How much money do you spend per month in the Marines/Military as a recruit, then a Private?

Question

I know that room and board are paid for while enlisted, and a Private does not make very much (under $1400). My question is how much one can expect to reasonably save per month after necessities that are not covered by the military. Pardon my ignorance and thank you for your answers in advance.

Answer 1

I am a marine and in boot camp your pay is a little wired because they take deductions for all your uniforms and recruit pay is a little less. The Drill Instructors also may make you buy little stuff here and there to help with field day (clean up) or materials to help your uniform inspections or something. After boot camp you will got to MCT, your MOS school then land at some base somewhere. At this point your checks will be around 550 net (maybe a little more by the time you get there). You will be assigned a barracks close to your work and issued a meal card to eat at the chow hall for free. Assuming all you have is a cell phone and a little fun money you could probably save about 350 a check, so about 700 a month. If you really go crazy i imagine you could save 1000 a month, but military life is not the most fun by nature, so blowing a little money is almost necessary to not go insane. You can find free activities around base though. I live on Camp Pendleton and my barracks are 5 min away from the ocean, so a six pack and a body board is a cheap way to go. Good Luck.

Rereading your question, my personal experience coming out of boot camp i had about 1300, but contract PFCs and married marines had about 2 to 3 times that amount.  

Answer 2

And electronic gadgets, new cell phones, portable dvd players, flat screen TV's, laptop computers, Playstation/WII/xBox 360, etc...  

As a recruit, your pay and initial uniform allowance will go into a checking account you set up the first week of boot.  At the end of boot camp, they'll debit your account for the cost of your uniforms and other services (having your boots re-soled, photographs and yearbook, dress blues blouse and tailoring expenses... and food expenses)  Most recruits leave boot with just under $1,000 remaining in their account.  

Be forwarned... the toys most kids buy are things they want... but there are vultures out there who prey on young Marines who need to establish credit, want that flat-screen TV, and will jump at the chance to do something stupid and rent-to-own it... It's very easy to get in way over your head, debt-wise.  Best to focus on learning to live within the budget, learning to save as much as possible... and then be very picky about what you're buying and how much you're paying.   While enlisted, as long as you're single, you'll live on base and well within reach of the chow hall and discount-rate fast-food... and the commissary.... so housing/food isn't to bad.  On-base entertainment is also really cheap... but what's available depends on where you're stationed.

If you're smart with your money, you'll make whatever your situation is work for you...  

Answer 3

If you are single the only thing you will need to buy is soap and toilet paper. But that rarely happens and you will buy tv's,dvd's, stereos, x-box,junk food, clothes, cars, and other c**p.

Answer 4

If you live in the barracks and eat on base and do not have a car or other expenses,  you should be able save most of your money.   The problem is most of the time troops blow their money on food, girls, booze and clothing.