Banking in the Legion

[Nachtmahr]

I understand that each Legionnaire is given a bank account with the French postal service. Once you join, is it possible to send a part of your pay each month back to your home bank and if so how soon after joining can you set it up? (My home country is Canada if that makes answering any easier.)

[voltigeur]

You can do with your money whatever you want.

Use electronic funds tranfer or internet banking.

[Nachtmahr]

Thanks for replying, I was just wondering how long after joining you get your first opportunity to go to the bank?

[davidknapp]

This will probably sound ignorant, but during your two months at basic, are you paid? Because you're not a Legionnaire I wonder if you earn a pay check. Apologies for looking like a fool

[voltigeur]

You get paid from the first day on, regardless if you get accepted or not.

[mammikoura]

Thanks for replying, I was just wondering how long after joining you get your first opportunity to go to the bank?

Normally around 4 months. But you seem to have misunderstood something : there won't be much money to send home. Just use the little they pay you to live a decent life... trust me it's better that way. If you deploy on operations use the extra pay from there to "plan for the future."

[dog fight]

i had heard that you cannot join with any debt... is this true?

[ogmios03]

Normally around 4 months. But you seem to have misunderstood something : there won't be much money to send home. Just use the little they pay you to live a decent life... trust me it's better that way. If you deploy on operations use the extra pay from there to "plan for the future."

Well... In Mexico this is a good pay (like above 23'000 pesos for the entry level pay). I don't plan to send money home but why is this money not enough? Are there extra expenses that legionnaires have? If i save most of this I will have a very good money...

Regards,

[Tonyus]

It may seem a lot of money, but you may spend most of it on smokes, beer, etc. and perhaps some better equipment. A pack of cigarettes is between 5 and 6 € in Europe. I'm pretty sure that on leave you can easily spend a couple of hundred on drinks, ‘ladies’, cigarettes, etc. Not that I know how much a legionnaire is spending and on what, that is just how much I spent while working for the same amount of money in DE.

[Rapace]

It may seem a lot of money, but you may spend most of it on smokes, beer, etc. and perhaps some better equipment. A pack of cigarettes is between 5 and 6 € in Europe. I'm pretty sure that on leave you can easily spend a couple of hundred on drinks, ‘ladies’, cigarettes, etc. Not that I know how much a legionnaire is spending and on what, that is just how much I spent while working for the same amount of money in DE.

Correct. One pack of Marlboro for example is something like 6€ (may be a bit less), a standard expresso in a bar is between 1 and 1.5€, a half-pint of beer anywhere between 3 and 5€, a meal at McDonald's between 10 and 15€, a pizza in a restaurant (not a take away) is like 18-20€, etc.

I don't plan to send money home but why is this money not enough? Are there extra expenses that legionnaires have?

Sure there are. Apart from some extra kit you may have to buy, you'll also have some free time during which you'll spend money... Unless you decide to spend all your permissions (leaves) on the base, go to the foyer to have cheaper cigs (if you smoke) and beers (if you drink), take all your meals at the ordinaire (canteen) and never outside, never offer a drink to your room mates, etc. etc. You may save some money this way, but not sure you'll enjoy your time and make yourself very popular.
Not saying either you won't be able to save money at all during your time in the Legion, but don't expect to get out with millions of euros (or dollars) on your bank account.

[okidoki]

i had heard that you cannot join with any debt... is this true?

If you're thinking of maxing out your credit card to pay your flight, your problem would start if you're not accepted. Don't do it ! The Legion goes by what you tell them... But for your question, I would say it's not/it wasn't true, but a serving green could clear that one up... Things change.

[dog fight]

If you're thinking of maxing out your credit card to pay your flight, your problem would start if you're not accepted. Don't do it ! The Legion goes by what you tell them... But for your question, I would say it's not/it wasn't true, but a serving green could clear that one up... Things change.

yea i just have some student loans and a car loan i want to get cleared up before i take the plunge.