May 19, 2016, by Dixie Somers – After any amount of time away from home, especially a tour of duty, you might feel a bit out of touch. Everyone looks for help of some kind during their lives – civilian or not. You might feel like you don’t know where to start, and somewhat overwhelmed. Here are a few tips for getting back into the swing of things after your military service.
Business Start-Up
Try a veteran’s loan from your bank and start a business based on something you love. Photography, your own gym, hardware, a travel company or your own tax service are some examples. Even if you’re disabled, some companies offer veteran franchise start-up loans. Look for job opportunities in your area with Indeed, Career Builder and monster jobs, fire up that resume. If you’d like more ideas, visit VeteranBusinessIdeas.com.
Learn Something New
If you love to learn, attend seminars or register for a couple college courses online or on campus or learn a trade skill you enjoy. Virtually all colleges, universities and technical institutes have military and veteran discounts on tuition.
Re-Decorate
Look at furniture and think about redecorating your pad or outdoor space. Companies like Lowe’s, the Home Depot, Sears and Overstock.com all have discounts for veterans. Try a lumber yard for those bigger projects.
Visit a Car Dealership
Stop by and take a look at a nearby car dealership. Whether you are in the market for a vehicle or not, you’ll find many of them, such as Quebedeaux Buick GMC have veteran discounts. MilitaryCarDealers.com helps you locate military-friendly car dealers near you, no matter where you are. USAA is a great resource for veterans and their families. In fact, if you aren’t directly related to a military member, you can’t apply. Military.com has a site through Truecar, where they cater to you. Many of these sites offer military only auto insurance for reasonable prices.
Stay in Shape
Look into getting a gym membership or go hiking with a friend. Group exercise is favored by a whopping 41% of veterans. Locate a free or low-cost dance class in your area and learn to dance, whether it’s swing or break dancing, you’re sure to find something fun that can help you stay strong and in shape.
Getting back in touch with your world the way it’s meant to be is never easy, and the best thing you can do is get out there and explore. Look around your community and experience something new, or rekindle the familiar. Thank you for serving your country!
AUTHOR BIO: This article was written by Dixie Somers, a freelance writer who loves to write for business, finance, careers, and education. She lives in Arizona with her husband and three beautiful daughters.