Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

Julie is a 30-something Blogger, Army Wife and Mom to three boys. She lives in Clarksville, TN and just welcomed her husband home from his 4th deployment. She loves blogging, photography and reading a good book!

Springtime Means Case Lot Sale Time

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It’s DECA’s Customer Appreciation Case Lot Sale time at your local commissary. Time to make a list and stock up on some great deals. You can find a case lot sale this April or May at your local military commissary.

The sales were halted for a bit because of budget cuts but are back at commissaries in the United States as well as Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Although they used to have them at commissaries located at overseas bases, they no longer do but each commissary might hold their own type of special sale during the year. Make sure to ask when that sale may be held if you are at an OCONUS location.

A case lot sale is a chance to buy items in bulk for a very discounted rate. That is why these sales are such a good time to stock up on your favorite items. You can’t really beat the prices. They are better than normal commissary sale items. They usually take place in the parking lot or even in front of the store. It just depends on where you are located.

What will you find at a case lot sale?

Here is a list of some of the more popular items that military spouses like to buy at the sale:

  • Paper towels
  • Diapers
  • Ketchup
  • Canned soup
  • Toilet paper
  • Salad dressing
  • Crackers
  • Juice boxes
  • Macaroni and cheese
  • Baking mixes

Each location might have slightly different items so if your friend in California was able to find a great deal on dog food, keep in mind that your commissary in Virginia might not have the exact same deals going on.

If nothing else, you should check out the case lot sale for diapers and paper products. You can stock up on them and get a really great deal. Military families with small children are always looking for ways to save on diapers. When I had 2 children in diapers, I was able to buy 2 different sizes at our local case lot sale. They lasted for a long time and I knew I had found a great deal.

I have also found that case lot sales are a great time to stock up on condiments or other types of products that you put in your pantry. You should also think about buying extra food to have on hand for food drives during the year.

Some case lot sales are very busy and you will have to wait in line for a while to get what you want. I have heard stories of people having to wait hours in order to check out. It was well worth the wait because of the products they were buying and the deals that they found. Other sales are more low-key and you can really just add the products during your regular shopping trip.

Bring your favorite milspouse friend, your patience and a list of what you might be looking for. You might even be able to split something with someone else if you don’t think your family will use all of it before PCSing. Doing this will allow you to still get a great deal without overbuying the product.

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Preparing Your Military Child to be the New Kid on Base

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As a military family you know that moving is a part of the deal. You may move every 3 to 4 years. This means your children will have to be the new kid every few years. With that comes a lot of emotions and could lead to some frustrating situations.

I did not grow up in a military family. I lived in the same house from the time I was 5 years old until I moved out at age 18. I went to elementary school, junior high and high school with a lot of the same people. I was never the new girl. I never knew what it was like to go into a new classroom not knowing anyone. I never had to search for friends in the third grade because I had just moved to that city from a different state.

Preparing Your Military Child to be the New Kid on the Base

If you are in a military family you might be worried about your children having to be the new kid every few years.

You might worry about them being bullied. You might ask yourself if being a military kid will make it more likely that they will be bullied? That can happen to a new kid who is just trying to figure out their place in the new school.

The fact is, bullying can happen anywhere. I saw and experienced it in my own non-military childhood. Bullying can happen on military bases all over the country. Wherever there are kids, bullying can be an issue. However, that doesn’t mean that as a military child your son or daughter has accept it.

Here are some things you can do with your child to help them overcome possible situations where they could be bullied.

It is a good idea to go over what is going to happen with the move before you actually get there. Tell your children about their new school and even the route to get there. Let them know that it’s OK to be nervous and that most people are when they go to a new school. Letting them know that it is normal to feel the way they do can go a long way in helping them have a lot of confidence on that first day. The less lost they feel the easier it will be for them to reach out to others and not feel so alone.

Teach them to seek out other children that look friendly and to not be afraid to say hi to a student that might become a new friend. Go over different ways they can talk to others and which questions they can ask to get to know someone. This will help them feel more comfortable when they are trying to find a new friend.

You also want to let them know what they can do if they are bullied. Explain who they should talk to if they experience bullying and where to go for help.

Even if your child is not the new kid it is a good idea to teach them how to treat others and how to be a friendly person to everyone you might meet. Explain to them that the new girl or boy in their class might become their best friend if they are open enough to really get to know them.

Preparing Your Military Child to be the New Kid on the Base

Moving is stressful and being worried about your child at a new school can be hard. Like a lot of other things in the military world, being prepared can go a long way in making your child feel comfortable.

Has your military child dealt with bullying at a new school? Tell us in the comments section.

