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35 Military Discounts Save Veterans Money

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Veterans Day gives a lot of businesses from coast-to-coast a reason to offer wonderful military discounts to our service members, veterans and their families. I’ve seen a handful of commercials on TV that have been advertising deals to veterans, which is great! My husband and I have also utilized these special military discounts in the past.

This time of year, there will be a long list of military discounts for military families. But, most businesses will only offer the military discount on November 11. And then, some places might extend it out a day or so before and after Veterans Day.

What about the other 364 days of the year?

To my surprise, there are a lot of businesses that offer year-round military discounts. From restaurants to retailers, the list is pretty extensive. A handful have special military discount days, while others may offer it at any point. Either way, your military family has other chances to use these deals.

Here are 35 military discounts that help veterans and their family members save money.

35 Military Discounts That Can Save Veterans Money

14 Retailers that Offer Military Discounts

  1. Calvin Klein, 15% off purchases
  2. Columbia Sportswear, 10% off purchases
  3. Dell, 10% off purchases
  4. Foot Locker, 20% off purchases
  5. Home Depot, 10% off purchases
  6. Joann Fabrics, 10% off purchases
  7. Lowe’s, 10% off purchases
  8. Michael’s, 10% off purchases
  9. New York and Company, 15% off purchases
  10. Nike, 10% off purchases
  11. Old Navy, Military Mondays 10% off purchases (A little birdie told me it’s everyday now, at least for my local Old Navy. Worth a shot to check out in your neck of the woods!)
  12. Payless Shoe Store, 10% off purchases
  13. Timberland, 20% off purchases
  14. Under Armour, 10% off purchases

11 Restaurants That Offer Military Discounts

  1. Applebee’s, 10% off military discount
  2. Boston Market, 20% off military discount
  3. Buffalo Wild Wings, 10% off military discount
  4. Denny’s, 10% off military discount
  5. Joe’s Crab Shack, 10% off military discount
  6. Longhorn Steakhouse, 10% off military discount
  7. Quiznos, 10% off military discount
  8. Red Lobster, 10% off military discount
  9. Sonic Drive-In, 10% off military discount
  10. Texas Roadhouse, 10% off military discount
  11. T.G.I. Fridays, 10% off military discount

8 Travel Military Discounts

  1. Amtrak, 10% off military discount
  2. Carnival, offers military fares
  3. Choice Hotels, offers military/government rate
  4. Marriott, offers military/government rate
  5. Hilton, offers military/government rate
  6. Ramada, offers military/government rate (My husband and I got a great deal when we visited family earlier this month.)
  7. Royal Caribbean, special rates on select cruises
  8. Wyndham Hotels, offers military/government rate (Last Thanksgiving, we stayed at the Wyndham in Gettysburg, Penn., and loved the deal we got!)

2 Special Websites Listing Military Discounts

  1. GovX. As a huge shopping hub open to Armed Forces personnel and their closest family members, GovX offers amazing deals! Whether it is technology or tactical gear and everything in between, the online destination has it all. My family uses it to buy sporting event tickets. They offer exclusive discounts to watch your favorite teams no matter the time of year!
  2. ID.me Shop. This is another website that offers special deals to military members. You can get special alerts sent to you, so you’re in the know of the places that are currently running discounts. Some of the places that I mention above offer a cash back bonus in addition to the military discount through ID.me like Under Armour and Dell Computers.

All locations that I mentioned are subject to change, so ask your local store employees if they offer a military discount.

Also, some businesses have limitations. For example, Lowe’s offers 10% up to $500. I shared a lot of businesses that my husband and myself use on a regular basis. In addition, I asked other military friends and families of their favorite places too.

Keep in mind that this list just touches on the available military discounts out there. There are a lot of wonderful local businesses that offer a military discount along with some bigger franchise out here. It doesn’t hurt to ask any business you patronize if they offer a military discount.

Which military discounts do you use the most when shopping or traveling?

Best Western ‘Wall of Honor’ Celebrates Veterans

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Best Western® created a ‘Wall of Honor’ to celebrate Veterans Day!

