In the midst of packing bags and saying goodbye during your service member’s pre-deployment, emotions are running high. It’s difficult enough to make time for the grocery store, let alone worry about organizing your finances for the next few months or years. However, it is imperative to have this conversation with your spouse before they leave, especially if you will be paying the bills.

Through my 20 years of experience as a leader in the Marine Corps and current position as the business development officer and military relations representative at Miramar Federal Credit Union, I have a few valuable tips that will make this transition as easy as possible.

Here are five financial tips to discuss during the pre-deployment phase:

1. Take advantage of helpful programs. 

Make sure you know all of the free resources available to military families, and be sure to connect with your unit’s family readiness officer prior to your spouse’s deployment

2. Pay your bills and save money, simultaneously. 

Set up automatic payments for your credit cards and automatic deposits into your savings account. If you don’t see it, you won’t spend it.

3. Never sign blank checks. 

Always include an amount and recipient on your checks. You wouldn’t want them to fall in the wrong hands while you’re away

4. Place an active-duty alert in your credit report. 

Prevent fraud and identity theft by flagging unauthorized activity.

5. Move closer to loved ones. 

If a family has small children (or no children at all) who are not affected by school, it might make sense to move back home to be with parents or other family members. Without rent payments, a family can save a huge chunk of income and reallocate it toward larger purchases such as a new home or family vacations.

As you are going through this transition, use these five tips to ensure that your finances are in order prior to your spouse’s deployment. While they may seem simple, it is easy to overlook the little things that are often the most valuable in keeping your finances stable and secure.