Article MilitaryShoppers Page 68

Memory Filled Care Packages

03/28/2014 By Jessica Aycock

Missing out on memorable moments at home is one of the hazards our military members face. It’s bound to happen and well, it sucks.

It’s hard to keep them in the loop when they’re so far away, but it’s not impossible. It just takes a little bit of creativity.

Here are some great ideas for boxes that will make them feel more connected, but include items that, if lost or destroyed, won’t be upsetting.

Care Packages To Keep Kids and Servicemembers Connected

Do a gender reveal box like this one:

Send a hug!

Make a box that reminds them of a fun time together – like a trip to the zoo:

Or the beach:

Make a photo book or calendar or keepsake item – Snapfish is great for this. If it gets lost, you can always reorder!

Remind them of home with little items like their favorite cereal & snacks, a toy replica of their car and their favorite tv show:

Commemorate the first day of school:

Sending gifts? Dress them up with copies of photos on the wrapping paper:

Looking for other ideas to keep them connected?

Collect items from your hometown to remind them of home.
Send boxes themed around the holidays – Thanksgiving and Christmas seem to be the toughest.
If you send photos or drawings by the kids, get copies made a Kinkos – keep the originals and send the copies.

What tips or ideas do you have for keeping your service member in the loop on important things going on at home?

Frugal Tips for Planning a Homecoming Trip

03/28/2014 By Amiyrah Martin

It’s a celebration! Your family member is home from deployment and all you want to do is make them as comfortable as possible. With all the sacrifices they had made, and the work you’ve done to keep things running at the home front, everyone needs a break. But, how to we plan a homecoming vacation without using up all of that hazard pay? Here are a few frugal tips for planning a homecoming trip that will be memorable and affordable.

Staycations are Key
One of the last things your service member will want to do is get on yet another plane and travel for half a day, or more. Look for local vacation gems to visit, preferably ones that your family hasn’t experienced in a while or at all. These could be driving distance or just a quick plane trip. The point is to make the experience as simple and memorable as possible, and staying nearby would ensure that you don’t pay an outrageous amount for plane tickets or gas.

Hit the Festival Circuit
One of the best ways to create a unique yet inexpensive homecoming vacation is to search for conventions, trade shows or festivals that may be coming to your area. Look for events that revolve around your hero’s favorite hobbies, or whatever new hobby they may have picked up while deployed. If the are big into fishing, look for the next fishing or boating expo in the surrounding area, and make a weekend out of visiting it. A car ride, booked expo tickets and a 2 night hotel stay nearby will yield big savings compared to a trip out of state.

Accommodations on the Cheap
One of the best amenities that we military families can take advantage of are military discounts at hotels. Hotel and resort accommodations can eat up a budget, but using that discount really helps us to allot more money to planning fun excursions during our trip, or extending our trip. Luxurious yet affordable hotels like La Quinta will provide you with a one-stop vacation destination within every location. Be sure to not only ask about military discounts when booking, but also mention that your service member is returning from deployment and it’s a celebration. They just may be able to provides some surprises once you check into your room.

Ways to Save in March

03/20/2014 By Amiyrah Martin

March marks the return of spring, preparations for the Easter Bunny, and warm weather! Well, the weather part hasn’t exactly been panning out for most of CONUS, but this month does mark new beginnings. Here are a few new ways you can actually save this month, whether it’s on clothing, home decorations or groceries.

Home

Air Conditioners – this is a great time to price check air conditioners for your home. While most thought that the dead of winter was the best time to find a deal, great clearance prices are released right before May. New models are displayed at the end of April, so the older models are put on clearance this month and during the beginning of April.

Garden Seeds – Spring IS on it’s way (I promise), so now is a great time to get those coveted seed packets that gardeners are looking to grab up. Some of the best deals on seed packets are found online and at you local dollar stores.

Clothing

Easter/Spring Outfits – These types of outfits actually started to go on sale back in January, so now is the time when you’ll get them at a clearance price before stores put out their second wave of Spring and Easter outfits. Here’s a tip: check online to see what styles are trending for spring(yes even for the kids), and search for those in the stores. These styles will be the ones that will be on clearance, since the fashion world has been wearing them since December.

