5 Tips to Reduce Relocation Expenses

07/10/2014 By Michelle Volkmann

How do you save money during a PCS? Share your tips in our comments sections.

I always underestimate the cost of a PCS. I tell myself that the Navy moves us so relocating from one military installation to another isn’t expensive. I don’t pay for anything. Right? This is my mental talk 30 days prior to a PCS. Then the whirlwind of the PCS happens and I am reaching for my credit card more than I have in the last 2 years. 60 days later when I am reviewing our credit card bill at our new duty station, I am shocked by the balance. How did we spend ALL this money?

The average service member shells out $1,725 for non-reimbursable moving expenses. That’s nearly $2,000. Let’s say that we move every 2 years during my husband’s 20-year career. That’s a total of $17,250 of MY money to move for the Navy. No thank you.

This year, we will be moving again and I’m committed to reducing our relocation expenses. But how do I cut costs when we are homeless and living out of our car?

Here are 5 tips for reducing relocation expenses when transferring to a new duty station.

Save for a Sensible Spending Plan.
Call it a budget. Call it a spending plan. It doesn’t matter. But make a plan for how much it will cost to set up your new home. Calculate an estimate for security deposits for housing and utilities. Cut back on eating out in the last 3 months of your current duty station and put that money in to a savings account. You’ll need it when you establish your new home. Do not depend on your Dislocation Allowance to cover all of your expenses. It never does.
Negotiate and Ask to Speak with a Manager.
Practice saying this phrase “Is that the best price you can give me?” When you set up your Internet and cable, ask for the “best price.” Let them know that you compared prices between different providers and ask if the company offers a military discount. You will never get a discount if you don’t ask for it. If you have a credit score of higher than 600, ask if your landlord will consider reducing the security deposit. Mention that you’re a classy military person who pays your monthly rent on time every month.
Embrace House Camping.
Hotels are expensive. Even staying at the lodge on base can get expensive after more than 5 days. If you don’t have your household goods, but you have a home, consider house camping. Eat on the floor, sleep on an air mattress, let your kids bounce a ball against the wall and eat food that you prepare out of your microwave. Is it ideal? No. Will it save you money? Absolutely.
Buy Used –Not New– Whenever Possible.
When we moved to Maryland, for the first time we had a yard. This was great news until I realized a yard means grass which means we needed to mow the yard. We didn’t own a lawnmower. Foolishly we bought a brand-new lawnmower. Now we live in California. We don’t need the lawnmower and it sits, collecting dust in our already-stuffed garage. What’s the lesson? Be patient and buy seasonal items used online. I recommend SargesList and those Facebook Yard Sale groups. For every military installation, there is a military spouse monitoring a Facebook group.
Take Another Service Member’s Trash.
Through Facebook you can connect with military spouses at your new duty station. Guess what? If you are moving there, I bet someone else is leaving that duty station. Most likely they have cleaning supplies, spices and random other things that they can’t or don’t want to take with them. Offer to take it. Free stuff doesn’t cost you anything.

Plan ahead to save money during a PCS.

What are your tips for saving money during a PCS?

Ignore Your Oven, Fire up Your Grill

07/07/2014 By Michelle Volkmann

Grill your dinner tonight.

My monthly meal plan took a nosedive last week. For the majority of the year, my family eats home-cooked meals consisting of a meaty main dish, two colorful vegetable side dishes and a fruity dessert. Once I flipped the calendar to July, this mother decided to lighten up on dinner.

During the summer we take advantage of the long and lazy days by avoiding the hot stove and quickly preparing dinner on the grill. When it’s hot, I don’t feel like cooking. When it’s hot, my family doesn’t feel like eating. It’s a win-win.

Our favorite summer meal? Hot dogs.

I will proudly repeat that. We eat hot dogs. A lot of them. But not just any hot dogs. We are strictly a Hebrew National family. The no-filler, no-artificial flavors of Hebrew National All-Beef Dogs taste delicious with or without ketchup and mustard. They are also twice the size of your average hot dog. That’s why Hebrew National dogs are the Nats Dog at Nationals Park near the Navy Yard. I filled up on just 1 jumbo hot dog at a baseball game on Mother’s Day 2013.