The ‘Wall of Honor’ is a special way to honor Veterans by sharing some of the most remarkable and unforgettable moments during their service to our nation.

Check out the photos that were uploaded to the ‘Wall of Honor’ here

*Giveaway has ended.*Now you can also be entered to win a $100 travel card courtesy of Best Western® if you upload a photo to the ‘Wall of Honor’ and email it to MilitaryShoppers.

(Giveaway ends 11/12/2015)

Sharing a photo is easy!

  1. Enter Your Name
  2. Upload a Photo
  3. Click Submit

Click here to upload your photo and email it to bschmalz@militarymedia.com to be entered into the $100 travel card giveaway!

 

10 Tips for Joyful Family Photo Cards

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Are you planning to send a photo card this holiday season? A photo card is a great way to let your friends and family know how you are doing especially if military life has taken you far from home.

10 Tips for Joyful Family Photo Cards

Do you send out holiday photo cards?

If you want to send out a photo card, you will need to make time for a family photo and put everything together all in time to arrive at your friends’ and family’s mailboxes before the holidays. Worried about if you should wear matching clothes? Not sure how to keep the kids from crying and dog from burying its head in your lap? The whole process can be overwhelming thinking about everything you have to do in order to send out a photo card.

Here are 10 tips to help you take and print joyful family photo cards this holiday season:10 Tips for Joyful Family Photo Cards

  1. Book your photo session ahead of time. You don’t want to end up taking your photos too late. If you are going to hire a professional photographer to do your pictures you will need to allow them some time to get the photos back to you. Keep this in mind and try to book the photo shoot as soon as you can.
  2. What to wear. Think about what you want to wear in your photo. Do you want traditional holiday colors or something else? Talk to your photographer about what would look best. How you dress can also depend on your setting and where the pictures are going to be taken.
  3. Prepare. Prepare your kids for the photo session. Don’t schedule the photo session during nap time. Make sure your kids are well rested and if they are old enough to understand, tell them what you are going to do. Preparing them ahead of time will go a long way in helping the session go a lot better.
  4. Pets. If you plan to take a photo with your pet, plan ahead. Bring treats and water and make sure your dog can handle a photo shoot. Have a sense of humor about the session in case the photos don’t turn out exactly how you would like them to.
  5. Picking a photo. Picking the right photo to send out in your photo card can be a difficult choice. Think about what you want to share with everyone and which picture your family looks the best in. Try not to stress too much if the photos in the photo card are similar and go with the one you like best.
  6. Treats. If you know your kids will respond to them, bring some treats with you to the photo session. This worked really well with one of my kids. Every time he smiled for a photo and did what he was supposed to do he got some candy.
  7. Communicate. Tell your photographer what you have in mind for your photo card. You don’t want to get the pictures back and not like what he or she has done. If you can communicate what you are wanting in terms of a photo, you will be a lot happier with the pictures you get.
  8. Make a day of it. Going to a fun place to take photos for your photo card? Make a day of it. Take your pictures and then have some family fun time together. The kids will love the place you go to and you can tell them that is where you are going to go after the photo shoot is over.
  9. Arrive on time. Being late could make the photo shoot more difficult for you, your family and your photographer. The photographer might have somewhere else to be. Plan to arrive a few minutes early so you can prepare your children and be ready to take the pictures.
  10. Have fun. Try not to stress too much about getting your pictures taken. Taking photos is supposed to be a fun time for you and your family. Think about the joy you will feel once you get your photos back and send out your photo cards to your friends and family members.

    10 Tips for Joyful Family Photo Cards

    If you plan to take a photo with your pet, plan ahead. Bring treats and water and make sure your dog can handle a photo shoot.

Do you send out holiday photo cards? How do you get a joyful photo of your family to include on the card?

 

Restaurants Say ‘Thank You’ To Our Vets With Free Food!

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ATTENTION ALL VETERANS!

These restaurants are giving FREE FOOD to U.S. Veterans this year on Veterans Day!

On Wednesday, November 11th visit:

Hats off to these awesome restaurants for honoring our Veterans for their service.

