For those experiencing financial difficulty the Financial Management Program is prepared to assist them in establishing a realistic budget The Personal Financial Managers will provide information and literature on a variety of related issues.

Financial programs that are provided including:

• Unit briefs
• Seminars
• Personal financial management
• Savings and investments
• Pre-marital budget
• Pre-retirement budget
• Family budget
• Car and house buying

For additional information, visit the personal financial management website.

The two biggest expenses in moving to Okinawa are:

• Setting up a household - If on-base housing is not initially available or you definitely plan on living off base, be prepared to have $6,000 to $10,000 on hand, which includes costs for lodging, a car and off-base move-in charges. You will need $3,500 to $6,500 to cover initial fees, such as first and last month's rent, plus a likely security deposit.
• Purchasing an automobile - Purchasing a reasonably priced used car will usually cost $2,000 to $6,000. Of course, this doesn't include the fees required for annual American insurance and road tax. The road tax costs $75 to $300, depending on the size of the vehicle. Just as in the United States, American insurance rates depend on the carrier. Japanese Compulsory Insurance rates average about $150 a year.