Like the MilitaryShoppers Facebook page to be automatically entered into our MilitaryShoppers Facebook Fan Sweepstakes! One lucky Facebook fan will be selected every other week to win $100 cash!

July 23 is National Hot Dog Day. Celebrate with pigs in a blanket or a more traditional wiener. The choice is yours. But whatever you do, buy your Hebrew National Beef Franks at your military commissary. Regular, bun-length and jumbo are all on sale this month at your military commissary.

Do you know what else is on sale during the month of July? Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil! An essential component for grilling. I like to partner my hot dogs with Corn with Chili Lime Butter, Roasted Garlic Asparagus or Grilled Stuffed Zucchini. Once you start grilling, you can’t stop. Keep the Reynolds Wrap on hand … you never want to run out during the summer grilling season.

Combine corn on the cob with hot dogs for a complete summer meal.

Finally, if you ignore every food holiday during the year, you don’t want to miss July 20. It’s National Ice Cream Day. It’s the 1 day of the year when my 2-year-old gets her wish fulfilled: ice cream for breakfast. Since it is breakfast, I try to keep it healthy with Outshine Fruit Bars. Then I can also sneak in a bit of vegetables. We save the Lil’ Drumsticks for desserts. Both are on sale right now at your military commissary.

July 20 is National Ice Cream Day. Do you want a cone or a dish?

Want to know the weekly Manager’s Specials? Sign up for the MilitaryShoppers newsletter!

Decoding the Military Commissary Dress Code

06/16/2014 By Michelle Volkmann

“You can’t wear that.”

“What do you mean I can’t wear this?” I told my husband. We were recently married and living in Yuma, Arizona. It was a Sunday afternoon nearly 10 years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday. It was my first experience with the dress code that exists for service members, dependents and their guests at military installations.

I was wearing a tank top, shorts and sandals. Apparently I wasn’t dressed appropriately for our planned trip to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma’s commissary. My husband looked me up and down and told me I was wearing “workout gear” and “shower shoes.”

“Shower shoes,” I scoffed.

Clearly I was not wearing shower shoes and I was wearing a tank top because it was more than 90 degrees outside. But being a new military spouse, I changed before heading to the base. Once we walked through the sliding glass doors at the military commissary, my husband pointed to the dress code policy sign. One question popped into my head.

Does this dress code apply to military spouses?

The short answer is yes. The dress code applies to military spouses and anyone else with base access, including dependents, retirees, civilian employees, contractors and civilian guests.

Is the dress code enforced? What’s the penalty for breaking the dress code?

Here’s where it gets complicated. At every U.S. military installation around the world, there is a dress code for the commissary, exchange and gas station. The dress code is an order that is normally posted near the front doors of these base businesses. The poster explains that civilian clothing must fit properly (not too tight, not too loose) and that patrons are prohibited from wearing pajamas, athletic shorts, swimsuits and spandex-type gym attire.

The dress code at the commissary applies to service members, their dependents and guests.

If you break the dress code, a service member who is tasked with “policing their own,” will point out that you are inappropriately dressed and deny you access to that facility. This happened to a Navy spouse after a Marine said her 7-year-old son was wearing workout gear to the commissary in Kaneohe Bay. They were refused admission. After her son changed his shorts, the two returned to the commissary to buy their milk.

One important piece to decoding the dress code: The dress code isn’t the commissary’s policy.

It’s the installation commanders who order and choose to enforce or not enforce the dress code. That’s why a service member, not a commissary manager, is the person publicly pointing out your noncompliant attire. It’s the reason why dress code enforcement is inconsistent among military installation and even among different military branches. It’s also the reason I dress up to pump gas at a Marine Corps gas station, but never sweat my wardrobe at an Air Force commissary.

Are the military dress codes for shopping at the commissary outdated?

3 Ways to Stretch Your Tuition Dollars

06/13/2014 By Michelle Volkmann

Use the VA’s GI Bill Comparison Tool to calculate the cost of a diploma.

