High-yield savings
Ally, SoFi, Amex—don’t let cash sit at 0.01% APY.
Life Tools
Random Helpful Things
Tiny adjustments that compound—money, mindset, tech, etiquette, and more.
Financial life hacks
Automate investing
Auto-transfer into Vanguard/Fidelity index funds—even $50/mo matters.
Track spending
Mint/Monarch to spot leaks. Intentional beats reactive.
Tax awareness
VA disability is tax-free; know state-level perks.
Avoid impulse cars
New car + no assets = regret.
Personal development
- Read (or listen to) The Defining Decade, So Good They Can’t Ignore You, Atomic Habits, Psychology of Money.
- Schedule workouts like meetings.
- Use Pomodoro (25/5) when overwhelm hits.
- Delete social media off phone M–F.
Tech setup
- Dual monitors = less burnout.
- Password manager (1Password, Bitwarden).
- Learn Excel + Notion.
- Webcam cover + solid mic for Zoom.
Travel & remote work
- TSA PreCheck / Global Entry if >2 trips a year.
- Packing cubes + legit backpack.
- Spare chargers in every bag.
- Noise-canceling headphones + quality mic.
Life skills the military skipped
- Say “Let me get back to you”—buys time.
- Skip politics at happy hour.
- Handwritten thank-you notes stand out.
- Set email boundaries; 9pm replies aren’t mandatory.
- Translate acronyms—no one knows what BN S4 means.
Social etiquette
- Tip 20% minimum.
- Ask more questions than you answer while networking.
- Bring something when invited over.
- Own real shoes; aesthetics matter.
- Introduce yourself in 2 sentences, then listen.
Underrated moves
- Ask for feedback before it's offered.
- Attend optional events—relationships form there.
- Pick up the tab occasionally.
- Track every job application + follow-up.
- Google yourself to know what recruiters see.
Want the full starter kit?
Sitreps has a living spreadsheet of apps, books, and daily systems we share with clients.
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