St. Patrick’s themed clothing – Since the holiday is now officially over, you’ll be able to stock up on green clothing pieces, and those cute but funny t-shirts that everyone wears each year. For kids, be sure to grab shirts or clothing pieces that are at least 2 sizes bigger, as they tend to grow by 2 sizes each year.

Groceries

Frozen Foods – Clean out that freezer and take advantage of the many frozen food sales that are happening at your local grocery stores and the commissary. Frozen vegetables tend to last the longest in the freezer, as well as frozen dinners for those of us that have busy after school/work lives. Frozen breakfast items tend to yield good prices during this time as well. Don’t forget the ice cream! You can stock up on ice cream now for those ice cream socials in May.

Cleaning supplies – It’s the month of spring cleaning, so this is a great time to buy your favorite cleaning items while they are on sale. Take advantage of cleaner sales, which may also include paper products like paper towels, facial tissue and toilet tissue.

What items are you planning to stock up on this March? Let us know in the comments below.

Easier ways to feed your kids dinner during a deployment

03/17/2014 By Julie Provost

Deployment can make even the simplest things exhausting.When my husband is deployed, even meal times become challenging. It used to be that when he was gone I did not cook at all. I fed my child something simple and I would make myself a salad or something easy. Now I have three children that all need dinner every night. Honestly, having my husband away during dinner turns it into more of a chore.

I decided that the only way I was going to get though meal times when he was gone was by making it a little simpler for myself…and there isn’t anything wrong with that.

Here are some ideas I have used during a deployment to make meal time a lot easier.

Breakfast for dinner. You can make pancakes. You can also double or triple the recipe to save some for later. You can serve toast, eggs and cereal as well. Cereal and yogurt is a very simple idea for breakfast for dinner.
Use your Crockpot. There are tons of 2-3 ingredient meals you can make with your Crockpot. Add a salad and you are good to go.
Know that it is okay to order pizza… Just not everyday. It might not be super healthy, but it is okay to order pizza. It is the easiest meal to have when you are solo-parenting. You can even make it fun and have a pizza night planned every Friday night.

The important thing is to not stress yourself out if you are not making three perfect meals every day. You need to give yourself a little bit of a break. There will be somedays you just want to feed the kids and send them to bed. There will be others when you will want to cook a big meal. Don’t feel badly if you have more lazy meal days than others. Deployments don’t last forever and you will be back into your old routine eventually.

Check out some of these easy recipes for deployment dinner ideas so you’re not stuck in the mud during dinner time.

Do you have a recipe to share? Enter our monthly contest for a chance to win $100. Use the money for healthy groceries, a few take out nights, or for a sitter so you can take time out for yourself! It’s easy, just click the button below.

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Care package: For the Love of Music

03/12/2014 By Jessica Aycock

music care package, military care package, unique care package

Care packages are a strong link between me and my husband and I always want to make sure that the ones that I send are from the heart and entertaining. The best packages are the ones that are fun to make and fun to open – sometimes literally (once I made a puzzle care package, but I packed it in layers and layers of tape, boxes, and ribbon – making it a puzzle in itself just to get open!) If your servicemember’s favorite thing is music, you’re going to love this care package idea!

For the love of music

Compile a new CD (or use a USB drive) to include newer songs they have missed while overseas.
Include books or magazines featuring their favorite bands.
Pack a T-shirt with their favorite band or a music-theme on it (Bonus points if you spray it with your perfume/cologne).

Using Downtime to Play or Learn The Guitar

Send a cheap guitar or even a smaller kids guitar – like the little ones sold in toy stores – same frets, same things to learn.
Add Classical guitar music – either as CD or USB drive
Complete training system (like Fretlight, which includes everything you need to learn to play).

If they don’t have a lot of downtime – or you’re afraid to send an actual guitar or instrument for them to play on – try some of these apps that will keep their skills sharp or just allow a little bit of fun.

And maybe consider taking up the hobby yourself – how romantic would it be if YOU learned their favorite song while they were gone? *cue: awwww…*

Coach Guitar: This free app doesn’t require any equipment and can be used on an iphone or iPad.
Tunewiki: Turns any mobile device into a karaoke machine by providing lyrics to the songs playing.
Sir Sampleton: This $2.99 app allows you to mix beats and save recordings, making it something that’s fun for all ages and skill-levels.

