Should I move onto FTC or just into cheaper housing?

Christine - posted on 07/07/2011

LoL you do realize this post was made over a year ago? We're actually living on base now, hehe

Alexandria - posted on 07/06/2011

Fort Campbell has nice housing on post but you're right, all your BAH will be gone. You can find a place for less than what you're paying but be careful, there are some not so friendly neighbrohoods around post. My husband and I ended up in a very bad neighborhood because we wanted to save money on rent. We ended up spending a ton of money we hadn't planned on spending to rent a u haul and move again because it was so bad we just couldn't make the place work. The area looked nice during the daytime, but at night, not a good place for women and children in my opinion. Now we're paying $795 for a 2/2 townhouse in Sango where it's nice and quite and the neighbors are friendly. There are great neighborhoods and the price difference between good and bad is worth it for peace of mind that you wont be robbed by your own neighbors when you're not home. I would venture to say you wouldn't have to worry about your safety if you lived on post, but not everyone agrees with me there. Some people have said you're just as likely to be robbed or vandilized on post, I just highly doubt that with the MPs all over. Who would be stupid enough to mess around and get in trouble with the MPs besides maybe some bored BRAT kids... But again, there goes your BAH and post is stricter than your average landlord about any damage when you move back out.

Heather - posted on 03/25/2010

My Husband and I are currently at Fort Hood about to go to Arizona. We live off post at Fort Hood and spend nearly 3000 a month on our bills to include rent, but when we go to Arizona we are planning on living on post. BAH is taken out as an allotment, but that covers all utilites. The only thing that we will have to pay for is phone, internet and cable. So we actually save money living on post. I currently work, but we looked at the budget and we can easliy make it without me working when we go to Arizona so I can be a stay at home Mom. I don't know the rank of your husband, but I'm sure that you can save money.

Brandy - posted on 03/24/2010

MOving on post has its advantages as well as it's disavantages. If you are worried about outside visitors, it may be worth it to have them get a temporary day pass. Most posts will give it to them for however long they are staying. I am thankful for the hightened security on post...My kids are safer playing outside, and I don't have to worry about civilian intruders. HOWEVER, living off post can have its advantages as well. If you find a place that is worth it, you do end up saving some BAH, but because BAH is so low for you, you may find it better to live on post. Just go into housing an dmake sure they don't have a LOOOOOONG waiting list!! By the way...I live in Killeen, off post of Ft. Hood, and I felt much SAFER when the whole post shooting occured. Not to say that on post isn't safe, but that was one incident that I felt better living off post because no one really knew what was going on adn there were several different reports about how many shooters there were etc.

Living on post I never had to worry about burglaries, or car theft, or kidnappings, as much as you would have to off post, unless you find a nicer neighborhood, in which case the price you pay will reflect that!! Either way you go, good luck!! Make a pro's and con's list for both sides, and go from there...but be sure you check and see how long the waitlist is for housing. Ft. Campbell seems to not have very many on post housing there, so you may have to stick it out off post.

If you are worried about your kids not interacting with military kids youcan always sign them up for sports through the youth centers on post, as well as other activities, there are also a lot of playgrounds usually that the kids play at!!

Good Luck!!

Vette - posted on 03/24/2010

I don't live your area, however, I have been affiliated with the military (10 yrs service/14 yr marriage) for years. I have lived off base twice and both times I didn't have a choice. the waiting list was gruesome. I regretted it both times. I have kids and they didn't have any military friends which they need because they understand what military kids go through. I didn't know what was happening on base and I felt disconnected. having the extra bah in your pocket is nice, but i thought others issues were more important than the money. Good luck in your decision.

Donna - posted on 03/23/2010

I would suggest moving into base housing. We started out living off base and once our lease was up we moved into housing. It was so worth it. You dont have to worry about sending out the rent/electric/trash bills. You just worry about your cable/internet/phone bills.

Belinda - posted on 03/23/2010

we are stationed at fort campbell too. And wow where do I start?lol.We use to live at exit 11 and were paying a crap load in gas, rent, and of course all the other bills too. We just decided we would look for a cheaper place closer to post. and for us it ended up working out far as saving some money, well somewhat.our electric is high where we live but we dont have to pay water or trash. there are advantages and disadvantages of living on post. post is good bc your close, its gated, which makes it a little safer, depending on the post there can be good housing and of course really crappy housing. and a disadvantage you lose your bah. if i where you i would go up to the housing and see what housing you guys would qualify for.but i wouldnt wait to long if you are seriously thinking about living on post bc it can fill up fast and since your lease is up in july you dont have a ton of time. ive heard of people being on the waiting list for a short time and others being on the waiting list for a 1 yr in 1/2.
good luck

Amy - posted on 03/23/2010

ya it was helpful. there is very strick security at our base like 100% ID checks most of the time it is crazy strict lol

C. - posted on 03/23/2010

You're welcome! That really stinks, I'm sorry :/ Well, maybe it's just the difference of AF and Navy, b/c I know someone out here that did that on the AF base and all they had to do was put names on a list at the gate.. But, I know the housing thing still stands anywhere (so at least that part was helpful, I guess) :)

Amy - posted on 03/23/2010

i didnt know that thank you christina. that may come in handy some day at our next duty station. and i wish we could get people on base as easy as you say. here you have to go to the pass and decal office and wait in a line toshow their proof of registration and insurance. we cant just call to get people in. lol wish it was that easy on our base we waited in like for over an hour one day just to get my mother, father and brother on base for a 30 minute family meeting lol.

C. - posted on 03/23/2010

OH, and usually if the person living on base lets the guards know that they are going to have a visitor, all they have to do is put your name on a list at the gate and the guard should give the visitor a temporary pass to enter the base.

C. - posted on 03/23/2010

Hey, Amy.. Just wanted to point out that if there are other military installations w/ housing on base near where you live, you don't have to live on the Navy base, you can actually live on an Army base, AF base, Marine base.. I don't know if you knew that or if there are any other bases out there or not, but I do know that there are some people that don't know that.. So I just wanted to share that info.

Amy - posted on 03/22/2010

we are navy and hate the on base housing here in florida. i know its different with every branch and every base but the houses here were just crap! all concrete floors with NO carpet and NO wood floors. tile thru the entire house. yes they pay for everything but i think if you can find a cheap affordable apartment you can save more. we live in off base housing and love it. our rent is 700 plus 100 electric, 55 phone with internet, 60 water/sewer and trash is included. thats only around 900 every month and our BAH is like 1100 so we are saving around 200 every month. and on base they dont pay for your phone or internet. and they take care of the lawn but so does an apartment complex. our biggest reason for staying off base is so i could baby sit. if you do it on base here they want you to go thru their childcare place and you can only babysit military children. also you cant have visitors come and go as easy if your on base since you must have an id and decals to get on. just my thoughts on the matter. good luck with your decission.

C. - posted on 03/22/2010

I don't live near you or anything, but this is what I think. Honestly, I would just move into base housing b/c they take care of the utilities and the trash. Now, I don't know what your husband's rank is, but you two look pretty young still, so saving up would be a wonderful idea. And when my husband and I were living on a military installation in HI (it wasn't actually a base, they just put housing somewhere and put fences and gates up) we still had our BAH I think. Good luck with making your decision!!! I know things like that can be a little frustrating, so all the best to you!