Essay #2 -Final Draft

In the current economy, most families find themselves making difficult decisions, clenching onto every extra penny. Among that group of penny clinchers' are military families and the decision to live on or off post. Although living off-post is easier for military families when they PCS, it ultimately 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 but doesn’t always cover the house the family chooses to live in. The BAH amount doesn’t include any extras to be paid like: water, sewer, garbage, gas, electric or yard maintenance. Utilities that are not included in BAH on or off post are things like phone, internet or cable. Many families end up having to cut into their pay to cover the extra expenses just to live in the home, not including cable, internet and phone. If a military family chooses to live on post, no BAH is paid but no cost comes out of pocket either. In turn they normally get into a leasing contract which they have to pay out the rest of their lease if no military clause is present when signing the lease. This also adds to the extra amount of money spent to cover living off post expenses.
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 doubles if not triples the amount of miles driven in one day, therefore using more gas, and spending more money. If they choose to not come home, they are left with the fast food choices on post, which also add up equal to the amount of gas used going home. 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 and in gas used to drive the vehicle. If the military family is fortunate enough to have
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 than there. They then have to worry about two homes if they choose to not sell the house, or if they cannot 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 military families more just in living expenses to do so. Additionally if the housing doesn't include the basic utilities like water, sewer, garbage and electricity, it adds an extra strain to the financial situation. More stress is added with the additional travel and maintenance costs of driving to and from post several times a day, and if they are unfortunate enough the military family faces the extra maintenance costs of the house itself, whether renting or buying the home. Ultimately all of the extra expenses would be solved by choosing to live on post as a military family.