How do you get the most out of your Per diem

djmodifyd Senior Member

i wish i got per diem....
macaroni and cheese was the way to do it.

reddn Rookie wash cntr

The class numbers will be the same for basics.. you dont know your actual level 2(tower cab for tower, itr for tracon, enroute basics for... enroute) class number until you pass your basics..

when your class gets split, the class schedule differs ramdomly, you will not always be on opposite shifts.. night shift sucks because you miss out on food(suggestion)

as for saving money... staying by your self depends on what you want..

now i hate dropping plugs for companies i dont fully support, but i'm at isola bella(i have some other issues w them, check the review) right now, w a room mate of course.. i think it is a great deal.. they just started the room mate deal(so its 29.9 or what ever even if they dont find a roommate for you, no need to bring your own room mate).. the only thing i would be concerned about is if they pair you with someone you dont trust, they dont put lockable doors on the bed rooms(suggestion)

there are even some people that will get a 6 mo lease(~500$) at isola, no food, internet, courtesy car, but if your willing go for it.. there are some people renting rooms for 475/mo.. which is a great deal, includes internet tv etc.. no rides tho, so bring ur car.

at isola the food is pretty good, so im cool with being here and spending the extra money(but the internet absolutely blows, they have some weird setup that half ass works, i had to buy my own internet, i'll type up a review so ill post a link to it for more)

TenThousandFists Rookie Boulder, Colorado

I'm staying with this mindless enrouter above me ^^^. I'm in TRACON RTF right now and he's in nonradar. We don't mind if the other person is in the same class or not. However, we do save on the per diem. Like he says, we split an apartment which makes it cost us ~$30 per day. You need to pay out of pocket though so plan for that ($418.60/ 2 weeks). If you use the gov't credit card they deduct $50/day for rent no matter what your actual rent costs. Because of this, we earn an extra $50/day on top of our salary of $1280 per month. I hear it's hard for people to get a normal apt at a normal rent cost, especially at Isola Bella because if the mgmt of Isola finds out that you are FAA, they will automatically increase your rent from the normal tenant's $400-500/month rent to the "special" rent of $1500/month.

Isola Bella is pretty good because you get a clean little apt, free food, soda, beer on fri, etc. And best of all, a lot of your classmates are probably staying here also so it's easy to get into study groups and find rides to hang out on the weekends.

In conclusion:

1. Pay out of pocket and get reimbursed
2. Stay somewhere that has rent costs of $30/day instead of $50/day

JumperBones mantequilla

Maybe for your classes, but I've known my lvl 2 class # since 2 weeks before I even reported to OKC - it was in the Academy welcome letter, and I believe in my FOL also (I'd have to look, but I'm fairly sure it's there).

That only happens if you're staying at isola bella. Complete non-event anywhere else.

btw I'm fairly sure the splitting w/ roommate is the only way to get IB to pay off - isn't a 1BR above the daily per diem rate? (50 bucks) And how's that integrated washer/dryer working out, or the sewage? I've heard not so good things.

ineedatc Trusted Contributor Chi-town

http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/apa/1393677995.html

Hands off -- this one is MINE!!! Ahhh...I can see my inflatable mattress in there now...(j/k)


Oh my goodness, there is no way in hell I would rent off of Craigs list. This guy is selling half of his bed! http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/roo/1386409600.html Oklahoma seems creepy enough, no need for the stigma of craigslist to make it even creepier!

n61870 Rookie

looks like a good way to meet women. I wonder if it will work in houston, hmmm...

The Fold Transmitting in the Blind South Florida

I wonder if my girlfriend mines if we split the bed... Hmmm.......

I'm retarded and don't understand per diem.

So, you get full amount, no matter what? Even if you sleep on the street or in your car? But, ideally it would be for housing?

Unless you use the GOVT credit card? And then it's under their name, and thus, you never see the money?

Ahhh.

STL2CVG Senior Analyst Cincinnati

Pay upfront, out of your own pocket, put in for reimbursement, get full amount.

Use government credit card, you don't get to collect the difference between cost of rent and per diem.

That does not include the money for daily meal allowance. Either way you will receive that money.

Echo_Whiskey Junior Member

I keep getting conflicting scenerios on this method of making money with per diem. Just to clarify, if I pay out of pocket for a cheaper room or split rent I get full per diem when I submit a claim with a receipt?

What if the receipt reflects lower rent than full per diem rate?

STL2CVG Senior Analyst Cincinnati

If you pay out of pocket they are going to reimburse you for the full per diem. Regardless if you're spending $5 or if you're spending $100.

In order to make some of money off of your per diem you have to pay out of pocket and find a place that is less expensive than what you are allotted by the FAA. Whether it is by sharing a roommate and splitting the cost, or just by coming across a cheaper place that doesn't charge the full per diem amount.