Don’t forget to call ahead and verify the Veterans Day promotion listed, as well as any documentation required (i.e. valid military id) in order to take advantage of the Veterans Day promotion.  Special promotions may include drink, appetizer, entrée, side dish or dessert.

 

10 Changes We’d Love to See at the Commissary

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We love shopping at the commissary, but there are still a few things that each of us would like to see improved upon.

Here are the top 10 changes we would love to see the commissary make.

Extended Shopping Hours. Commissary business hours are not consistent across the board. Some are open 7 days a week while others are closed on Mondays for restocking. The small commissary on NSF Dahlgren is closed on Sundays and Mondays  and only open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. the rest of the week, with an extra hour on Tuesdays.

Bigger bases have longer hours though. Little Creek commissary in Virginia Beach is open 7 days a week. They have early bird entry at 8:30 a.m. and regular hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (on Sundays they close at 7 p.m. though). We all like shopping at the commissary, but when you need a last-minute item, the commissary may already be closed.

Wider Aisles. If you go to the commissary early in the morning, you’re going to run into retirees and parents shopping with their young children. If you’ve ever tried to pass either of these customers down an aisle in the commissary, you know it’s a hard thing to do. Most aisles are too narrow. There ends up being a line of people waiting to go around someone that is looking at a product or attending to their children.

More Free Samples. Adults and children love free samples. Giving kids something to snack on makes shopping easier as they are busy with their treats. Consumers are more likely to purchase a product once they have tried it as well, which increases sales.

Continually Stocked Shelves. Due to shipping complications, some commissary shoppers overseas have had issues with product availability.  This past year, overseas commissaries were faced with food shortages that led to disappointment among those commissary patrons that rely heavily on the commissary for their groceries.

More Made in America Products. We have an International aisle, so why don’t we have an American aisle? It is really hard to find things made in America. You have to search labels for the country of origin. Some companies proudly advertise it on the front, which makes more of us inclined to purchase it. If, for example, you wanted to buy apple juice made with apples grown only in the United States you won’t be able to do that. They all contain apples from multiple countries.

Bigger Organic Selection. We are all trying to feed our families healthy meals by being better informed on product quality. More and more customers are purchasing organic items and the demand is increasing. Many markets offer large organic sections, having both an organic produce area and an entire aisle dedicated to organic products. You don’t see nearly as much of this in the commissaries.

Coffee Shop Inside the Commissary. It doesn’t have to be Starbucks necessarily, well maybe for some picky consumers it does. Some commissaries have a free cup of coffee station at the entrance, but that is just a tease.  Many military installations have contracts with Starbucks, Einstein Bagels, Dunkin Donuts and more for coffee shops in the food courts, but we’re talking about getting a deliciously brewed beverage right there in the commissary. It isn’t as far fetch either as lucky commissary patrons in California already have this perk.

More Fun Kid Friendly Shopping Carts. Some of the commissaries have spaceship shopping carts or other designs with pretend steering wheels for children to ride in while their parents shop. The problem is that there are only a few of these.

Once your child has spotted one they’ll ask to ride in one each time you venture to the commissary and finding one can be difficult.

Adding a few more to each commissary would be great. Many grocery stores also have child size shopping carts so they can have their own cart to push and feel like they are truly helping shop.

No More Plastic Bag. Plastic bags are already banned in multiple states. It’s time that the commissary joins the crusade to help the environment. Paper bags are a better option and reusable bags are also available for purchase the commissary.

Order Online and Curbside Pickup. There are grocery stores that already offer this perk. It would be great if the commissary did too. It would be especially helpful to people that find it hard to get inside to shop, particularly elderly, disabled and parents with babies and small children. There is a program being tested. Hopefully it is successful and becomes a commissary benefit.

What changes would you like to see at the commissary?

Is DoD’s PCS System Wasteful, Inefficient?

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Arizona Republican Senator John McCain released a statement criticizing the government for wasting money by not budgeting for PCS (Permanent Change of Station) moves.

Is DoD's PCS System Wasteful, Inefficient?

