My hubby was a E-4 in the USAF. It's not alot of money they give you and out of the base stations you are lucky to get into base housing. We got in once and sure that is the paid for along with utilities but it comes with it's own headaches. There are rules and regulations and lawn care you have to do yourself. People coming in and out unannounced, House Inspections...etc You also need to be ready to tear down and move within 3 days. We never got more then a week's notice where we was going next.
Moving costs alone could suck your budget out. They paid for some of it but not all.
As for food, you're not always near the chow hall unless deployed so you have take your lunch. He was given $8 to eat on a day
and we're lucky we don't have kids as I don't know how those who do did it all the time. I defiantly learn how to be frugal back then!