4 ms·

Is there a standard measure of disposable income after taxes and necessities like food, housing, education, healthcare? It seems comparing how much people have

Is there a standard measure of disposable income after taxes and necessities like food, housing, education, healthcare? It seems comparing how much people have available for discretionary spending would be useful in many cases.

DoreenMichele 9y ago
I'm not aware of one and your question touches on some of the hidden forms of compensation that can be hard to measure (and can vary over time for the same person -- for example, we were sometimes in housing on base and sometimes not). The below examples are off the top of my head from memory as a military spouse and may be very out of date. The military will cover 75% of tuition for active duty members. Most states charge military members in-state tuition. When my ex took college classes at low cost community colleges in California, his books typically cost more than tuition. His tuition was practically pocket change. When he was stationed in a designated war zone, we got a tax break for that. When we were in on base housing, we did not get a housing allowance. We also did not get a water bill or electric bill. We only had to pay for a phone. While stationed in Germany, I got free dental care on base even though spouses usually don't get free dental anymore. Similarly, we could have gotten free braces for my oldest son while stationed at a different remote location. When shopping on base at a px or bx, you pay no taxes. They may or may not also have lower prices on some items. I routinely had a Power of Attorney so I could handle my husband's affairs while he was deployed. I never paid for such. We had access to legal assistance for free for such items. Medical coverage for the family is free, including out patient doctor's visits and most prescription medication. Further, I am alive when by all rights I should be dead in part because we got stationed at Travis AFB just as the shit was really hitting the fan. The hospital there is a teaching hospital that serves all military branches for eight western states. Most people have no idea how well developed the military medical system is and the sorts of resources that can be made available in cases of serious medical crisis. I have a genetic disorder that was diagnosed late in life. My husband's medical benefits alone were practically like a second income for us because I was in the ER all the time at zero cost. This was true even when visiting relatives who happened to live near military bases. I just went to the nearest military medical facility, even if it was a different branch of the military. Military personnel are sort of outcasts when deployed elsewhere in the US. We tend to not have a local bank account and military spouses have high unemployment rates because locals don't want to hire them. The military does what it can to make up for that, such as offering free check cashing on base at the bx or px. When in on base housing, I was able to check out a lawn mower and other items for free for purposes of maintaining the yard to the standard required by the military. I didn't have to buy any of those things. They even provided grass seed for free so we could reseed our yard when the 115 degree summer heat in the High Desert killed our grass. There are so many things you get for free in the military for just flashing your ID card that some people who leave after a single stint are shocked at how poor they are after leaving. A much higher percentage of a military check is discretionary than is the norm for most jobs. If you stay in 20 years or more, you will get retirement benefits without doing any retirement planning or savings whatsoever. As a young military spouse, 90% of my budgeting concerns was making sure we had enough food in the house. Retirement planning, stressing about medical bills and other normal issues for most Americans was simply not a part of my life.
- danmaz74 9y ago
  > military spouses have high unemployment rates because locals don't want to hire them May I ask why? Because they know you're going to move soon, or any other reasons?
  - DoreenMichele 9y ago
    Yes, they know you are highly likely to move again soon. But really it should say in part because... The benefits package makes living on one income viable. This contributes to spouses being less motivated to job hunt. Another factor is that frequent moves make it nigh impossible to develop a real career. If you have a serious education and want a professional career, this is largely out of reach for most military spouses. Nursing is just about the only exception that I know of. Nursing pays fairly well and there is typically a shortage of nurses just about anywhere you go. If you want any other kind of serious career, being a military spouse is a huge obstacle to working that out. If you are content to deliver papers or wait tables, you can probably get those kinds of jobs. But better jobs mostly don't want you (edit: and just may not have openings when you need them or may not exist at all in some locations).
    - danmaz74 9y ago
      Got it, thanks. I suppose that the kinds of online jobs digital nomads do would be an interesting alternative, but those aren't for everybody.
      - DoreenMichele 9y ago
        Digital nomads were not a thing 30 years ago when I was a young military wife. However, I do digital nomad type work currently. It fits in nicely with the kinds of expectations I have for my life that are rooted in having been a military wife. There are also times when I wish a regular job was a viable option for me because there are certainly downsides to what I do.
        9y ago

