Taxes are a huge factor. Compared to friends who make a similar pretax amount, I take home considerably more.

O3 w/ 10+ years. Base pay doesn’t clear 6 but w/ BAH it does. So it’s heavily dependent on time in service and where you happen to get stationed.

Military. Barely 6 figs but yea.

Huh. I’ve heard of that for guard and reserve but never IRR. So that’s a pretty sweet deal. Either way you would be close to 100k at 12yrs and BAH for ft. Lee

I’d also check your years of service. IRR shouldn’t be counted toward your pay if I remember right. Also just hand jam your potential pay. Should come out closer to 100k when you are at career course

Maybe the ring? But that's a pretty big stretch to make

Did you become a CA resident? Do you have a spouse that worked in CA or did you do side jobs and make money in CA?

If not, then you should be fine. Go talk to your base financial assistance section

Current O3; Knowing what I do know now, this is what I would do as I was very similar--no debt(aside from loan), Small windfall, good E-fund. Difference for me was fully funded Roth IRA since cadet time and I waited until ~24 TIS to fund TSP and only started maxing when I hit O3. Assumption is you are in BRS and single.

-Continue Making the monthly on your CSL

-Max your TSP now (C-50%; S-40%, I-10% OR whatever lifecycle fund you choose)

-Roth IRA monthly; If you need suggestion PM

-Use excess cash to balance as needed and once you are set begin a taxable account

-This is dependent on what your plans are but I assume you are not getting out in the next few years

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Be sure to do all the math out but its possible. I could have easily done this but basically waited until I hit O3 cause I have a problem and like to buy cars/motorcycles. My NW would be able double what it is now without those purchases considering I had a perfectly fine vehicle when I graduated. Again-all just suggestions and what I wish I did but who knows what the next 10 years will bring compared to what the last 10 were. Also, your post lacks some details such as; rent, branch, expected large bills, you say healthy E-fund but to some that is 3 months for others its a year of expenses.

Either way--> pay your future self before partying

So it’s at a loss? You shouldn’t pay anything in taxes then. Mass mutual might have a closing penalty though. Either way. I’d still close it. WL really Only makes sense for the fat crowd and even then it’s pretty limited scenarios. #notanAdvisor

Cash value is 48k after only spending 36k in premium? Only 8 years and in the money on WL honestly isn’t that bad of an investment. But that 4.5k in the market or real estate each year would yield a lot more over the same time. I’d dump it and fund IRA/real estate/brokerage. Only thing I can think of is taxes due on the 12k gains

Must be in the way it calculates claimed dependents is the only thing I can really think of but not sure how that would cause you to get less on the RMC.

Despite what the calculator is saying you won’t get less. Your BAH will increase to the dependent level and that’s the only pay increase you will see. If you account for your spouse’s tri care and such that adds another benefit with no direct cost.

I have used the calculator before out of curiosity. Seemed like a decent estimate but I would punch my own numbers into a calculator to actually get what I felt my RMC was.

As the others mentioned; this is worded oddly. I’d find a different place with a less shady landlord. Ive been renting the last 10 years in multiple places, most recently NY, and all the contracts I saw had typical wording. As for the SCRA piece, it’s been tried by many landlords but ultimately if you are eligible under SCRA they can’t do anything about you breaking a lease. But they have plenty of other ways to screw you…. Like keeping some or all of the security deposit on trumped up stories about you breaking/not cleaning/etc. and that fight is not worth it.

Also I am confused on your DEP. If you already signed a contract, count yourself as in the military.

As a USMA grad, I agree with this right here. Also, didn’t need the loan but still took most of it to invest/supplement income to max IRA/TSP.

You’re not wrong and I made far less back in the day as an E1 than the 20k they get these days. I still turned out fine but the ones who were married still struggled.

To me the real issue is the official poverty line. Idk how someone could survive with income that low. Let’s not lie either.... the junior enlisted quality of life typically isn’t the greatest until they gain some more rank

I mean, yes. I just so happened to purchase my last vehicle in a state that doesn’t charge for vehicle sales/use tax and registered in FL since I’m a FL resident. I think there are around 10 states that don’t charge so not impossible

No catch. No sales tax on vehicles when purchased outside of FL, registered in FL, and you are Military res of FL. I guess the catch could be the state you buy in may still require you pay sale tax to them.

Current new build price is right around $250sqft depending on location and finishes. That’s 375k for 1,500sqft. Without land. At least here in the Northeast US it is.

If you plan to do two-up, skip the Sportster. It won’t be comfortable with two people for a few hours. Having owned 3 bikes before I assume you have been riding for a while so go right to the dyna/softail. Get a Fatbob- sporty while solo riding but capable enough for occasional two-up cruising. Perhaps try a dyna switchback for more of a cruiser. Hardest part here is going to be your price range. Hard to find anything outside of Sportsters around 5k that will not need some TLC

My man! Repping that Army football