{"id":65483,"date":"2019-01-24T22:04:32","date_gmt":"2019-01-24T22:04:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/01\/24\/mil-money-heres-how-to-get-your-financial-resolutions-back-on-track\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T14:03:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T14:03:10","slug":"mil-money-heres-how-to-get-your-financial-resolutions-back-on-track","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/pay-benefits\/2019\/01\/24\/mil-money-heres-how-to-get-your-financial-resolutions-back-on-track\/","title":{"rendered":"Mil Money: Here\u2019s how to get your financial resolutions back on track"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We\u2019re a month into the new year. How are you doing with your financial resolutions<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve already abandoned those resolutions or encountered some bumps in the road \u2014 such as holiday bills<\/a> \u2014 all is not lost. Why not revisit them and restart? It only takes 21 days to make something a habit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider the current (as of this writing) government shutdown. It doesn\u2019t affect the pay of service members or civilians working for the Defense Department. But it does affect Coast Guard members and those working with some other federal agencies<\/a>, including an unknown number of military spouses, retirees, Guard and Reserve members, and veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some are seeking assistance for basic needs through military relief societies and other charities. Some are able to get no-interest paycheck advances from some banks and credit unions, but nothing requires financial institutions to do that now, or in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What would happen to you personally if your paycheck \u2014 or your spouse\u2019s \u2014 suddenly stopped? Or what would happen if your spouse is unable to find employment after your next change of station move?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tally up your bills and debts \u2014 car payments, rent or mortgage, credit cards and other consumer loans \u2014 that you would still have to pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not everyone is able to scrape up an emergency fund<\/a>, for a variety of reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For that emergency fund, $500 is a good initial goal, but that doesn\u2019t have to happen in a month. Resolve to find $5 or $10 a week to put aside in a savings account for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a building block for your finances \u2014 and it\u2019s also a big step toward your financial peace of mind. Another good goal is plowing as much money as you can into paying down your debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\t