1: If you're overweight then lose weight.
2: Turmeric and glucosamine.
The turmeric and glucosamine is helping my dad's knees a lot. He's heard that they really try to push knee replacement, but it's best not to get it.
I'm not a veteran, but I have some advice. Try buying some precious metals. Get some silver coins/bars/etc. It, at the same time, both completely fulfills that desire to spend and is saving up money at the same time.