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Home-Buying Tips and Tools for Military Families

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As a military family, the decision to buy a home is both exciting and wrought with uncertainty. It means putting down semi-permanent roots and committing to a home for longer than 1 to 2 years.

And the home-buying process can be more than a little overwhelming.

Don’t worry. Breath. You’ve already done the hardest part in committing to the goal of purchasing a new home. Now you just need to get smart about the process. You’ll be unpacking boxes and putting your feet up in your new home before you know it.

Home-Buying Tips and Tools for Military Families

A VA-backed loan is often the go-to for service members and retirees looking to buy a house.

Your Home-Buying Checklist: Get Up-Close and Personal with Your Finances

Most of us have a good idea of how much we have in savings and how much our bills are each month, but preparing to buy a house goes much deeper than that.

Get Your Credit Score

  • Order your credit report directly from all 3 credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) or try a site like annualcreditreport.com.
  • Dispute any discrepancies and be prepared to show problems have been resolved or were the result of mitigating circumstances.

Pay Down Debt

  • Improve your credit score and show lenders you are credit worthy by paying down your debt.
  • Make an appointment with a financial planner. Most military installations offer this service through on-post family support agencies like Fleet and Family Support Centers or Army Community Services.
  • Calculate your debt-to-income ratio and estimate how much you can afford to spend on your new home.

Save for Your Home’s Down Payment

While it is possible to purchase a home without a down payment, some of the most competitive loan programs require a 10 to 20% down payment. Start saving as soon as you decide you want to buy a home.

Your Home-Buying Checklist: Mortgage Research Is a Must

There is no shortage of mortgage options, but do your due diligence before signing anything. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Ask Friends and Family Members for Referrals

Ask friends and family members about lending institutions or programs they have used. Learn from their mistakes and successes. If you get a recommendation, take a few minutes to do additional research or call the lending institution and ask for more information.

Get Smart About Terminology

While most loans are fairly standard in their fees and process, there are still plenty of non-traditional options out there. Understanding the difference between a 30-year vs a 15-year mortgage and the pros and cons of an ARM loan is important.

Consider working with a mortgage counselor. They can help you understand the entire mortgage process and often are available for free.

Shop Around for the Best Rates

Don’t just shop one type of loan. A VA-backed loan is often the go-to for service members and retirees, but it is not the only option.

Depending on where you are buying, the amount of your loan, and the type of property, local or regional lending institutions may have programs that offer you a better interest rate. Tools like LendingTree can help do some of the legwork.

Your Home-Buying Checklist: Location, Location, Location

You’ve got your finances in order and have a down payment in the works, now it’s time to start scoping out a location.

As you begin to narrow down where you want to live, ask yourself:

  • What is a reasonable commute time?
  • Is being close to shopping a necessity?
  • Is the size of the neighborhood or its amenities important to me?
  • Do I want to buy a newly-constructed home or something in a more established neighborhood?

Then do research on these topics:

  • Area schools
  • Water, sewer, waste and power/gas rates
  • Local tax rates, emergency service costs, and any front or homeowners association fees
  • Local crime rates  and the sex offenders’ registry statistics
  • Traffic and public transportation options

Your Home-Buying Checklist: Wants and Needs

Now the fun part — figuring out what you want in your new home. It’s totally OK to dream, but make sure you prioritize your requirements. Start by identifying those things you absolutely must have in order for your new home to be functional. Start by making a list:

  • How many bedrooms do you need?
  • How many bathrooms?
  • Are there any other special requirements, like single-story or two-car garage?
  • What about an open floor plan or home office space?

Now review the list of things you wish you could have and prioritize.

Your Home-Buying Checklist: Hire a Professional Realtor

Ask for recommendations or search local BBB reviews for a licensed Realtor. Look for agents with experience working with military families, like Millie. The information a real estate agent can provide about homes coming onto the market, neighborhoods and the home-buying process is priceless.

What tips would you add to this home-buying checklist? Share them in the comments section.

Shoppers Enjoy New Jacksonville Commissary

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Wider aisles.

A larger selection of organic produce.

Skylights that provide natural lighting.