With all the government monitoring out there, it is hard to believe that there is no government oversight with PCS moves.

More than 600,000 service members and their families PCS each year. As chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, McCain received the Government Accountability Office’s report which criticized the government for not tracking the money spent on PCS moves and did the math. This lack of oversight is costing the government a lot of money.

In a statement Sen. McCain said

Despite the crippling effects that sequestration is having on our military services, the Defense Department continues to throw millions of dollars out the door as it fails to adequately manage the costs and budget for service member relocations.

The government has been spending more on PCS moves lately, with a remarkable increase over the last 14 years. That is an increase from $3.8 billion annually to $4.3 billion last year according to the Government Accountability Office’s report.

Interestingly enough, these costs are rising while the number of PCS moves continue to go down. Annual moves are actually down 12 percent. In 2001 for example 731,000 troops had PCS moves while only 646,000 moved in 2014.

Why are PCS costs so high?

PCS moves incur fees for shipping household goods, storing them and issuing travel allowances, temporary lodging expenses and other costs. Officers are allocated more money for PCS moves than enlisted service members and the Air Force has more officers than any other branch. Having troops PCS more frequently then they are suppose to is also causing an increase in cost.

There are time frames set by the government for how long a service member is suppose to be stationed in one location. The time actually allocated between PCS moves is not being followed or tracked. While commands are suppose to report how long service members are in a location, they are not doing so. They are also allowing troops to PCS before they are scheduled to.

The entire PCS system is not being monitored at all. With all the government monitoring out there, it is hard to believe that there is no government oversight here. Because DoD does not evaluate whether the PCS system is efficient, it cannot identify changes that need to be made to lower costs or to determine how to control it.

The Government Accountability Office’s report recommends that DoD initiates a system to report all PCS budget data, evaluate the PCS program often and make a point to seek out data on why service members are moved before their minimum station length is reached. It would also recommend required waivers for early PCS moves.

DoD agrees with Government Accountability Office’s recommendations. What will actually happen now or how long it will take is undetermined. One thing for sure is that military families will be keeping an eye out for changes to PCS moves.

What do you think? Do you agree with Sen. McCain? Do you have any suggestions on how DoD can save money when military families PCS?

 

Is the Commissary an Outdated Military Benefit?

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The commissary has a long history of serving the military community. The idea of purchasing goods at-cost came about in 1825 to help Army personnel. It provides a huge relief to the service member when it’s tough to get necessities at a decent price.

The commissary we’re used to today began in 1867, which means the commissary has been operating for almost 150 years, offering groceries and other household goods to military members.

Overseas commissaries started at the end of the 19th century in the Philippines and China. Of course, it’s since multiplied to other OCONUS locations. In addition, the benefit now includes all branches of the military including Guard, Reservists and their family members in addition to retirees. In 1990, the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) was founded, which consolidated the commissary program. By forming DeCA, it allows for a streamlined and unified way to supply all commissaries.

The commissary benefit has helped military families generation after generation. My parents still shop at the commissary and my father joined the Air Force in 1979. They manage to get lots of different items at reasonable prices and my husband and I also benefit from shopping at the commissary. I have to mention my grandparents too. Between the three generations, my family encompasses Navy, Air Force and now Army ties!

Savings for military families average at about 30% compared to civilian grocery stores. That percentage offers a pretty substantial discount over brand name products. Although the commissary provides lower prices, big-box stores like Walmart and Super Target can be competitive when compared to the commissary. Another argument is that the commissary doesn’t offer generic goods.

My husband and I tend to stick to the commissary mostly because the grocery goods we commonly get are priced cheaper there. Also, we’re still a relatively small family, so the bulk goods we purchase are all economical. Not to mention when we buy during a case lot sale, we don’t need certain items for months and months! There are so many other reasons why I prefer the commissary. MilitaryShoppers has an awesome list of reasons why you should shop at the commissary.

