 2 dependents only	100%
For each additional dependent over age 12, add	35%
For each additional dependent under age 12, add	25%

2. Multiply that percentage by the local per diem rate. For 2017 it is:

Locality	Max Lodging	Local Meals	Proportional Meals	Local Incidental	Maximum Per Diem	Effective Date
HONOLULU	177	98	56 (ignore for TLA)	25	300	1/01/2017

Current per diem rates: http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/perdiemCalc.cfm

Example TLA Calculation

If you are married and have two children under age 12, your total percentage is 150%. So you would receive:

$265.50 per day for lodging (177 * 150%)
$184.50 per day per diem (123 * 150%)

When calculating per diem use Local Meals + Local Incidental.

Of course you will only be paid actual lodging costs. So in this case, $265.50 is the max.

Note: If your assigned quarters contain facilities for preparing meals (e.g. small kitchen with a stove), your per diem (not lodging) is reduced by 50%. Something to keep in mind!

When Does TLA End?

Base Housing: If you are assigned base housing but cannot move in for three weeks, then your TLA will continue until base housing is available.

Renting a Home: Once you have the keys to your home then TLA ends. If you sign a lease, but the home is not available for 10 more days due to cleaning or old tenants moving out, then your TLA will continue until you can actually move in.

Purchase a Home: If you purchase a home you can use TLA until you get the keys and move in. So if you purchase a new home and it is not available for three weeks, you should receive TLA until it is available.

Not actively searching: If the housing office feels you are not actively searching for a home, then they can terminate your TLA. You need to show you are looking at reasonable homes. The maximum available time to search for a home is 60 days. I’ve heard that some housing offices complain as you approach the 60 day mark.

Assigned to Barracks: If you are assigned to on-base barracks you may not receive TLA at all if quarters are available when you show up.

Should you stay on or off base while house hunting?

Most military will need a base lodging non-availability letter to seek a hotel off base. I would definitely stay off base if it is an option. You can’t beat getting paid to stay on the beach at a hotel such as the Hale Koa or Hilton Hawaiian Village.

However, there are a few drawbacks to staying off base. High food costs at the hotels in Waikiki will eat into your per diem. In addition, parking could cost you around $18 to $30 per night! You will not be reimbursed for parking; it will come out of your per diem. Finally, driving in and out of Waikiki is a pain and can add a lot of time on the road while looking for a home, or driving to your workplace once you report in.

Cost of Living Allowance (COLA)

COLA is an entitlement while stationed in Hawaii to help offset the high cost of living. It ranges from about $500 – $1,500 a month and is determined by rank, time in service, number of dependents, and whether you are assigned to barracks. Overseas COLA (which includes Hawaii) is NOT taxed.

Enter your options into the overseas COLA calculator to see your allowance: http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/colaCalc.cfm

The example screenshot below shows that an E-7 with 12 years of service, and three dependents (wife and two kids) receives $389.00 each pay period, or $778.00 per month in COLA. COLA is adjusted once a year, so it may change during your assignment.

oahu hawaii cola rates 2016 — Oahu COLA for E-7 with 3 dependents

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) vs Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA)

While in Hawaii you receive standard BAH rates for a US zip code (Pearl Harbor is 96860). Though sometimes considered an “overseas” move, you do not receive OHA while stationed in Hawaii.

The chart on the next page shows BAH rates for the island of O’ahu, where almost all Hawaiian military bases are located (Pearl Harbor, Hickam AFB, Schofield, MCB Kaneohe, Fort Shafter). BAH in Hawaii has gone up significantly over the last five years. An E-7 with dependents received $2637 in 2012, but will receive $3075 in 2014.

If you stay on base, privatized housing will take your entire BAH as payment for base housing. If you are dual military, they will take dependent rate BAH, and provide a single rate payment for the lower ranking spouse. Of note, if you are promoted while in base housing, they will take the higher BAH for the next rank as well.

As a side note, base housing in Hawaii is a good deal money-wise. Utility costs are very high in Hawaii. Receiving free electricity and water on base saves you a lot of money.

Summary

I hope you found this guide useful. Scroll below to see the BAH and TLA charts.

Please contact me if you see any errors or this document, or have a different experience with one of the benefits. Email with any questions on moving to Hawaii. I’m happy to help.