Moving in with Your Parents during a Deployment

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As the summer of 2009 was approaching, I knew I had to do something. My husband was deployed yet again and I was in Germany with 2 small little boys. I couldn’t imagine going through a whole school-free summer by myself. I needed a break, a big one.

Moving in with Your Parents during a Deployment

That was when I decided to go live with my parents for the summer. We took a Space-A flight out the end of May and stayed until the last week in August, a few weeks before school started again.

Moving back home was one of the best things I have ever done to help me get through a deployment.

There were so many benefits to going home for the summer. For one thing, I no longer had to be the only adult in the house. I had my parents right there to help me out. My brother and other family members and friends were also around to spend time with. I was able to plan an amazing summer taking my kids to some of the same places I went to as a child. I loved being able to do that with them. My husband even went there for his R&R and we were able to take a romantic trip for a few days while my parents watched our kids.

For me it was a big fat break from the regular deployment routine. I didn’t have to do everything for a few months. I got to enjoy time with my family and my parents were able to bond a little bit with my boys. It worked really well for us and helped speed up the deployment. By the time I got back to Germany we only had about 6 weeks before he came home.

Living with my parents worked for my family, but this temporary living arrangement doesn’t always work for everyone.

You need a good place to go that will be a comfortable home for you and your children. You will have a much harder time if the place you will be staying is more stressful than staying put at your current duty station.

Another thing to consider is what you are giving up. You might not have any other military friends nearby. I was OK with this but others might not be. There is a lot of support to be found in a military community and you give up some of that empathy when you move home for a deployment.

Related: Creative Deployment Activities for Military Kids

You also need to find out what will happen to your housing if you do leave. Some places will make you move out if you are gone for a certain amount of time. We were lucky in that we could keep our home in Germany, I just had to find someone to keep an eye on things while we were away. I knew when we went back everything would be there waiting for me. If your spouse is planning to ETS back home after the deployment, it might be a good idea to move home early and get settled. It can make the whole transition a lot easier when he comes back from deployment.

If your children are older, moving in with the grandparents might not be an option for you. You won’t want to pull them out of school. They won’t want to leave their friends. I know I wouldn’t be able to go home for a whole summer again because of the ages of my children. When we went home in 2009 they were only 2 and 4 years old.

You really have to think hard about if going home during a deployment is the right thing to do. For some people it is and for others it’s better to stay where they are.

Have you lived with your parents or in-laws during a deployment? Would you recommend it?

How Young is Too Young for Social Media?

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My oldest son is almost 10.5 years old. He hasn’t yet asked about social media although he has asked when he can have a cell phone. I tell him that can happen in junior high. As far as my children having their own social media account? I want to wait on that. Facebook wants your kid to be thirteen but I know some parents make accounts for their kids at a younger age.

The big question is when should you let your child, pre-teen or teenager create a social media account on Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram?

When I think about my child on social media, I think about what they would use it for. For friends, to connect with us and other family members, to be apart of that world. I am not sure I am ready for that kind of connectivity at the ages my kids are. My kids know about the Internet. They use it at home and at school. They know how to look up information about their favorite video games.

They are not really aware of social media even though they do know that there is a place to share photos with Grandma.

I know for myself I would like to use the guidelines Facebook puts out. No Facebook account until you are 13 years old. But with that will come a lot of moderation and rules. I don’t want them just talking to random people. I would want their friends list to be very small and I would need to have access to it. I wouldn’t want to be a spy but I also want to make sure that my children know I can read it at anytime.

I have some friends with teenagers and it seems to be that Instagram is the place to be these days. Facebook is for “old people.” I am not sure what will be popular when my oldest turns 13 but something about a photo-sharing site being where the kids are seems a little scary to me. It isn’t that I would worry about what they were sharing with their friends, I would worry about the outside world following and tracking them.

As a military family they will always have to be concerned about talking about their father’s job, where is he, if he is home or at training or if he is deployed. They would have to be old enough to know what they are allowed to share and what they are not. At 10 years old, I don’t think my son is ready for that yet. It is possible that some 10 year olds are but I would still caution parents on giving a child that age their own social media account.

When I was 16 my Dad got us the Internet for the first time and I found myself talking to strangers on there. The internet was very new and I don’t think my parents realized the danger in that. I think it is important that when you do allow your child their own social media accounts that they come with the understanding that they will follow a set of rules. Without that they could be put in danger. Even more so if they have a family member in the military.

How Young is Too Young for Social Media?

Does your child have an Instagram account? How do you monitor it?

