Military spouses are no strangers to chaos but what happens after the panic fades? In this post, we explore how those overwhelming moments can spark clarity, purpose, and unexpected growth, featuring insights from money coach Rachel Minns.
Crisis moments come in many forms for military families. A call from a partner after a helicopter crash, like the one described by Katie Rothwell in Episode 7, or an unexpected financial hit; these moments shake us.
Listen to Katie's story here: Episode 7 – Helicopter Crashes & Solo Parenting
🔗 Learn more at Katie's website
But what then?
The truth is, these moments can break us or build us, and often, they do both.
In Episode 8 of Married to the Military, I spoke with Rachel Minns, a certified bookkeeper and military spouse, about how financial stress can become a turning point. Her message is clear:
“You’re not bad with money. You’ve just been taught the wrong system.”
Rachel helps women stop living in fear of their bank balance and start making confident money decisions even with small or unpredictable incomes.
The Cookie Monsters of Expenses
One of Rachel’s favourite analogies is that expenses are like cookie monsters - they eat everything. If you wait to take profit from what’s left, there’s nothing left.
Instead, she teaches the Profit First method:
- Take a small percentage of every sale or paycheck (even 1%) and move it aside for you
- Label it: nails, savings, rainy day fund, whatever brings joy
- Spend what’s left, not the other way around
It might sound simple. But it’s a mindset shift.
Even if you’re only setting aside a few pounds each week, it’s about building habits that train your brain to expect positive reinforcement. You’re creating new neural pathways, rewiring your brain to recognise that when money comes in, a piece of it automatically comes to you. That consistent message builds self-worth and positive momentum.
It says, you matter too.
How This Applies to Crisis
When you’re in survival mode, money can feel like one more thing you can’t control. Rachel’s approach gives you a tool to reclaim some of that control and to start trusting yourself again, and that’s often the pattern for military spouses:
- A crisis hits
- You scramble
- You adapt
- You learn
- You change
III. Whether it’s finances, parenting, health, or mental load, we often don’t grow in calm. We grow in the chaos.
And growth doesn’t have to mean hustle. Sometimes it means:
Saying no more often
· Opening a new savings account
· Starting that Etsy shop
· Tracking your expenses for the first time
Words of Encouragement
Whatever your "crash" looked like, you’re allowed to build something stronger on the other side. You don’t have to be the perfect spouse, parent, homemaker, employee or business owner. But if you're looking for ways to add a little lightness to tough days, browse my curated collection of military wife gifts and keepsakes. But you can take one small step toward clarity whether it’s moving £5 to a savings pot or admitting you need help.
And that step, it counts.
If you're ready to explore a side hustle that fits around military life, download my free guide for spouses here: The Op Boss Starter Guide
Listen to Episode 8: The Cookie Monsters of Expenses
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YouTube: Click here
🔗 Learn more at Rachel's website
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