Milspouse Matters

On this episode we're talking about some hot topics: managing and saving your money with my amazing guest Kate Horrell.

Kate brings a sensibility to managing your finances, along with a deep understanding of military life since she has lived it herself. We cover topics like setting a spending plan, ways to save money, ideas for saving and investing when you're living on one income, getting out of debt, how to save up for a house when you're living in military housing, and so much more. She also answers some of your questions about finances that you submitted on Instagram. This is a don't-miss episode! Whether you feel like you've got a handle on your finances or not, trust me, you'll come away with some new insight and tips from Kate!

Kate is offering a new amazing resource that has been years in the making. Check out the Everything-You-Need-Binder, a godsend for military families! If you've ever worried about what you'd do in a family emergency and need to give instructions to grandparents or caregivers or simply wish to get your life more organized, this is for you.

Get the Everything-You-Need-Binder here!

Grab these FREE guides from Kate:

• Ultimate PCS Packout Guide
• Comprehensive Military Separation Checklist
• Military Scholarships for Service Members, Veterans, Spouses, and Kids
• Comprehensive Military Retirement Checklist

See this episode's complete show notes.

This episode is sponsored by my new book study guide, You Are Not Alone Book Study Guide and Discussion Questions. **Use code STUDY15 for 15% off this guide! See Jen's shop here.

• Get Jen's book, You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse
• Connect with Milspouse Matters on Instagram
• Join the Christian Military Spouse Facebook Group
• Find the complete Milspouse Matters show archive and listen to every episode!

I want to hear from you! What do you want to hear on the podcast? What do you love? What would you like to see changed? Sound off here: https://bit.ly/MMlistenersurvey

On this episode, we're talking about planning for your overseas military move, both some practical tips as well as preparing yourself mentally for this big change in not only where you live, but also likely a bit of a culture shock. It's fitting that as I recorded this, I'd just returned from a long trip to Ireland, and that looong overseas flight was still fresh in my mind!

My own family went through over a dozen military moves, four of them overseas. I'm sharing some lessons learned as well as some of my hard-won tips as you prepare for your move overseas!

See this episode's show notes.

Resources mentioned:

• Jen's Ultimate PCS Move Resource List (click the button at the top for specific overseas tips!)
• Planning Your Overseas PCS
• Lessons Learned from Living Overseas
• 11 Things to Know Before Your Overseas PCS Move
• Milspouse Matters Episode 59: Make the Most of Your Military Travel Benefits
• Can a Military Family Move Overseas Without Command Sponsorship?

Other episodes about moving overseas:

• Episode 86: A Military Spouse Overseas with Julie Tully
• Episode 87: Answering Listener Questions
• Episode 13: Overseas Living with Angie Drake
• Episode 1: Overseas and Back Again with Tara Howes

Military resources:

• It's Your Move document offered by TRANSCOM
• Plan My Move from Military OneSource
• my.move.mil, the new system from USTRANSCOM to support the relocation of families during PCS (currently by invitation only)

This episode is sponsored by my new book study guide, You Are Not Alone Book Study Guide and Discussion Questions. **Use code STUDY15 for 15% off this guide! See Jen's shop here.

• Get Jen's book, You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse
• Connect with Milspouse Matters on Instagram
• Join the Christian Military Spouse Facebook Group
• Find the complete Milspouse Matters show archive and listen to every episode!

I want to hear from you! What do you want to hear on the podcast? What do you love? What would you like to see changed? Sound off here: https://bit.ly/MMlistenersurvey

Looking for your help! Please take this short survey about the podcast and let me know your opinion.

*Brand new!! You Are Not Alone Book Study Guide and Discussion Questions

Use code STUDY15 for 15% off this digital download!

You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse - the book

On this episode, we're talking about how to cope when you hate where you're stationed with the military.

First, I answer a couple of your questions, including what's been my favorite place the military sent us and also my favorite/least favorite things about being a military spouse.

if you don't like where you're stationed, it can be a challenging time, but let's talk about:

• Every place can't be your absolute favorite, and you might outright dislike where you're living.
• Start small and focus on one thing you can find that's positive.
• How to avoid the negative spiral.
• Remember this is not forever.
• Keep your eyes open for potential friends—they're what make the tough assignments worth it!
• Watching out for the pitfalls of the comparison trap.
• How to get yourself out there, and taking care of yourself.

See this episode's complete show notes.

More resources:

• Get Jen's book, You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse
• Connect with Milspouse Matters on Instagram
• Join the Christian Military Spouse Facebook Group
• Find the complete Milspouse Matters show archive and listen to every episode!

Have a topic idea for the Milspouse Matters podcast or know someone who'd be a great guest? Send me a note or fill out our guest application.

On this episode, I'm thrilled to be speaking with Verenice Castillo, the founder of the Military Spouse Advocacy Network (MSAN).

If you're not familiar with MSAN, their motto is to Educate, Empower, Support, and they certainly do that!

