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.

Why You Need Renters Insurance

06/09/2014 By Julie Provost

Why Military Families Need Renters Insurance

Review your renters insurance policy every time you move.

As a military family member you might be asking yourself these 3 questions when it comes to renters insurance.

Do I need renters insurance if I live in military housing?
What are the benefits of the coverage?
How often should I increase my coverage?

Let’s start with the first question: do you need renters insurance?

The answer is YES!

Renters insurance will cover your personal belongings, in the case of a fire, theft or other type of event that causes them to get destroyed. Some policies will even cover things such as food that spoiled during a power outage. It also can cover events where someone has an accident in your home and wants to sue you. It doesn’t cost very much every month and can be very valuable if something does happen. Check with your car insurance company, you might be able to get a discount to add renters insurance to your account.

Benefits of Renters Insurance

If you live off post and rent a home, you need renters insurance. Whether you are in an apartment, condo or single family home, it doesn’t matter. You just never know what might happen and you want to be prepared. If you lost everything (television, furniture, electronics, clothes) in a fire it would be a significant financial burden to replace everything without this type of insurance. You would have to start over. With renters insurance you would at least have the money to do so.

We never experienced a fire or major theft when we were renting, but I always liked knowing that we were prepared if we had. We did had our electricity go out for 36 hours. Our food went bad and all I had to do was call my insurance company, tell them what we lost and they sent us a check. It wasn’t a ton of money, but it was nice to not have to go out and spend the money to replace the food ourselves.

Do you need renters insurance if you live in military housing?

If you live on post, you might want to check and see what is covered. In most cases it would be best to have renters insurance even if you do live in military housing. It might just depend on where you live and what the duty station has decided to do.

When Should You Increase Your Coverage

Once you have renters insurance, it is a good idea to update anytime you buy a large item. You also want to update if you move, especially if you are moving to a different state.

Remember too that it really doesn’t cost that much to have this type of insurance so there is really no reason not to have it. You don’t want to end up in a situation where you regret not getting it set up.

What questions do you have regarding renters insurance?

3 Steps to Battle Social Anxiety

06/06/2014 By Jessica Aycock

3 Steps for Military Spouses to Battle Social Anxiety

Summer parties shouldn’t make you anxious.

The summer months for military families means PCSing, farewell parties, barbecues, beach gatherings, pool parties, family vacations and meeting new neighbors. In short, it’s a busy, busy time of the year.

For me, summer often brings a bit of social anxiety– so many events and parties, so little time. As an introvert, it’s draining to spend a lot of time with other people and an extremely packed schedule makes me anxious.

Sometimes the anxiety comes from the idea of meeting new people or putting on “airs”, pretending to be happy when I don’t feel happy. Sometimes it’s the idea of having so much scheduled that I don’t have time for myself.

Here are 3 steps that helped me overcome the uneasiness of a full social calendar.

Know that it’s OK to say “no”. You can politely decline an invitation. If it’s someone you know well, be honest and tell them you have too much going on (or that you’re not comfortable with a crowd). Offer to get together with them at another date without other people around.
Know that you don’t have to stay the entire time. Give yourself a time limit of an hour or two. This worked well for me during the past Memorial Day weekend. My guy and I went to each party for an hour or two and then headed home to get back to our own work. We attended a different party each day. The events were a welcomed distraction from a mountain of schoolwork and our friends and family were happy to see us.
Reward yourself with alone time. If you must attend a lot of events or have a busy schedule, plan downtime afterward. Plan a day to read a book or watch a movie. Do something that builds you up and renews you.

Introverts sometimes feel like we’re missing out on life when we don’t attend events. But remember that you need to take care of YOU. If that means taking time to recharge, do it. There’s nothing wrong with taking care of you. On the flip side, definitely enjoy the summer social events. You’ll be glad you did.

How do you handle the uneasiness of a full social calendar?

Giving ‘Gift of Groceries’? Think Commissary Gift Cards

06/03/2014 By Military Shoppers

NEWS RELEASE
Defense Commissary Agency
Public Affairs
1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800
Tel: (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105 DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105
FAX: (804) 734-8248 DSN: 687-8248
www.commissaries.com

Release Number: 29-14

Date: June 12, 2014
Contact: Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist
Tel.: (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773
E-mail: kevin.robinson@deca.mil

Giving ‘gift of groceries’? Think Commissary Gift Cards

By Jessica Rouse,
DeCA public affairs specialist

NOTE: To see artwork related to this news release, go to https://www.flickr.com/photos/commissary/14219917350/.