Commissary patrons are enjoying their new 64,000-square-foot commissary at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fl. The $36 million facility is twice as large as the older commissary, which means that the aisles are wider and there is more space for specialty products.

The store features “extensive produce, meat, frozen, chilled and grocery departments, an international deli-bakery, a sushi-to-go station, prepared rotisserie chicken and a customer service kiosk with 2 check-outs,” according to a DeCA press release about the Feb. 2 grand opening.

The Jacksonville commissary includes 18 regular checkouts and 8 self-checkouts and a stock assortment of 18,000 line items. Outside there’s a covered drive through area for patrons using Click2Go, DeCA’s online grocery shopping service. Click2Go is currently available at only 3 commissaries.

DeCA Director and CEO Joseph H. Jeu said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony that the goal of the project was to construct a commissary where patrons enjoy their shopping experience.

Here are 3 features that commissary patrons are enjoying at their new commissary at NAS Jacksonville, Fl.

The Jacksonville commissary is the first commissary to have a Living Well Corner.

During his speech at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, DeCA Director Jeu highlighted the features of this new commissary, including its Living Well Corner.

The Living Well Corner, located in the front of the store, features more than 1,500 organic and natural-labeled products. These items include both frozen and fresh products. For shoppers looking for non-GMO, free-range, gluten-free and no-added hormone products, the Living Well Corner offers the products they want at affordable commissary prices.

Cmdr. Billy Bushman, noted that thanks to the commissary’s Living Well Center his wife would have more choices when it came to choosing gluten-free breads, according to a DeCA press release.

“My wife would shop this,” Bushman said. “I’m excited that the choices for gluten-free options have been expanded. This means more options for my wife.”

Commissary shoppers have repeatedly requested more organic and gluten-free options at their commissaries. The new Jacksonville commissary’s expanded selection shows that DeCA officials are listening to their requests and building facilities that appeal to this demographic.

Commissary surcharges financed the construction of the new Jacksonville commissary.

Commissary shoppers often question that 5 percent surcharge found at the bottom of their receipt. The 5 percent surcharge, which has stayed at 5 percent since 1983, is not a tax. The surcharge is a standard rate that every commissary shopper pays and the funds generated through this surcharge pay for facility maintenance and construction.

Commissary surcharges paid for the construction of this $36 million facility. According to the JAX Air News, “shoppers spent nearly $61.5 million at the NAS Jax Commissary in 2016 which includes a 5 percent surcharge.”

The Jacksonville commissary was built to LEED Silver standards.

Facilities on military bases are now built to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. The Jacksonville commissary features 154 skylights and light sensors that will reduce energy consumption at the facility. The facility’s energy-saving features qualified it for a LEED Silver rating.

Jacksonville’s old commissary will be demolished  and turned into a parking lot later this spring. Once completed, this parking lot will have more than 500 spots for Navy Exchange and commissary patrons.

The Jacksonville commissary isn’t the only new commissary opening to shoppers in 2017. DeCA announced that the grand opening celebration for the $38 million Fort Belvoir commissary will be on March 30.

Have you shopped at the new Jacksonville commissary? What did you think of it? Share your opinions in the comments section.

5 Easy Meals to Make When Your Spouse Is Deployed

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A reader recently asked for meal planning suggestions for when her service member is gone for deployment. Most of us prepare normal meals while the entire family is home, but once a spouse deploys that goes out the window. It certainly does in my house at least.

My husband likes to eat a full meal made up of a meat, 2 vegetables and a starch. That takes a lot of forethought to make a menu, purchase the groceries and cook.

When my husband deploys, that worry goes out the window and another one enters my mind.

What am I going to feed my 3 year old that does not like to eat? What can I prepare that takes the least amount of time and effort but is still healthy?

I feel like I waste so much food because it is hard to cook for just the two of us. So what’s the solution to eating healthy and not wasting food? It’s meal preparation.

It can be daunting coming up with ideas for meals. The key is to plan ahead so you aren’t staring at the fridge at 5 p.m. wondering what you’re going to make. Ask friends for suggestions, pick up a cookbook or scour Pinterest for recipe ideas.

Here are 5 meals to cook for your children when your spouse is deployed.

