Over a third of military families (34.1%) have less than $500 of emergency savings, according to a Military Family 360 study released this week. The statistic shows that active service and veteran families are unable to be flexible in case of an unexpected cost. 

Respondents to the survey cited rising grocery prices as the main contributor to financial stress, alongside housing costs. 

“Food security, housing burden and financial well-being are strongly associated: high housing costs crowd out food budgets, and financial distress compounds both,” the report states. “When that convergence eases, families regain focus, resilience, and cohesion that military readiness depends on.” 

Air Force photo by Garrett N. Cole