FORT LEE, Va. – No matter the occasion, Commissary Gift Cards are always available to help family members, friends and organizations give the gift of groceries.

“Our gift cards are versatile,” said Randy Chandler, the Defense Commissary Agency’s sales director. “They can help a young family in need, offer wholesome eating options to a young service member or make a terrific prize for organizations holding a contest.”

The cards, which come in dominations of $25 and $50, can be purchased by anyone at any commissary worldwide or online. However, only an authorized patron can redeem them.

Here are some quick facts about the Commissary Gift Card:
* The cards are available at all commissaries worldwide – on a rack at full-service, front-end registers – as well as through the DeCA website, http://www.commissaries.com.
* The cards expire five years from the date of purchase.
* Online orders incur a handling fee. These fees are not assessed to in-store orders.
* There is no limit to the number of gift cards that a purchaser can buy. However, DeCA officials recommend organizations and activities consider purchasing online if they need $500 or more in gift cards.
* Commissary Gift Cards can be shipped anywhere in the United States. Outside the United States, gift cards can be shipped to APO, FPO or DPO addresses.
* For customer service questions, call the toll-free phone number, 877-988-4438, which also allows the user to check the card balance.

To date, the commissaries have sold almost 440,000 gift cards.

“Offering groceries at great prices with multiple ways to pay are more of the ways we are making it easier for our service members and their families to enjoy the commissary benefit they have earned,” Chandler said.
-DeCA-

About DeCA: The Defense Commissary Agency operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and their families in a safe and secure shopping environment. Authorized patrons purchase items at cost plus a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. By shopping regularly in the commissary, patrons save an average of 30 percent or more on their purchases compared to commercial prices – savings amounting to thousands of dollars annually. A core military family support element, and a valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life for America’s military and their families, and help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country.

Kevin L. Robinson
Public affairs specialist (media relations) Defense Commissary Agency Fort Lee VA
Email: kevin.robinson@deca.mil
Phone: (804) 734-8000 ext. 4-8773

Website: www.commissaries.com
Commissary Connection: www.commissaries.com/subscribe.cfm
Facebook: www.facebook.com/YourCommissary
YouTube: www.youtube.com/DefenseCommissary
Twitter: www.twitter.com/YourCommissary
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/commissary/ Milpages:www.milpages.com/pages/defense-commissary-agency/

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!

Prepare For The Unexpected

06/02/2014 By Military Shoppers

NEWS RELEASE
Defense Commissary Agency
Public Affairs
1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800
Tel: (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105 DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105
FAX: (804) 734-8248 DSN: 687-8248
www.commissaries.com

Release Number: 26-14
Date: May 29, 2014
Contact: Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist
Tel.: (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773
E-mail: kevin.robinson@deca.mil

Prepare for the unexpected
Commissary patrons can save on their emergency supplies
By Kevin L. Robinson,
DeCA public affairs specialist

NOTE: To see a graphic related to emergency preparedness, go to https://www.flickr.com/photos/commissary/sets/72157644895618094/.

FORT LEE, Va. – On May 20, 2013, Moore, Okla., home to 50,000 people on the outskirts of Oklahoma City, was struck by an F5 scale tornado, with winds in excess of 200 mph. Fourteen years earlier, Moore had also been the destination of an epic F5 tornado May 3, 1999, this one going down in history clocking winds of 318 mph – highest ever recorded.

Natural and manmade disasters can strike anywhere at any time. And with the start of the U.S. Atlantic hurricane season June 1, the Defense Commissary Agency is reminding its patrons that they can save money by visiting their local commissary for the items they need in their survival package.

“You should always be prepared for power outages, disruption of water or the possibility of an evacuation connected with a natural storm or manmade crisis,” said Randy Chandler, DeCA’s director of sales. “We want our patrons to know that the commissary has partnered with its industry suppliers to offer savings for their emergency supplies.”

Since April 1, an assortment of items has been reduced in price as part of DeCA’s severe weather preparedness promotional package that runs until Oct. 31. The package includes the following items: beef jerky and other assorted meat snacks, soup and chili mixes, canned goods, powdered milk, cereals, batteries, airtight bags, weather-ready flashlights, tape (all-weather, heavy duty shipper and duct), first-aid kits, lighters, matches, lanterns, candles and hand sanitizer, anti-bacterial wipes Specific promotional items may vary from store to store.

