411 to Camp Pendleton: Military Spouse Starter Guide

First Duty Station:
Camp Pendleton, CA
Tips & Know How Advice

Military Housing:
Which housing are you going to choose? I bet you aren’t so sure yet. Take your time. Here are some quick tips and know how advice to prepare you in this military spouse journey. I must emphasize as wonderful as getting BAH back let’s take things into consideration. How far is the commute for your service member from the housing you have in mind? Traffic can get jammed up when entering or exiting any military gate. That means time away from home (from you), less time to do the body’s basic demands (eating, showering, sleeping, working out, or unwinding) to tend to you, and no lunch time together if the commute is too straining for him/her to break for chow.
I suggest pick a housing community that is close to your husband’s or wife’s job. This would make the commute a breeze. The service-member's life is already stressful enough why make it even more stressful? Taking these things into consideration is important because you both are a team.

If less commuting is a priority to both of you then we have the same favoritism.
We chose a housing community that is five minutes by car to my husband’s job on base. It’s perfect. He doesn’t have to stress out about the traffic, commuting too far (more gas money), and not having enough personal time to himself. Time is more valuable than getting money back (although we do wish Deluz Family Housing would give at least $200-$300 back). That would be awesome! It is what it is though.

I will have a year living in Deluz Family Housing in December 2017. Please note that I highly recommend that you look at Facebook reviews on their page. I can only share my own experience. Since my experience has been good so far, I obviously have bias. I do know that there have been some negative experiences with this housing community. I feel Facebook reviews are the best way to help you decide.

As of now, my husband and I are satisfied with Deluz Family Housing, and if I were to give it a rating we’d say a 3.60/5.00. Why? We have had some headaches with maintenance where they handled work order requests in an untimely manner. It took 2 months to fix our heater (we didn’t like that very much) especially since we kept getting rain storms when it was broken. However, they were professional and gave us space heaters as a substitute, which is what should be expected. We felt validated when they did that. They have taken 2 weeks to repair our A/C in the middle of a heat wave. They didn’t substitute with any box fans. Our oven was broken for two weeks (that is a big no no). In our household, the oven is a necessity as we love eating seafood. We bake fish all the time. My e-mails were never responded when I asked when it was going to be fixed. I didn’t get a call about anyone coming to look at it until a week later. Other than those three-untimely handled maintenance requests (in almost one year) everything else is great. Maintenance issues will be something you’ll have to handle on or off base because houses will just need them from time to time. We enjoy Deluz Family Housing events: Ladies Potluck Bingo, Crafting Events, Family Movie Night, & Family Potluck Bingo. The staff are very friendly and do answer your concerns. Maintenance is also very kind and prompt in completing tasks efficiently.

Slight Drawbacks:
However, if you own a dog, from what I heard (I do not own a dog) the dog park isn’t kept in the best of conditions. At that point, people not disposing fecal matter properly when walking a dog around the neighborhood, or the dog park isn’t housing’s fault. They do send people to go clean up the feces but sometimes people who sign leasing agreements are slobs. They have no control of people’s negligence in being a responsible pet owner. They provide free waste bags for dog fecal matter in waste bag dispensers around the neighborhood. If you go to housing and ask for some they’ll give you a few too. I just wanted to bring that up because if you’re a fur parent that would be important to know. The playgrounds for Deluz Family Housing are excellent and the school here Mary Fay Camp Pendleton is wonderful. Depending on where you get placed in Deluz you can be a 5-minute walk away from school. Any house that you do choose is spacious whether you are a family of two or more. The A/C and heater are convenient and make a home feel more like one.

Unofficial Deluz Groups to Join (if you are going to lease or a current resident within Deluz):

• Please note these are not affiliated, managed, or controlled by Hunt Companies or Deluz Family Housing any discussions, concerns, or trigger statements made in any of these groups are not a reflection of Hunt Company values which is why these groups are unofficial (but resourceful). They are tightly managed by responsible admins who will verify if you are a Deluz community resident. If you are not you will be rejected. You may find them via Facebook search groups bar.

Deluz Cook Share Eat
Deluz Housing Wives Minus the Drama
Deluz Housing Wives
Deluz Pets
Deluz Resale Only
Deluz Resale/Trade

Hindsight:
What are your preferences? Make a list with your spouse. What is priority? Saving money, less commute time, living on base, or living off base? I know WM3 in Camp Pendleton gives money back from BHA. Start writing a list down and work from there together. Be considerate of your enlisted member’s needs and voice your needs as well. Marriage is a union where two must play as a team to win together as one.