DoreenMichele 9y ago

I'm not aware of one and your question touches on some of the hidden forms of compensation that can be hard to measure (and can vary over time for the same person -- for example, we were sometimes in housing on base and sometimes not). The below examples are off the top of my head from memory as a military spouse and may be very out of date. The military will cover 75% of tuition for active duty members. Most states charge military members in-state tuition. When my ex took college classes at low cost community colleges in California, his books typically cost more than tuition. His tuition was practically pocket change. When he was stationed in a designated war zone, we got a tax break for that. When we were in on base housing, we did not get a housing allowance. We also did not get a water bill or electric bill. We only had to pay for a phone. While stationed in Germany, I got free dental care on base even though spouses usually don't get free dental anymore. Similarly, we could have gotten free braces for my oldest son while stationed at a different remote location. When shopping on base at a px or bx, you pay no taxes. They may or may not also have lower prices on some items. I routinely had a Power of Attorney so I could handle my husband's affairs while he was deployed. I never paid for such. We had access to legal assistance for free for such items. Medical coverage for the family is free, including out patient doctor's visits and most prescription medication. Further, I am alive when by all rights I should be dead in part because we got stationed at Travis AFB just as the shit was really hitting the fan. The hospital there is a teaching hospital that serves all military branches for eight western states. Most people have no idea how well developed the military medical system is and the sorts of resources that can be made available in cases of serious medical crisis. I have a genetic disorder that was diagnosed late in life. My husband's medical benefits alone were practically like a second income for us because I was in the ER all the time at zero cost. This was true even when visiting relatives who happened to live near military bases. I just went to the nearest military medical facility, even if it was a different branch of the military. Military personnel are sort of outcasts when deployed elsewhere in the US. We tend to not have a local bank account and military spouses have high unemployment rates because locals don't want to hire them. The military does what it can to make up for that, such as offering free check cashing on base at the bx or px. When in on base housing, I was able to check out a lawn mower and other items for free for purposes of maintaining the yard to the standard required by the military. I didn't have to buy any of those things. They even provided grass seed for free so we could reseed our yard when the 115 degree summer heat in the High Desert killed our grass. There are so many things you get for free in the military for just flashing your ID card that some people who leave after a single stint are shocked at how poor they are after leaving. A much higher percentage of a military check is discretionary than is the norm for most jobs. If you stay in 20 years or more, you will get retirement benefits without doing any retirement planning or savings whatsoever. As a young military spouse, 90% of my budgeting concerns was making sure we had enough food in the house. Retirement planning, stressing about medical bills and other normal issues for most Americans was simply not a part of my life.

danmaz74 9y ago
> military spouses have high unemployment rates because locals don't want to hire them May I ask why? Because they know you're going to move soon, or any other reasons?
- DoreenMichele 9y ago
  Yes, they know you are highly likely to move again soon. But really it should say in part because... The benefits package makes living on one income viable. This contributes to spouses being less motivated to job hunt. Another factor is that frequent moves make it nigh impossible to develop a real career. If you have a serious education and want a professional career, this is largely out of reach for most military spouses. Nursing is just about the only exception that I know of. Nursing pays fairly well and there is typically a shortage of nurses just about anywhere you go. If you want any other kind of serious career, being a military spouse is a huge obstacle to working that out. If you are content to deliver papers or wait tables, you can probably get those kinds of jobs. But better jobs mostly don't want you (edit: and just may not have openings when you need them or may not exist at all in some locations).
  - danmaz74 9y ago
    Got it, thanks. I suppose that the kinds of online jobs digital nomads do would be an interesting alternative, but those aren't for everybody.
    - DoreenMichele 9y ago
      Digital nomads were not a thing 30 years ago when I was a young military wife. However, I do digital nomad type work currently. It fits in nicely with the kinds of expectations I have for my life that are rooted in having been a military wife. There are also times when I wish a regular job was a viable option for me because there are certainly downsides to what I do.
      - 9y ago