Lower Stress and Save During a PCS

By: Allaina Rapps

Moving in the military is inevitable, but don’t let the stress of a PCS (Permanent Change of Station) add an additional burden by emptying your bank account. A fierce advocate on PCS reform, Megan Harless, created PCS Like a Pro and accompanying Facebook page that shows service members and their families how to navigate their PCS like a pro.

Know Your Entitlements

Chapter 5 of the Joint Travel Regulation breaks down the rules of PCS travel for service members, dependents, shipment and storage of household goods (HHG).

The Official DoD Customer Moving Portal details qualified entitlements you might receive. The site includes moving guides and a calculator to find your exact weight allowance for HHG. Don’t delay scheduling your HHG shipment.

Once you receive your PCS orders, the first thing you As an Army veteran and military spouse, Megan provides ample of tips on PCS’ing, such as moving with small children, checklists to streamline your move and tons more.

Army Emergency Relief (AER) PCS Assistance is currently helping soldiers affected by moving contractor shortages.

Requesting financial aid due to delays or cancellations is possible if a situation occurs that is out of your control.

Knowing what you're entitled to in advance, helps you budget appropriately and avoid overspending.should do is sign into the Defense Personal Property System (DPS) to schedule your move. You can also access DPS from the DoD site above, under Schedule Your Move.

Go room by room and discard unnecessary items.

Once complete, host a garage sale or sell items on Facebook Marketplace.

Getting rid of unnecessary stuff puts extra cash in your pockets, cleans up cluttered spaces and helps you stay within your weight restriction when it comes time to move.

Recommend going through this process three to six months prior to your move.

Boxes:

Whether you're doing a Personally Procured Move (PPM), formally known as a DITY move, or a partial DITY move, you ’ re going to need boxes. Before spending your entire paycheck at the local U-Haul Store, try these options first.

What hasn’t been used in over a year? What furniture will you not bring to your next location?

Ask local friends and family if they have any boxes they want to get rid of Post on Facebook or check Facebook Marketplace. You ’d be surprised how many people have moving supplies that are willing to part with Ask local stores. I used to get my boxes from grocery stores all the time and they are usually very sturdy. I recommend calling the store in advance, stores usually have specific shipping days and will crush their boxes on specific days also. Lastly, if you are going to purchase from U-Haul or any shipping store, ask about their box kits. Often, box kits are more cost effective versus buying items individually.

Thrift Store, Airmen's Attic, Army Community Service, Fleet and Family Services: If you find yourself in a pinch because HHGs are delayed or something was broken during shipment, don’t rush out and spend hastily. Every military installation has a thrift store or service specific program that might have those items on hand for you to have or borrow. Personally, I have utilized the Airmen’s Attic in the past and got a bed frame, pots, pans and an entire dish set, which saved me a lot of money while trying to get situated somewhere new.

Pro Gear/Office Supplies: When shipping your HHGs, always claim your military working gear, which includes uniforms. These items do not count towards your HHG weight total.

Receipts: It’s easy to misplace items during the PCS process, especially when they are small. Designate one place to put all your receipts and either take a photo or scan with a PDF scanner on your phone so you have a digital copy just in case. Receipts are very important so that you don’t have to claim your purchase and avoid paying out of pocket.

Helpful Apps: The Army has a very informative app called Army PCS Move, that has an abundance of PCS info. The app allows you to chat with a live person from the Army Personal Property Office. The Navy version is called MyNavy Family, but it’s organized a little differently and doesn’t have the live chat option.

Next Duty Location: Follow PSC grades on Facebook to learn more about your next base of assignment.

I hope that you can now go into your PCS move with more knowledge, confidence and tools to ensure the next chapter in your life is smooth. And more importantly, with the extra cash in your hand, spoil yourself with a nice hot pumpkin spice latte or two!