In this year’s defense budget debate, the political buzz has centered on the possibility of a reduction of benefits for active duty service members, military families, retirees and veterans. While this debate was negative news to every person who volunteered to serve their country, there is one benefit that is being paid out by the tens of thousands every year:

the Post-9/11 GI Bill

The Post-9/11 GI Bill was approved in July 2008 and it provides education benefits to service members who served 90 or more days on active duty since Sept. 10, 2001. Military.com explained that the benefits are tiered based on the number of days served on active duty, creating a benefit package that gives current and previously activated National Guard and Reserve members the same benefits as active duty service members.

Unlike the previous veteran tuition assistance benefits, the Post-9/11 GI Bill can be transferred to the service member’s spouse or children.

Are you considering using your Post-9/11 GI Bill?

Here are 3 ways to stretch your GI Bill dollars.

Choose a Post-9/11 GI Bill-friendly school. Review the list of college and universities participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program. This voluntarily program ensures that service members will not pay any money out-of-pocket for tuition and fees. You earned these benefits; select a school that values veterans and military families.

Calculate and compare educational options. Veterans shouldn’t rush into the decision to attend college. Each student needs to work with the Department of Veteran Affairs, which administrates the tuition benefits for veterans, to ensure that he fully understands his benefits. The VA’s GI Bill Comparison Tool provides unbiased and accurate information to compare different higher institutions.

For example, a veteran considering attending Harvard University is eligible for up to $19,198 per year for tuition, $2,454 monthly housing allowance, and $1,000 annual book stipend. Tuition at this private university is $43,938.

Let’s compare those dollar amounts with Arizona State University, a public university which currently has 3,000 veterans and dependents enrolled and has been recognized as a military-friendly college. At ASU 100 percent of the instate tuition costs (estimated at $10,156), along with the $1,000 book stipend and $1,461 for a monthly housing allowance are included in the GI Bill benefits.

3 Ways to Get Max Benefits Out of Your GI Bill

Veterans should review the list of universities participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program before enrolling in college.

Every veteran should aim to attend a school with a benefit estimate of 100 percent of instate tuition costs. You earned these benefits; don’t go into debt to get your diploma.

Be smart about online resources. There is a lot of false and misleading information regarding the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Beware of websites that claim to be veteran education organizations, but are not affiliated with the VA. The best source of information is the VA. Stick with them. You earned these benefits; don’t be scammed.

What did I forget? Please share your tips on how to maximize your GI Bill benefits.

2014 Military Spouse-SpaFinder Winner Announced

06/03/2014 By Michelle Volkmann

MilitaryShoppers congratulates Heather Covington, an Army spouse stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., on winning the $100 SpaFinder.com gift card.

Heather’s name was selected at random among hundreds of military spouses who registered to win. MilitaryShoppers sponsored the contest to say thank you to military spouses during Military Appreciation Month. Military spouses are selfless, independent and strong. They deserve massages every month.

Congratulations to Heather Covington!

You have more chances to win with MilitaryShoppers this month. Submit a photo for the monthly photo contest today. The winner of $50 prize will be selected on June 30.

Good luck!

My Challenge for Cheap, Tasty Meals

06/01/2014 By Michelle Volkmann

What's on sale at the military commissary during June.

Only buy ice cream when it’s on sale at the commissary.

I love a challenge. If I don’t have a challenge, I create one. I am the mother who sets a timer and measures how quickly she puts away the laundry. My current personal record is 17.5 minutes for 5 loads of folded clothes.

In the challenge of meal planning, I force myself to create a week’s worth of meals based on the random items in my pantry, refrigerator or freezer. It’s a challenge when you have half a box of spaghetti, a jar of raspberry jam and a bag of frozen cauliflower. In that case, I make a shopping list and challenge myself to make meals based on the military commissary specials. I aim for meals that are cheap, yet tasty for my family of four.

Eating cheap isn’t a challenge.

Everyone knows that surviving on beans and rice is cheap. Eliminate meat and dairy from your grocery list and you will instantly save money. I add the requirement of tasty to my affordable grocery shopping challenge.

