Soldier: How am I supposed to pay rent if I do not get paid during the government shutdown?

Yes, young troops overspend, and folks outside bases make damn sure they are overcharged to the max. Excess finance charges on all types of loans, etc. Add to the mix that the typical trooper is married with kids and living off-base rent is high, and the are getting what the pay for. Also jobs for dependents are often low pay or scarce, and good paying jobs are learly of hiring for 2-3 years. When you think of a $500 car payment, $100 phone, $100 cable bill then rent, food, etc. Makes money tight on lower enlisted.

I believe that its poor financial planning for the majority of the military. It is true that a large portion of the Armed Forces are considered to be below the national poverty line. This figure is derived only on our taxable income which for most of us is base pay only. If you account for all of our allowances and the fact that we have practically free medical care, the military pay check isn't to shabby. It continues to baffle me how many soldiers (especially single soldiers) live check to check. I've sole supported a family of five since I began my services as an E3. My budget includes the basics along with a mortgage to our first home that we've struggled to rent out over the years. We've always had a bit of extra cushion to play with. I've maintained an emergency fund of 6 months worth of my expenses (though this did take me 3-4 years to build as lower enlisted). My wife's income (when she has some) is not considered into the budget. Ever cent she makes goes into investments. In fact, my budget is still based of an E3 pay. Every time I've gotten promoted or get the pay bump ever two years the additional income has gone to paying off my first home or investments as well.

Not saying all this to brag but if I can manage to pay all of this with my check, why is it that someone with maybe a cell phone, car payment, insurance, living in the barracks can't pay their bills? I can understand the newer members living off-post with families, or even the single parent paying the ridiculous cost of child care (which is actually why my wife didn't work until all the kids were in school). The rest have no excuse, just piss poor planning.

We as leaders have a responsibility to our subordinates to provide them all the tools necessary to succeed. It is up to them to use them appropriately. The problem stands that many of today's senior leaders where never provided the proper guidance of financial planning. How could the services as a whole rectify this situation?

"Plan for the worst and hope for the best"

Pray that your Senators and Congressmen or women get their heads out of their xxxxxx and do there job like normal military men and women do. That’s how.