Got my car as an E-3. Payments were crazy, but now as E-4 and off base I get paid more so their a lot easier to manage. Plus got it refinanced so that really helped.

 

As an instructor on a submarine base, I see kids right out of boot camp buying cars that are way too expensive to handle on their pay. I'm an E-6 and just got my evo a few months ago, but I have my own computer business on the side to supplement my payments. I dunno how some of you e-4's and e-5s are doing it, you must love ramen noodles.

 

It's not bad to the point of having to eat only ramen noodles. You just gotta manage your money well. I do fine and am still able to go out and have fun.

 

yea i'm an e-3, bought my car about 3 mths ago, and i've been feeling the payments, gas, maintanence, insurance and of course mods , but i'm doing ok, always have money in the bank. And YES i LOVE NOODLES, cause i'm asian LOL

 

I'm an E-3 in the Air Force and I found a great way to save/manage money so that I could later afford this car. If you are willing, volunteer for deployments until you are E-4 or higher. As a deployed E-3 I was making 3 times my normal pay. Saving that kind of money can help with a nice down payment and make monthly payments a little more affordable. Still don't own the car, but I'm sure I won't have any trouble financially. I've already got materials ready for the custom interior fabrications.

 

Glad to see ya made it this far. And congrats on the purchase. When you're eligible to test for Staff make sure you study hard! That pay jump is nice

 

E-5 in the AF, as of today I have 9 years in. I've owned a 02 WRX which I traded in for my '03 EVO 8. Come May 1, the EVO will be paid off (bought it back in Oct '03). I'm not saying it's easy, but I'm in a career field where I get extra cash and a big bonus for re-enlisting, our SRB is 5, 6.5, 4. Now I have to work on paying off the wifes 05' LGT wagon.

 

Sheesh, I wish my SRB was that high, and we are undermanned!

 

BAH helps me a ton

 

i am a married E-4 and it was hard for a while well about one payment and then i had it paid off man that is the best feeling

 

No doubt. BAH in Minot (where SaxGopher is) for me was only like 400 a month as an E-4. When I got transferred to Bolling in DC I was getting 1500 a month as an E-5.

Now that I am out I realize how awesome that non taxable income was. Getting taxed 30% of my yearly salary blows.

 

yea tell me about it.. my BAH for a E5 single is 1473 but my rear is half of that!
only way i can get by

 

BAH in Washington is only like $806 a month for me as an E-4. Just a little more than I need for rent, but it does help.

 

Hmmmm, sounds to me like ATC pay! I've probably either ran into you or will in the near future. (fellow controller)

 

sounds like my BAH im also an E-4 (i missed E-5 by 6 points) , its $680 a month in omaha, but i also get BAS, and i have a roomie at my apt and we are both flyers...so i make alot of extra money a month, i have well over $1000 to mess around with after the end of the month, and i deploy 2-3 times a year, my payment use to be $385 a month but i upped it to $475 just because im making all that extra money, i use some of my deployment money for my mod craving, ive had no problems w/ making payments