Those who have moved from Europe back to the States... How long did it take you to adjust financially? Losing COLA scares me! :worried Was it even that big of an issue for you? I hear people talk about the COLA blues all the time.

Another reason I don't want off this island :lol

Another reason I don't want off this island :lol

DITTO! We have a yr left as of now, trying everything we can to stick around even longer. It's been good, paying my tuition out of pocket, lil traveling. VA Scares me.

We have a year left too. DH is STILL trying to find something that he can do here.

You're heading to VA next? I kind of wish we knew where we were heading next just so I can start planning.

DITTO! We have a yr left as of now, trying everything we can to stick around even longer. It's been good, paying my tuition out of pocket, lil traveling. VA Scares me.

You're coming to VA? :D

COLA doesn't really apply but exchanging my British paycheck for a US one scared the hell out of me! We struggled to begin with but we've adjusted and we're doing ok now. It's just about adapting.

We will def have to do some adapting. I'm really terrified. We plan on living without the cola, just putting it aside, once he gets back from deployment. Sort of practice.

We are pretty sure he will get VA, but who knows. Most people leaving this command are going there. He's going to try everything in his power to go anywhere else really. I believe San Diego is an option as well, but he worries about the cost. Plus our family is in FL, so VA is closer.

We lived in Japan for 3 years then moved to Texas. We're definitely experiencing COLA blues. We've been here for a year now and still have to live paycheck to paycheck. I don't think it'd be quite as bad if we didn't buy a brand new car and a house. *Sigh*

Yeah we don't use our COLA at all, but still it's going to stink not seeing that nice extra chunk of $$ in the paycheck.

Yeah we don't use our COLA at all, but still it's going to stink not seeing that nice extra chunk of $$ in the paycheck.

I'm def going to have to get student loans once we move. No more paying out of pocket.

We do need the cola when it comes to going out here, the Euro is SO expensive. And gas... we are paying about 5 bucks a gallon.

We will def have to do some adapting. I'm really terrified. We plan on living without the cola, just putting it aside, once he gets back from deployment. Sort of practice.

We are pretty sure he will get VA, but who knows. Most people leaving this command are going there. He's going to try everything in his power to go anywhere else really. I believe San Diego is an option as well, but he worries about the cost. Plus our family is in FL, so VA is closer.

:cp I hope I get to meet you!

I think that's a really good idea. Have you factored in how much you spend on travelling, sightseeing, petrol, long distance phone calls to family, etc? You might find that the amount you save in moving back will even things out.

:cp I hope I get to meet you!

I think that's a really good idea. Have you factored in how much you spend on travelling, sightseeing, petrol, long distance phone calls to family, etc? You might find that the amount you save in moving back will even things out.

I do think about that. We do spend a lot because we are in Europe. It will take some adjustment, but I hope my worries are just excessive.

That is the ONE good thing about moving to VA, I will finally get to meet you and Theresa and Jamie and all the others there!

I will miss Sicily so very much though. It's become home.

I fear the loss of COLA too, but ours isn't like yours, LOL. We also save nearly our whole COLA here. BUT we took a loss moving here, DH lost BAS, I lost my job, we were making money on BAH in Jax but we live in housing here. I think it all balances out it seems.

We got to live out on the economy when we were in Sig (so yeah, a few years ago!) and we made money from COLA and OHA LOL!! We spent it all though, we did a lot of traveling. We tried to make the most out of our in Sicily! (I want to go back!)

It was a fairly quick adjustment for us. We weren't using our COLA the last year we were in Hawaii. Of course, we ended up using all of our savings when the ship messed up his pay and we didn't get paid for two months when we got here. SO, it's nice to just have that chunk saved in case your command messes up when you move.

When they closed a base in Italy a few years ago they all came to whidbey and all i heard working at the NEX was how little they were getting paid because of loss of COLA. I would think if you utilize it in your budget then you will have a bit of adjustment when coming back to the states, but if you take time to readjust yourself to a 'regular' paycheck you won't have as hard a time when you don't have it anymore. We do that with pretty much any of his special pays that he only gets for x amount of time. that way i don't get used to it and when its gone i'm sad. :lol

It's been a month since we came home from Germany and we are doing amazing (financially and not only). I forgot how much stuff I can buy in US for $2500 just to decorate my new home and make it look beautiful. Now I have to give most of my household goods from Germany to Goodwill because I have all I need in my house (from furniture to the tiniest thing). Both my husband and I are very happy to be back in US and it shows every day financially and and ...

Home sweet home!!!

Another reason I don't want off this island :lol

oh my gosh YES!!!!!!!!!!!!

the first time we left hawaii I flipped over his first non COLA paycheck and sent him into PSD to check on it......I about died.

this time around our COLA is mainly our extra savings, bill paying......nothing we counted on....but it's still going to hurt when we move.

we don't leave the island for about a yearish......then we're off to somewhere on the east coast more than likely. we have tentative pencilled in orders for maryland.....yikes!

oh my gosh YES!!!!!!!!!!!!

the first time we left hawaii I flipped over his first non COLA paycheck and sent him into PSD to check on it......I about died.

this time around our COLA is mainly our extra savings, bill paying......nothing we counted on....but it's still going to hurt when we move.

we don't leave the island for about a yearish......then we're off to somewhere on the east coast more than likely. we have tentative pencilled in orders for maryland.....yikes!

See we started our life together off here, we had nothing but a bed. So our COLA has been to good use. It's also paying my tuition. Some savings. But when he gets back it's all going in savings, because I really don't want to move and have that lack of money shock! Moving away from here is already going to be a difficult change.