After Your Move: Settle In

The first weeks after a move can be as busy as the days before the move. The best thing you can do is pace yourself. First, settle into your new life. Learn about the local area, research what benefits the new installation has to offer, ease your family through the transition, and start making friends. Give yourself a break and then start thinking about financial matters again.

Get Organized

As soon as life settles down, organize your receipts and submit all qualified expenses for reimbursement. Make copies of receipts just in case the paperwork gets lost. You’ll also need to note which moving expenses don’t qualify for reimbursement but may qualify as deductions on your income taxes. When the reimbursement checks arrive, pay off your military travel card and put any extra money away for your next move.

Review How You Did

How much money did the move cost you? Did you have enough in savings to cover expenses that were not reimbursed—or did you have to rely on credit cards or other loans? This is good information to keep in mind as you prepare for future moves. If you haven’t already done so, establish a “Moving” file and include dated notes about what worked for you and what didn’t work for you during the latest move. As you come up with ideas about how to make future moves easier, file them as well.

Think About Jobs and Education

If the nonmilitary spouse wants to work, find out what employment assistance programs the new base or post offers. Many installations have partnerships with employers in the local community and try to help place spouses. Some even offer training programs to help spouses update their work skills. The National Military Family Association’s Web site provides many career and job-search tools for nonmilitary spouses.

I’m a Spouse with a Job. Will I Qualify for Unemployment When We Move? Nonmilitary working spouses may qualify for unemployment benefits in certain states after a move. To determine the availability of unemployment compensation for your spouse in your new duty-station state, visit USA 4Military Families. Additionally, you can check with the state unemployment office in your new duty-station state, or visit the Military Spouse Resource Center.

Consider Temporary Agencies

One option for employment is to register with a national temporary employment agency. Some of these agencies provide general office support to companies; others focus on locating specialized talent, such as accountants or nurses. The advantage of working through a national agency is that your work history travels with you. Since you are working for the same employer—just in a different state—you don’t have to reestablish your good reputation.

Consider Self-Employment

Another option for a job is to operate a home-based business. For example, many spouses have used their computer skills, such as programming or Web development, to run home-based businesses that are portable from base to base. Other ideas for home-based businesses that you can keep operating during a life of moves are:

• Accounting and bookkeeping
• Child care (properly licensed and certified)
• Food preparation: catering, cakes, specialty foods
• Graphic design
• Home interior design
• IT networking
• Software and hardware development
• Lessons: art, voice, music, dance, sewing, crafts, needlework
• Personal trainer and tutoring: career, job skills, school academics, sports, fitness
• Sewing and tailoring
• Home decor, beauty and cosmetics, clothing, and toy sales
• Virtual assistant
• Writing and editing: technical, business, and marketing communications

Speak with local business owners, members of local academic institutions, and your neighbors to network and find out who might need your skills. Before starting a home-based business, check with your spouse’s base or post to get specific regulations for that business. Also, consider working with a tax professional to find out what self-employment taxes you will be responsible for.

Consider Further Education

Look into local colleges, online universities, community colleges, and vocational programs. Your installation’s education center has an array of education information for both military personnel and spouses. Additionally, the National Military Family Association’s Web site provides many resources specifically for spouses for getting or staying on the education track. Also, consider the following:

• Learn about online degrees. If you have a computer and an Internet connection, you can take classes from home. To find out if online learning is right for you, visit www.petersons.com. Make sure courses are from an accredited educational institution.



• Explore grants. Grants can help pay the cost of higher education—and don’t have to be paid back. Two of the largest programs are federal Pell Grants and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants.



• Research work-study programs. These programs help students find jobs while in school. Talk with the school's financial aid officer for more information.



• Look into Stafford and Federal Direct Loans. They don’t have to be repaid until you stop going to school. Other loans are available but often are costly and could mean making payments while still in school. Before borrowing, review your finances and decide if you can afford a student loan.



• Visit helpful Web sites. The following Web sites can provide helpful information on financial aid: Sallie Mae, The College Board, FastWeb!, U.S. Department of Education, FinAid!, and Student Loan Network.

Work-At-Home Scams Work-at-home scams promise big money for easy work. Learn how to recognize and avoid work-at-home scams that sound too good to be true by reading the Federal Trade Commission's publication Work at Home Schemes. Additionally, check out work-at-home offers with your (1) local Chamber of Commerce or Better Business Bureau and (2) installation’s family services office, especially for work-at-home offers targeted at nonmilitary spouses.