When browsing this month’s commissary specials, I did a happy dance because Pillsbury crescent dinner rolls are listed. That sale price combined with the coupon on my Commissary Rewards Card means my family will be enjoying cheap baked goods delivered to the dinner table in a variety of tasty ways in June.

Right now, I’m planning a Pillsbury day where we have Breakfast Sausage Bake for breakfast, Grand Bisquit Dogs for lunch and Pillsbury Crescent Veggie Pizza for dinner. When I need to bring a snack to my church group, I simply roll a batch of Buffalo Chicken Dip Crescent Roll Ups. Pillsbury Baked Goods is the answer to my challenge for cheap and tasty meals.

What’s your favorite cheap, yet tasty meal? Share the recipe with MilitaryShoppers readers.

My family is also cheering about the ice cream sale this month. My family’s favorite dessert is a bowl of ice cream and if I don’t limit it, our entire food budget is licked away during the summer months. I am a fan of Dreyer’s Slow Churned Caramel Delight. My daughters are obsessed with strawberry.

There is one commissary special that I can’t stop bragging about: Simply Lemonade on sale for $1.69. Simply Lemonade is a treat at our house because I only buy it when it is on sale for less than $2. With this deal in June, I will stock my extra refrigerator with Simply Lemonade and Limeade. The lemonade is a refreshing alternative to water and the limeade compliments a plate of fish tacos. Hello summer.

What's on sale at the commissary this month?

Go ahead and sip lemonade purchased from your military commissary this month.

Want to know the weekly Manager’s Specials? Sign up for the newsletter!

Commissary Rewards Card Questions Answered

05/20/2014 By Michelle Volkmann

Will digital coupons offered through the commissary rewards card replaced my paper coupons?

Reward cards clutter my key ring. I haven’t met a reward card that I haven’t accepted, registered and asked the clerk to scan each time I purchase an item. If I don’t use a store loyalty card I worry I’ll miss an opportunity to save money.

When I read about the commissary rewards card available at my military commissary, I was surprised to learn that the commissary rewards card isn’t new. How in the world did I miss this commissary rewards card announcement? Is every military spouse forgoing traditional coupons from their Sunday newspaper in favor of digitally clipped ones on their commissary rewards card?

To answer these questions, I turned to my source for trusted knowledge about all things military– my local military spouses Facebook group. I was relieved to read many responses saying that they hadn’t heard of the commissary rewards card either. Many military spouses had questions. Few had the card.

Here are answers to your commissary rewards card questions.

How do I get a commissary rewards card?

Answer: Ask your military commissary cashier. Unlike other stores where the cashier pushes the store loyalty card on you, that won’t happen at the commissary. You need to ask for it by name. In my experience, I felt like I was asking for a secret membership card, when the cashier handed me the card and kindly explained its purpose.

How long does it take to register?

Answer: I set up my account and loaded coupons on it in less than 2 minutes. I also emailed my list of available coupons to myself. I don’t have the commissary rewards card app for my Android yet. But I plan to download it and start using it this month.

Can I combine manufacturer coupons with the digital coupons on the commisary rewards card?

Answer: No. The commissary’s coupon policy states that shoppers can not “double” or “triple” coupons. If you have digital and paper coupons, be sure that you purchase enough items to cover the requirements for ALL coupons. The digital coupons on the commissary rewards card are the priority at the checkout. Once your card is scanned, those coupons are automatically used and can’t be saved for later use in favor of paper coupons. The digital coupons will always override any paper ones.

The rewards card digital coupons override any paper ones.

When are new commissary rewards coupons available?

Answer: New offers will typically be posted every two to three weeks. It’s a good habit to review the available coupons before walking into your commissary. You can also sign up to receive email notifications.

Is the commissary rewards card worth it?

Answer: Of course! We know the military commissary is worth the trip, and who can say no to additional savings available at your fingertips?!

Military spouses across the country sing praises about the rewards card. One military spouse Laura Emerson said “I use it every trip. I think it’s great and easy to use. I can usually upload the coupons I’m using right before I go in to the store.”

And they offer a wide range of various coupons! After registering my commissasry rewards card, I was offered 100 coupons. Quite a few of those coupons are really helpful, one of the which ($1 off 2 boxes of Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain bars) is a great value to my family since my daughters regularly eat Nutri-Grain bars for breakfast.)$1 saved is $1 earned, right?!