As always, don’t forget to send a little love in whatever care package you decide to send. Best bets are chocolate chip cookies, photos, cards and letters.

photo credit

Why You Should Start A Garden During A Deployment

03/10/2014 By Julie Provost

Last April I decided to start a garden. I had only ever tried to grow a few things in pots over the years and never done very well with it. This time, I jumped right in. We made some boxes and bought a bunch of seeds and supplies. It wasn’t just that I wanted to grow things, it was also that my husband was deploying and I knew gardening would be a good thing to focus on while he was gone.

He left in June, which is right in the middle of the growing season. This was our hardest deployment yet and I knew I would need something to really focus on that would help take my mind off the fact that he was gone again. I decided gardening would be a good thing to focus on. I would have to tend to the plants. I could get excited when I started to see things grow. Plus, working out in the garden everyday is good for the soul.

That is why I suggest you start your own garden if you will be going through a deployment. It doesn’t have to be too big. It doesn’t have to be too complicated. It’s simply something that can help you during the time your spouse is away. Try to plant things you already eat and love. Tomatoes are a great plant to start with. You can start from seed or buy transplants from the store.

Having a garden to work on will help you see the bigger picture. You will get excited when it is time to harvest, knowing you grew everything yourself. You can send your spouse photos of how things are growing. And if you enjoy it as much as I did, it will become a part of your life and you will want to keep gardening, even after your spouse gets home.

Spring Cleaning Life Hacks on the Cheap

03/07/2014 By Amiyrah Martin

Before we know it, we’ll be hearing birds chirping, watching flowers bloom and catching the sunlight hit just right on the dust bunnies in the corner of our living rooms. That’s right, it’s time for spring cleaning. Every year, we see many people go overboard with how they’ll tackle this year’s must-cleans. They buy the newest cleaners on the market. They have to have to best storage bins to replace the ones they picked up years ago. But they forget the big secret: spring cleaning is all about the life hacks. When it comes to life hacks, the cheaper the better. Here are some spring cleaning life hacks for those of us that are on a budget.

Lemon and Salt for Cleaning

This dynamic duo creates one of the best, and cheapest, spring cleaning life hacks. While lemon on it’s own is responsible for getting rid of water stains in your bathroom and kitchen, the combination of lemon with kosher or coarse salt creates a scrub that can’t be rivaled by store bought scrub products. I love to use this to give our tub and shower walls a deep clean, and to get caked up grease off of our stove. Just cut the lemon in half, sprinkle salt on one of the halves, and go to town.

DIY Cleaning Solutions

Each and every year I make up a new batch of homemade cleaning solutions before I start my spring cleaning. The ingredients are always very simple and inexpensive: vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, essential oils, and sometimes olive oil. I’ve used these ingredients to make disinfecting spray, glass cleaner, and furniture polish. If you are looking for great homemade cleaners, just do a google search for your favorite cleaner with the word “DIY” placed before it. There are tons of great recipes out there.

Alka Seltzer Tablets For a Bubbly Clean

This is one of my favorite secrets to spring cleaning a truly nasty toilet bowl. Antacid tablets are not only great for your tummy troubles, but they clean the heck out of a toilet bowl. I place 2 or 3 tablets in our bowl, and let them bubble away for about 5 minutes. Once I’m ready to clean, I’ll splash in some vinegar to use as a disinfectant, and scrub away with my toilet brush. You’ll be surprised how clean your bowl looks after this.

Cleaning Schedule: 15 Minute Time Limit

Now this may seem like a peculiar item to add as a money-saving spring cleaning life hack, but time IS money. By setting a 15 minute time limit to your cleaning tasks, you make sure that you’re taking care of the essential items that need your full attention. Plus, you won’t exhaust or overwhelm yourself. I only spend 1 hour a day for a week spring cleaning. That hour is broken down into four 15-minute increments. Less time cleaning like a mad person, and more time to clip coupons, make a homemade meal or spend with your family.

