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Starting Jan. 15, the Rheinland Inn dining facility at Ramstein Air Base, will close for renovations. Based on where dorm Airmen live, they may receive either basic allowance for subsistence I or II.
BAS is meant to offset the cost of food for service members who aren’t provided meals from their military installation.
For many Airmen in the dorms this will be their first time receiving this allowance. It can be tempting to cash-out their whole pay increase, but it’s always important to live within their means.
“One of the main concerns we’ve had is Airmen going out and using all of their BAS on things like car payments and trips,” said Angelica Williams, 86th Force Support Squadron Airmen and Family Readiness Center community readiness consultant.
To combat this, the A&FRC holds one-on-one meetings to help Airmen of all ranks to set up a budget.
“The biggest thing that they can start off doing right now is developing a budget,” Williams said. “They’ll track how much they’re spending that first month and then go ‘I spent about 400 dollars a month, I still have another 300 dollars.”
By tracking their spending they can not only prevent future financial troubles but build a better financial foundation as well.
“It’s a good time to look at increasing your investments with the extra money they have after they’ve taken care of their need for food,” Williams said. “They can definitely prepare for their future during this time by putting into a personal savings or their Thrift Savings Plan.”
To contact the A&FRC, call 06371-47-5100 or DSN 480-5100.
