Imagine learning that your spouse has 24 hours to report for duty and be deployed for combat. Now imagine that the day before the scheduled homecoming, you are notified that he/she won't be coming home for another 12-15 months. For many military and National Guard spouses that scenario is a growing reality.

Being called up and mobilized for active duty is hard enough for soldiers' families, but an extended deployment or multiple deployments can have even farther reaching effects. It used to be that reservists drilled one weekend a month and then were on active duty two weeks a year, with occasional emergency service during a local or regional disaster. Normally reservists are first called up to fill in at stateside points for active military that have been deployed to critical areas, and then to combat areas. But, more reservists are being called up and are being more quickly sent to combat zones than in previous conflicts. News of an extended deployment, or re-deployment, creates not only emotional strain but also a very real financial strain.

Although active military families may enjoy consistent benefits such as base housing, insurance, commissary privileges, onsite childcare centers, etc., a spouse's deployment means that you now have double the workload and none of the typical help you may have had with running a household. On top of the emotional strain, many military spouses, particularly wives, don't have the experience of managing the family's budget. Trying to keep up with bills and make financial decisions can add to an already high stress level.

Reservists and their families face some different financial challenges. When reservists are called up for active duty they are paid standard military pay, typically taking a significant pay cut when called to active duty. While some employers make up the difference in pay while reservists are gone, they're not required to. Reserve families may see a deployment as a temporary reduction in income, and plan to just keep an eye on expenses for a few months to get by. But an extended deployment, or multiple tours of duty, can mean that families find themselves having to make decisions they didn't anticipate.

If your spouse's extension is really the first time you've had to manage or plan your family's finances, our article "How to Prepare When Your Spouse is Deployed" offers helpful suggestions and tips on financial decision making.

But maybe you're having to postpone financial decisions until your spouse returns home. Spouses who thought that they could get by on a reduced income or with less help around the house for a few months may now have to rethink their initial plan. Having to make decisions such as how to save, invest, or make a major purchase, when you had planned to wait for your spouse's return is a difficult reality in light of an extended deployment. Non-working spouses, or spouses who left their jobs to care for their families full-time while their soldier is gone, may have to consider going back to work themselves.

Think through a game plan. Discussing your financial priorities with your spouse and writing them down can help when it comes to making decisions about bills. Make a list of your family's financial needs as well as decisions that you've put off waiting for your spouse to return home. Prioritize those to figure out how to pay your bills and how to determine which financial decisions can be put off and which ones have to be dealt with. Consider going through your list with a financial professional. Check with your spouse's Family Assistance Coordinator for bill-paying and financial planning assistance.

Sample list of possible financial priorities

1. Paying mortgage/rent
2. Paying utilities
3. Keeping current on health insurance premium
4. Not racking up credit card debt
5. _________________________________________
6. _________________________________________

Regardless of your spouse's scheduled return date, some financial items probably can't be delayed. For example, you may be able to get mortgage assistance from your lender (see "Look Into Help for Your Housing"), but first you need to notify your lender of your situation.

Any debt that you're currently carrying is money that you have promised to pay someone back on a timeline (i.e. credit card debt, mortgage, car loan, etc.) Don't create additional stress for yourself. Contact your lenders and let them know about your spouse's extended deployment. Many lenders will work with you to create a payment plan that takes your reduced income into account, and by law they're required to cap the interest rate on your loan if your income is reduced. Creditors can't help you if they don't know that your family's financial situation has changed.

Making a joint list of your family's financial priorities and keeping in touch with lenders can reduce the financial stress during this difficult time.

Check for your benefits. During your spouses' initial tour you may have decided to get by on your own. With news of an extension, or a re-deployment, now is the time to make sure you are taking advantage of benefits offered by your spouse's branch of the military. Check with your Family Assistance Coordinator for information on benefits available such as free help preparing taxes, legal aid, etc.