Appendix 1 Oahu, Hawaii BAH Rate Chart

Hawaii BAH Rates as of January 2016
Rank	With Dependents	Without Dependents
E-1	$2466.00	$1980.00
E-2	$2466.00	$1980.00
E-3	$2466.00	$1980.00
E-4	$2466.00	$1980.00
E-5	$2631.00	$2196.00
E-6	$2961.00	$2328.00
E-7	$3072.00	$2478.00
E-8	$3192.00	$2697.00
E-9	$3363.00	$2799.00
W-1	$2964.00	$2406.00
W-2	$3120.00	$2694.00
W-3	$3267.00	$2808.00
W-4	$3399.00	$2988.00
W-5	$3555.00	$3099.00
O-1E	$3096.00	$2631.00
O-2E	$3246.00	$2775.00
O-3E	$3423.00	$2961.00
O-1	$2667.00	$2304.00
O-2	$2952.00	$2574.00
O-3	$3261.00	$2841.00
O-4	$3615.00	$3084.00
O-5	$3864.00	$3153.00
O-6	$3903.00	$3267.00
O-7	$3942.00	$3333.00

Current rates at: http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/bahCalc.cfm

Appendix 2: TLA Pay Chart

TLA Pay Chart as of 1 Jan 2017

PERCENT	NUMBER OF FAMILY MEMBERS	MAX RATE	MEALS	LODGING
65%	MEMBER OR 1 DEPENDENT	$195.00	$79.95	$115.05
100%	MEMBER AND 1 DEPENDENT	$300.00	$123.00	$177.00
125%	MEMBER AND 1 DEPENDENT WITH 1 CHILD UNDER 12 YRS	$375.00	$153.75	$221.25
135%	MEMBER AND 1 DEPENDENT WITH 1 CHILD OVER 12 YRS	$405.00	$166.05	$238.95
150%	MEMBER AND 1 DEPENDENT WITH 2 CHILDREN UNDER 12 YRS	$450.00	$184.50	$265.50
160%	MEMBER AND 1 DEPENDENT WITH 1 CHILD UNDER 12 AND 1 OVER 12 YRS	$480.00	$196.80	$283.20
170%	MEMBER AND 1 DEPENDENTWITH 2 CHILDREN OVER 12 YRS	$510.00	$209.10	$300.90
175%	MEMBER AND 1 DEPENDENT WITH 3 CHILDREN UNDER 12 YRS	$525.00	$215.25	$309.75
185%	MEMBER AND 1 DEPENDENT WITH 2 CHILDREN UNDER 12 AND 1 CHILD OVER 12 YRS	$555.00	$227.55	$327.45
195%	MEMBER AND 1 DEPENDENT WITH 1 CHILD UNDER 12 AND 2 CHILDREN OVER 12 YRS	$585.00	$239.85	$345.15
200%	MEMBER AND 1 DEPENDENT WITH 4 CHILDREN UNDER 12 YRS	$600.00	$246.00	$354.00
205%	MEMBER AND 1 DEPENDENT WITH 3 CHILDREN OVER 12 YRS	$615.00	$252.15	$362.85
210%	MEMBER AND 1 DEPENDENT WITH 3 CHILDREN UNDER 12 AND 1 CHILD OVER 12 YRS	$630.00	$258.30	$371.70
220%	MEMBER AND 2 CHILDREN UNDER 12 YRS AND 2 CHILDREN OVER 12 YRS	$660.00	$270.60	$389.40

Have a question? Ask the Facebook Group.

Moving to Hawaii Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

May 14, 2016 by Casey

1. Can I ship both of my cars to Hawaii?

The government will only ship one of your cars for free. You will have to pay to ship the second vehicle. We used Pasha to ship our car and it cost $2,000 from South Carolina to Hawaii.

2. Is living in Hawaii expensive?

Yes, but between your BAH and COLA you will be covered fairly well. The biggest expense I see is housing, utilities, fuel, and groceries. The BAH covers your housing, COLA covers your extra fuel cost (and hopefully your utilities), and the commissary helps reduce your grocery bill. Trust me – you have it much better than the locals when it comes to this stuff.

3. Does XM radio work in Hawaii?

Yes

4. Does Amazon Prime work in Hawaii?

Sort of. You get free shipping on most items, but cannot ship two-day for free like you normally can.