Chicken Pot Pie Casserole

Megan Porta from pipanddebby.com has a delicious chicken pot pie casserole recipe for an easy weekday dinner. You can get a head start on it by chopping the carrots and onion the night before and storing them in a Ziplock bag in the fridge.

No need to worry about making the pie crust. You can pick up a refrigerated pie crust at the commissary.

Related: DeCA Dietitian Encourages ‘Thinking Outside the Box’

It only takes a few minutes on the stove before you pop it in the oven. That gives you plenty of time to catch up on how your child’s day.

Once they’ve tasted it, this casserole will become one of your favorite go-to meals.

30-Minute Skillet Lasagna

Who has time to make lasagna from scratch when there are kids running around? Forget all the layering; Samantha at Five Heart Home walks you step by step through a fantastic 30-minute skillet lasagna. Italian meals tend to feed an army, but this recipe feeds only six.

Don’t worry, it freezes and reheats great if there are only a few little ones to feed besides yourself.

Chicken Taco Salad

The Pioneer Woman will have you laughing as you cook up this tasty chicken taco salad. Her humor is fantastic. Follow her recipe for a fun dinner everyone will enjoy.

Yes, it is a salad and while many children don’t go crazy over salad, what child is going to turn down chips with dinner? Prepare the ingredients ahead of time and then let the kids mix their own salad.

Muffin Pan Frittatas

When planning your meals for the week, don’t forget breakfast. I like to sneak vegetables into my son’s breakfast without him knowing. This muffin pan frittata recipe is a winner. While it calls for asparagus and bell peppers, you can change that up with vegetables you prefer. I like zucchini and broccoli.

Pussycat Pizza Recipe

I love this fun cat pizza recipe Jennifer Cheung posted on Kidspot. You can consider yourself worldly after making this one as the recipe is from New Zealand. Note that it says to heat the oven to 220 degrees Celsius, that translates to 425 degrees. Let your kids decorate their own cat face pizzas. They’ll have fun in the kitchen with you and the pizza will be gone before you know it.

These are a few delicious meals to try with your children. Search for other kid-friendly meals in the MilitaryShoppers’ recipe database or pick up a recipe card at the commissary in the produce or meat section.

What meals do you prepare when you are cooking for only yourself and your kids during a deployment? Share your favorite recipes with the MilitaryShoppers’ recipe contest.

Variable Pricing Pilot Program Kicks Off at 10 Commissaries

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Two big changes will be coming to commissaries around the world thanks to the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Currently the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) receives $1.3 billion in taxpayer funding annually. That funding covers the costs of operating the commissaries. Patrons are able to purchase goods at cost plus 5 percent. The 5 percent surcharge covers construction, equipment and maintenance to improve facilities.

Now the government wants commissaries to be more self-sufficient and not rely on such a huge amount of taxpayer money.

The 2017 NDAA, signed into law under the Obama administration, allows DeCA to start working on this in 2 ways. The first is introducing variable pricing and the second is creating a store brand or private label products. Variable pricing will be the first phase of this move and will start in 10 commissaries.

What is variable pricing?

Instead of the prices of goods at commissaries simply being the cost DeCA gets items at, prices now will be determined through multiple factors. This includes the cost of obtaining the item and the market price to name a few.

Commercial grocery stores use this same strategy to determine their product price points. Prices will shift with the market, but overall savings at the commissary will remain the same.

Under the new pricing model, the prices of products sold in commissaries will be based on a specific percent of savings that the same item would be sold for in commercial grocery stores in that particular region. That means that prices will no longer be uniform across commissaries and will instead vary by region and country

Don’t panic. That does not mean prices are about to skyrocket.

Each region has a specific saving percentage required under DeCA’s regional savings index. Overall, commissaries in the United States will have a 20.2% savings over commercial grocery stores. Prices vary even more overseas, so the total savings globally is set at 23.7%.

Depending on where you live, the cost of living can be higher or lower. To keep shoppers happy and enjoying the commissary benefit, different regions will see different prices, but all patrons will see a savings overall.

