Living In The Marines?

Question

Can a 0331 (Machine Gunner) support himself and his wife on an enlisted paycheck from the Marines? What about when you throw in a kid?

This would only be for 8 years maximum before the wife got out of college(Orthodontist; good money). Heres the breakdown on pay...

Base Pay- $1630.80

BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing)- Around $900.00 (Up around $1500 in expensive places; Hawaii, Alaska, ect..)

BAS (Basic Allowance for Substance)- $235.00
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They have other benefits but those are the main cash ones. Now supported just him and his wife; what kind of house, car, ect.. would he be able to afford? What about when its him, her, and a kid?

Thanks alot. The more specific,detailed the answer; the better.

Answer 1

The base pay that you gave is for an E-3 who has been in for at least 2 years, if you aren't in yet you will not make that much straight out of boot camp. BAH is determined for where you are stationed, and your rank. With that said

Back when my husband was an E-3 that was back in 2002, the pay was a lot less it was 1385.40 and we had 1 child and twins on the way, we had 1 kid when he was an E-1 in 2000 making 1005.60 a month now that was hard but not impossible. When he was an E-3 we lived on base, I didn't work there was no point all I would be working for was to pay for day care. We had a 2001 Dodge Neon that we bought brand new. We also had a 2001 Dodge Ram that we also bought brand new. We made it just fine we always had food on the table and gas in the cars, and clothes on our backs. We had everything that we NEEDED for us and the kids, we didn't always have what we WANTED, only what we needed. Now he is an E-5 we have 4 kids and a 2004 Dodge Neon and a 2007 Dodge Ram. We are still doing fine we have money in the bank, all our bills are paid, and we still don't always get what we want but we always get what us and the kids need.

Answer 2

I just married a Lcpl, and we are expecting mid-september. We got married and he deployed right away, so we don't have our house yet, but we have had to think of a bunch of different things to make this work. Such as, yeah, it would be nice to live off base, but hey, if it's provided, take that advantage of base housing for a couple of years till you really get on your feet. You have to be a good at budgeting. Watch where you spend you money and what on. The military has a lot of benefits. Not having to worry about medical bills alone take a big weight off. It's possible to do it. There are tons of young military couple out there. Good luck! :)

Answer 3

well you bah covers your rent and running expenses for the home. as does your base pay. buy a house while in the service is a bad idea as you transfer every few years. we live on my husbands salary, hes an e-5. so he gets more than that a month. plus a car note, we live in base housing,
his credit will help or hinder him with a car if you are planning your life based on what he can give you your wrong. it can be donr on that salary, it wont be easy no expensive clothes and dinners out all the time. we do it and we do ok

Answer 4

I have lived on less...

First things first, 1 credit card Period (for emergencies). This is not a toy to be used for the "I gotta get me one of those" purchases.

Make sure you budget appropriately for your family. Sit down with your Mrs.'s and discuss the "We Needs" vs. the "We Wants". Food, and of course transportation, top of the list.

Don't think you are going to buy a brand spanking new car... Plan on buying a used clean machine. Remember your loved ones, don't buy your car... buy their car. Lots of good places to get some good deals, like rental car companies flipping their fleet inventories.

The base should have some financial planning classes and assistance for you to take and get educated about the current financial trends. Spend some time and educate yourself on money markets, and IRA's.

This will pay HUGE dividends in the long run, not just for yourself but for your little ones in the rapidly approaching future.

Enroll in some of the College courses available to increase your promotion classification, more stripes = more pay!

Keep your head on straight, and look straight ahead... It ain't easy, but worth mega points in the long run.

Good Luck Marine.

Semper Fi! Carry On.

Answer 5

Money should not be a factor when joining any military branch. You really should look at different options if your main focus or worry is the money. There are far more things that will be involved and like one guy said, you will sacrifice things that money can not replace. Good Luck.

Answer 6

I'm going to tell you from experience (ex navy)...cost of living expenses and enlisted pay are two very different things, it will be very tight for you and your wife. Plan on sacrificing a lot of the things you take for granted now...good luck!

Answer 7

What a stupid question. You can tell you don't squat from shinola.

Don't you know that love conquers all?

I got married in 1971 as Marine enlisted guy making 130 dollars a freaking payday. Because we were in love and wanted to be together, we made it work, no matter what.

If you want to be together, you can make it work. Period. Don't believe any other BS.

Answer 8

Throw in a kid? that was funny to me. you didn't wan't to say "additional family members" or something like that.

to answer your question though it can be done with money management as you should do with any job.