Venting

Just when I think we have it all worked out and we are going to do well, it backfires. Ugh. Today, I’m hating military life.

Well, we are in NC. Matt checked in last Thursday. We’d decided that since Nate and Beth (Matt’s brother and SIL) are only a little over an hour away, we would stay with them. This way, we could save some money. Cuz, we are still getting BAH (housing money) since we aren’t in base housing. At over $600/month extra, and not paying rent here, we could save a lot of money in the next month or two or three…or however long it is til base housing is available. Well, and actually, the plan was for Matt to stay in the barracks on base during the week and to just come here on the weekends, thus saving us gas money also. But, anyhow, we would help pay for groceries, and that would be the only money involved. Then, also to help out, I am babysitting my two nephews (4 and 8 months). Great plan.

Too bad plans never work out as they should. Matt was given a barracks room, but was told it would probably only be for 2 weeks cuz they needed it for single guys coming back. Still, it was 2 weeks. Today he calls and tells me that they are kicking him out tomorrow. Great. Then, instead of driving back and forth, which isn’t terribly far, but not terribly close either, he decides that he wants to rent a hotel room in town at a place that has a monthly rate. A monthly rate of $540. Which, still doesn’t sound too bad. But, he has to eat. So add on the cost of food, and he’ll probably be spending more than what we get for housing.

Derek and I are still staying at Nate and Beth’s. I’m still babysitting, which is beginning to sound like a bad idea. All the kids (Derek and the 4 year old) do is fight ALL day long. Only one of them is my kid. It would be different if they were all mine, but they aren’t. I’m still helping out with the cost of food around here. So, add that on to the money Matt is spending. Oh, and did I mention, Nate and Beth have no money either, so in all reality, I feel as if I’m spending more than our share for the food, etc. But, they are letting us stay here. However, I’m also watching 3 kids all the time. Beth is away for the next 2 weeks for training for work. Nate is worse than Matt when it comes to helping out around the house and the kids. So, I’m not a full time mom/babysitter to 3 kids, instead of my one.

I don’t know. I’m just in a bad mood today, cuz I was hoping to save a bunch of money over the next few months, and now it doesn’t look like we’re going to be able to. Guess I should have known. When it comes to money, something always gets screwed up.

I still think Matt should have just suffered and driven back and forth each day. However, that would be a lot of miles on a car that already has too many as it is. And, there would still be the cost of gas and food for lunches. Plus, next week he has to go to the rifle range, so I guess he has to stay in the area or something and would have to pay for it then also. I don’t know.

I’m not happy right now. I’m also sick of living out of a suitcase and in houses that don’t belong to me. I want my life back. I want to feel settled and have a routine. I really hope we get base housing soon! We were at #54 on the list as of last Thursday. We were at #73 2 weeks before that.

Until next time…