There are 36 commissaries in the New England area that will see a savings of 21.4% over commercial grocery stores. The 30 commissaries in the South Atlantic area will save 19.9% while the 33 commissaries in the South Central area will save 18.1%. The South Pacific area is slated for a 20.9% savings and the Mountain region will have a 17.6% savings. The North Central area only has 18 commissaries but they will all have a 20.2% savings while the 9 commissaries in Alaska and Hawaii will see 32.6% savings. Commissaries abroad will have a fantastic 44.2% savings over commercial grocery stores.

How did DeCA come up with these percentage savings?

Each market was evaluated independently and the prices were compared to commercial grocery stores in each area. Local and state food tax was taken into consideration as well as the 5 percent commissary surcharge.

The cost of living index was used to determine prices abroad. Each month all of this data will be recalculated to ensure prices stay on schedule with the appropriate savings over local grocery stores. As many as 1,400 items at each commissary will be compared to commercial grocery stores each month to ensure accuracy.

The list of the first 10 commissaries to use variable pricing has not been released as of publishing time. If we didn’t tell you variable pricing was coming, would you notice the difference?

Next time you shop at the commissary have a look around at prices and see if you notice a difference. Perhaps your commissary will be one of the first 10 to try out variable pricing.

What are your concerns about variable pricing at commissaries?

The Hidden Costs of Your PCS

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Money. You need it, often we feel we don’t have enough of it, and it requires almost constant management. Stir in a PCS and relocation and you’ve got the recipe for some of the unique challenges only members of our community will understand. But like many other things, a shared commiseration gives us the opportunity to share and learn from each other.

Having been through more PCSes than I can count on 2 hands, I’ve learned the best tool we have at our disposal is pre-planning. Good old Uncle Sam pays the movers to come and box everything up and move it, but there are lots of hidden costs that can put a strain on a family budget. Here are 3 hidden costs and strategies for overcoming them.

THE PROBLEM: EVERYDAY HOUSEHOLD SUPPLIES

You can’t move liquids (with the rare exception), chemicals, and open food items. This often means that just before a PCS, we’re tossing all kinds of cleaning supplies and emptying the refrigerator of things like ketchup, mustard and salad dressings.

Talk about feeling like you are literally throwing money in the garbage.

And once we arrive, those items must be replaced in a hurry.

SOLUTION: Plan ahead if you can. If you know you are due for a PCS, even if you don’t have orders, try to anticipate. Plan meals that will use up the last of that bottle of ranch dressing and buy smaller bottles of household cleaners. Yes, it might cost a little bit more than buying the family size, but in the end, you won’t end up having to throw away half a bottle.

Once you arrive, try to shop sales and buy in bulk to lower costs. Also consider easing into replacement items. A solid multi-purpose cleaner can hold you over for a few months to help spread out costs and a little meal planning helps to do the same for those refrigerator staples.

Also, as you get ready to PCS, consider selling items you don’t need or want. Use that extra money to help offset some of these hidden relocation costs.

THE PROBLEM: HOME SALE/RENTAL DEPOSIT

You’ve got to put a down payment or deposit down on your new home, but you haven’t closed on a sale or received your last deposit back.

SOLUTION: This one is a little trickier, but again, the key is to plan ahead if you can. Anticipate the overlap in timing by putting a little money in your savings account each month leading up to a PCS. It is much better to have extra money saved then to be caught between paychecks without the funds you need.

You may want to consider taking a pay advance to help cover those large ticket costs, just make sure you plan your follow-on budget appropriately until the advance is paid back.

THE PROBLEM: THE FURNITURE DOESN’T FIT

You did the research, waited for a sale, and landed the perfect couch or set of curtains. Enter a set of PCS orders and a new temporary home. And of course, nothing fits in your new house.

Solution: We learned this lesson the hard way, so my advice? Buy modular furniture as much as possible.

That doesn’t mean you have to buy cheap, just buy smart. Also, before you pack up all that furniture, take some good measurements. Then when you are checking out potential new digs, take some quick measurements to see if what you have will work.

I’m not saying to pick a house to fit your furniture, but if what you have won’t work at all (ask me about the on-post house that wouldn’t allow for us to get a queen-sized bed upstairs!), the cost of replacing furniture might be worth some consideration.