Check your income. Make sure you know what your new income really is. If you don't know your spouse's current military pay, talk with his/her commanding officer or pay clerk or visit the Defense Finance and Accounting Service's Military pay Rates page. It can be helpful to see on paper the difference, if any, between your spouse's former civilian income and his/her current military income.

Check on insurance. One of the biggest concerns for reservists' families is maintaining insurance coverage while a spouse is gone.

• Health insurance. If you are not still covered by your spouse's civilian employers' plan (and employers are not required to maintain coverage while your spouse is serving, so make sure to check and see if you are), look into getting coverage under the military's TRICARE plan. Be certain you know what the difference is between how much you were paying for your former policy and what you'll be required to pay under TRICARE. Factor that into your budget as one of your fixed costs, just like your housing and utilities, to make sure you maintain coverage. Learn more about how to select, purchase and maintain health insurance.
• Life insurance. Life insurance can be a very important part of your family's financial plan. If you haven't already, you might consider purchasing a life insurance policy for yourself. There are two basic types of life insurance - term insurance or cash value insurance. Both policies will pay your beneficiaries a set amount in the event of your death. With term life insurance, you pay an annual premium that increases yearly, for a fixed payout if you die within the term, or length, of the policy. Policies vary in length. Cash value insurance comes in three options - whole life, universal life or variable life insurance. All three are a combination of a life insurance policy and an automatic savings plan. When you die your beneficiaries will receive a death benefit as well as any cash value that the policy accrued while you were paying it.
  
  To determine which type of policy might be best to meet your needs, you'll need to decide whether you want protection for a specific amount of time or permanent financial protection. For more information about insurance options, consult a licensed insurance professional. Learn more about how to select, purchase and maintain a life insurance policy.
• Long-term disability insurance. A long-term disability can jeopardize your personal savings and put your family at financial risk. Depending on your policy, long-term insurance will pay you a certain percentage of your salary if you're disabled for longer than three months and unable to work. Policies vary widely in the length of time of time they'll pay out - ranging from months to years. If you work, check with your employer to see if they offer a long-term disability insurance policy. Many employers will offer it as a benefit with no or very low premiums. If your employer does not offer it as a benefit, you can purchase a policy from an independent insurance agent. Consult with an agent or a financial planner to determine if you should consider purchasing long-term disability insurance. Learn more about how to select, purchase and maintain a life insurance disability policy.

Look into help for your housing. If your new military income is less than your previous civilian income, housing costs can become a very real concern. The Soldier's and Sailors' Civil Relief Act (SSCRA) provides a wide range of protections, including several to help if you are unable to pay your bills while your spouse is serving if his/her military pay is less than your previous civilian pay. Under SSCRA, you can:

• Break or suspend certain leases (i.e. car or apartment lease). It must be an existing lease that you entered into before your spouse was deployed; you must give adequate notice to your creditor, and you must provide proof of reduced salary.
• Have the interest on certain existing loans (i.e. credit cards, mortgage) temporarily "capped" at 6 percent while you're on duty. To take advantage of this benefit, you have to write your creditors to let them know your spouse is on active duty and that you're invoking the six percent cap. Your creditors will also need proof of your spouse's mobilization and reduced salary.
• Avoid eviction from leased housing under certain circumstances

If you have an FHA mortgage loan you may have additional protection. For example, you may be able to postpone making your monthly principal payment while your spouse is serving. Call your lender to inform them that your spouse is on active duty and inquire about what assistance may be available. You will need a copy of your spouse's activation orders, your loan number and loan papers to show that you purchased your home prior to deployment.

Apply for Emergency Aid. Every branch of the military has a relief organization for members needing low-interest loans, grants or donations to help with emergency needs. For more information on assistance options, click on the following websites of service relief organizations:

• Army Emergency Relief
• Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
• Air Force Aid Society
• Coast Guard Mutual Assistance

The American Red Cross also may be able to provide you with assistance.

