@Matt GilroyI haven't been in the service in a long time, but traditionally, members who have dependents (spouses or children) usually have the option of living on-base in the military family housing for free, or off-base and receive a monthly housing allowance.So, it's not a bad gig.

I left that field and was a carpenter at a custom furniture shop for a period. 

Now, we've downsized into a 3 bedroom apartment which is pretty tight with our two wonderful children. 

Electronics (TV, radio, etc), furniture (sofas, beds, night-stands, etc.), knick-knacks of every possible variety and more.SO -- the next of kin doesn't need all of this . . . stuff.They'll go through it for anything of value, be that something they think is worth a lot, or just something to remember her by.

-cutting the grass or any yard work-painting-cleaning -mail work-answering phonesAlso depends how old your chIldren are

How would you afford the furniture etc for a vacation rental. 

People with good credit are rewarded with same.a little off topic but when i was activly HML in Mississippi I had a pretty significant LOC with Trustmark .. and when talking to my banker there he told me they really focused on the medical profession.. providing all the capital for those folks to buy their homes with minimal down include the furniture and cars etc etc.. i could not figure out how these under 40 doctors were living in million dollar homes with 300k in toys :)  the banker said once we have these doctors as clients we have them for life and their entire banking needs.My personal banker in Oregon their bank really goes after Dentists .. and they do the same thing.  

When there's a secure area (like a back yard) I'm all for adding a picnic table and nice outdoor furniture (a guy who owns a coffee shop gave me all his outdoor chairs and tables when he bought new ones and so I reward good tenants with nice backyard outdoor furniture). 

Between furniture, updates, insurance, all those things that turn a home to a house, "the forgotten costs" seem to add up quickly.What are some hacks others have to make those forgotten costs not so expensive or strategies to spread those costs overtime.

We have two young children with our oldest starting kindergarten there.Thank you all for your help