Verenice and I talk about the importance of connecting with your military spouse community as well as understanding that you're not alone in this military life. Find others who've been where you've headed and who can share their experiences with you. And if you're in a place of being more experienced, learn how you can connect with MSAN and become a mentor or volunteer. Thank you, Verenice and MSAN, for the work you're continuing to do and for being such a shining light in the military community!

See this episode's complete show notes and resources mentioned.

Connect with MSAN:

• Military Spouse Advocacy Network website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram

More resources:

• Listen to the Christian Milspouse Podcast
• Get Jen's book, You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse
• Connect with Milspouse Matters on Instagram
• Join the Christian Military Spouse Facebook Group
• Find the complete Milspouse Matters show archive and listen to every episode!

Have a topic idea for the Milspouse Matters podcast or know someone who'd be a great guest? Send me a note or fill out our guest application.

Have you ever wondered the best process for sending a military care package? Want some help in creating your own or are you looking for a curated care package to send to your service member?

On this episode, I'm joined by Hero Care Packages CEO Jack Wray, and we're discussing all things military care packages!

Some topics we discuss:

• The story behind Hero Care Packages (which features veteran curated military care packges!)
• Tips for DIY military care packages
• The benefit and process of sending a care package with Hero Care Packages: types of boxes offered, how the process works, subscriptions, where they ship
• How to watch out for care package scams (yes, they exist)
• And more!

See this episode's complete show notes and all resources mentioned.

Connect with Hero Care Packages:

• Hero Care Packages website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Tiktok
• Pinterest

Make sure to follow the Milspouse Matters Instagram to enter the giveaway for one free care package, and use code milspousematters for 20% off your first care package at Hero Care Packages!

The PILLAR deployment retreat is coming Nov 4-6, 2022!! I'll be talking about helping your teens through a parent's deployment. Along with many other military spouses and military life experts, we're all here to help you power through deployment. It's all online and completely free, so grab your tickets here: PILLAR digital deployment retreat.

• Listen to the Christian Milspouse Podcast
• Get Jen's book, You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse
• Connect with Milspouse Matters on Instagram
• Join the Christian Military Spouse Facebook Group
• Find the complete Milspouse Matters show archive and listen to every episode!

Have a topic idea for the Milspouse Matters podcast or know someone who'd be a great guest? Send me a note or fill out our guest application.

We talk about the topic of deployment a lot on this podcast, and with good reason. It's such a challenging time for military members and their spouses, families, or significant others. I've been SO excited to bring you this episode, as Becky Hoy and Joanna Guldin-Noll are truly experts on this topic, and they're sharing their insight and encouragement with you.

Becky and Joanna are the cohosts of PILLAR, the totally free online retreat for deployment countdowns, happening Nov 4-6! Becky is the Founder of Brave Crate, the deployment countdown box for military spouses, and Joanna is the writer behind one of the largest military spouse lifestyle blogs online, Jo, My Gosh!

Becky and Joanna share:

• What they learned about themselves during deployment
• Their top tips for making the most of deployment
• When it's hard, and thriving isn't really happening
• The vision behind the PILLAR deployment retreat and how you can connect

See this episode's show notes and all resources mentioned.

Here's how to connect!

• Get your FREE ticket to the upcoming PILLAR deployment retreat at www.pillardeploymentretreat.com
• PILLAR @pillardeploymentretreat on Facebook and Instagram
• Jo, My Gosh!
• Joanna on Facebook and Instagram
• BraveCrate
• BraveCrate on Facebook and Instagram

Listen to the Christian Milspouse Podcast

• Get Jen's book, You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse
• Connect with Milspouse Matters on Instagram
• Christian Military Spouse Facebook Group
• Find the complete Milspouse Matters show archive and listen to every episode!

Have a topic idea for the Milspouse Matters podcast or know someone who'd be a great guest? Send me a note or fill out our guest application.

Let's talk about homeschooling in the military, as well as a brand-new podcast created to support military homeschooling families!

Since all my kids are now grown, one thing you might not know about me is that we were a homeschooling family for a couple of decades and loved that time with our four kids. I was also the managing editor for a large homeschooling magazine for a couple of years! On this episode, I'm talking to Crystal Niehoff, the host of the Military Homeschool podcast. And bonus! Visit the show notes, and I'll share a few of my very favorite homeschooling resources.

Guest Crystal Niehoff has a lot of wisdom and is a long-time homeschooler, so if you've ever wondered about homeschooling or simply need some encouragement for your homeschooling journey, this episode is for you! Crystal shares how her family began homeschooling, some of their best memories, how homeschooling is a great fit with military life, and all about her new podcast, the Military Homeschool Podcast.

See this episode's show notes and all resources mentioned.

Thanks to CodeWizardsHQ for sponsoring this episode. Give your child programming knowledge, skills, and the confidence to thrive in a digital world through fun and effective live, online coding classes. For kids ages 8-18, you'll find beginning basics to their innovative internship program. Visit CodeWizardsHQ to learn more and get a 30% military discount.

