How much can someone coming in as an E-1 save in a 4 year enlistment?

Jordan Dang — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 18:30:54 -0500

Do you have any stories you can share of soldiers saving/investing their paychecks while junior enlisted please share thanks.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2020 6:40 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 18:40:29 -0500

When I did it, I didn’t save hardly a dime...I have learned a lot since then and my son now is maxing his savings everyplace he can. In his initial enlistment he is going to have saved over $10k without sacrificing anything. Just focused and watched his budget. He has also been able to take advantage of the stock market adding to his overal net worth. At 22 y.o. He has developed the habit of saving and maxing his retirement investments...the discipline itself it worth way more than the actual dollars and cents currently saved because it will be a habit he retains for a lifetime. I hope you and others can make that happen for you and your families too!

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made Nov 26 at 2020 6:45 PM

LTC Eugene Chu — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 18:45:22 -0500

It will vary based on duty location and lifestyle. Some assignments require a car due to lack of public transit or large base where walking from barracks to PX is inconvenient. During certain overseas deployments, one can save money based on tax exemption of salary, hazard pay and other factors

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2020 7:27 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 19:27:57 -0500

Jordan Dang No one can tell you how much you will save because there are two many variables. I saved because I was disciplined and had always saved. It helped that I served in places where I could not spend money, drew combat pay, etc. Do your research about investing so you make the best choices possible. Be familiar with your savings plan/retirement plan choices. Studying personal finance is a lifelong task and the more that you study the better investor you will become. Save, invest wisely, spend wisely. Good luck.

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Response by SSG Laurie Mullen made Nov 26 at 2020 7:32 PM

SSG Laurie Mullen — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 19:32:10 -0500

It took me bouncing a few checks to learn how to save properly and budget. I suggest that when you enlist set up a savings account at credit union or a bank that is different from the one tied to your checking/debit account. Set up an allotment of at least $100.00 each month from your pay. After a few months you won't miss the money. You may also want to start investing in a mutual fund. I started putting money into one in '92, $100.00/month, until I hit 10 years or 12 years. Now the account just keeps rolling.

Response by Cpl Vic Burk made Nov 26 at 2020 8:15 PM

Cpl Vic Burk — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 20:15:38 -0500

Saving money is hard for enlisted personnel especially (no offense officers, we get paid less!). Most I knew who were enlisted came into the military with little to nothing and for many this was their first time on their own. Enlisted generally don't have college educations and are younger when they enter the military. They see stuff, want it, got some money in their pocket and buy it without giving it too much thought. Join the credit union. Sent ten percent of your paycheck there via an allotment and forget it. By the time you get ready to leave you will have the start of a nest egg. It's hard to save in the military. I know, I was there also. It takes discipline. Good luck to you.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Nov 26 at 2020 9:36 PM

SSG Brian G. — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 21:36:36 -0500

No on can answer that. No one. That is going to depend on their contract, what they opted for ie Airborne, if they are on jump status, if after AIT they go into a combat zone and other factors.

Just assuming they go non airborne, and are CONUS for that entire time, it will depend on if they are married or have dependents, if they have court mandated things, what they opted for in terms of Insurance as well as how disciplined they are are as SM's. They are going to be living in the barracks, pretty much a given, and that means they are going to be eating at the chow hall. But what then? Are they just going to survive in their barracks on tap water or are they going to the commissary and purchase food, beverage and snack items? Do they have a POV, are they dating? What kind of social life do they have? LOTS of questions there.

But let's assume.

E-1 comes in on a 4 year contract. We'll use 2020 numbers for the time as 2021's are not confirmed yet. So E-1 comes in and is earning 1602 before taxes. They are going to draw this while at basic so two months at this. This is nearly all saved as the only things coming out are haircuts and the limited shopete runs for the normal items that drills approve of. So assuming a haircut every 2 weeks for $55 bucks and two $100 buck shopete runs for a total of $255.

Leave $2,145 give or take. Now on to AIT. Let's assume an AIT of 24 weeks. That is 6 more months of $1602 a month. Now AIT is different because after a certain phase you get more lenience. Haircuts every two weeks ($132), and let's up the shopete/PC runs to $200 because you have more freedoms and you are going to want to snack and read and listen to music. So that is $1,200.