Your Commissary Rewards Questions Answered

What are the benefits of a commissary rewards card?

What are your questions about the commissary rewards card?

Military Spouse Club Myths Debunked

05/16/2014 By Michelle Volkmann

Military spouse club members are snobby, uptight and always wear pearls. That was my unfavorable first impression after being welcomed to a military spouse club garden party nearly 8 years ago this September.

Military spouse clubs offer a variety of social events.

Boy was I wrong.

Since that garden party, I realized that military spouse clubs, for either officers or enlisted, are a wonderful avenue to quickly make friends with similar interests and to connect with women and men who can answer my endless questions. (Who is your hairdresser?) The military spouse club is the ultimate welcome wagon when you move to a new military installation. Literally every club member has been in your shoes and they can’t wait to share their knowledge with you.

Haven’t joined a military spouse club yet? What’s your excuse? What misconceptions do you have?

Here are 3 military spouse club myths debunked once and for all.

Cookie-Cutter Military Spouses

I’ve known military spouses with Mohawks and unconventional hair coloring. She has a bright tattoo on her bicep and sells homemade jewelry on Etsy. He is a veteran who stays at home with their children. There isn’t a cookie-cutter military spouse.

Today’s military spouse club members are as diverse as the Armed Forces itself. There are people from every race, culture, and background. There are spouses who work outside the home and others may be homeschooling their children. The group is made up of spouses who may or may not have children. Their spouse may be retired from the military. Male spouses are becoming more active members in recent years. I think that happened around the time the word “wives” was replaced with “spouses” in the nonprofit organizations’ names. Most recently partners of gay and lesbian service members have been welcomed as club members. I love seeing the diversity of the military reflected in the spouse club.

It’s Only Bunco

Each military spouse club has its own history, culture and mission statement. Many clubs have a social chair, a volunteer who organizes a variety of events to appeal to today’s military spouse. This chairperson wants your participation. She wants you to stop watching “Army Wives” reruns and leave your house to socialize with other military spouses.

This may be a Bunco night or it may be a book club. Many clubs offer smaller interest groups that range from running clubs to cooking nights. The Fort Irwin Military Spouses and Civilians’ Club has roller derby, photography and swimming groups.

Joining a military spouse club is an easy way to meet people in a new community.

At my current military spouse club in Monterey, Calif., I prefer to participate in the educational social events. For example, last week I attended a private pickling workshop for military spouses at a Pacific Grove cannery. In February, a local chocolate extraordinaire explained how to make high quality sea salt caramels at a workshop that included samples. Military spouse events are much more than Bunco.

If the current social events don’t appeal to you, offer to organize an event that does appeal to you. The social chair will be happy for your suggestion instead of a complaint. Plus you will meet military spouses with similar interests.

Social Media Replaces Spouse Clubs

This statement is blatantly false. With Twitter, Facebook, and blogging, military spouses aren’t required to leave their houses to connect with other spouses. But studies have shown that social media shouldn’t be our sole source of connection. It doesn’t replace face-to-face time with a friend.

Whether you are a new or seasoned spouse, you should consider joining a military spouse club. Military spouse clubs are a benefit of military life. Take advantage of them.

Stop running alone. Join a military spouse running club today.

What myths do you think exist about military spouse clubs?

America’s Support for the Troops is Lip Service

05/15/2014 By Michelle Volkmann

I am a pessimistic military spouse. In my heart, I want to believe that when Americans say “support our troops” that this statement means more than buying a reservist a cheeseburger for lunch and putting a camouflaged bumper sticker on the back of their Buicks.

I want to believe that their support for the U.S. military means that they will choose to sacrifice for those who volunteered to serve in the Armed Forces.

Their civilian sacrifice means that they demand that service members receive an annual pay increase every year. It means that Americans pay higher taxes so that a disabled veteran has free health care for the rest of his life. Supporting our military means that Americans encourage their representatives to cut other benefits (services that will directly impact their well-being) so that military families can afford to buy food at an overseas military commissary or have the option of living off-base.

