Hi Ms. Vicki,

“My husband is Air Force and we recently applied to see if we qualify to buy a house instead of renting. We were told we qualify for nothing. The VA Loan can’t even help us. 

We had some hard times a while back, but paid a lot of stuff off. The trouble is the delinquency items still appear on the credit score — even for the things we paid off years ago. They said without raising his credit score 30 points there is nothing they can do. 

Counting his car and the consolidated debt company we’re still paying, we're shy $16,000 to pay everything off. We need advice, how can we improve the credit score fast so we can reapply and be approved for a house? We hope to take advantage of the $8,000 tax break for new home buyers, but it runs out Nov. 30. Please help!” 

-- Sick and Tired of Renting 

Dear Sick and Tired, 

You’re not alone on this issue. I know you’re tired of renting and would like to take advantage of home buyer resources. My recommendation would be to visit the Airmen and Family Readiness Center on base. I’m very familiar with their many programs. You can speak with a financial consultant who will give you consumer credit advice about your credit reports, and they’ll let you know if there are any other programs to help you with home ownership. This is a great program that is staffed by great professional people. They’re there to help you. You can contact them for an appointment or simply walk-in. At any rate, keep in touch with me and let me know how it goes. Share any information they provide with me to pass on to our many readers. Keep in touch and take care of yourself.

Hello Ms. Vicki,

“I've recently begun to read your advice columns on Military.com. I see you have good advice and know a lot regarding the military and what's available for us. I’ve been with my husband for more than nine years. He serves in the Marines. I was just recently diagnosed with breast cancer. 

We recently spoke with the oncologist and she let us know that I need to have chemotherapy. I’ve been an emotional wreck since then. My husband has been my rock. He was my care taker after my partial mastectomy and has been totally supportive. 

I was wondering if there are any military support groups out there for patients/spouses going through cancer. I know he's strong but maybe he’ll feel a bit relieved to hear others stories or get words of encouragement. Any info will help.” 

-- Soon to be Survivor

Dear Soon to be a Survivor,

You'll definitely be a survivor! God bless you! I’m happy to know that you can depend on your husband to help you emotionally during this time. It’s important that you stay positive and take care of yourself. 

I know it’s not easy to see changes to your health and to your body. Please don’t let this affect your self-esteem. I too am a cancer survivor. I was diagnosed during one of my husband’s many deployments with thyroid cancer.

At the time, I opted for surgery to remove my entire thyroid. In the meantime, my husband was on his way home for R&R and my son was graduating from high school. At any rate, I had my surgery during his visit and was in the hospital on my son’s graduation night. 

Thyroid cancer is a little easier to treat, but it was cancer just the same. Just know there are many people who are in your corner, people like me. My advice would be to ask the hospital about any support groups available in your local area. If they don’t have any on base, then check with the local hospitals off base, too. 

Lastly, visit the breast cancer association website. I know they would have many support resources available to connect you to. Thank you so much for writing me and please keep in touch. I would really like to know how you’re doing.