Military families face a host of financial challenges that most civilians never experience. Frequent relocations, separation during overseas deployments, and modest compensation combine to stress finances and put a premium on money management.
Assigning a purpose to every dollar is essential because, among other things, military families struggle to maintain access to high-quality yet affordable education and child care. Picking up and moving every few years breaks financial routines, compromises careful budgeting, and makes families prime candidates for predatory lenders and other quick-fix schemes.
Although military families receive comprehensive healthcare coverage, the system isn’t perfect, and finding affordable care on base and in remote or overseas deployments isn’t guaranteed.
Transitioning back to civilian life upsets the apple cart even further, as does planning for retirement after a convoluted military career. The bottom line is that we ask military families to pay for the sacrifices they make on behalf of us all.
That’s why we put together this list of the best finance bloggers for military families. Regardless of your challenges as an active duty or retired military family, a blogger here speaks in your voice.
Krystel Spell
#1 Blogger for Military Discounts
Krystel Spell’s blog, Army Wife 101, bills itself as lifestyle and news for today’s milspouse.
It’s an impressive collection of articles covering all aspects of military life, including base living, deployment, military entertainment, and travel.
But it’s the discounts that may keep you coming back. Military life has its privileges, and Army Wife 101 connects to some of the hottest deals in categories such as apparel, attractions, entertainment, hotels, shoes, and theme parks.
Why We Follow Krystel
With self-deprecating humor and empathy, Krystel and her lead writer, Army wife Jackie Toops, tackle everything from the smallest to the most significant issues associated with military life.
Topics include care packages, deployments, on-post living, and haunted military bases. Krystal and Jackie present tutorials to help readers learn to take the first step in meeting whatever challenges they face.
The discounts are great, but we love that Krystel and Jackie package them with helpful information.
Key Info
- Facebook followers: 69K
- Instagram followers: 5,037
- Website: https://armywife101.com
Marissa
#1 Blogger for Frugal Families
Marissa is The Frugal Navy Wife. In a blog chock-full of helpful content, Marissa shares all she knows as an “Air Force brat” and mother of four kids, two cats, and two dogs.
That means refashioning tried-and-true financial responsibility advice into packets tailor-made for military moms (and dads).
Marissa’s frugal-living focus is the kitchen — and every other place she can think of to save money.
By strategically using rebates, Marissa’s family enjoys a debt-free Christmas every year.
Why We Follow Marissa
An article on 16 thrifty uses for WD-40 oil lubricant should tell you all you need to know about The Frugal Navy Wife’s scope.
But the blog also covers money-saving recipes, do-it-yourself projects, homeschooling, and holidays.
There’s also a section devoted solely to applying skills learned elsewhere on the site to benefit from the best military discounts and perks.
We love that Marissa goes the extra mile to thoroughly cover a military family’s financial challenges (and successes).
Key Info
- Facebook followers: 53K
- Instagram followers: 9,028
- Website: www.thefrugalnavywife.com
Jo
#1 Blogger for Relationships
Jo, My Gosh! is where writer Jo found her voice. From military-life logistics like deployments and permanent change of station, or PCS, moves to keeping in touch and maintaining loving relationships during separations.
In distinctively introspective language, Jo chronicles military life as it relates to matters of the heart.
Jo, My Gosh! tackles dating, weddings, and long-distance romance in the section on relationships. The section on staying in touch handles the details of care packages, letters, and mail resources.
Why We Follow Jo
Jo embarked on a journey of self-discovery after her eventual husband deployed to Afghanistan for a year.
From feeling entirely out of her element and with no network to turn to, Jo found herself and her people in writing.
We love that Jo finds inspiration in informing her vibrant reader community about the practical things that make military relationships work.
Key Info
- Facebook followers: 14K
- Instagram followers: 2,531
- Website: https://jomygosh.com
Lacey Langford
#1 Blogger for Investment Fundamentals
If military life is a career for everyone in the family, you may be surprised to learn that many military members double as investors.
MILMO (Military Money & Entrepreneurship) results from founder Lacey Langford’s experiences as a military brat, financial expert, military wife, veteran, and entrepreneur.
As an Accredited Financial Counselor with years of financial planning, counseling, and coaching experience, Lacey understands from experience how to translate textbook knowledge into tangible results for military families.
Why We Follow Lacey
MILMO offers financial and business coaching, courses, consulting services, and a blog and popular podcast, “The MILMO Show.”
Readers, listeners, and viewers learn money and entrepreneurship lessons and how to get control of their money so they can make confident financial decisions.
We love that MILMO offers practical and actionable information to inspire military families to reach for their financial stars.
Key Info
- Facebook followers: 572
- Instagram followers: 1,305
- Website: https://milmo.co
Kate Horrell
#1 Blogger for Donation-Supported Content
At KateHorrell.com, Kate Horrell puts certifications as an Accredited Financial Counselor, a Chartered Financial Consultant, and a Military Qualified Financial Planner to work solving the problems of the wife of a retired sailor and mother of four.
It’s all about preparing for the next stage in life, whatever that might be to the reader.
Kate has resources to get you to the next level whether that’s planning for college, renting, moving, taxes, or the pay. The blog also addresses allowances and benefits issues affecting military families.