5. Is it expensive to fly back to the mainland?

Yes. Tickets back home are around $800 per person, but much cheaper if you’re only flying to California.

6. Should I live on base or off base?

If you wan to save money, live on base. You will save a lot on utilities, which are typically $200 – $300 per month for electricity and $100 for water. The schools on base are known to be better as well, a lot of public schools off base have bad reputations. However, living off base will probably get you a bigger, nicer house.

7. How long do I have to look for a home in Hawaii?

Maximum 60 days. You have to check in with your housing office when you arrive on island. They will give you a form to fill out which shows you are looking at homes. You have to check in every 15 days and show that you are trying to find a home, by showing the list of homes you’ve looked at. I’ve heard that the 60 days can be extended but takes some work and extra approval.

8. How much money do I get while looking for a home?

A lot. BHA + TLA + COLA. More details here.

9. What’s so great about living in Hawaii?

My favorite part is the weather, which is almost constantly at 78 degrees. My kids play outside every day after school with neighborhood kids. They ride their bikes around with shorts and t-shirts on while I sit outside and BBQ. I like BBQ’ing in the evening, or getting together with neighbors to drink a beer.

Of course, the beach is amazing. We used to go once a week but now go maybe once a month. Everybody is very friendly here and relaxed. I love wearing flip flops all the time! Get a nice pair of Reef sandals, they are so comfortable.

10. What do you not like about Hawaii?

My commute to work is tough and involves a lot of traffic. It’s expensive to fly home, so we can’t see family on the mainland as often as we would like (although they do visit us more often!). It’s hard to find good schools for my kids, and private schools are plentiful but expensive. Shipping is expensive, so you have to try and buy more things local rather than through the internet. Most neighborhoods are a bit crowded.

11. Best places to live off base?

Nicest, affordable homes: Ewa Beach or Kapolei. Downside to these areas is a bad commute, and more expensive utilities due to the homes being in a hotter area (need to run A/C).

Best schools, somewhat affordable homes: Mililani

Nice area, good commute: Kaneohe, Kailua. Homes here are expensive for what you get.

12. Can I ship all my stuff to Hawaii?

Yes. You can ship your full weight allowance, just like you are moving within the mainland. As an extra benefit, you can choose to put some items in government storage. I did this with my riding lawn mower. You do not need a riding lawn mower in Hawaii!

13. Are military discounts available on the island?

Yes! Check out Great Life Hawaii to find lots of deals from ITT. Some of my favorite deals: Hanauma Bay is free for military. Hilton Hawaiian Village has great deals for local residents. Try to stay in the Rainbow Tower, and stay on Friday night so you can watch the fireworks at 7:45PM.

One of the best military benefits on the island is the Hale Koa. Even if you don’t stay there, the parking garage is cheap and gets you into Waikiki for the day. I also love their pool, which is near the beach and is free to military any time, even if you don’t stay there. The Barefoot Bar nearby has drinks much cheaper than the Hilton or surrounding hotels.

14. Are the schools bad?

From what I’ve heard (my son is just starting Kindergarten) public schools in Hawaii do not challenge kids. They will likely study at a lower level than kids in the mainland. Some of the schools are crowded and are on a multitrack schedule, which means rather than have a summer off, kids attend year-round and have breaks during different parts of the year.

One thing I was surprised is that many schools do not have air conditioning. The schools can get hot, and teachers encourage kids to bring a bottle of water in their backpack.

Private schools are all over the island, but are expensive. We looked at a couple (such as Island Pacific Academy) that were $14K per year.

15. Is there a lot to do on the island?

Yes! However, don’t see everything in your first week on the island. Spread out visiting the big sights or wait for family to visit so you can see them together. For instance, I waited for my Dad to visit before seeing the USS Arizona. It was great seeing it together for the first time rather than running through it a second time.

After a year or so you’ve probably visited all the big sights. You can then visit different beaches, go on one of many hikes, take a boat tour, or find a new restaurant. Finally, if you’re really tired of the island, you can go visit another nearby island!

16. Do you ever get “island fever”?

My wife and I have never experienced this. The island is fairly big and there is a lot to do. A mountain divides the island in half, so if you’re ever bored you can drive to the other side, and it feels like a different area. Kailua looks a lot different than Honolulu, and the North Shore looks much different when compared to Ko Olina.