European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 14, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse Making the most of Europe in spit of the weak Dollar by Mary Neth consumer editors Ince the Dollar plunge Congress has been receiving a steady Stream at letters from Servic members overseas who claim the willing Greenback has Pill them into a Money crunch in contrast to such groaning a number of army couples living in non military housing in West Germany would like it on Accord that they Loci the plight of the overseas Soldier is exaggerated they say they Are doing Groat of Lour couples interviewed had experienced unemployment Belore entering the service and Are appreciative of the Security Tho military provides. They and the other t to families believe that poor Altitude and bad budgeting not the drop in the value of the Dollar create financial troubles for some the real problem in t the Dollar but that people want everything All at once says Elizabeth Grubbs. Who has Little sympathy Tor com tamers Elizabelh and her husband. Vance a specialist live who has been in the army Lor eight years live in Tho Village of Hambach near and say they manage to put $200 in savings each month How do they and the other three families manage All the wives with the exception of Suzanne Thornton who has a 10 month old baby hold Down part time jobs All do a lot of bargain Hunting when meat prices go up or example they try toss expensive cuts. They Check local markets Lor cheap seasonal vegetable they Check end of the year sales in department stores. Is photo by Slava Morrison Pic. John Brue Merand Wile Tracey were excited when they Learned they were coming to Europe. Entertainment generally centers on evenings at Home watching movies or to. Nights out on the town involve no More than an occasional dinner in an inexpensive local restaurant. There Are no spending splurge but Money is tucked away Tor special items. The layaway plan allows them to take advantage of buys Al cafes. None of the families keeps a rigid budget. Some protect themselves by always figuring Bills thai must be paid in Marks at a lower Exchange rate. All Are renting apartments that Are Well Wilhm their housing allowances. The Grubbs had to put Down a month s rent As Security Deposit on their one bedroom apartment which including heat and water costs 600 Marks a month at 1 05 to the Dollar. $364 electricity is extra and costs on the average of 66 Marks $40 a month says Elizabelh. Our phone Bill runs from 50 Marks to 160 Marks $30 to $97 a month depending on How Many Calls we make Home groceries average $50 to $60 a week " budgeting we watch what we spend and Don t buy much " that docs l mean they intend to leave Europe empty handed. Before we return to the states i want to buy a German Schwank Wall Cabinet and a carved Oak Coffee Elizabeth says they Are less expensive Here than in the United Stales she says and also will serve As mementos of the time overseas. The Schrank will provide a place Lor our Home entertainment Center video equipment to. Etc. And a place to display our Al present most of their Home furnishings Are on loan from the military. We just brought Over Small says Elizabeth h Page 14 the stars and stripes she had to do it again she would leave most of her appliances in Tho United states she says by the time you buy transformers you might just As Well have bought inexpensive replacement appliances " despite the Low Dollar Mark Exchange rate. Iho Grubbs shop downtown Elizabelh is paid in Marks Lor. Her part Lime work at the cafes pickup Point this Money comes in Handy Lor shopping in local stores. Recently she purchased a German weathered she checks Oul the local vegetable markets where she says she sometimes Linds buys Hal Are better than at the commissary. She also keeps an Eye out Lor department store sales on her visits downtown. Annual sales Oflyn Oiler clothing that is cheaper than in the pm i guess the problem is that Iho pm carries High Quality. Price Wise it is Betler to buy through american Cata logs " the Grubbs believe they would be missing much of the experience of living overseas if they were in military housing. We have it made Oul hero in the Countryside. The View from our apartment is Lovely says Elizabeth. I like Germany. It s so quiet and there is no crime living in non military quarters we also Don t have to contend with Yard cleanups and laundry room fights " Grubbs is proud of How quickly his Wile Learned to get around on her own. She did t sit in the apartment and mope she got right Oul and started doing things he says she took Iho local bus into town to look around Tho very Lisl pfc John Bruemmer and his wife Tracey. Also enjoy being overseas. They just wish they had More Money and Lime for Lavel they have made a trip to Scotland to monday i
