European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 17, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday apri 17 2007 stars and stripes pages As Dollar drops Europe based gis adjust though of base buying Power shrinks troops not going broke by Matt Millham stars and stripes the euros up the dollars Down but soldiers spending Hab its Are More or less the same even last months announce ment that the costo living allow Ance Given to us troops in Ger Many will begin a major slide May 1 has done Little to change How much there willing to spend off Post in the least in dollars but the weakening Exchange rate has Cut into the amount of goods and services troops can buy off base sgt Tiara Marshall for exam ple has continued to spend about s400 a month to restore her Clas sic mini Cooper but because of the Exchange rate that s400 Doest go As far As it used to the euro rate at us military Banks on tuesday was 7383 a nearly two year Low she used to spend about 200 euro every pay period to restore the car but As the Dollar dropped that was actually chunking into my food Money said Marshall a member of the 66th military intelligence group in Darmstadt Shes had to decrease the amount she spends at the Ger Man garage that fixing the car to about 150 euro every two weeks she said Shes Cut Back on at least one other activity As Well to keep up on with the restoration i dont go out drinking anymore because its too Damn expensive mar shall said staff sgt Kevin Eick thinks dwindling drinking budgets Are one positive effect of the weaker Dollar sure the Exchange rate is terrible he admitted but there Are facilities Here that let you buy things in american dollars he said if they do away with cola Al together ill be upset said Eick who is also assigned to the 66th i group but he added just because your spending Power de creased Doest mean youre going broke Kent and stripes Teresa dooms shops monday at the defense commissary Agency store at Aviano air base in Italy items produced in the states Are said to be a bigger bargain on base with the euro rising against the Dollar ii the Crux of it is that i joined the army to serve my country not to get a fat pay Check m sgt Elizabeth Lowe stationed in Darmstadt Germany indeed no troop who spoke to stars and stripes said they were suffering financially and some who live More simply or dont spend much off Post have continued to do Well in More of a Saver so it Doest really affect me that much sgt Elizabeth Lowe said of the Prospect that her cola will go Down beginning May 1 but less cola Means less Money in the Bank however added Lowe a Mem Ber of the 66th i group if cola is going Down because stateside purchasing Power has Al ready decreased that Only fair the Crux of it is that i joined the army to serve my country daily specials purchasing items at your local commissary could save you More than a few dollars than stopping at the nearest of base Market at look at prices of some everyday items Market bananas apples potatoes 5 ground beef loaf of milk eggs items have been converted to us weights and Dollar figures source stars and stripes not to get a fat paycheck she said but some who Haven curbed their of Post spending have seen their savings dwindle we still have some spending Money sgt Andrew majors a member of the 32nd signal Battal Ion in Darmstadt said As he stood outside the army and air Force Exchange service store at Kelley Barracks with his wife pc Tabe save your dough with the euro rate near Al time highs Here Are a few things americans can do to stretch their dollars a Little further 1 shop wisely Many items will be cheaper at Post exchanges and commissaries if you dont like the selection or absolutely need those designer shoes dont forget the value added tax form at 19 percent a 200euro Purchase will Cost 172 euro saving you 2 when shopping at the commissary dont forget your coupons 3 if you want to eat out consider making lunch your biggest meal of the Day prices for midday meals Are usually much cheaper than dinner 4 better yet pack a lunch 5 want to go out for a night on the town drink the local beverage locally brewed Beers Are typically cheaper than imports 6 Gas prices too High for you consider biking or walking to work youll save Money and feel better too source stars and stripes tha Harrison but my savings from downrange is gone he said Harrison added that saving Money has recently been impossible for the two largely because they Haven Cut Back on spend ing but they Arent despairing we do pretty Well for ourselves majors said ill admit that me and my Hus band dont eat at Home except maybe once a week said sgt Maya Hill also of the 66m but with Gas prices going up and the Dollar going Down weve actually started eating at Home More she said the biggest thing i see coming from this is our Bills Hill said the army gives you so much for your rent and its a scheduled rate and you sometimes end up paying out of pocket because of the Exchange rate fluctuating Hill said email Matt Millham at Naples administrator named Odeas Best principal Richard Alix by Kent Harris stars and stripes Richard Alix refuses to Call himself the Best principal in the defense departments school system i would never do that he said monday in a Telephone interview Alix might not want to say Hes the Best but last weeks selection As the department of de sense education activity 2007 principal of the year for elementary and Middle schools says otherwise Alix who has been at Naples elementary school since 2004 is in his 27th year of working for the system that supports the dependents of service members and Dod civilians across the Globe he said credit for the award goes to those around him its a reflection of what weve been Able to do both Here and in Iceland he said citing his prior stint As principal of at Mahan elementary school Alix said it takes Strong efforts from pupils parents teachers and other faculty members to form a Strong learning environment he also thanked his superiors at the Mediterranean District office in Vicenza for providing leadership and direction his direct supervisor assistant superintendent Carl Albrecht had nothing but Praise for him in a Brief Telephone interview or Alix puts kids first he said whates ers Good for kids is what he puts at the top of his list and the school reflects that Alix is actually principal at two schools Naples elementary has about 960 children Gaeta elementary has about 40 Alix served As an assistant principal for 10 years before taking the Job in Iceland he started his teaching career in the organization in 1980 email Kent Harris at