PCS 180-Day Financial Timeline: Month-by-Month Financial Checklist
BLUF: Complete financial checklist for PCS moves to avoid costly mistakes and maximize entitlements
Target Audience: Anyone PCSing (all ranks)
Time Investment: 2-3 hours over 180 days
Financial Impact: $5,000-$15,000+ in saved costs and maximized entitlements
The Mission: Financial Readiness for PCS Moves
PCS moves are expensive and stressful, but proper financial planning can save you thousands of dollars and prevent costly mistakes. This 180-day timeline ensures you're financially prepared for your move and maximize all available entitlements.
180 Days Out: Initial Planning
Month 6: Financial Assessment & Planning
Day 180: Financial Health Check
- Credit Score: Check all three bureaus, dispute any errors
- Debt Review: List all debts, interest rates, and payment schedules
- Savings Assessment: Ensure 3-6 months expenses in emergency fund
- Budget Review: Analyze current spending and identify areas for improvement
Day 175: PCS Entitlements Research
- DLA Calculator: Use DFAS calculator to estimate Dislocation Allowance
- Weight Allowance: Check authorized weight for your rank and family size
- TLE/TLA: Research Temporary Lodging Allowance for your situation
- Advance Pay: Determine if advance pay is beneficial for your situation
Day 170: Housing Decision Planning
- On-Base vs Off-Base: Research housing options at destination
- BAH Rates: Check BAH rates for destination (use Garrison Ledger Base Navigator)
- School Districts: Research schools if you have children
- Commute Analysis: Factor in transportation costs and time
Day 165: Financial Goal Setting
- Emergency Fund: Ensure 6+ months expenses before move
- Moving Fund: Budget for out-of-pocket moving expenses
- Settlement Fund: Plan for immediate expenses at new location
- Long-term Goals: Update financial goals for new location
Month 5: Budget Preparation
Day 150: PCS Budget Creation
- Moving Costs: Estimate out-of-pocket moving expenses
- Housing Costs: Budget for security deposits, first month's rent
- Settlement Costs: Plan for immediate needs at new location
- Emergency Buffer: Include 20% buffer for unexpected expenses
Day 145: Debt Management Strategy
- High-Interest Debt: Plan to pay off credit cards and personal loans
- Student Loans: Consider payment options during transition
- Auto Loans: Plan for vehicle transportation or sale
- Mortgage: Plan for home sale or rental management
Day 140: Savings Strategy
- Emergency Fund: Maintain 6+ months expenses
- Moving Fund: Save for out-of-pocket expenses
- Settlement Fund: Budget for immediate needs
- Investment Strategy: Plan for any investment changes
Day 135: Insurance Review
- Auto Insurance: Research rates at destination
- Homeowners/Renters: Plan for coverage at new location
- Life Insurance: Ensure adequate coverage during transition
- Health Insurance: Verify TRICARE coverage at new location
120 Days Out: Financial Preparation
Month 4: Financial Documentation
Day 120: Financial Records Organization
- Bank Statements: Gather 12 months of bank statements
- Tax Returns: Collect 3 years of tax returns
- Pay Stubs: Gather 6 months of LES statements
- Investment Statements: Collect all investment account statements
Day 115: Credit Preparation
- Credit Report: Obtain free credit reports from all three bureaus
- Credit Score: Check current credit scores
- Debt Payoff: Pay off high-interest debt if possible
- Credit Utilization: Keep credit card balances below 30%
Day 110: Banking Preparation
- Account Review: Review all bank accounts and services
- Online Banking: Ensure online access is set up properly
- Bill Pay: Set up automatic bill payment for essential bills
- Emergency Access: Ensure spouse has access to all accounts
Day 105: Investment Planning
- TSP Review: Ensure TSP contributions are appropriate
- Roth IRA: Consider Roth IRA contributions if eligible
- Taxable Investments: Plan for any investment changes
- Beneficiary Review: Update beneficiaries on all accounts
Month 3: Housing Financial Planning
Day 90: Housing Market Research
- Market Analysis: Research housing market at destination
- Price Trends: Analyze price trends and market conditions
- School Districts: Research school districts and ratings
- Commute Costs: Factor in transportation costs and time
Day 85: Financing Preparation
- VA Loan: Research VA loan benefits and requirements
- Down Payment: Plan for down payment and closing costs
- Credit Score: Ensure credit score is optimal for financing
- Pre-approval: Consider getting pre-approved for mortgage
Day 80: Budget Refinement
- Housing Budget: Finalize housing budget and preferences
- Moving Budget: Refine moving cost estimates
- Settlement Budget: Plan for immediate expenses
- Emergency Fund: Ensure adequate emergency fund
Day 75: Financial Goal Updates
- Short-term Goals: Update goals for PCS transition
