BIG Concern

[usn_nvineyard]

Well the date is set july 6th 2009, the fiance & I are going to marry. I couldnt be more excited about it but I have one HUGE concern. While I was in florida on vacation I was talking to my bro-in-law (USAF) he said once we get married that her debt becomes my debt so now the navy will look at both of our credit history regarding my enlistment. If this is true I really don't believe they will accept me. She has credit card debt out to wazoo and a car repo.... obviously I want to marry her I love her and I don't want to let her credit come between us but I don't want to let ANYTHING come between me and my naval career.

If I were to go for a rate not requiring security clearance, would this improve my chances of enlistment with my soso credit & her poor credit?

Thanks for any info!!

-nathan

[MacSteve]

her debt indeed becomes your debt. if shes got all that, chill the **** out til you get shit in line

[Retired Navy Chief]

Yep ... she needs to get her affairs in order before you say "I do". Don't start off your marriage and Navy life behind the 8-ball. Different story if neither one of you had any credit and were starting from scratch ... she's had time to grow some bad spending habits. Make sure you work on YOURS too !!

If you don't know about Dave Ramsey and his program to get out of debt and stay there ... do some research and start his process now. You will be very glad you did.

Do your thing, get the job you want and when the time is right ... marry the lady. Do it in full dress uniform and then take her on a honeymoon in some exotic place .... (use your access to free air travel ... hint, hint).

Cheers,
PISTOL

[cousinIT]

I agree! You don't want something like that holding you up. Regardless of whether or not you have a security clearance, it will still make a difference if you ever want to go overseas. When I got screened, they mentioned that you cannot be over 10% of your income in debt! Trust me, being overseas is worth it! I've loved it the past year and a half living in Japan.

Just don't rush it. If you two are in love and know you are meant for each other, then wait it out a little, and then make the move! You might just want that job that needs the clearance!

Good luck to ya!

[KYmom]

Haven't you seen that commercial.... where the guy and new wife lives in the parents basement because the girl had bad credit..... If he had stayed single , he would have had a dog and a yard... LOL..

[usn_nvineyard]

well we are not really rushing we have been togeather over 4 years. It would be ashame to miss out on all that BAH while im in boot camp & a school. We are going to do our best to get her credit cards paid off and everything caught up.

[Retired Navy Chief]

It would be ashame to miss out on all that BAH while im in boot camp & a school.

As opposed to paying all the BAH money in finance charges for HER debts ?? :shakeheadno:

Get your lives ironed out now in the early stages and then the rest of your time together will flow much, much easier. Most arguements in a marriage (many lead to divorce) are due to money issues. Take that problem out of the equation before you start .... you'll both be glad you did.

It's not like you are kicking her to the curb ... just being financially wise and exercising good judgement. This is something she should consider a positive trait in a future husband.


Cheers,
PISTOL

[KYmom]

I don't mean to be rude.... if taken that way.... But she will cost you more money than the BAH you are gonna receive in the long run.
Let her clean up her own mess before marrying her, or help her without marrying her and messing up your credit.

[usn_nvineyard]

well we are still discussiing our options from day 2 day so nothing is set in stone yet. Thanks for the advice, i'll let you guys know the plan when I know.

[KYmom]

As Pistol said..... Listen to Dave Ramsey... he also has some books out also.
I think a Dave Ramsey book is a must for all households..

Everybody needs to work on being able to yell " I am debt FREE"

[poddoc]

I know I am late to the party, but I thought I would put in my 2 cents. It is difficult for a marriage to survive under financial strain, influences of the Navy, and being apart. In the grand scheme of things, you will be missing out of a couple of grand in BAH (sounds like a lot, but you will survive without it -- you have so far, right?). My husband and I survived medical school, residency and now the Navy (talk about love!). A lot of the newly weds on my husband's base are struggling with the balances of Navy and being newly weds and perhaps even having a baby on the way. They are not happy, in fact my husband comes home everyday with new stories of unhappy marriages due to financial struggles and separation. Again, I understand the money issue, trust me. I wish you luck with your decision. Glad to hear you are not rushing into things.

[t5]

im kinda of in the same situation, but its me with the bad debt and im married for 5 years
im not too worried about marriage/financial problems... i know we can go throught anything together
but i am about 18grand in debt with credit cards... yeah.. im pretty dumb...
will this make the navy reject me from enlisting? i was thinking of maybe borrowing some money to bring it down some...

[MacSteve]

What Pistol Said.

[Retired Navy Chief]

im not too worried about marriage/financial problems... i know we can go through anything together
...



When you stop answering your phone because of harrasing phone calls from creditors and you don't have money to go do anything to enjoy life together .... not even buy gas to go do something free .... there's not much else to do but fight.

Love for each other doesn't carry you as far as you might think it will when it comes to money problems ... sounds good in theory, but it is extremely rare.

Cheers,
PISTOL

[MacSteve]

im kinda of in the same situation, but its me with the bad debt and im married for 5 years
im not too worried about marriage/financial problems... i know we can go throught anything together
but i am about 18grand in debt with credit cards... yeah.. im pretty dumb...
will this make the navy reject me from enlisting? i was thinking of maybe borrowing some money to bring it down some...

you sure as hell wont qualify for jobs that require security clearances...

[t5]

When you stop answering your phone because of harrasing phone calls from creditors and you don't have money to go do anything to enjoy life together .... not even buy gas to go do something free .... there's not much else to do but fight.

Love for each other doesn't carry you as far as you might think it will when it comes to money problems ... sounds good in theory, but it is extremely rare.

Cheers,
PISTOL
i always pay my bills on time and never did have a creditor have to call me
im just dumb and usually pay the minimum... but now im gonna start paying off more monthly..
or atleast as much as i can

you sure as hell wont qualify for jobs that require security clearances...

dam.... how much you think i should need to pay it down too? even if you have to guess, ill be glad to hear it

[MacSteve]

um, less then 3k would be a good point.. However!!!! I know a guy who was going nuke and got declined his clearance because he had just put a massive amount of cash to pay off his credit cards, and they pretty much said you just paid this all down to join the Navy, your not trustworthy yet, maybe in 2 years. so honestly man, its about time.