ALWAYS:
Make a discrepancy list of issues in the house you are moving into. Note any damages it has prior to you living there. It could be a cracked window, missing window screen, paint chipping on walls, stains on carpets. (take pictures, document them via e-mail to the property manager's e-mail). Have them fix it as soon as possible. Make copies of it and save it. Get renter's insurance through USAA trust me you will need it. It can be as cheap as $16 a month for renter's insurance coverage. They will be able to provide damage costs of carpets and so on.

Living on Base:
Living on base has its perks. You’re closer to your enlisted service member's job (depending where you are), MCX, Naval Hospital, and the Commissary. There will be barbers for your spouse’s haircuts (cheaper than off base), gas stations (where it’ll be cheaper), and resources available to active duty families, and spouses holding their privilege card (DOD ID). When you do pick a house try picking a housing area that's in between your husband's work and naval. You don't want to have to drive 40 minutes to get to naval in case of an emergency on your own.

Let’s Talk Commissary Tips:
Are you interested in learning how to cut expenses on groceries? Well it depends on your diet and nutritional choices. My point of view is bias based on my diet and I also love the commissary. In this household we love seafood, chicken, beef, vegetables, fruits, rice, and legumes. Necessities that I suggest for every household to have is lentils, rice, and beans. They are great fillers to companion onto your plates of meat. This eliminates you going through your proteins too quickly. You can check out a fun rice recipe in an old post of mine.

The Commissary has a refrigerator isle devoted to “Manager’s Weekly Specials”. Here you can find meats, cheese, juices, vegetarian options (like tofu sausages, tofu bacon, and tofu) for a discounted price. None of it expires within a week. Their wild caught salmon is wonderfully priced (better pricing then the farmer’s market in Oceanside). Everyone complains about their spinach not being fresh but frozen because it rots right away. I disagree. All the time I’ve gotten their spinach it’s great. I always get it when it is crisp and fresh. Spinach is also a great side to steam to integrate with your proteins.

Close to the Brach's Candy section near the frozen meats, you will find a freezer that has discounted meats (frozen at your convenience before expiration date), and this is always a great place to go when you are on a tight budget, or are dealing with back pay. Please know that the Commissary has a rewards card (ask a cashier at the front for one). Then register your card online and download the mobile app for coupons. I’ve noticed that organic snacks and juices (as well as meats) are less pricey here than shopping at the neighborhood Sprout’s.

Let's Talk Base Resources:
Bring Military ID

Rotary Club Camp Pendleton:
Bldg. 53354 3rd St., off of Basilone, Camp Horno, Camp Pendleton
Fridays 8 AM until noon

Did you just move and are newlywed and have no furniture? Are you sleeping on the floor? Are you recently divorced and have to start from scratch? Rotary Club Camp Pendleton is here to help. An active group of engaging and helpful volunteers going out of their way to make sure you're taken care of. They offer free furniture: desks, coffee tables, couches, dressers, kitchen tables, cribs, beds, pillows, bed sheets, table cloths, dishware, pots, and pans. This place helped us get our house furnished when we started off with nothing. I am so grateful to them. Active duty military families and veterans (w/ old DOD ID are welcome).

NMCRS Thrift Shop
Tuesdays & Thursdays 10AM -12:30PM (CASH ONLY)
Bldg 27603 (by Lake O'Neil )

Couldn't find what you were looking for at the Rotary Club? Forget Goodwill. Come here! They have wonderful things for you and your family for reasonable prices. Go check it out. It's so much fun. I always find wonderful dish sets, cups, pillow cases, bed sheets, blankets, and shoes for a reasonably fair price. You can't beat their prices outside of base that's for sure.

Tips on Food Pantries:
Always bring Military I.D. & Reusable Bags

On Base Food Pantries:
Mom’s Warehouse
NO DONATION REQUIRED

3rd Saturday of the month times go based off of rank (example E1-E3 begins at 9:30 AM) refer to their FB for complete rank schedule times. Santa Margarita Road BLDG 2624 behind the mechanized museum.

(Always fresh produce for you to use for the week fruit (apples, plums, pears) or veggies (potatoes, onions, or cauliflower). They will always have bread for you and canned goods. (At times they can have eggs, milk, meat).

