<prompt> Human: Im still young. I graduated High School in May of 2017. Ive been pretty careless with my spare money from my job so far, but Im planning on working 45 hours a week until I leave for Boot Camp on November 11th.Id like some advice on how to maximize the benefits of being in the military. So far, Im only aware of a couple of things. 1. As soon as I step foot in boot camp, set up a military account with my bank Chase. 2. Dont drop my 3.5k Boot pay on a car or any dumb equivalent.Whats the best way to build credit?Should I invest in anything or place it all in savings?Thank You!  <response>: From experience, here is some advice that I wish was given to me when I first joined:1. Open 2 checking accounts, one for your bills and one for your spending. 2. Open a savings account. 3. Set up your pay to automatically contribute to TSP, start with at least 5 but more is better. 4. Also have your pay automatically split enough to cover your bills if you dont have any just start tossing 50 or so each check in there and dont touch it. 5. Additionally, have part of your pay go straight to your savings dont touch this either. 6. The rest goes to your spending. 7. Disable overdraft on your accounts. This will help to automate your budget, and will help protect yourself from yourself. And if you do accidentally try to go crazy the worst case scenario is that your card gets declined. Now a few more tips:. - Everytime you get a pay raise, increase your TSP contributions. If its a 1 raise, add and extra 0.5 to your TSP. If its 2 add 1 to your TSP. - always, live like you are a promotion behind. If your a E-2 live like an E-1, if you are an E-3 live like an E-2. -After boot, and your techmos schools, stay in the barracks or base housing as long as you can. -there are a ton of free andor reduced cost services available to military members, ask your command about what services are available on base and use them financial planner, attorneys, tax preparers, etc.. - while you are in, go to school. Even if it is only one course at a time take it. Unless things have changed they will cover the cost of courses outside of your GI bill. So it will save you a crap ton when you get out, and if you are able, you can complete your associate or bachelors while you are in and save that GI bill for a masters free education is always good education. - dont do stupid. Some bases have people who do shady things. Stay away from it and them no matter how cool they are or how pressuring they are. -dont go spending all your money at strip bars. If you are gonna go, plan how much you want to spend before going pull out cash and leave your cards at home. - dont go getting married to the first girl you see after months of being away from girls, not that you cant get married. But a weekend of leave is not enough time for you to make a smart decision. also dont go whoring around, you have your whole life ahead of you, no reason to ruin it on a few bad decisions. Also, check out rmilitaryfinance 