So that leaves you $5,877 give or take. Add this to the $2.145 and you trot off to your first duty station with almost $8,000 saved. For this we are not taking into account that you would transit from being under 4 months to over 4 months as an E-1 so your pay would go up a bit.

E-1 to E-2 should happen quick after arrival at your first duty station as you will be TIG of 8 months at this point. So your pay will go up to $1943 for the next 6 months. Now here you will have the utmost of freedoms. You can come and go almost as you please. Standards are not the same so haircuts you can probably skate with 1 a month but you will be able to buy whatever you want at the PX, Comissary and off post. This includes stereo and entertainment. But let's assume the private is BOORING. So assume $600 a month for expenses. That is $3600 and leaves $5.143 give or take.

So at the end of a year you have saved roughly $13,143 give or take. Without going into a further breakdown you can assume to save this amount per year for the next 3 years. The amount will go up as you will or should be E-4 in there about the 3 year mark. This is also not taking into account the COLA of the state you began in or the COLA of your first duty station or any pay raises in there. But safe to say that at the end of 4 years barring any large expenditures like a car, plane tickets and such for leave or getting married, you should or could be able to save at least $50,000 give or take.

Now understand this is assuming the SM lives a rather bland life. No partying, no clubs, no real social life, no car, no expensive electronics etc and sticks to just having meals in the chow hall.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2020 10:03 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 22:03:03 -0500

The military, especially for Jr enlisted are like parents. The military pays them, feeds them, houses them, and keeps on top of their physical well being. Every penny they get from the military is expendable income (especially for singles).

In the equations for "Time Value of Money", TIME is the most powerful variable in savings. Sooner is better than later, and more is better than less.

When I enlisted at 39 I walked away from a 20 year financial career and have an MBA/CFA. I was saving since day one out of college. So at 39 I stopped saving and entered the USAR. Since I was saving all that time while I was young I basically locked in my retirement nest egg before I was 40.

Actually. I locked in my retirement nest egg when I was 30 (but I stopped saving at 39). If someone starts saving as much as they can from ages 20-30 and then entirely stop saving from age 31-60 they will still have 90% of the portfolio the person that continued to save until the day they retired. So yes, the first 10 years of savings is 9 times as much as the next 11-30 years of savings.

A dollar saved by a 20 year old today grows to the power of 40 (retirement age 60). $1(1+rate)^40, the next year when age 21 the dollar they save will grow to the power of 39. $1(1+rate)^39, at age 22 it will be the power of 38 as so forth.

So for those that decide to save later they lose the opportunity to get compounding years of 40,39,38,37,36,35, etc............ The years to "catch up" quickly pass and the amount needed to stash away to catch up to missing the early years quickly becomes insurmountable.

A young person that can save $100 a month can still get to $1,000,000 at retirement. But they have to do it in their teens.

*****
I get it, I didn't disclose the finer details to my assumptions in my calculations. I feel in the context of this conversation such detail is lost in the larger message SOONER IS BETTER THAN LATER, and cannot be emphasized enough.

*****
My young toddlers are so lucky to have me. We as parents have been stashing away savings each year for them and well, their investment HORIZON is SIXTY YEARS. I hope they don't blow it on stupid stuff.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2020 10:19 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 22:19:06 -0500

Honestly, that all depends on the individual. What you save in 4 years is what you save in 4 years.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2020 10:33 PM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 22:33:41 -0500

If you really want to save, invest and maximize yourncresit score I would suggest following Suze Orman. She is the guru on all things financial.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2020 1:37 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Nov 2020 01:37:50 -0500

First familiar yourself with the military pay chart:
https://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables/
Next familiar yourself with deductions (SGLI life insurance, BRS/TSP retirement):
https://www.militaryonesource.mil/military-life-cycle/new-to-the-military/getting-settled/military-pay-deductions-and-allotments/#:~:text=In%20addition%2C%20members%20with%20SGLI%20coverage%20also%20have,to%20fund%20the%20Armed%20Forces%20Retirement%20Homes%20.
Then calculate your estimated take home pay after taxes:
https://smartasset.com/taxes/paycheck-calculator#UJ8fecDCTG

Now import data into a spreadsheet to get your basic pay, take home pay & deductions. This will give you a rough number of how much you'll receive every 2 weeks or month. For example, Army base pay starting as E1 and moving up to E4 in 4 years (following advancement/time in service regs) and using Ft. Bliss, TX for state taxes:
Year 1 (E1 6 mo & E2 6 mo) Yearly Gross Pretax $21,530.40 (or $18,456 After taxes) or an average of $1,538 mo after taxes.
Year 2 (E3) Yearly Gross Pretax $24,512.40 (or $20,556 After taxes) or an average of $1,713 mo after taxes.
Year 3 (E4) Yearly Gross Pretax $28,540.80 (or $24,084 After taxes) or an average of $2,007 mo after taxes.
Year 4 (E4) Yearly Gross Pretax $30,085.20 (or $25,332 After taxes) or an average of $2,111 mo after taxes.