This preparedness emphasis parallels the peak activity for both tornadoes and hurricanes in the United States. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, covering the North Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Tornado season runs from April to July.

In 2013, there were 261 weather-related disasters worldwide according to the Climate Central website, www.climatecentral.org, of which 41 events each resulted in more than $1 billion in damage. The No. 1 weather event was flooding.

On May 22, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted a less-active season with a 70 percent chance for about eight to 13 named storms, three to six of which could become hurricanes; and one to two are expected to be major hurricanes. However, the NOAA’s predictions cannot pinpoint a hurricane’s potential landfall – if at all – weeks or months in advance, according to their website: http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2014/20140522_hurricaneoutlook_atlantic.html.

“Unfortunately, disasters rarely come with an exact schedule of when and where they will occur,” Chandler said. “So, it’s prudent to be prepared for any emergency.”

Emergency preparedness officials suggest having a disaster supply kit that includes the following items:

Water – at least one gallon daily, per person (three-day supply for evacuation, two-week supply for home)
Nonperishable foods – canned meats, fruits, vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, raisins, cereal, crackers, cookies, energy bars, granola, peanut butter, and foods for infants and the elderly (three-day supply for evacuation, two-week supply for home)
Paper goods – writing paper, paper plates, paper towels and toilet paper
Cooking items – pots, pans, baking sheet, cooking utensils, charcoal, a grill and a manual can opener
First-aid kit – including bandages, medicines and prescription drugs
Cleaning materials – bleach, sanitizing spray, and hand and laundry soap
Specialty foods – diet and low-calorie foods and drinks
Toiletries – personal hygiene items and moisture wipes
Pet care items – food, water, muzzle, leash, carrier, medications, medical records, and identification and immunization tags
Lighting accessories – flashlight, batteries, candles and matches
Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
Duct tape, scissors
Multipurpose tool
Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates and insurance policies)
Cell phone with chargers
Family and emergency contact information
Extra cash
Emergency blanket
Maps of the area
Blankets or sleeping bags

For more information about preparing for emergencies, visit the following websites: the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare/ready.php; the Centers for Disease Control, http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/supplies.asp; the Red Cross, http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster; and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, http://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.

-DeCA-

About DeCA: The Defense Commissary Agency operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and their families in a safe and secure shopping environment. Authorized patrons purchase items at cost plus a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. By shopping regularly in the commissary, patrons save an average of 30 percent or more on their purchases compared to commercial prices – savings amounting to thousands of dollars annually. A core military family support element, and a valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life for America’s military and their families, and help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country.

Stay Connected to Your Commissary Benefit

COMMISSARIES.COM: Visit www.commissaries.com to learn more about the Defense Commissary Agency: check out the latest news, find a store near you, see what’s on sale, create a shopping list, learn of food and product recalls, scan employment opportunities, read frequently asked questions, submit a customer comment form online through DeCA’s Your Action Line and more.

COMMISSARY CONNECTION: Stay connected with the latest news about your most valued benefit, Hot Links to additional savings, shopping sprees, contests, commissary promotions, events and more, go to www.commissaries.com/subscribe.cfm and subscribe to the Commissary Connection newsletter.

FACEBOOK: Visit www.facebook.com/YourCommissary, DeCA’s Facebook page, where you can post comments and share news, photos and videos.

YOUTUBE: To see DeCA’s latest videos, visit www.youtube.com/DefenseCommissary.

TWITTER: To see DeCA’s latest “tweets,” visit www.twitter.com/YourCommissary.

FLICKR: To see DeCA’s latest photographs, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/commissary/.

MILPAGES: To see news about DeCA on this forum for members of the U.S. military, their families and supporters, visit www.milpages.com/pages/defense-commissary-agency/.

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!

Spend Less by Sticking to Your Grocery List

05/30/2014 By Amiyrah Martin

When you are on a budget, it’s essential to stay on task at the commissary. Whether it’s due to the kids, your cravings or that great sale on imported chocolate, we tend to buy impulsively. What can we do to alleviate this? Besides putting literal blinders on, there are a few tips that we can use to help us stick to the grocery list. Budgeting for groceries doesn’t have to be difficult, as long as you have a plan.

How to Spend Less at Your Military Commissary

Money-saving military spouses shop only the perimeter of their military commissary.

Learn the layout of your grocery store or military commissary.