These organizations were created to help people in situations similar to yours. Don't hesitate to let someone now that you need help. Apply for assistance before running up your credit cards. That will only create greater stress in the future. You may be surprised to see how much assistance you qualify for.

Evaluate emotional overspending. Find ways to comfort yourself and your children without spending money that now may not really be there to spend. Sometimes just getting out for a walk or spending some time playing or laughing together can be what you and your family really need to reconnect.

Create a budget. Sometimes it can help to have a few fixed routines or things in place to create normalcy and consistency while your spouse is gone. A budget is a helpful tool to keep things in place and give you a plan to stay financially healthy during this stressful time. Click here for an online interactive budget worksheet and tips on how to create and stick to a budget.

Consider work. If you are concerned about a drop in income with your spouse's new salary, weigh options for bringing in additional income. Could you offer after-school care for some families in the neighborhood? Do you have a talent or skill you could use to make some additional money? Consider visiting a local temporary service to get an idea of the type of temporary jobs you could take to supplement your income.

Don't stop saving…if possible. It's understandable that while your spouse is gone you are focused on immediate concerns like staying current on the bills. But if you have savings potential (in other words, if you determine that you have enough income to cover your living expenses), keep funding retirement or other long-term savings plans (such as college funds). For more information on retirement savings options during times of reduced income, click here. For information on college savings options, click here.

Talk it out. You probably don't want to, or can't, discuss everyday matters like family finances during expensive long distance or satellite phone calls while your spouse is on active duty, particularly in a combat zone. Find someone you can talk with. This is a stressful time for you. Get professional help as much as you can so you don't internalize the stress or take it out on your kids. Think about what type of help you could use and don't be afraid to pursue it. Whether it's finding a professional to help you with your finances or getting emotional support from your place of worship or a counselor, it's important to take care of yourself while your workload has doubled.

Consider contingency plans for dependent-related issues. Even though it feels like it should, the world simply doesn't stop while your spouse is gone. Life doesn't stop for people around you either. For example, coworkers or friends may have held off asking for help, or haven't wanted to ask you to keep commitments, because they knew you were under stress, trying to adjust while doing twice the work while your spouse was gone. But with the timeframe of your spouse's deployment now extended, people may begin to realize that they can't wait for your attention, action and/or involvement. For example, aging parents or in-laws may need to ask you to help more than you feel like you can during this difficult time. Or your kids want or need more than you can emotionally or financially provide for them at the moment. If you are being asked to complete projects or finish activities and obligations you've committed to, you may have to re-evaluate and configure what you are doing in order to succeed. Give it the best you can and ask for others' patience and grace, realizing that this is a unique time in your family's life.

The best advice is to find all the help you can for you and your family, while realizing that the longer your spouse is gone, people may need your help too. If you have been holding off on making decisions about a dependent, try to be realistic about what needs doing now, and what can still wait.

Even if you can typically "manage it all," why do that to yourself when you already have enough on your plate? There are always options for help. For example, if your aging parents need help, does their insurance cover the cost of a home health nurse or aide to come help out one day a week? Could you hire a high school student in the neighborhood as a "mother's helper" to entertain your kids for an hour or two while you run errands and make dinner (or maybe just sleep!)? Could you organize a carpool for kids' after-school activities? This season of life won't last forever and with a little creativity and a lot of communication you may be able to make it a little easier for everyone.

Write it down. Consider keeping a journal while your spouse is gone. Writing helps put emotions into perspective and it can give your spouse an idea of what you were thinking and feeling while he/she was gone. You can include a section or keep a separate notebook for notes about financial and life decisions you make during the deployment. Writing it down can also help you act the next time. You'll know what worked well and what didn't. And the detail will remind you of what you need to do to prepare so that next time will be easier.

Your family's commitment to serve is a profound way of caring for other people. Make sure that during this time of extended deployment or multiple deployments that you're taking care of yourself and your family.