What are your favorite spring cleaning life hacks on the cheap? Please share in the comments below so we can give them a go! We will choose one tip at random to win a Starbucks or Amazon gift card! Winner will be chosen April 1st, 2014 so get going!

Also be sure to check out the commissary specials to see if any of your favorite cleaning items are on sale.

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Military Discounts – Which Ones Are Your Favorites?

03/06/2014 By Amiyrah Martin

When it comes to military life, there are a few perks that make the everyday sacrifices a little more bearable. For our multi-generational military family, it’s always been the discounts. It’s been very helpful to walk into some of our favorite establishments and use a military discount for meals, groceries, home supplies and more. I even remember my Army veteran grandfather expressing how much he enjoyed military discounts. He loved them so much that he offered a discount to active duty and veterans at his auto body shop. As I sat down to outline this article, I made up a small list of our family’s favorite military discounts, from brick and mortar stores and online retailers.

Old Navy
This discount is quite new to us. We’ve shopped for clothing for our whole family at Old Navy for years, but I only just recently found out that they offer a 10% discount every Monday to military members and veterans. After kicking myself for missing out on this deal previously, I realized how awesome this will be when I start shopping for our new baby.

Home Depot
This has always been our immediate and extended family’s favorite discount. My husband and I both come from military families that have owned large homes, so any type of discount on home improvement items are very helpful. My husband periodically needs new tools or special items for his state job, so we use the discount to supply him with what he needs. This is the discount we use most often.

Disney Parks
Most military families are aware of the special offers that Disney Parks has for active military members and veterans. The Armed Forces Salute military discount on theme park tickets and Disney Resort stays are pretty impressive. When visiting Walt Disney World, it’s great to have the option of using this discount on accommodations, as well as possibly staying at the Shades of Green Resort. While we don’t always use this discount (sometimes the regular special offers save more money), we do love that the Walt Disney Corporation gives this option to military families each year.

What are your favorite military discounts to use when shopping?

Welcome To Our Community Blog!

03/01/2014 By Military Shoppers

Welcome to the new home of the MilitaryShoppers.com blog!

MilitaryShoppers.com, owned by Military Media Inc., teamed up with MSB New Media to build on the already vibrant MilitaryShoppers.com community. We’ve come a long way from our original – and still thriving – website and message boards.

We are going to take our community members voices and opinions and make them count even more in the New Year and years to come.

Our hope is to expand on the knowledge of our readers, make it easier for you, our readers, to find useful information, and bring you relevant ads, deals, and coupons, through this blog’s sidebar and e-mail list.

Not only did we make this blog for you, we want to know what you have to say too – which is why we hired a community manager. More on our new staff member is coming soon – including contact info and bio.

So again, welcome to the new blog, and click on some of the buttons below.

Best,

MilitaryShoppers.com Blog Staff

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Save money by packing lunch – in mason jars!

03/01/2014 By Julie Provost

I have always loved Mason jars. You can do so much with them. You can use them to decorate your home or put yummy drinks in them. You can also save money by packing lunch – in mason jars. If you tend to be on the run a lot, work outside the home or just want a simple and cost-effective way to eat your lunch, you should start making your lunch in a Mason jar.

There are a lot of different things you can do. I personally love the idea of salads in Mason jars. I am a big salad eater myself. I love how you can customize salads in so many different ways. They never have to get boring.

In order to make a salad in a Mason jar, you will need to gather up all of your ingredients. Figure out what types of salads you would like to make. Put your dressing in first. You want that to be on the bottom. Add vegetables, fruits and meats next to provide a buffer between the dressing and the lettuce. When it is time to eat, just pour everything from the jar into a bowl and you are good to go.

Other foods you can put in a Mason jar for lunch are lasagna, chili and cornbread, pastas and soups. You can also put dessert in a jar. You can do cheesecake, pie, pudding, muffins or even fruit and whip cream.

You can make lunch even more efficient by making more than one meal at a time. You can get ready for the work week and put together 4-5 different lunches to have on hand. This not only saves money but will streamline your day. Lunch has already been made and is easy for you to grab and go. I love saving time by planning ahead.

As a Military spouse, I think sending Mason jars filled with foods is a great idea for care packages. Cake in a jar is a real favorite and a great way to make your Military family member smile.

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