To sum up you'll make $104,668 gross after 4 years or $88,428 after taxes.
-Now you'll have to deduct SLGI and TSP... whatever the current rates are?
-Next, factor in cost of living expenses which should be a small amount! The army will stick you in the barracks (free rent), give you free medical/dental, feed you for free monday thru friday and the post /base has its own gym. Your cellphone and internet bill should be lower than most people since you will have a military discount.
-Now, factor in luxury expenses like eating out, recreation, strippers, bar tab, useless crap from px/aafes, fancy clothes, transportation, car expenses, a pet dog, etc.
-Last, factor in savings for emergencies, vacations, a new car, a home purchase, investments, or more dumb useless crap you plan on buying like a sex doll.

Lets take year 1 for example, and pray you stay away from the following: buying a new car immediately (opt to save first and then buy later), or marrying the first stripper that lets you touch her tits for free, or renting an apartment off post, or just generally pissing your money every time you pass the px. Let's just say in year 1 you spend $500 a month on cellphone, internet, streaming subs and going out 1 or 2 times max, just basic stuff to keep you sane and out of trouble. That will leave you with $1,000 a month or $12,000 after a year! The next few years your monthly pay goes up $200-sih.

Now lets paint another scenario where you buy: a car, a laptop, a fancy smart watch, a new phone, cool tactical gear (most of which you are probably not authorized to use), eat off post, get piss drunk every night, and blow your money on penny stocks. Your end of month will be zero and you will probably have loans, and lots of credit card debt. But no worries when you get out you will have the post/911 GI bill! So you still win something.

As for investing, that is too broad a subject. Are you a long term/ buy & hold index fund person? Or are you a short-term investor or day trader? Are you into options contracts or short selling? Are you a acorns or Robinhood app user. What exactly are we talking here? Investing is very tempting these days with brokerages offering zero commissions and zero trading fees. However, I think its prudent to first establish a reasonable/realistic goal of your finances and then figure out how much you can set a side.

Defense Finance and Accounting Service MilitaryMembers payentitlements Pay Tables

The official website of the Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS)

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2020 5:34 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Nov 2020 05:34:30 -0500

Here's the thing. You get a room, food, and medical cared for by the Government. However, it's really easy to think of your paycheck as an expense account and blow it on better food, alcohol, fancy toys (cars, electronics) and so forth. If you get stationed overseas, then that adds even more potential to find ways of spending that money that you don't need for basic living expenses.

If I could go back and talk to my past self while I was a junior enlisted stationed in Germany during my first (and only) active duty tour, I would have suggested that I set up a saving account and have at least 25% of my paycheck routed there. Back then it was easier to leave the account alone and forget about it. With online banking becoming the norm now, it may be harder to leave the account alone. However, set up a savings account, put in a decent percentage on automatic deposit and get rid of any cards associated with it. Don't even download the bank app. Soon you will learn to forget that money even existed and you could be putting away $200-400 a month.

I don't see why you could not have $10K saved up.

This is all assuming you are not married and have other household expenses and live on base.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Nov 27 at 2020 5:37 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Fri, 27 Nov 2020 05:37:23 -0500

Theoretically you can save almost every penny. You get a room, your food is covered, you have a gym, medical, dental etc. all you will have to spend is on hair cuts and toiletries. Take 50 to a hundred for your hair and toiletries, multiple the remaking, after tax by 12x4 and you have it.

Is this realistic not necessarily. I can say that I have known if a few Sokdiers who did it and were successful.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Nov 27 at 2020 8:33 AM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Fri, 27 Nov 2020 08:33:20 -0500

How financially disciplined are you? Too many variables involved, based on individual circumstances: bonuses, incentive pay, etc..