This is one of the easiest ways to bypass grocery budget pitfalls. Money-saving moms shop the perimeter of a store. This is where you’ll find the items most needed in any home: produce, protein, dairy and discounted baked goods. Once you learn the layout of your store, you can create your grocery list to reflect it. If produce is the very first thing you see when entering the store, be sure to add the fruits and vegetables that are on sale to the top of your grocery list. Figure out which middle aisles are the ones that you visit once a week or twice a month. Be sure to only visit those aisles instead of perusing ones that you wouldn’t or shouldn’t visit (candy aisle, anyone?).

Bring your own snacks.

I’ve heard time and time again that you should eat before you venture to the grocery store, but most of the time that doesn’t work. Here’s a great tip: keep a granola bar, nut mix, or whatever healthy snack you enjoy in your purse or bag. When you walk in and smell freshly baked cinnamon rolls at your store, you’ll have your own snack ready and will be less likely to spend an extra 6 bucks on a treat you’ll regret later.

Create a shopping list that follows the layout of your military commissary.

Utilize your phone.

Our smart phones are our best friends, especially when grocery shopping. Use your phone to make your grocery list. You won’t have to worry about misunderstanding handwriting, even your own. If you’re a visual person, take pictures of the items you need from the store circular and use that as your list.

To keep you from spending hours in the store and getting distracted, set a timer for yourself. Do you allot an hour for shopping but end up spending 2 in the store? Set an alarm on your phone to alert you when your hour is up. Once that alarm goes off, select your last items and hit up the checkout lanes.

What tips do you have for sticking to your grocery list?

Is Your Car Road Trip Ready?

05/29/2014 By Amiyrah Martin

The summer road trip is a classic American vacation for many military families. Before hitting the open road, ask yourself: is my car road trip ready? Not sure. Review this checklist to ensure that your summer road trip will be a safe vacation without any side trips to a unfamiliar auto shop.

Schedule an oil change.

Checklist for Car Maintenance Before a Road Trip

Pack a roll of duct tape in your car emergency kit.

This may seem like the simplest way to ensure a safe road trip, but it is key. There are many different issues that can be aggravated if you don’t provide your vehicle with a change of oil. An engine needs proper lubrication to work well, especially in the summer heat. Secondary to the oil change, a tune-up would be great to add to your list, but first and foremost, give your car that new lubrication it needs.

Tip: If you’re planning on hauling extra weight behind you, like a teardrop trailer for camping, ask the mechanic about using a thicker oil. A car pulling more weight may need an oil that won’t thin out as quickly due to the extra work it will be doing during the road trip.

Create a car emergency kit.

In your trunk, place 2 quarts of the oil used in your oil change, coolant, expendable rags (good for wiping off oil or touching hot engines) and a roll of duct tape. Yes, duct tape is key! If there is a burst in a rubber hose or a spot under the hood where you would like a mechanic to check for a potential issue, duct tape can take care of it. Other tools to include would be a small screwdriver and a wrench. Also include a jug of water in your kit, to cool down your car system in a bind. Don’t forget to have flares and small safety cones in a car emergency kit.

Test your car jack. We always wait until the unfortunate time when we need to use the car jack to actually learn how to use it. A week before your trip, try yours out in the parking lot or driveway. Make sure you know how to use it quickly and easily, and that all of the parts are accessible.

Tip: If you’re not sure how to use your particular car jack, search YouTube for a video tutorial.

Get the radiator checked.

This is another add-on to your oil change but may be even more important. The radiator passes coolant through the engine, so on those hot summer road trip days, it’s much needed. Radiators can get clogged over time and since we don’t think about them until spring and summer when we plan summer vacations, they are neglected the rest of the year. Have your mechanic do a flow test on the car to make sure the right amount of fluids are passing through the hoses and tubes.

Don’t forget to ask for a military discount.

Tip: To save money, ask your mechanic to “bundle” your oil change, tune-up and radiator check. See if they offer a military discount on top of the bundle. You could yield some significant savings.

Make a “must-use” mechanics list.

Be proactive and find reputable mechanics within each state that you will be passing through. If you will be staying on or near a main road, like I-95, search for mechanics that are located nearby. If you plan to stick with automotive repair chains, like Pep Boys, map out locations along your road trip journey.

Tip: Look for reviews of mechanics and automotive chains on review sites like Yelp or ask your favorite hometown mechanic for recommendations. You’ll be surprised how many great mechanics they can recommend for each part of your journey.

Take time for car maintenance prior to hitting the open road.

How many miles will you travel this summer?

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