Army Community Service is Belgium's only U.S Army military support entity. The ACS Financial Readiness Program provides services to members of all U.S. branches and their families, including Department of Defense civilians, and offers a wide range of services to assist service members and their families with their finances. 

FRP counselors emphasize increasing your financial knowledge and skills in budgeting, money management, setting financial goals, proper use of credit, retirement planning, savings, and investing, including the Thrift Savings Plan, buying a home and car, and insurance products. FRP counselors also help couples and individuals with debt liquidation and credit repair. 

The ACS FRP manager is also the Army Emergency Relief officer. AER provides emergency financial assistance to all branches of the U.S. military in coordination with the respective services. 

Call or visit your local ACS to schedule an appointment for a financial readiness appointment and AER assistance. Call DSN 314-597-7361 or commercial 011-0032-65-75-7361. 

Upon arrival in Belgium - and Brussels in particular - many families experience financial difficulties. Some of it can result from a lack of planning, depletion of emergency reserves, and the loss of a second income. A best practice when arriving at a new duty station or departing an old duty station is to see a financial counselor at your local ACS to help you prepare. 

In Belgium, renting a home can be expensive as some property owners/managers require up to three months of rent/deposit combination. It is essential to visit the U.S. Army Garrison Benelux-Brussels housing office regarding rental deposit options and other requirements before you sign a housing contract. You can contact the housing office at DSN 314-597-9923/24 or commercial 011-0032-22-80-9923/24.

Some time to adjust to your new assignment. Having at least $6,000 available for expenses associated with the relocation process is recommended when relocating to Belgium. Advance pay is available through the Defense Finance and Accounting Service to help meet your moving needs before moving. Additionally, you can receive a security deposit and the first month's rent to help with moving into your new home. Visit https://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/travelpay/armypcs/ to learn more about your Permanent Change of Station entitlements.

To locate a financial counselor, visit Army Community Service, Airman and Family Readiness Centers, and Fleet and Family Support Centers to assist you with creating a projected budget based on your income and expenses while in Belgium. Like most other countries in Europe, consumer prices in Belgium are generally higher than in the United States. 

Brussels, the capital of the European Union, is an expensive city. For example, you will pay the utility companies' (electricity, gas, and water) bills monthly or bi-monthly. Further, there is an annual reconciliation of utility costs. Based on the reconciliation results, you may be required to pay additional charges if you used more utilities than the previous tenant. Remember, all prices are in euros and not dollars. We recommend planning for the possibility of extra expenses, especially during the first year, and creating reserve savings accounts for these unknown costs.