Response by SP5 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2020 11:52 AM

SP5 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Nov 2020 11:52:15 -0500

Jordan Dang You have received some excellent financial information and strategies, Turning that information into action will be on you. My recommendation is that you clearly identify your NEEDS versus WANTS. Set aside in whatever investment pool a percentage of your income that leaves you enough to meet your needs, and build an accessible pool for your wants. If possible, do NOT get a credit card - too easy to get overboard with spending. Just my .02 and I didn't do any of the above when I was an E-1.

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made Nov 27 at 2020 2:28 PM

SP5 Peter Keane — Fri, 27 Nov 2020 14:28:02 -0500

$ 357.00

Response by LTJG Phillip Panuco made Nov 27 at 2020 8:06 PM

LTJG Phillip Panuco — Fri, 27 Nov 2020 20:06:45 -0500

Jordan, I was able to save $3,500 while in Vietnam ($23,000 today’s value) because I did not smoke, drink, or do drugs. But I did visit some of the girls off-base. Also, I did not have any debts at home, such as a car loan, child support, or supporting a girlfriend. My income was solely from my tax-free pay and combat pay (Hazardous Duty Pay) of $55 a month. Because I delayed my “gratification” until I left (ETS) the Army in January 1969, I was able to buy a used 1967 Mustang, paid in full, with money left over to pay my room rent while attending the University of Washington. The VA was paying for my tuition and books/supplies. Save your money – it will be worth it after you get out.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Nov 28 at 2020 1:54 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Sat, 28 Nov 2020 01:54:13 -0500

One of the thing that did actually save money for My future use was the US savings bonds, they helped a lot in later life when I needed it. Like a lot of young guys a lot of money got wasted but that acquired value and never got touched until it was actually needed. I did save a lot of money when I was serving in Vietnam and sent it home to to My parents to be put in My bank account there especially as there wasn't much to spend it on there.

Response by Maj John Bell made Nov 28 at 2020 11:06 AM

Maj John Bell — Sat, 28 Nov 2020 11:06:08 -0500

Live in the barracks. Eat in the Mess Hall. Don't get married, don't get a car. Take good care of you gear and your personal belongs.

Now almost all of your money is unobligated "fun money.'

I'm sure that is not a balanced way to live your life. If you end up posted overseas, you will miss life experiences that would have made your life bigger and richer. You can't have it all but you should have some.

So the answer to your question can only come from you..."Is the reason for saving and living like an ascetic monk worth it?"

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2020 12:42 AM

MCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 00:42:57 -0500

I met a guy that retired while I was still in. He was advanced (promoted) from E-1 to E-4 - and then banked EVERYTHING thereafter. Just as an example, his E-4 pay was $600/month: Every year when we got a pay raise, he'd bank everything over that $600. When he was advanced to E-5, he banked everything over that $600. He and his (working) wife raised two kids on $600/month, and when he retired after about 6-years as an E-7, he had MAJOR money in his private 401k and Roth IRAs.

Personally, I couldn't do it - but it's an option.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2020 8:32 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 08:32:01 -0500

If you don't blow your pay on strippers and shiny toys, you should be able to save 80%, or better, of your pay. your monthly expenses could be virtually zero if your goal is to save money. eat in the chow hall every meal, living in the barracks. your only bills should be a cell phone bill and car payment/insurance.

Response by Connor Reese made Dec 9 at 2020 1:34 AM

Connor Reese — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 01:34:45 -0500

I have no data to support this but here goes!

If you have a very disciplined approach to your money and spending, it's possible to save +50% of your pay check. In the military with so many things provided to you (think food allowance, housing allowance, healthcare etc.) That number could easily be higher! But the fundamental question becomes, at what point is saving going to stop being useful. If you're coming in as an E-1 you will likely be young (er) and less likely to have bills to pay or any debts. A person like that could save an emergency fund of 3-12 months of their minimal expenses and then INVEST the remainder. At that point, if you started at a young age and reliably invested much of your earnings... You. Will. Be. Set.

The real secret sauce is putting your money to work for you so that you don't need to work to get paid. If you do nothing but invest in a broad market ETF using your TSP, you'll leave the service with much of the foundation you will need to retire with if you're frugal. This is to say nothing of using a VA Loan to buy a multifamily home to earn rent or other more complex avenues to build your wealth.