So when should your child have their own social media account? When you as the parent feel they are ready, when your child truly understands what social media is and when they can agree to your rules about using it. I say 13 or junior high is a good age to start.

What do you think? At what age is it appropriate for a teen to have a social media account? How do you monitor their social media presence?

How to Work Out Without a Gym Membership

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I recently joined a gym but it was the first time I have been in a place where I could do so. Up until now I have had to find ways to workout from home with my kids around. This was no easy task.

Whether it was because of where we lived, lack of childcare options with a deployed husband or lack of extra funds to pay for a gym membership, I had to figure out ways to do so on my own. I couldn’t rely on going to a gym a few times a week.

How to Work Out Without a Gym Membership

The first thing I did was invest in a few workout videos. I knew I could do these at home and work around my kid’s schedule. I found that once I got into a good habit of watching them I started to see success. There are a lot of different choices on videos and programs you can get for home.

You don’t have to always buy them either. A lot of libraries offer copies and some can even be found on Netflix. You might want to try a few different types of videos before you decide on one that really works for you.

Another way I was able to workout with kids around was by using my stroller. My older two boys are just over 2 years apart so when they were little I used a double stroller. I tried to take them out everyday for at least a half an hour but sometimes a lot longer than that. I found it easy for me to put them in the stroller and go, no matter what was going on. I could do it whether my husband was home or overseas and it didn’t depend on him, which was nice.

I have recently heard about a great program called Stroller Warriors. You can find this program at many different military bases. They host weekday morning runs as well as other physical activities you can take part in. You can always bring your children which is the best part. You don’t have to worry about childcare or what you will do with them when you are working out. Besides group exercise like this is also a great way to make some new friends. Both for you and your children. It is always nice to be able to make mom friends doing something that you enjoy. Stroller Warriors also does a lot of outreach and fundraising which is a great way to give back to your community. You can view a list of their chapters on their website.

How to Work Out Without a Gym Membership

When you first become a mom it can seem very overwhelming to try to balance the needs of your baby with your own needs. After a few weeks, most moms feel like they should get back to a workout schedule but it might be a bit of a challenge to do so.

My best advice would be to see what you have available to you and go from there. Most people have a living room or other area that they can work out in. Come up with a good schedule, find a workout buddy and get back to working out on a regular basis. You will be glad that you did.

What are your cost-saving exercise tips? Share them in the comments section.

3 Easy Ways to Spend Less Money in 2015

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I don’t know about you but when a new year starts I always think a lot about our money situation: how we are spending our income, which debts we are going to pay off and how much money we are going to save. It only make sense to do this when you are starting a new year.

It is always a good idea to figure out how to spend your money wisely. It shouldn’t matter how much you make. It is a good thing to work to make every dollar go a little further.

3 Easy Ways to Spend Less Money in 2015

Here is a list of 3 ways to help you spend less money in 2015.

They have worked for many people and they can help you get on the road to a better relationship with your income.

  1. Use Cash. This is as simple as making a budget and going to the ATM to get your money out. A lot of people like to use envelopes for different categories such as groceries, entertainment and gas. By using cash you can get a very visual idea of where your money is actually going. It is also harder for a lot of people to spend cash. Using a card is easier and requires less thought. Once you run out of cash for a particular category for the month, you can’t spend any more money.
  2. Use Coupons. Couponing can seem a little overwhelming but once you know what you are doing, clipping coupons becomes a habit. All you need to do is start buying your local newspaper on Sundays, find coupons online and go to the right websites to help you match them with your local stores. It will take you about an hour to get ready for your shopping trip but the savings will be worth it. When you match coupons to sales you are able to save more money than you would think. There are also a lot of great resources out there for those wanting to learn about couponing. Don’t forget to add digital coupons to your commissary rewards card app every week.
  3. Save Your Spare Change. Find an extra plastic tub of some kind. You can also buy a piggy bank. Put all your spare change in it. When it is filled, go and cash it in. You would be surprised to find out how much money you can save this way. You could use the money for a family event or put it in savings. Tell your kids about it and have them contribute to the jar. You will have even more change if you use the cash system to help save money.

Even by making a few changes, you can see a big difference. You can make room in your budget to pay down more debt, save a little bit more or vacation a little bit more with your family. Take baby steps to achieve your financial goals and take the time to sit down with your spouse to discuss what you want in the next few years. It is very helpful to have a goal and be able to work together to get to where you want to be financially.

How are you planning to spend less in 2015?