Don’t be afraid to check out consignment and thrift stores, especially those around military housing areas. You’re not the only one struggling to make that new house feel like a home and chances are you can secure some gently used pieces at a killer price.

What other PCS costs have you experienced? What tips can you offer to help offset those relocation costs?

DeCA Introduces Nutrition Guide Program

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Every week, I sacrifice the desire to sleep in for the early morning trek to the commissary. They say the early bird gets the worm, but we all know when it comes to shopping at the commissary, the early bird gets the best selection and avoids waiting in long check-out lines. If you’re anything like me, you scurry through the produce section and down every aisle trying to find all the best deals.

At the same time, I am fretting over whether I am making healthy choices for the sometimes-finicky-but-always-hungry brood at home. Meal planning has become a requirement for stretching our food budget, and now thanks to a new program from the folks at DeCA, I can get my shopping done in record time while still ensuring I’m making smart choice about what we’re eating.

In addition to the recently launched Out of the Box recipe program that offers quick and healthy meal options, commissary shoppers can now find some of the best healthy products to add to their baskets just by looking for the new color-coded shelf tags.

The Nutrition Guide Program or NGP for short, highlights the following 6 food categories:

Green = Organic: As certified by the USDA.

Dark Blue = Low Sodium: For those folks looking to watch their salt intake, these labels can help you quickly identify products with 140 milligrams or less of sodium per serving.

Ruby = No Sugar Added: As you probably guessed, this label indicates food items in which no sugar was added during production. This doesn’t mean these products are sugar-free. Look for this label on products like applesauce or baby food.

Brown = Whole Grain: These products are made with whole grains and must contain at least 8 grams of whole grain to earn this label.

Light Blue = Low Fat: With lots of rules about what can be considered low-fat, these labels are a great way to quickly find truly low-fat options. All products indicated by these labels contain 3 grams or less of total fat per serving. Additionally, for meal or main dish options, like in the frozen food section, foods must have 3 grams or less of total fat per 100 grams of the product.

Sand (Light Brown) = Good Source of Fiber: You’ll see this shelf label on products that contain at least 10% or more of the daily value for fiber per serving.

These easily-recognizable shelf labels are derived from ingredient lists and nutritional panel values as well as guidelines from the FDA and USDA.

Shoppers will also notice some shelves marked with a thumbs up symbol. Products on these shelves are specially marked as highly nutritious foods good for high performance. These “thumbs-up” products align closely with the DOD’s Go for Green and the Marine Corps “Fueled to Fight” dining facilities nutrition education programs.

Most shoppers find it easy to recognize healthy options in the produce section, but the prepackaged and frozen food sections can sometimes be a little harder to navigate. Currently there are more than 600 “thumbs-up” products, making decisions about what to buy easier.

While you won’t see the NGP shelf labels in every department, you will see them for the following products: organic baby food, chilled meats, baking goods, condiments, beverages, bread, frozen foods, organic candy, canned goods, grains, pasta, and side dishes, cereal and breakfast foods, snacks, soups, and whole grain cake mixes.

The DeCA website points out that these shelf labels are not meant to be a substitute for consumers reading food labels. If your family has special dietary restrictions or allergies, it is still important to read food labels.

They also suggest that by the time you make it up to the checkout line your basket should contain lots of fresh produce, lean meats, eggs, and foods rich in healthy fats like fish, nuts, seeds, olive/canola oil and avocados. The remainder can be packaged items, but try to use the thumbs up symbol to identify those food items high in nutritional value.

It’s OK to splurge on that favorite flavor of ice cream or something from the cookie aisle, but those foods should be an exception to your daily eating habits, not part of your normal diet.

For more information about DeCA’s new Nutrition Guide Program, visit the Nutrition Guide Program FAQ webpage.

8 Photo Ops Every Military Couple Should Take Advantage Of

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When I was a kid, one of my favorite things to do on a rainy afternoon was to look through old family photo albums. Not many of us take the time anymore to print out duplicate prints and bind them up into a notebook-sized trip down memory lane, but we are still a culture of pictures.

There are milestone photos of the kids, of course. Then there’s the annual family photo and the wallet-sized school pictures.