One of my favorite reasons for shopping at the commissary is the international aisle. It’s one of the only local locations that offer Filipino cuisine, so I can get my cultural fix. My parents drive to their local commissary in Texas for the same reason to stock up on the different Filipino groceries because it’s priced well. It’s difficult to find certain items sometimes! No matter where you’ve been stationed, I’m sure there is a good representation of it at your commissary. I love that there is a chance to try international food without having to be stationed there too.

The commissary continues to modernize by incorporating online resources to help families get the most out of their commissary experience. Military families can sign up for the commissary rewards card and app. The commissary rewards card gives you the capability to redeem coupons online. In addition, they have the Click 2 Go program for select commissaries that allows military families to buy goods online and pick them up at a later date. It saves time and is convenient.

Despite its age, the commissary is still a wonderful resource for the military community. That’s why I keep shopping trips to the commissary on my agenda.

Why do you think the commissaries are a good benefit for military families and retirees?

A Military Spouse’s Guide to Space-A

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Space-A is a great way for a military spouse to travel.

A Military Spouse's Guide to Space-A Travel

Pack your patience and flexibility when using Space-A to travel as a military spouse.

We used Space-A back in 2009 to get from Germany to California and back again. The whole thing was quite the experience which wasn’t always easy but I am glad that I had the chance to try flying this way. Traveling Space-A isn’t for the faint of heart and knowing how this type of travel works is very important for having a successful trip.

Space-A travel is when members of the military, retirees and their spouses can travel on aircraft under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Defense when there is room available for them to do so. There is no guarantee that you will get a flight and you need a lot of patience and flexibility if you are going to use this method to get to where you want to go.

For us it took about 3 days to get to California from Germany. We were lucky in that we got on the first flight we wanted to get on. However, after 4 hours and after we were seated on the flight, the plane broke down and everyone had to get off and start all over again. This is the type of thing that can happen which can get frustrating but you need to be prepared for delays when you travel using Space-A.

The first step in planning for your Space-A trip is figuring out where you are going to go.

Most Space-A flights leave from Air Force bases around the United States and overseas. You would want to see where you can fly and how often flights go out of that location. Some places might only have 1 or 2 flights a week so your chances of getting out of there would be slim. Sometimes it is best to drive to a better location to get a better chance of catching a flight.

You would then need to figure out what your Space-A ranking is. The Air Mobility Command has a list of what you would be classified as. As a military spouse traveling you would be classified as either:

  • Category III– If your spouse is deployed more than 365 consecutive days or if you are traveling with your active duty spouse.
  • Category IV– If your spouse is deployed for more than 30 consecutive days but less than 365 days.
  • Category V-If you are flying without your spouse and they are not deployed.
  • Category VI– Retired military and their spouses

The lower your category, the better your chances of catching a flight. For example Category III is a higher priority for seating than Category VI. Each flight has a limited number of seats. Sometimes the seats are more than a hundred, other times there are just 4 or 5 seats available. You will need to register at every location you plan to fly out of. Once you have, you still have to wait to see if you get on the flight and you will need to check in as “present” when you get there.

A Military Spouse's Guide to Space-A

Have you flown using Space-A? Where did you go? What was your experience with Space-A travel?

This is where patience and flexibility come into play when flying Space-A. If a flight only has a few seats and you are a lower category, unless a lot of people decide not to get on that flight, your name will probably never get called. You will need to have a plan for if this happens to you. If you don’t, you could get stuck somewhere and that can be really upsetting.

The best way to prepare for Space-A is to do your research.

Since I was flying to the United States from Germany, I figured out which locations in the U.S. could get me to California. Although they did have flights going all the way there from Germany, I knew that might not be possible. I figured out which of the U.S. bases did go there and was open to any of those locations. In the end we flew into Baltimore and then had to make our way to Andrews Air Force Base where we were able to get a flight to Travis Air Force Base in California.

With Space-A you also need to have all of the important travel documents with you for you and all of your children. These documents include:

  • Travel authorization
  • ID card
  • Unaccompanied dependent memorandum
  • Valid Passport
  • Birth Certificates and Social Security cards

Make sure you double-check everything as you will not be able to fly without the right paperwork.

