That was the poop that the Air Force fed me when I was a young E-2. At that time - 1992 - I was making about $11,000 per year. I can tell you that I would have happily given up the barracks and the chow hall (excuse me, dining facility) for an extra $10k per year.
By the time I was an E-4 I was making a whole $14k per year. My "pay visibility statement" told me I was making $29k. Pffffftttt!
I was an E-3 in '82, started saving $250 a month at the time; took home about $650...all about priorities...
Then get a job that pays you to do that.
I agree, the AF dorms are hardly worth the full amount of BAH that is withheld, and as I understood it, we supposedly had the best of the branches? The room I had was smaller than the $300 (incl. utilites) studio joints just off base. The chow hall was a decent deal, except that nobody really likes to eat at the same restaurant all the time. Yes, I ate there a bit once I got my BAS, because it was good for the price, even with the surcharge, but I do recall getting quite sick of it as an Airman, when I basically had no choice, unless I wanted to waste my BAS.
On the other hand, you did make more thank 14k as an E-4, because you really should count the tax savings from your BAH/BAS not being taxed, the value of the vacation you got over and above what you would be able to get as a civilian (about two weeks at best most places, three weeks at a few), and your savings in insurance premiums and co-pays, although you might be right to subract a little back for quality of care.
29k is clearly a bit of an over-statement, but to be fair 14k is a bit of an understatement.