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Financial Tips

Active duty servicemembers, their families and veterans face unique challenges such as having to manage money during overseas deployment, balancing a spouse's career during frequent relocations, and transitioning to civilian life after leaving the military. These financial tips are extracts from the Financial Frontlines Resource Guide and can help tackle these challenges.

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Budgeting & Saving Budgeting and saving are the secret to realizing your dreams. Read this excerpt from the Financial Frontlines Resource Guide on how to develop life long habits that will net you financial security.
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Editable Budget Sheet Use this editable budget sheet to begin your budgeting journey today. Having a birds eye view of your expenses will help you make informed decisions about saving and paying down debt.
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Military Lending Act The Military Lending Act protects servicemembers and their families from certain lending practices. It limits interest rates on many types of consumer loans and provides other protections.
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Service­members Civil Relief Act The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act allows servicemembers to suspend or postpone certain civil obligations that could adversely affect their rights during military or uniformed service.

Reviewing Your Credit Report and Why it's Important

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It’s a good habit to review your credit report at least every four months or more. Check your report even if you don’t suspect identity theft, because mistakes happen that can affect your credit score. Due to the Equifax Breach, the three bureaus are offering free weekly online credit reports. Take advantage of this offer, especially if you suspect identity theft.

Visit AnnualCreditReport.com to request your free credit reports. To ensure no one but you can access your credit information, you will be asked some security questions that only you know. Make sure to have your records on hand. Avoid other sites offering free credit reports, they could be scams. AnnualCreditReport.com is the only federally authorized place to get free credit reports.

Read your report carefully. If you spot mistakes, read Disputing Errors on Your Credit Reports by the Federal Trade Commission for bests steps to take. If you find suspicious activity, report it at IdentityTheft.gov.

Credit freezes and fraud alerts are another way to protect yourself from identity theft. Please refer to our Fraud and Scams section for more information.