- Long-term Goals: Adjust goals for new location
- Investment Strategy: Plan for any investment changes
- Retirement Planning: Ensure retirement planning continues
60 Days Out: Financial Execution
Month 2: Financial Implementation
Day 60: Financial Health Check
- Credit Score: Final credit score check and improvement
- Debt Status: Review debt payoff progress
- Savings Status: Verify emergency fund and moving fund
- Budget Status: Review budget and make final adjustments
Day 55: Banking Setup
- New Bank Accounts: Open accounts at destination if needed
- Account Transfers: Plan for account transfers and closures
- Online Banking: Set up online banking for new accounts
- Bill Pay: Set up automatic bill payment for new location
Day 50: Investment Adjustments
- TSP Contributions: Adjust TSP contributions if needed
- Roth IRA: Make Roth IRA contributions if eligible
- Taxable Investments: Plan for any investment changes
- Beneficiary Updates: Update beneficiaries on all accounts
Day 45: Insurance Updates
- Auto Insurance: Update auto insurance for new location
- Homeowners/Renters: Plan for insurance at new location
- Life Insurance: Ensure adequate life insurance coverage
- Health Insurance: Verify TRICARE coverage at new location
Month 1: Final Financial Preparation
Day 30: Final Budget Review
- Moving Costs: Final moving cost estimates and budget
- Housing Costs: Final housing cost estimates and budget
- Settlement Costs: Final settlement cost estimates and budget
- Emergency Fund: Verify adequate emergency fund
Day 25: Financial Documentation
- Bank Statements: Gather final bank statements
- Tax Returns: Ensure tax returns are current
- Pay Stubs: Gather final LES statements
- Investment Statements: Collect final investment statements
Day 20: Credit Final Check
- Credit Report: Final credit report review
- Credit Score: Final credit score check
- Debt Status: Final debt status review
- Credit Utilization: Final credit utilization check
Day 15: Banking Final Setup
- Account Access: Ensure access to all accounts
- Online Banking: Final online banking setup
- Bill Pay: Final bill payment setup
- Emergency Access: Final emergency access setup
30 Days Out: Financial Execution
Week 4: Financial Preparation
Day 30: Financial Health Check
- Credit Score: Final credit score check
- Debt Status: Final debt status review
- Savings Status: Final savings status review
- Budget Status: Final budget status review
Day 28: Banking Setup
- New Bank Accounts: Open accounts at destination
- Account Transfers: Plan for account transfers
- Online Banking: Set up online banking
- Bill Pay: Set up automatic bill payment
Day 26: Investment Adjustments
- TSP Contributions: Final TSP contribution adjustments
- Roth IRA: Final Roth IRA contributions
- Taxable Investments: Final investment adjustments
- Beneficiary Updates: Final beneficiary updates
Day 24: Insurance Updates
- Auto Insurance: Final auto insurance updates
- Homeowners/Renters: Final insurance planning
- Life Insurance: Final life insurance review
- Health Insurance: Final health insurance verification
Week 3: Financial Implementation
Day 21: Final Budget Review
- Moving Costs: Final moving cost review
- Housing Costs: Final housing cost review
- Settlement Costs: Final settlement cost review
- Emergency Fund: Final emergency fund review
Day 19: Financial Documentation
- Bank Statements: Final bank statement collection
- Tax Returns: Final tax return verification
- Pay Stubs: Final LES statement collection
- Investment Statements: Final investment statement collection
Day 17: Credit Final Check
- Credit Report: Final credit report review
- Credit Score: Final credit score check
- Debt Status: Final debt status review
- Credit Utilization: Final credit utilization check
Day 15: Banking Final Setup
- Account Access: Final account access verification
- Online Banking: Final online banking setup
- Bill Pay: Final bill payment setup
- Emergency Access: Final emergency access setup
Week 2: Financial Execution
Day 14: Financial Health Check
- Credit Score: Final credit score check
- Debt Status: Final debt status review
- Savings Status: Final savings status review
- Budget Status: Final budget status review
Day 12: Banking Setup
- New Bank Accounts: Final account opening
- Account Transfers: Final account transfer planning
- Online Banking: Final online banking setup
- Bill Pay: Final bill payment setup
Day 10: Investment Adjustments
- TSP Contributions: Final TSP contribution adjustments
- Roth IRA: Final Roth IRA contributions
- Taxable Investments: Final investment adjustments
- Beneficiary Updates: Final beneficiary updates
Day 8: Insurance Updates
- Auto Insurance: Final auto insurance updates
- Homeowners/Renters: Final insurance planning
- Life Insurance: Final life insurance review
- Health Insurance: Final health insurance verification
Week 1: Final Financial Preparation
Day 7: Final Budget Review