*** Definitely don't miss this one
This is what we got in September 2017

Jewish Pantry Service
NO DONATION REQUIRED
Every last Sunday of the month from 2:00–3:00pm Religious Development Center Building #1344 on A St. and 11th St. I love this one. They will give diapers and wipes to those who have children. They always have quick oats, rice, beans, pasta, milk, cereal, meat, oil, and Costal Roots Farm is always there to give us fresh produce (fairy-tale eggplants, squash, tomatoes, chili, potatoes, shallots).

This is what we got for September 2017

Pictured above is produce from Costal Roots Farm (thank you, Costal Roots Farm).

***Definitely don't miss this one

Helping Hands
NO DONATION REQUIRED
Stuart Mesa Youth Center 1st, 3rd, 5th Tuesdays 12:00 pm
San Onofre Community (Sonic Parking Lot) Center 2nd, 4th Tuesdays 12:00 pm

This one is not my favorite to go to because it's best if you have your spouse go or be with you there in uniform. Uniformed get served first. People get there at 11AM to get a number. Then they have to wait to be called to move forward to receive food. That can take little to no time or a lot of time. It really just depends on whether the food truck was late or they were late to set up. Most of the meats were frozen before expiration date. The food given is about to expire within the week. You can always go out with eggs, milk, meat at this one. It's just too far of a drive from Deluz Family Housing for me to go personally. Unless my husband can come with me in uniform this one is last on my list.

Saddleback Church Food Pantry
NO DONATION REQUIRED
1st Wednesday of the month 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Blinder Memorial Chapel bldg. 202863 - Jacinto Rd, Oceanside, CA 92058

They are based off a lottery system. Uniformed get served first. Then you go in based on the number you pulled out of the bucket. It does not matter if you showed up at 9:00 am sharp if the number you pulled out of the bucket is 26 (you're going to be stuck there awhile). You will walk out with fresh produce, meat, eggs, milk, but some of them are about to expire, or were frozen before expiration date. Costal Roots Farm is there also giving out fresh produce here too.

Off Base Food Pantries:
Always Bring Military I.D. & Reusable Bags

Lamb of God Food Pantry
1221 Ridge Road Vista, CA 92081 Tuesdays and Thursdays 1:00 - 3:00 PM
(refer to their Facebook group for change of times or dates)​
Donation Suggested: $5 (a minimum of $2)

This is what we usually receive from them pictured above is two food pantry distributions we got by going in once every week for a total of two weeks.

Lamb of God Food Pantry is being run by a new bishop and he is very active on the Facebook group for this pantry, polite, and kind. Please bring cash donations. They will always need them. In order for them to give out food as much and as often as they do. They need financial support. I love going to this one. They give you a ton of organic meats, milk, bread, eggs, and dry beans. They really are trying their best to look out for those in need: active military families or civilians.

US4Warriors
Definitely go to this one. Bring ID and sign up for food on their website. They give pasta sauce, pasta, beans, rice, potatoes, onions, organic snacks, and fresh fruit. They even help by bringing it to your car. Very polite and kind people and organization. No donation is required but it is welcomed.

Sarah's Hope Food Pantry
Monday, Tuesday, Saturday 12 PM - 2 PM
First Christian Church in Oceanside
No Donation Required

I don't go out of my way to go to this one because the volunteers can come across as very rude sometimes. However, they do offer canned tuna, bread, cereal, milk, eggs (sometimes), peanut butter, jam, beans, rice, and pasta.

Hindsight:
I believe it's your duty as a housewife to find ways to save money for your household. Don't be dismissive of these opportunities when they present themselves. Especially on base food pantries (volunteers personally give their time to thank you for being the military family that you are). Receive the help they give pass along what you don't need. Be generous. Be kind. Be mindful of unexpected circumstances that may arise in your household. This stuff helps reduce costs of grocery bills, canned food is good to have in your pantry in case of emergencies, and if your sensitive to eating "freeze before or best by expired date" food reconsider that sensitivity when in a financial crisis. Don't go hungry. Don't let your family be hungry. Do what you got to do. You'll be fine (you won't get sick). I hope these tips and know how to advice is helpful to you. Share it with others. Let me know in a comment below if this was helpful. Would you like to read more posts similar to this? I won't know unless I get feedback.