If you do make a flight, you must be there in person to check-in. You must be ready to fly. If you are not, they will go to the next person on the list.

Keep in mind that with Space-A you could be doing a lot of waiting. Plan for a lot of waiting. Bring something for you and your kids to do. Make sure you have the means to stay in a hotel because if a flight gets canceled you might have to wait until the next day to try again.

In the end, you have to decide if Space-A travel is for you. It will not work for everyone. Sometimes buying a commercial airline ticket will be best.

You have to be flexible with Space-A, you have to plan ahead and you have to be willing to change your plans over and over again until you can get to your location.

Have you used Space-A travel? What tips do you have for using Space-A?

6 Pumpkin Treats for Care Package

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Are you putting together an autumn-themed care package this year? It is really difficult to find the commonly available fall goodies outside of America that we all stateside have come to know and love. Take some time this season to pack up a few pumpkin treats for your loved one in an autumn-themed care package. A little reminder of home can go a long way to make the day of a service member missing this great season.

Here are 6 delicious pumpkin-flavored treats available for a limited time at your military commissary. Stop by and stock up, not only for your service member’s care package, but also for yourself.

1. Pumpkin Spice Oreos

Yes, these absolutely delicious cookies do exist. I might of already eaten more than my fair share of them. The overpowering aroma of cinnamon and spice will have your loved one instantly in a state of fall euphoria.

The packaging for Pumpkin Spice Oreos is small enough that you can fit a couple of them into an autumn care package. You will want to send more than one, because they will be requesting more. Pumpkin Spice Oreos are only around for a limited time, so stock up today.

2. Pumpkin Pie Pop-Tarts

Pumpkin Pie Pop-Tarts are a great way to start a morning. Your service member will be thanking you for sending them in the care package. Delicious right out of the package, but even more so hot out of the toaster, these treats are sure to have anyone on their way to a good day.

Pumpkin Pie Pop-Tarts are only available in the large box that contains 12 toaster pastries, so fitting more than 2 boxes into a care package my be difficult. But it’s worth it.

3. Quaker Pumpkin Spice Instant Oatmeal

This is another pumpkin-inspired breakfast item to add to your autumn care package. While it isn’t quite cold here, your service member may be experiencing chillier weather where they are. Help them start their day off with a delicious fall breakfast with Quaker Pumpkin Spice Instant Oatmeal. It will surely bring back memories of autumn days in America.

4. Starbucks VIA Instant Pumpkin Spice Latte

You don’t need to make a special trip to Starbucks to pick up their VIA Instant Pumpkin Spice Latte for this care package. Instead, simply venture down the coffee isle in your commissary. You will be pleasantly surprised at how much less they cost at the commissary as well. The packaging is very small so you will be able to put multiple Starbucks VIA Instant Pumpkin Spice Latte packets into an autumn care package.

5. Dunkin’ Donuts Pumpkin Spice Ground Coffee

Does your service member love pumpkin spice coffee? No need to add calorie loaded pumpkin syrup to their morning brew. Dunkin’ Donuts has released their Pumpkin Spice Ground Coffee again this year and you’ll find it in the commissary. Add a bag to your autumn care package and delight your service member with this delicious coffee.

6. Pepperidge Farm Pumpkin Spice Cookies

Pepperidge Farm actually has 2 different pumpkin spice cookies. You can choose between their Pumpkin Spice Milano Cookies or the Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies. Both are very sweet so if you have a service member with a sweet tooth, this is for them.

The Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies are actually made with real cream cheese and are amazingly soft. Your autumn care package will be stuffed with greatness with either of these 2 cookies.

Don’t forget to add other personal touches to your autumn care package. Take the children to a local pumpkin patch and take their photos. You can have the kids color a frame for it or draw a picture. Make a few fall themed greeting cards and add some popular fall movies. Hocus Pocus is a good non-scary movie that may bring back memories of family movie nights.

Looking for pumpkin recipes? Search MilitaryShoppers’ recipe contest page.

Make your service member’s day by surprising them with an autumn care package full of delicious pumpkin-inspired treats.

What are your favorite items to send in care packages this time of year?