- Moving Costs: Final moving cost review
- Housing Costs: Final housing cost review
- Settlement Costs: Final settlement cost review
- Emergency Fund: Final emergency fund review
Day 5: Financial Documentation
- Bank Statements: Final bank statement collection
- Tax Returns: Final tax return verification
- Pay Stubs: Final LES statement collection
- Investment Statements: Final investment statement collection
Day 3: Credit Final Check
- Credit Report: Final credit report review
- Credit Score: Final credit score check
- Debt Status: Final debt status review
- Credit Utilization: Final credit utilization check
Day 1: Banking Final Setup
- Account Access: Final account access verification
- Online Banking: Final online banking setup
- Bill Pay: Final bill payment setup
- Emergency Access: Final emergency access setup
Real Example: E-5 Sergeant's 180-Day PCS Timeline
Sergeant Williams, E-5, 6 years TIS, PCS from Fort Hood to Fort Bragg
180 Days Out: Financial Assessment
- Credit Score: 720 (good, but room for improvement)
- Debt Status: $5,000 credit card debt, $15,000 auto loan
- Savings: $8,000 emergency fund, $2,000 moving fund
- Housing: Currently renting, planning to buy at Fort Bragg
120 Days Out: Financial Preparation
- Credit Score: 750 (improved by paying down credit cards)
- Debt Status: $2,000 credit card debt, $15,000 auto loan
- Savings: $12,000 emergency fund, $5,000 moving fund
- Housing: Pre-approved for VA loan, $300,000 budget
60 Days Out: Financial Implementation
- Credit Score: 780 (excellent, optimal for financing)
- Debt Status: $0 credit card debt, $15,000 auto loan
- Savings: $15,000 emergency fund, $8,000 moving fund
- Housing: Under contract for $285,000 home, VA loan approved
30 Days Out: Final Preparation
- Credit Score: 780 (maintained excellent score)
- Debt Status: $0 credit card debt, $15,000 auto loan
- Savings: $15,000 emergency fund, $10,000 moving fund
- Housing: Home purchase closing scheduled
PCS Results:
- Financial Health: Excellent credit score, no high-interest debt
- Housing: Successfully purchased home with VA loan
- Emergency Fund: Maintained 6+ months expenses
- Moving Fund: Covered all out-of-pocket expenses
- Long-term Goals: On track for retirement and financial security
Common PCS Financial Mistakes
Mistake 1: Not Planning Early Enough
Problem: Waiting until 30 days out to start financial planning
Solution: Start planning 180 days out
Impact: Miss opportunities to improve credit, save money, and plan properly
Mistake 2: Ignoring Credit Score
Problem: Not checking or improving credit score before PCS
Solution: Check credit score 180 days out, improve if needed
Impact: Higher interest rates, denied financing, higher insurance costs
Mistake 3: Not Saving Enough
Problem: Not saving for out-of-pocket moving expenses
Solution: Save 3-6 months expenses plus moving fund
Impact: Financial stress, debt accumulation, poor financial decisions
Mistake 4: Poor Housing Decisions
Problem: Rushing into housing decisions without proper planning
Solution: Research housing market, get pre-approved, take time to decide
Impact: Overpaying for housing, poor location choice, financial stress
Mistake 5: Not Updating Financial Accounts
Problem: Not updating bank accounts, insurance, and investments
Solution: Update all accounts before and after move
Impact: Missed payments, coverage gaps, investment issues
PCS Financial Resources
Military Resources
- Finance Office: PCS entitlements and financial counseling
- Legal Office: POA, will, and legal document assistance
- Family Support: Financial counseling and resources
- Military OneSource: 24/7 support and financial counseling
Financial Tools
- Garrison Ledger Base Navigator: Research BAH rates and housing costs
- DFAS PCS Calculator: Calculate PCS entitlements and costs
- VA Loan Information: Research VA loan benefits and requirements
- Credit Monitoring: Track credit score and report changes
Professional Help
- Financial Advisor: Comprehensive financial planning
- Tax Professional: Tax implications of PCS move
- Real Estate Agent: Housing market expertise
- Insurance Agent: Insurance coverage and rates
Key Takeaways
- Start Early: Begin financial planning 180 days out
- Credit Score: Check and improve credit score early
- Emergency Fund: Maintain 6+ months expenses
- Housing Research: Research housing market thoroughly
- Budget Planning: Create detailed budget for all expenses
- Account Updates: Update all financial accounts
- Professional Help: Use military and professional resources
Remember: PCS moves are expensive, but proper financial planning can save you thousands of dollars and prevent costly mistakes. Start planning early and use all available resources.
This guide is part of Garrison Ledger's comprehensive military financial intelligence platform. For personalized advice based on your specific situation, use our Ask Our Military Expert feature.