But are you forgetting to take photos that document your relationship with your spouse or significant other too?

Just like keeping the stubs from the concert tickets you got for your birthday or the hand-painted trinket from your cruise last summer, photos with your spouse help you to remember the journey you’ve taken together. Whether you keep them in a three-ring binder or in a virtual photo bucket somewhere in the cloud, make sure you remember to point the camera lens at the two of you together.

8 Photo Ops Every Military Couple Should Take Advantage Of

A promotion is a big day in your service member’s career. Don’t forget to ask someone to snap a photo of the two of you.

Need some ideas for what pictures to take? Here are my top 8 photo opportunities all military couples should take advantage of:

Photos Documenting the Military Service Journey

Military service provides the security for your relationship, and quite frankly, nothing reminds me more of the reasons that made me fall in love with my husband than seeing him in uniform. My guess is I’m not the only one. So make sure you snap a photo or two of you and your spouse whenever you attend official military functions.

  • Promotions. This is a big day in every service member’s career, but it is also a milestone for your life together. Plus it gives you a great visual of the uniform evolution you’ve seen together. Don’t forget to take a photo at your service member’s reenlistment ceremonies too.
  • Graduations. They’ve put in the hours of work studying and training, and you’ve likely been left to manage the homefront so they can focus solely on advancement. Graduation photos are a way to celebrate a spouse’s military achievement.
  • Retirement. Like the light at the end of a very long tunnel, make sure you take the time to bask in the celebration that comes with retirement from military service. They’ve done the time in uniform, but you’ve been there too. A great photo of the two of you during the ceremony or the after celebration is a must-have photo.
  • Birthday Balls and Galas. It’s not often we get to call the military lifestyle glamorous, so take advantage while you can. Best part? These events often hire photographers, so all you have to do is show up and smile.
  • Farewells and Homecomings. These are some of the most important photos to have, not only for posterity, but to keep close during separations. Take the time to take a photo of every goodbye and every return. In those moments when the relationship requires a little extra work or distance brings loneliness, these photos are a great reminder of how much you mean to each other.
8 Photo Ops Every Military Couple Should Take Advantage Of

Take the time to take a photo of every goodbye and every military homecoming.

Photos Documenting Your Relationship Journey

There are the standard must-haves like wedding and anniversary photos, but those are one day out of the year and aren’t often a true representation of your life together. Annual family photos are a great way to make sure you capture the kids as they grow (and yourselves as you age!), but they don’t capture the candid, funny and intimate moments that make the everyday so special.

  • Laughing Together. There are some that say a relationship filled with laughter is one destined to last forever. Even if it’s a selfie or a quick pic taken by the passerby you snag at the park, make sure you capture a funny moment now and then.
  • Hobbies. If the two of you are known to tear up the dance floor, swing a mean backhand or cook up a 7-course feast, make sure you capture you and your significant other in action. Not only will it serve as a reminder of all the things you love to do together, but it’s a great way to capture how doing those things might change or have to be modified with each duty location. Tennis in Alaska anyone? How about skiing in Texas?
  • Travel. Seeing the world (or even various parts of the United States) is a huge perk of military service, so make sure you take advantage of it. And don’t forget to take your camera. While you are filling your SD card with images of castles in England, Mount Fuji, or the California coastline, don’t forget to jump into the frame with your spouse. Memories are often fleeting. A picture will help you remember how clear the sky was that day or how cold the wind was, and how amazing it felt to be there…together.

Do you love taking photos? Submit your favorite photo with your service member to MilitaryShoppers’ monthly photo contest today.

Military Exchange Online Shopping Opens to Veterans

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Nearly 20 million honorably discharged U.S. veterans will soon have the opportunity to shop online through the Army and Air Force Exchange service. This change in policy comes after years of pressure to open shopping to all those honorably discharged men and women.

As of Veterans Day, November 11, 2017, all honorably discharged U.S. veterans will be able to shop the exchange online.

This new privilege will only extend to online shopping however, not shopping in the physical exchange. Through the website, veterans will be able to purchase any items except for uniforms, alcohol and tobacco products.

The exchange estimates that this could bring in between $226 million and $1.13 billion in annual sales. An increase in sales also means an increase in funds for MWR programs.

Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) receives the majority of its funding from exchange dividends. The more sales the exchange has, the more programs MWR can offer. MWR programs are in place to support the “readiness and resilience for Soldiers and Families.” Programs include child and youth services, libraries, entertainment, sports and fitness, automotive skills, crafts and more.

Recently, exchange dividends have been low and MWR has not had the funds to support their usual programs. The Army has had to use some of this money to improve its daycare centers since budgets have been cut so much. The low sales have been due to the decline in the active duty force and base closures as well as the ending of tobacco product discounts and smaller profits from cheaper gas being sold. Opening online sales to all honorably discharged veterans is expected to quickly solve this problem.

Veterans will enjoy saving on average 20 percent over commercial stores while those families with base access will be enjoying better MWR programs. It’s a win-win situation for all.

This has been a two-year effort to open online shopping up to honorably discharged veterans. In the fall of 2016 the Defense Department’s Executive Resale Board voted unanimously to open online shopping to veterans and the Deputy Defense Secretary approved it.

AAFES has been preparing for the expansion of shoppers by improving the website, call centers and warehouse and distribution systems. They are working with the Department of Veterans Affairs and Defense Manpower Data Center to determine a way to verify that exchange shoppers are in fact honorably discharged veterans.

Shopping will only be available to veterans online and only for the exchange.

There are currently no plans to open shopping at the commissary up to honorably discharged veterans. This is because the commissary is run differently than AAFES. The Defense Commissary Agency receives a $1.4 billion operational subsidy annually that is funded by taxpayers. An increase in shoppers at the commissary would result in a higher cost for taxpayers in accordance to the current system. DECA therefore, is not considering adding veterans to the list of eligible shoppers.

Honorably discharged veterans however are excited to able to shop at the exchange online, even if they can’t also shop at the commissary. The Army and Air Force Exchange service has received outstanding support for this program and is anticipating a huge turnout of veteran online shoppers on Veterans Day.

You can keep up with announcements as the date for launch of this program approaches and learn how you can establish your identity as an honorably discharged veteran through their website.

What do you think of this policy change for the military exchange shopping privilege for veterans? Are you a veteran that will be shopping online this Veterans Day?

8 Financial Stressors Military Couples Face and How to Overcome Them

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There are many things that set military couples apart from civilians, but financial stressors we all share. Sure military families have different financial stressors than civilian families, but they are there nonetheless.

Here are 8 financial stressors military families face and how to overcome them.

8 Financial Stressors Military Couples Face and How to Overcome Them

Not Agreeing on How to Handle Finances

Most couples are made up of one spender and one saver. This can be great as the saver can keep the spender in check and the spender can get the saver to live a little. When a couple can’t decide together how best to handle money, financial stressors occur.

To overcome this, sit down and talk to each other. Set aside time when children are not around and there are no interruptions so that you can have a serious financial discussion. Don’t leave the table until a decision has been made.

Not Communicating

Communication is key in a healthy relationship. If you are not being honest with yourself or your spouse about spending, more financial stressors will occur.

Do you hide shopping bags in your car until your spouse isn’t home so they don’t see how much shopping you’ve done?

Ask yourself why you feel the need to do so. Did you spend more than you should of? Are you worried they will be upset with you for this?

Not Creating a Budget

Forget financial stressors, money-conscious couples that set budgets have less stress. Knowing how much money is coming in and going out will bring relief.

Knowing that you have enough money to pay all the bills by allocating money each month will set fears aside. As a couple, decide how much money you want to save and how much you’re comfortable spending each month.

Putting Off Saving for Retirement

When you’re young and facing bills, saving for retirement might be the last thing on your mind. Savvy savers know that saving now for retirement can alleviate financial stressors. You can contact a financial planner, attend a saving for retirement seminar or do your own research.

The sooner you start saving for retirement, the better off you’ll be when the time comes.

Not Having an Emergency Savings

It is recommended to have an emergency fund with the greater of either 2 weeks’ worth of pay or $1,000. You can use an emergency fund calculator to determine the right amount that your family should save. When an unexpected event occurs that brings in a large bill, financial stressors arise. Help lower the stress by having a plan already in place.