5 Easy Practices to Keep You Healthy in the New Year

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Happy 2015! Now that the new year is here, I am ready to get back to exercising on a regular basis and becoming a healthier person. There are many different ways you can do this and it might depend on your personality and what you have available to you.5 Ways to Stay Healthy in 2015

Here is my list of 5 easy ways to stay healthy in 2015.

  1. Regular workout schedule. Maybe you need to work out 5 days a week. Maybe you only need to do so for 2 days. Whatever it is come up with a regular schedule and stick to it. Make sure you have a way of easily working out on the days you have designated to do so. If you need a new workout idea, find a new video or join a new gym. Mix it up a bit so you won’t lose interest.
  2. Keep a journal. I find that writing in a journal can help me process my thoughts and everything going on with me. It helps me to see what is going on in my life and work through some of the more difficult trials I might be dealing with. Writing in a journal keeps me balanced and allows me to get my thoughts and feelings out. This can be helpful for people who have trouble sleeping. Writing before bed can help you relax and relieve stress.
  3. Drink more water. No matter what you do or what you eat, drinking more water is always a good thing. Buy a fancy new water bottle if that helps but try drinking water all day long. It will be worth it if you can add this habit to your day. They say it is a good idea to drink 8 8-ounce glasses of water a day.
  4. Walk more often. Try to go on a daily walk. Park farther away than you normally do. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk around your house if you can’t get out. I know it can be hard to find time to do this with little kids. You can also put them in a stroller and walk with them. I lost all of my baby weight after my second child just by walking. Even if you can’t walk very far at one time, it is a good thing to do.
  5. Make time for friendship. Make plans to do lunch with some friends. Go out together and talk. Even just meeting for coffee for an hour will make for a better life. If you have kids, plan a playdate. Invite the moms over to your house or meet up at a park. Not only is it good for you but it will be good for your children as well. If you are new to the area, seek out some groups and see if you can find one that you might enjoy. It is one of the best ways to meet new people.

Working toward a healthier you is always a good thing, especially when you start a new year. What has worked best in your life?

Why You Should Ditch Your New Year’s Resolutions

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With New Year’s Eve comes making new goals and resolutions. This is why the fitness centers are packed and our social media feeds are filled with encouraging ideas on how to save money, eat healthier or keep an organized household. Goals can be a good thing but they can also appear irrational or absurd.

Why You Shouldn't Keep Your New Year's Resolution

It might not be the best idea to stick to a New Year’s resolution.

Life changes, month by month. You never know what June will be like in January. Sometimes New Year’s resolutions can cause more stress than satisfaction. It would be better to think about the things in your life that you would like to change and figure out how you can make those adjustment in simple steps.

If your goal is to lose weight, you should figure out the best way to do so. Going gluten free might sound like a great idea but it isn’t that realistic for everyone. For most people, whole grains are a part of a healthy and balanced diet. Figure out what is holding you back from your goal weight and make changes that include both diet and exercise.

If you want to be a better mom, work toward that but don’t worry about having to become a perfect mom. A perfect parent simply doesn’t exist. If you want to go back to school, it is probably best to not jump in full-time if you are not totally sure that is what you want to do. Signing up for a few classes might be a much better choice.

It is great to work on your marriage but don’t complicate things or put too much pressure on yourselves. If you can only go out once a month or even two times a year, that is OK. Weekly date nights might sound like a great idea but not everyone is able to do them, especially with a busy military schedule.

One idea is to sit down at the start of every month or even every week and figure Why You Shouldn't Keep Your New Year's Resolutionsout what you need to change and make better in your life. Don’t worry about changing everything by the end of January. It isn’t possible to become a new person that quickly. By taking things month by month, you are more likely to see the changes you want to see, even if it takes longer to get there.

Find friends to share your ideas with, they could be working on the same types of goals you are. If you want to exercise more, find a workout buddy. If you want to learn a new skill, find a friend and sign up for a class. There are a million ways to make your life better but you don’t have to use January 1 as the reason to do so. Our lives are always changing and there is always some growing to do.

You can also focus on a word for the year. Some popular choices seem to be contentment, faith, inspired, brave or authentic.

What about you? Do you make New Year’s resolutions or do you tend to stay away from those? What are your goals for 2015? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

Social Media Do’s and Don’ts for Military Families

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ISIS threats, the Navy SEAL  who claims he shot and killed Osama bi Laden has been revealed and odd social media accounts trying to add us as friends? Maybe we should be examining social media “do’s” and “don’ts” for military families. Maybe we should be making a few changes to keep us safe!