But that’s not reality.

We live in a country where the leadership at the Pentagon proposed cutting benefits for the military. I thought those top ranking officials were appointed to fight for the interests of everyone in the military, from the youngest recruit to the oldest World War II veteran. Earlier this month, the House Armed Services personnel subcommittee voted unanimously to leave intact the current military health care system, the housing allowance and much of the Pentagon’s $1.4 billion in direct subsidies to the commissaries. The news shocked me. It pleased me. Then I remembered the subcommittee’s recommendations are a long way from the President’s desk. We’ll see what version of the defense budget and which reductions reach the chopping block this summer. See, I really am a pessimist. But I am a patriotic pessimist.

MilitaryShoppers wants to hear from you: Why should Congress support military benefits?

Post your answer in the comments section between Thursday, May 15 and Tuesday, May 20 to be entered to win a $50 military commissary gift card, courtesy of MilitaryShoppers.

If you tweet it, use #KeepYourPromise.

Savor These 6 Simple Barbecue Side Dishes

05/14/2014 By Michelle Volkmann

What side dishes do you bring to a neighborhood barbecue?

May is National Barbecue Month and many of us are starting to dust off our grills. Our ovens will soon go into hibernation for the summer and our forks will stay in the utensil drawer as we reach for finger food until the sun goes down.

Barbecue is a social eating experience best enjoyed in the outdoors. That’s why cul-de-sac after cul-de-sac at military housing areas around the world will begin the summer barbecue season with a potluck on Memorial Day weekend.

I personally love eating outdoors surrounded by my friends. But I often fret about which side dish or dessert to bring to the neighborhood barbecue. I want to bring a dish that is familiar to my friends, but not boring. I aim for food that people will eat so I don’t have any leftovers. Finally, I am thrilled when a fellow military spouse asks for my recipe. Her request is the highest form of flattery for this amateur cook.

Here are 6 super simple side dishes that you can take to your next neighborhood barbecue.

Bacon Ranch Potato Salad

Potato salad can be tricky. I once had a neighbor who tried to make a healthy potato salad. It was a disaster because the words “healthy” or “light” are not intended to accompany potato salad. A delicious potato salad has tender red potatoes that aren’t mushy. Mushy potatoes turn potato salad into potato soup. Try this Bacon Ranch Potato Salad for a flavorful side dish.

Citrus Cole Slaw

The barbecue side dish counterpart to potato salad is coleslaw. People often prefer one over the other. Coleslaw by definition is chopped raw cabbage moistened with mayonnaise. That’s your starting point for coleslaw. Recipes, like this Citrus Cole Slaw, surprise your taste buds with subtle orange juice sweetness.

Lowfat Chuckwagon Beans

This recipe is low in fat and high in protein and fiber. It’s also very affordable. You could nearly feed an Army with the Lowfat Chuckwagon Beans. When I need a low-cost option for a potluck, I turn to this baked beans recipe.

Mighty Macaroni Salad

Need to bring a side dish to a neighborhood barbecue on Friday night? This Macaroni Salad is a great option because you can assemble it ahead of time and put it in the fridge. It makes 34 servings so make sure that there will be a crowd at the barbecue to devour this side dish.

Everyone loves homemade guacamole at a potluck.

Homemade Guacamole

When you are really scratching your head trying to decide what to bring to a neighborhood barbecue, keep it simple. Make a batch of homemade guacamole and grab a bag of tortilla chips. It’s a simple and safe choice. Plus it tastes so much better than that lumpy green stuff from the store.

Chocolate Brownie Cupcakes

Offering to bring a dessert is always a great option for a neighborhood potluck. Many people will pass by a table of side dishes, but few will decline a dessert. I find myself rotating between baking brownies or cupcakes. Then I found this recipe and the problem was solved—brownies packaged in cupcakes. Top the Chocolate Brownie Cupcakes with your favorite frosting and be ready to share the recipe with your neighbors. I guaranteed they will ask for it.

May is National Barbecue Month.

Find more tried-and-true recipes for barbecue side dishes and desserts at MilitaryShoppers.

« Previous Page