I'm a financial planner — and I tell everyone the same thing when they ask what to know before...

Good article and very relevant. Many problems with marriages stem from finances, especially in the lean and early years. My wife and I had no money so there was little to haggle about. Like most during that period, we were living from one check to the next. If we were prudent we were able to squirrel away a few bucks in savings and afford an occasional movie or inexpensive dinner. Lots of home-cooked meals and the bi-monthly commissary trip to cut costs. Over the years we were able to save for our children's education and contribute to our rainy day fund. Despite the tight budget they were some of the happiest years of our lives together. At one point the poverty level line was drawn at E6 and below and I wonder how the junior enlisted make ends meet today, due to the higher cost of living. I spent a fair amount of my time as a Platoon or Company Commander helping prepare budgets and getting help for the young Marines due to their financial state. Often it was due to poor judgement but in some cases because they simply couldn't make ends meet. Add to that the deployment cycles and pressures of a military life and it can often become almost unmanageable. Thank goodness for the Navy Relief and other organizations, because they were always willing to extend assistance to those in need. Thanks for sharing.

Great article SSG Shavonde Chase .