tom-phipott, Philpott’s Forum presents questions, opinions and insights from readers of Tom Philpott’s Military Update news column.   The following are readers comments and questions concerning retirement…, CONGRESS IGNORED MANY VETS IN LIFTING CONCURRENT RECEIPT BAN, I always read Military Update and always learn something new. In your July 5 column, you refer to congressional approval of new military benefits over the last decade. Your list included, “Concurrent…, You might appreciate that the purpose of that column was not to review every aspect of the concurrent receipt benefit. So I also didn't mention in full term retirees (those who served 20 years or…, TWO ‘SBP OFFSETS’, Just read your column in the Pensacola News Journal. I didn't know that the offset in Survivor Benefit Plan payments had ended. I currently have a paid-up SBP account with an annuity base amount of $…, There have been two different "offsets" regarding SBP., Until a decade ago, survivors with SBP coverage saw payments, which are set at 55 percent of the "covered" amount of their spouse’s annuity, fall to only 35 percent when they reached age 62. Congress…, And to answer your question, the maximum benefit under SBP has always been 55 percent of the amount of covered annuity. So that “difference” you see is the benefit payment as designed., The second SBP offset to which you refer is called the SBP-DIC offset. A survivor eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation from VA often sees SBP reduced by that amount., Congress has softened that offset with a small special payment to impacted widows. But survivors eligible for both programs, the reduction in SBP by the DIC amount remains in effect., As you describe, survivors of veterans who have been rated 100-percent disabled for 10 years are exempt from the SBP-DIC offset. – T.P., COMMISSARIES, I agree that passing on the cost of operating a commissary will result in a decline of customers at both the commissary and exchange. A mid-level officer, I shop at the commissary for the savings. I…

I'm very excited to be hosting my first blog carnival, and I'm quite glad that it is the Festival of Frugality because it was one of the first carnivals I ever entered.  There are a ton of fantastic…, Graduating and moving on to the next stage of your life:, Raymond presents Personal Finance Books Top Picks posted at Money Blue Book . Nate Desmond presents 9 Essential Free Programs Every College Student Must Have  posted at Debt-free Scholar . Momma…, Going Green:, GrrlScientist presents Meme: My Earth Day Resolutions  posted at Living the Scientific Life .   Wren Caulfield presents Why Commute by Bike?  posted at True Adventures in Money Hacking . Erin aka…, Growing Up (and on to more complicated stuff):, Mark Aucamp presents Credit crunch means talking about money and the lack of it  posted at Money Saving Expert . Investing School presents OptionsXpress Review  posted at Investing School .  Neal…, Getting Out:, anotherjen presents The Next Rich Girl: 7 Cheap Luxuries to Soothe the Recessionista's Soul  posted at The Next Rich Girl .  J. Money presents Life Experiences Far Outweigh The Cost of Attaining Them…, Submit, your blog article to the next edition of, Festival of Frugality, using our Submit an entry to carnival submission form . Past posts and future hosts can be found on our Blog Carnival index for blog carnival index page .

Many of you already know that my military family is a homeschooling family, as is AFW's family.  Homeschooling military families continue to grow in numbers. Here are a few things related to military…, Honoring Military Homeschool Families, Greetings!, Isn't it neat that Veteran's Day falls so close to Thanksgiving? This week we're stopping to give thanks for military homeschool families! Living close to an Army base, I've grown to have a much…, Mercy Every Minute, Deborah Wuehler, TOS Senior Editor I believe that the best educational option for military families is homeschooling. My family was in the military for a good part of my childhood. I know what it's…, The Familyman, Todd Wilson, Familyman Ministries Any homeschooling family has my respect, but a military homeschooling family gets a double portion. If you fit into that category, thank you for making the sacrifice…, Homeschool Freebies, Jamin, Freebie Finder We owe a debt of gratitude to those who serve in the military to keep our country free. Because of their efforts and sacrifices, we have been blessed with our freedom. I know…