Taking on More Debt Than You Can Handle

You and your spouse need to be realistic on what you can afford. Keeping up with the Joneses is what gets military families into trouble.

If you can’t afford it, don’t buy it.

Just because your neighbor has a new car or put in a pool does not mean that you need to do the same thing.

How many financial stressors do you need in your life?

Is trying to keep up with the social status of your neighbors or friends worth the burden?

Be realistic with your wallet. If you can’t afford the payments on a new car, maybe you don’t need such an expensive one.

Struggling with Finances on Your Own During a Deployment

When your spouse is deployed and you are unable to communicate immediately or even frequently, financial decisions are often made on your own.

It can be extremely frustrating when financial stressors arise during a deployment. You don’t have your significant other to help you make a decision and are forced to deal with it on your own.

Setting time aside before your spouse deploys to discuss what to do in this instance can help significantly.

Not Expecting a Baby to Change Your Finances Dramatically

If you don’t have children yet, you might not understand this but it is true. Children are expensive. The more you have, the more it will cost you. Having a child unexpectedly can create financial stressors if you aren’t prepared. Not everyone gets the opportunity to plan ahead for a growing family, but if you are able to plan financially for your little one, life will be a little easier.

Which of these financial stressors is your military family facing? How are you planning to overcome them?

Don’t Fall for a Military Coupon Scam

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Commissary shoppers love to save money using military coupons. You can find military coupons at your commissary. I like to look for those free flyers just inside the front door or ask my commissary bagger to tuck one into my groceries, when she has them.

As we’ve said before the best military coupons are the ones that you don’t clip. There are plenty of military coupons online, ready for commissary shoppers.

But for every military coupon that you find online there may be a fake coupon looking to leer you in.

Fake coupons are on the rise. Smart commissary shoppers need to know how to spot a fake military coupon. Here are 3 things you need to know when trying to figure if your military coupon is real or fake.

No Expiration Date

Every coupon, digital or paper, will have an expiration date. There are no exceptions to this rule. If you e-clip a coupon that doesn’t have an expiration date, it’s a fake. Don’t try to use it at your commissary.

Pro-tip: Always look for an expiration date before printing out a coupon.

Photocopied Coupons

These fake military coupons are easy to spot. If a coupon has been photocopied, it is no longer valid. You can’t photocopy a coupon for your mother, sister and your five closest friends and expect them to be able to use it. Photocopying a coupon is against coupon rules.

Pro-tip: Only print military coupons from authorized coupon distributors like Coupons.com.

Too Good to Be True Coupons

Let’s say you’re scrolling on Facebook and you see a “too good to be true” military coupon in your newsfeed. Since you are tempted, you click on this coupon and it brings you to different website, one that requires that you put in your credit card information in order to receive this offer.

Don’t do it.

This website is a scam trying to steal your personal information. Never give you Social Security number, bank information or credit card number to redeem a coupon.

What’s an example of this type of fake coupon?

Late last year, the grocery store Kroger warned its shoppers about a fake coupon claiming to offer a “FREE $60 Kroger Coupon” with a $70 minimum purchase. It said the expiration date was 12/31/2016.

Kroger posted a photo of the fake coupon on its Facebook page with this message.

 “Fake coupon alert! There’s currently an unauthorized ‘FREE $60 Kroger Coupon’ offer floating around. It’s not real! We don’t recommend engaging with the site(s) that offer links to the coupon, or providing them with any personal information. Our team is actively working with Facebook and domain service providers to address the concern.”

Similar fake coupons have been circulating for Kohl’s, Disneyland and Food Lion.

Here’s another scenario that has been happening a lot with fake online coupons. Again you see that “amazing deal” while scrolling on social media. But this time when you click on the link for more details or to redeem the offer, you download malware on your computer.

The Coupon Information Center has a database of fake coupons. You can search for a specific coupon on this website or review the list. I recommend reviewing this list if you’re an active digital coupon user.

Pro-tip: To test a coupon, do a Google search with the coupon’s offer and the word “scam” or “fraud” in the search bar.

You don’t have to worry about printing a fake military coupon when you use coupons from Coupons.com.