Why We Follow Kate
What you won’t find on the site is advertising. KateHorrell.com is a donation-supported resource with no affiliate relationships.
Although ads can connect consumers from all walks of life with products and services to improve their lives, an ad-free model assures impartial information.
We love that Kate and her team offer tools and resources to help military families make the most of what they have while striving for more.
Key Info
- Facebook followers: 1.3K
- Instagram followers: 512
- Website: www.katehorrell.com
Julie Provost
#1 Blogger for Financial Improvement
Soldier’s Wife, Crazy Life chronicles blogger Julie Provost’s journey as a wife of 20-plus years to an active duty U.S. Army, Army National Guard, and then retired soldier.
The adventures and challenges of living in California, Kentucky, Germany, and Tennessee, raising three boys, and going through four deployments inspire Julie to help others in the same boat.
Whether you’re just starting your family life and military career, enjoying the fruits of your labor, or anything else, there’s content to inform and delight.
Why We Follow Julie
Financial improvement means many things at Soldier’s Wife, Crazy Life.
It can mean looking for everyday savings, taking advantage of military discounts to enjoy the finer things in life, or learning more about the books that delight Julie in her personal life.
We love that Julie dedicates herself to helping military families make the most of their special status.
Key Info
- Facebook followers: 48K
- Instagram followers: 5,886
- Website: https://soldierswifecrazylife.com
Spencer Reese
#1 Blogger for Financial Independence
Military service presents unique challenges to families who volunteer for the privilege of defending their country.
One thing military families have in common with all other families is the desire for financial independence, the ability to take charge of each day to enjoy it to the fullest.
Spencer Reese’s Military Money Manual demonstrates how a typical military professional can invest in financial independence by 35 while living up to all his other responsibilities.
Why We Follow Spencer
The site presents credit card comparisons, a free travel course, Spencer’s financial coaching services, and practical content to make the right financial moves.
Spencer authored a book, “The Military Money Manual,” and produces a weekly podcast reinforcing the ideas he presents in his blog.
We love that Military Money Manual delves deeply into investment strategies with a proven record of success.
Key Info
- Facebook followers: 165
- Instagram followers: 1,405
- Website: https://militarymoneymanual.com
Ryan Guina
#1 Blogger for Better Money Management
Ryan Guina has devoted his website The Military Wallet to personal finance and VA benefits information for active duty and retired military members.
The site monitors VA benefits, disability rates, and military discounts while presenting actionable info on the best credit cards and investing through the military’s Thrift Savings Plan.
Ryan also helps readers stay informed through a section packed with the latest military financial news.
Why We Follow Ryan
Ryan served in the U.S. Air Force as an aircraft mechanic for six years and took a break from service for nearly a decade before joining the Air National Guard in 2014.
His military experience makes him acutely aware that learning about the many available options is the only way to take advantage of military benefits.
We love that Ryan has dedicated himself to helping military families get more of what’s coming to them financially.
Key Info
- Facebook followers: 14K
- Instagram followers: N/A
- Website: https://themilitarywallet.com
Jen McDonald
#1 Blogger for Families of Faith
Milspouse Matters is partly an exploration by blogger Jen McDonald of the inner life of military members and families.
Through her blog, a podcast, and two books, “You Are Not Alone” and “Milspouse Matters,” Jen explores faith-based topics and homeschooling while saving ample room for more practical matters.
Milspouse Matters addresses topics like marriage, children, deployments, and PCS moves in her accepting way.
Why We Follow Jen
Everyone searching for a blogger wants to find someone who speaks in their voice.
Jen draws on 30 years of military life to support spouses like herself in everything they do.
We love that Milspouse Matters speaks authentically to a community that must struggle more than many to preserve a sense of purpose in a life devoted to sacrifice.
Key Info
- Facebook followers: 1.8K
- Instagram followers: 3,348
- Website: https://milspousematters.com
Brandon Lovingier
#1 Blogger for Paying Down Debt
You may think investing advice aimed at military members reaches out mainly to the officer community — and you might be right.
But Brandon Lovingier’s Enlisted Money proves that there is an audience of everyday members and veterans who want to learn from an expert.
Enlisted Money pays readers back for their attention with confessions and success stories. Enlisted Money chronicles Brandon’s financial triumphs and tragedies, provides downloadable checklists and calculators, and a blog with all the nuts, bolts, tips, and tricks a soldier with money ambitions could want.
Why We Follow Brandon
Enlisted Money spends a lot of time reviewing the somewhat arcane financial rules and regulations associated with earning a salary as a military member.
There’s also a ton of practical advice for taking advantage of perks from financial services providers and putting money in the best places to earn for the future.
We love that Brandon supports everyone in the military community who is looking to improve themselves while they put everything on the line for their country.
Key Info
- Facebook followers: 120
- Instagram followers: 469
- Website: https://enlistedmoney.com
Behind their unique challenges, military families have the same hopes and dreams as anyone else. But building a career (or careers) in national defense puts them at greater financial risk than the average civilian.
It shouldn’t be that way, given the sacrifices military families make, with frequent redeployments, separations, and other challenges. Luckily, a strong sense of community in the military assures a strong audience for self-help-oriented finance bloggers like those we list here.
The decision to embark on a financial improvement journey can be life-changing. We hope a blogger on this list connects with your dreams for a better future in the military.