for the record, unless you go about buying a villa in the mountians or a pair of 31st centry BMWs, i'm not going to stifle your creativity. one could assume (lets say me to keep things simple) that i left Tanguray with money gained from both my salary and selling everything that wouldn't fit into my dufflebag. you've got your standby pay from the trip, as well as whatever you were paid during our 4-6 months of garrison work after The Liberation... not to mention your combat pay from the campaign (if you fought in it).
remember, mercs tend to get paid better than House troops. and like their state-bound relatives, they tend to keep alot of the money they make. they don't have to pay for housing or meals on-base, as those figures are generally rolled into the unit's operating cost (whether those fees are directly covered by the client or not). so, while not fabulously wealthy (well, maybe for the guys cooking the books... O:-)), your average Cavalier is pretty well off. after all, if you own a mech in this time (though this is beginning to change) you were minor nobility... your service (well, your mech) was worth far more to a house lord than a generous salary.
this is part of why i mentioned that we'll be on world for a while and that you'll have access to all sorts of stores. you don't have to spend your money if you don't want to, but i for one know that i'll be picking up some items to make my quarters feel more like home. though, technically, i am home...