Make a Moving Fund

	Smart Move
	Of course, in addition to saving for a move, you need money for daily life—and for unexpected events. That’s why you need a spending plan to help keep on track.

When you are part of the military, you know that moves are inevitable. But you don’t know where you will be sent. How can you financially plan for moves before you know your destination? The best answer is simply to do what you can. If you are just beginning your military career and money is tight, you may not be able to set aside all the money you would like—especially for an overseas move. Still, knowing what a move might cost gives you a goal.

The Moving Fund Worksheet will help you come up with a realistic dollar amount that you should start to set aside in your moving fund. Remember, you likely will have about two or three years between moves, so don’t get discouraged. Just take it one step at a time.

Once you have a moving fund goal, you'll need to decide how you will you save that much money. One way is to save a set amount every month for your moving fund. You can’t be sure how many months you have until your next move, but, typically, military moves occur between two and three years (24 to 36 months). You might consider taking the number of months right in the middle—30 months—and divide your moving fund total by 30 to arrive at the amount you need to save each month. Make a note of your monthly moving fund savings goal on your Moving Fund Worksheet.