We All Have Apps We Need
If you are anything like me, your phone is more than just another appendage; it is your lifeline. Your phone helps you find that perfect cookie recipe for your child’s bake sale, has the GPS for when you get lost and holds the 4.7 thousand photos of your life. It also typically is the key to communicating with your loved one during workups and deployments. The right military spouse app is important!
Making your phone work for YOU is vital for every MILSO. I truly believe that your phone being packed full of useful apps not only will make your day to day life easier, but also give you the edge when it comes to managing this crazy military life. So here are my top 17 Must-Have Apps for every modern military spouse!
Everyday Life
USAA
The USAA Mobile App gives you access to your accounts from wherever you are, allowing you to handle everything from banking, insurance, investments and transfers. Not a USAA member? You should be! Not only do they have some of the best services I have found, but as a military spouse, you automatically quality!
Commissary Rewards
Shopping at the Commissary is one perk of being a military spouse. If you shop the Commissary often, make sure to download the rewards card app on iPhone and Android. It allows you to clip and share coupons and informs you of any specials, allowing you to spend less time at the store!
Ibotta
Ibotta is a FREE rebate app that saves you cash on tons of different things from a ton of different stores (everything from food to retail). It also works at the Commissary, which is awesome, especially when you also use the Commissary rewards app, saving you even more!
Favoreats
This free app not only gives you the ability to utilize “Pinterest style” searching for different recipes, but allows you to follow other accounts (who have amazing food saved), helps you meal plan in the easiest way, creates your shopping list FOR YOU, but also allows you to see all ingredients WHILE following the recipe when you are cooking. I use the app ALL THE TIME, especially for my monthly meal planning. Make sure to check it out! It is currently only for Apple users, but they are working on an Android app as we speak so stay tune!
Military Life
Base Directory
This military spouse app is one of my absolute favorites. It gives information about every base and every facility on that base. It’s especially helpful when PCSing, especially if you are planning to stay on a base or take a Space-A flight.
MilSpaceA
MilSpaceA app allows authorized U.S. government users to register for Department of Defense (DoD) military space-available travel. It is also available for eligible family members (that’s YOU!), just make sure to check that your travel is applicable for Space-A. I have found this to be a quick, easy, reliable, and authorized means to sign up for Space-A at primary departure terminals. Available for Apple and Android.
Sortly
Sortly allows you to organize your home inventory in several different folders and subfolders to make things easier to locate. Use folders to group items by their physical locations (which room they’re stored in) or by item type. Add searchable tags and notes to find what you need in seconds.
The basic app is FREE, but there is also a paid version which gives even more options.
Military Pay Calculator
This informative military spouse app will calculate military pay including BAS and BAH for active duty and reservists based on rank and location. It is available for Apple or Android devices. Keep in mind though, this app should only be used as a guide since it is not created by the DOD. It’s nice though when planning finances as a MILSO.
Communication
HOME2YOU
Home2You is available in both Google Play and iTune App Store. This apps helps children and families who are separated by employment, military service or personal circumstance right across the globe by strengthening family connection.
The count-down, count-up, and time-zone tracking features are easy to use and the app is free from external links and in-app purchases. The pass code feature ensures your countdown and private videos and photos are always secure.
Marco Polo
Sometimes video chats are not available due to reception or are inconvenient to try to schedule with your loved ones, whether during deployment or even with grandparents. Available for both android and apple, this free app allows for videos to be recorded and sent you your loved one for them to watch and reply to at their convenience. Also, these videos stay on the app (for watching over and over) and you can even create group chats.
Sandboxx
This app is really cool, especially if your deployed loved one adores physical happy mail. You use the app to letters and photos through your phone, paying postage right there. This app is also useful for active duty military members when it comes to connecting with units and also booking travel.
Just For You
Coach.Me
I personally love tracking my goals and habits. I find it soothing, especially during deployments. This military spouse app gives you the ability to not only pick and choose the goals you are working on, but also allows you to set targets, reminders and view the entire journey.
As a MILSO, landing and keeping a great job is hard, thanks to constant relocation. Having a LinkedIn profile can help you hunt for the perfect employment. The LinkedIn app makes using the professional social media service on the go a breeze.
Podcast App
There are several different apps that people use to listen to their favorite podcasts. Some great podcasts for MILSO include The Waiting Warriors, 3in30 Podcast, About Progress, Dear MilFamily Podcast and Drop and Give Me 20 (the podcast for military entrepreneurs). So whether you use Apple Itunes or another podcast app, make sure to add one and listen to some AMAZING and inspiring content!
Hopper
If you are not wanting to travel using Space-A, but want to get the best deal possible, this is the app for you. Hopper not only predicts the best times to purchase tickets based on your search criteria, but it also will notify you when prices drop and you should pounce on the tickets. I have used this app several time and it has served me very well.
For the Kids
Sesame Street for Military Families
In order to reach military kids, Sesame Street has developed an app that incorporates tons of resources to help your children deal with some of the tougher parts of living this life.
Babies On The Homefront
This free app provides military and veteran parents ideas for enhancing everyday moments with their baby or toddler. Designed around military families with children between the ages of 0-3, parents have lots of resources including behavior tips, child development information and private messaging between parents to their child. Great for deployments with littles at home!