Listen to the Christian Milspouse Podcast

• Get Jen's book, You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse
• Connect with Milspouse Matters on Instagram
• Christian Military Spouse Facebook Group
• Find the complete Milspouse Matters show archive and listen to every episode!

Have a topic idea for the Milspouse Matters podcast or know someone who'd be a great guest? Send me a note or fill out our guest application.

Thanks to Wits & Weights podcast for being a sponsor of this episode. Hosted by Philip Pape, Wits & Weights examines the evidence and turns those into specific actions to implement so you can perform better in the gym, at work, and in life. Listen to Wits & Weights using your favorite podcast app or at witsandweights.com/podcast and get your FREE Protein Power Transformation Program at witsandweights.com, a 14-day habit transformation to help fix your nutrition and get more protein.

A military marriage is not the same as a civilian marriage, and conventional wisdom doesn't always apply. From advice like you have to have a weekly date night to you must communicate about everything, how does this work in keeping your military marriage strong? It just doesn't apply if you're apart a lot or have recently moved and don't have resources like childcare.

I'm sharing some tips from our 34 years of marriage. While we're not perfect (no one is!), we've learned a few things and I hope they will help you grow your own marriage!

See this episode's show notes and all resources mentioned.

Thanks to CodeWizardsHQ for sponsoring this episode. Give your child programming knowledge, skills, and the confidence to thrive in a digital world through fun and effective live, online coding classes. For kids ages 8-18, you'll find beginning basics to their innovative internship program. Visit CodeWizardsHQ to learn more and get a 30% military discount.

Listen to the Christian Milspouse Podcast

• Get Jen's book, You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse
• Connect with Milspouse Matters on Instagram
• Christian Military Spouse Facebook Group
• Find the complete Milspouse Matters show archive and listen to every episode!

Have a topic idea for the Milspouse Matters podcast or know someone who'd be a great guest? Send me a note or fill out our guest application.

Welcome back to a new season! On this episode, I'm answering listener questions and talking about what's coming.

Some topics we cover:

• Is it ok to call yourself a milspouse or military spouse?
• What's been the hardest (and best) part of being a military spouse?
• How much should I share with my spouse when they're deployed?
• I feel nervous about homecoming. Is this normal?
• How to stay sane when facing a PCS move after just having a baby?
• Do you have any insight on living in Bahrain?
• Did you ever feel torn between personal happiness/priorities and spouse's job/career change?
• Any advice on how to handle feelings of resentment starting to build?
• Do you have any tips to keep our relationship strong during an overseas PCS?
• Is it normal to feel jealous of the relationship my spouse has with the Army? I feel second place.
• Is it normal to be sad about going from dating for 2 years to joining military life and missing my old life?
• How do I prepare for an overseas PCS move? I'm overwhelmed!

See this episode's show notes and all resources mentioned.

Thanks to CodeWizardsHQ for sponsoring this episode. Give your child programming knowledge, skills, and the confidence to thrive in a digital world through fun and effective live, online coding classes. For kids ages 8-18, you'll find beginning basics to their innovative internship program. Visit CodeWizardsHQ to learn more and get a 30% military discount.

Follow the Christian Milspouse Podcast

Get Jen's book, You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse

Connect with Milspouse Matters on Instagram

Christian Military Spouse Facebook Group

Find the complete Milspouse Matters show archive and listen to every episode!

Have a topic idea for the Milspouse Matters podcast or know someone who'd be a great guest? Send me a note or fill out our guest application.

On this episode, I'm talking to Julie Tully, the author of the upcoming book, Dispatches from the Cowgirl: Through the Looking Glass with a Navy Diplomat's Wife.

Julie is the spouse of a Foreign Area Officer and has spent the last 18 years living overseas in different countries in Africa and Europe. In fact, Julie recorded this episode from Italy, right smack in the middle of a PCS move!

She's a cowgirl-turned-nomadic Navy spouse and she writes about life, culture, and the places where they intersect. Julie and I cover a lot of this topics in this episode, including her family's multiple tours overseas, how it's felt being "America" to the people they've lived among, her life as the spouse of a Foreign Area Officer, tips for moving overseas, the story behind her upcoming book, their soon return to the U.S., and how her son—who's never lived in the U.S.— feels about it all!

See the complete show notes for this episode here.

Connect with Julie at her site: Julie Tully

Find Julie on social media:

• Facebook
• Instagram

Get Jen's book, You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse

• Connect with Milspouse Matters on Instagram

• Christian Military Spouse Facebook Group

• Find the complete Milspouse Matters show archive and listen to every episode!

Have a topic idea for the Milspouse Matters podcast or know someone who'd be a great guest? Send me a note or fill out our guest application. Note that all requests right now will be put on a waiting list for late 2022-2023!

This episode is sponsored by USA Girl Scouts Overseas. For families on the move, Girl Scouts is a constant, allowing girls to pick up right where she left off: benefiting from the single best leadership development experience for girls in the world. Their virtual troop is a great way for girls to learn new skills, meet girls from all over the world, and have fun no matter where they are or where they move. Learn more at USA Girl Scouts Overseas!