How much money can you save in the army?

People keep talking about how great it is in the army because you don't have to pay for rent, utilities, and you get a food allowance (I have a family) in the army. After all that it seems like you would be able to save a lot of money pretty much right after joining the army. I have just joined the army with the support of my wife and daughter and I was wondering what really happens financially.Can you actually save money pretty well in the army or is it all bullcrap?|||The other answers on here are crap. Yes you can save money by living on base housing. The people that cannot save money are the ones that live outside their means. If your wife has a decent job, then you should have no problem saving money. On base there is child daycare, comissary, PX, and other ways to save money. If so many married people in the army lived pay check to pay check there would be fewer people in the Army. However, if your wife does not work, then I agree that it would be very difficult to save money as a new soldier.|||it is very possible to save money in the military, this will all depend on your spending habits, if you were good at bedgeting your money before the military, you will do just fine. while doing active duty service, i was easily able to save money, wasnt a whole lot being that i was only a single E3, but i enjoyed my free time. the ppl who dont save money are the ones that decide to go boozing every chance they get.|||Yes, it is bullcrap. If you were single and just stayed on base you could save money. No one is able to do that.|||All bullcrap. Most of your money will be wasted on hookers, beer, tattoos and gambling debt.|||BULLCRAP! We live paycheck to paycheck. There is nothing left to save.