Essay #2

Off-Post Living- Is it worth the cost?

In the current economy, most families find themselves clenching to every extra penny. Amount that group is military families and the choices of living on or off post. Although living off-post is easier for military families when the PCS, it causes military families to spend more money because the added BAH doesn’t cover all the living expenses, the families pay extra gas money for travel, and most maintenance fees are not covered by the landlord.
The military pays active duty members a certain allowance or BAH, to cover the rent of a home off-post each month. In most circumstances the actual amount given is averaged out based on the area and doesn’t always cover the house the family chooses to live in. This also doesn’t include the extras like: water, sewer, garbage, gas, electric or yard maintenance. Many families have to cut into their pay to cover the extra expenses just to live in the home. If a military family chooses to live on post, no BAH is paid but no cost comes out of pocket either.
In most cases, when living off post, military families have to pay additional in travel expenses. This includes an array of things like gas, oil changes, and regular maintenance items that are to be replaced more often. If the soldier decides to come home each day for lunch, it adds additional miles double if not triple the amount of miles, therefore using more gas, and spending more money. When living on post, there is a free ride taxi service that will drive a military member or dependant to any destination on post, cutting down on the extra money spent in maintaining the vehicle.
If something were to happen to anything in the home the military family is renting, the landlords are not always responsible or obligated to fix it. For instance, if a toilet is clogged or a drain is busted the renter has to pay the plumber for the charges of even checking it out. Little things like if the heat stops working or a window seal needs replacing all comes out of the renters pocket, adding to the extra expenses. If a military family moves off post it is usually to avoid the extensive exit inspection that they would go through to leave housing quarters. Most of these charges from moving out of military quarters can be easily fixed by taking advantage of the free maintenance service the military provides. The extra cost is more if the family chooses to buy a home. Which also can cost more in the end if the service member gets stationed somewhere other then there. They then have to worry about two homes if the choose to not sell the house, or if they can not sell the house. Creating more expenses on the already tight budget.
In the effort of saving money, living off post isn’t always the best option. In several cases it costs families more in living expenses by not including water, sewer, garbage or electricity, by the additional travel and maintenance costs of driving to and from post several times a day, and lastly by the extra maintenance of the house itself whether renting or buying the home.