Military Family Social Media Do’s

  • be careful about how much information you give out on social media. I have a rule that in most cases I only share what I did after the fact. This means waiting on Instagram photos and waiting until something has already happened before I share it. I just feel better about this and know that if I do it this way, I can keep my family a little safer.
  • ask your spouse what they are comfortable with you sharing. Some service members would prefer you don’t share anything at all. Others are more open with it.
  • guard your Facebook account. Don’t add people you don’t know. Be smart. Don’t feel like you have to respond to someone because they sent you a message. Block anyone that makes you feel uncomfortable.
  • remember PERSEC. This is when you are careful about what personal information to share online. It is a good idea to edit out any last name, rank or unit information when sharing photos of your loved one in uniform.
  • listen to any warnings coming from your spouse’s command. They might have more information than you do and it would be best to listen to them when it comes to this.

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Military Family Social Media Don’t…

  • break OPSEC. This is sharing information with dates and locations. It is a big no-no. Even something as simple as, “My soldier will be home in three days” is breaking OPSEC. It might not seem like what you are saying is that important but if someone reads it, reads a few other posts, they can put things together and that can make things unsafe for you or your service member.
  • tell the world everything about you. The world doesn’t need to know. Keep some things private. It is not only a good idea but it will make you feel better when you are not sharing everything with the world.
  • leave social media altogether. You don’t have to do this. You can customize your settings, post smartly and you should be OK. You don’t have to leave and delete yourself from the virtual world.
  • post photos of where you live, where your kids go to school or anything that could easily be used to find you in person. This can be hard to do when you have so many social media accounts but it is the best way to keep yourself safe.
  • ignore social media privacy settings. You can make it so only your family sees your photos and your posts about your kids. This doesn’t mean you should share all on there, just take some time to tighten things up so only the people you really want to see your personal information can see it. Facebook also has a way to turn all of your public posts private at once which is a great thing to do every once in a while.

How are you making sure you protect you and your family from online or offline threats? Have you changed the way you are on social media because of them?

10 Delicious Dessert Recipes for December

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It’s December. Christmas is coming. You have probably been invited to potlucks, cookie exchanges and holiday parties. You have planned some baking time with your kids. You have a New Year’s Eve party to bake for.

What are you going to make for these holiday parties and gatherings?

You have a lot of choices and sometimes it is hard to decide what would be the best dessert to bring.10 Delicious Dessert Recipes for December

Here are 10 ideas to help you figure out what treats you should bring to your holiday parties.

  1. Chocolate Chip cookies. You can’t go wrong here and the great thing about them is you can make them in so many different ways with slightly different textures and flavors. Here is a great recipe for The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie ever. You can also freeze some of the dough to make more cookies later.
  2. Cheesecake cookies. Want to bring a different kind of cookie? Try these Cheesecake cookies for something without chocolate. These cookies have a great cheesecake topping.
  3. Sugar cookies. These are very popular. You can create them in any shape you can find a cookie cutter for. For Christmas, go with trees, Santa and candy cames. Here is a good recipe to try. You can also involve your kids in helping to make these cookies.  You can add icing to them or just bring them plain. Either way they are sure to be a hit.
  4. PB Brownie cookies. Are you a fan of peanut butter? Try these PB Brownie cookies. Be careful that if you are bringing these somewhere that it is OK to bring items with peanuts. Some places don’t want you to bring anything with peanuts because of allergies.
  5. Fudge. Love fudge? Make some for that holiday party. Here is a great 10-minute fudge to try. Make enough for your own family and experiment with different flavors. You can add different flavors such as peppermint to create different types of fudge.
  6. Cherry Chocolate Brownies. Need a good brownie recipe? Try these Cherry Chocolate Brownies for a yummy treat. You can also make brownies without the cherries too if you want a more chocolate flavor.
  7. Cake Mix brownies. Want something a little different? You can’t go wrong with Cake Mix brownies. They are fun to make as well. You can make them chewy or bake them a little longer for a drier texture.
  8. Cupcakes. If you have a little more time, you could make some cupcakes. You can go with a Classic Red Velvet recipe or try these Sweetheart Cupcakes. Remember to make a good icing to go with them and add some sprinkles.
  9. Fruit Salad Dessert. Want to stick to something more on the healthy side? Try this Fruit Salad Dessert that includes a lot of great and yummy ingredients. It’s a good food to bring to change up what is normally brought to holiday functions.
  10. Cranberry Mouse. For something really festive, try the Quick and Easy Cranberry Mouse and wow your friends. This dessert includes cranberry juice and sauce. It would go well after a turkey dinner.10 Delicious Dessert Recipes for December

What do you like to make for holiday parties? Share it with the MilitaryShoppers monthly recipe contest for a chance to win. Winners are selected each month!