Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

Reduce the Festive Debt: 6 Ways to Not Overspend During the Holidays

By

The holiday shopping season is here!  Whether we like it or not, military families need to start thinking about the holidays. This time of year can be really stressful for people, especially if you are on a tight budget. So what can you do about it?

reduceChristmasdebt

6 Ways to Avoid Overspending During the Holiday Season

  1. Write out your budget and stick to it. I do this ever year. I write out everything we need to purchase from what we will eat on Christmas Day to the teacher’s gifts. On this list, I write down a spending limit on each gift for everyone. Then, when it is time to go shopping, I know what my budget is. The amount you spend on each member of your family will be different for everyone depending on your income and budget.
  2. Share a meal with friends. When you are a military family it might not be feasible to spend the holidays with extended family. Instead of having a meal for just your family, why not get together with others to make a meal together? You won’t have to buy every single ingredient and you will be able to save a little money that way. It is also nice to spend time with friends if you can’t be with your family during the holidays.
  3. Shop the sales. When it comes to buying presents for my kids I am all about the sales. I start checking them early. I want to be able to find the things I want for a discounted rate. I can save a lot of money this way, it just takes some time to figure out which stores have what toys on sale and when they are offering their discounts. You might also consider layaway. This is when you save an item at the store and pay a little bit on it each time you go in. You can take it home when you have paid for it in full. This might be a much better option than putting something on a credit card and trying to pay it off after Christmas. Check if your favorite stores offer this plan.
  4. Make homemade gifts. You can bake some yummy goodies and give those out at gifts too. It is really cost-effective to do this and can be a lot of fun. Most people really enjoy baked goods around this time of year so you can’t go wrong there. If you don’t like to bake but are crafty, there are a lot of different things you can make as gifts. Take a look at the MilitaryShoppers Pinterest boards for ideas.
  5. Stay home. For the past several years we have not gone anywhere for the holidays. The price of airfare is way too high. It would really blow our budget. We have been able to have a nice family Christmas in our own home and it has been great. Our kids wake up in their own home and we don’t have to go anywhere all day long.  This isn’t always an option for everyone but there is something nice about a simple Christmas at home and it will save you a lot of money in travel expenses.
  6. Pick a name. My family is quite small so we don’t do this but I think it would be a good idea for large families. Out of all the adults in the family, you buy a present for 1 person. You get assigned a name and you buy for that 1 person. It can be a fun way of giving for Christmas without having to buy something for every single person in your family.christmas, holidays, technology and shopping concept

The holidays can be a stressful time but they don’t have to be. Try some of these tips to keep your budget under control during this time of year. You will be thankful you did when the credit card statements arrive in January.

What are your tips for reducing debt and spending less during the holiday season?

10 Easy DIY Halloween Costumes

By

Halloween can sneak up quickly on military families. As the days in October fly by, don’t feel pressured to spend big bucks for elaborate store bought costumes for you and your children. You might have the makings of the perfect DIY Halloween costume already in your house. Shop the closets in your home for different items that can be put together for a cheap and clever Halloween costume. Take a quick trip to your local dollar or discount store to complete a costume by purchasing accessories that won’t break the bank.

Why spend a lot of money on costumes you might not be able to keep? Storage space (or lack of storage space) for military families is important. Especially because your kids (or even you) will most likely want to dress up as something different next year.

Here are 10 easy and cheap ways to create clever DIY Halloween costumes for less than $30 and made in less than 30 minutes for you and your family.

10 Easy DIY Halloween Costume Ideas

Shop the closets in your home to put together for a cheap and clever Halloween costume.

Witch/Wizard

For girls, pair together a black shirt and skirt or black dress and add black tights. You can also use anything that’s mostly black (and maybe even sparkly?). For boys, wear all black and use a black bedsheet folded as your cape. Head outside to find a thick stick to shave down as a wand. Swing by the dollar store to get a pointed witch or wizard hat. You can also purchase face make-up for an added effect or girls can raid mom’s makeup bag for dark lipstick and use black eyeliner to draw warts on their faces.

Angel

Wear a white shirt and white pants or white dress. Take a cardboard box (from your last PCS) and cut it out to the shape of wings. Poke 2 holes in the center for a rope. Use extra-large cotton balls and glue them onto one side of the cardboard wings to cover its entirety. Finally, use gold pipe cleaners to twist to the top of a headband and create another halo to attach together.

Pirate

For girls, wear a white shirt and red skirt (or if you have anything two-toned or striped). For boys, wear a white shirt and light-colored jeans. You can create an eye patch with black cardstock paper and use an elastic band to keep it on your head. Run to the store for a red bandana. Does the store have a red stuffed bird or parrot? Strap it on your shoulder if you find one.

Mummy

10 Easy and Cheap DIY Halloween Costumes

Are you a DIY Halloween costume guru? Share your tips to making a creative costume.

Wear all white underneath. Depending on your preference (and possibly the weather), you can use toilet paper (preferably extra strong toilet paper) or white bandages to wrap all around your body. You can get cheap bandage packages at the dollar store.

Grapes

Wear either all green or all purple. Travel to the discount store and buy packages of balloons that match your color. Blow them up and use safety pins to put them on your outfit. Are you doing a family costume? Use thick rope with about 3 feet to spare between each person to be a grapevine!

Tourist

It’s pretty likely that you’ve acquired at least 1 touristy shirt from your travels. Or maybe a Hawaii shirt? Wear your souvenir or Hawaiian shirt (why not add a lei too?!) with a straw hat and tie your camera around your neck. Do you have a fanny pack? Stick that around your waist and carry a paper map. If you’re feeling ambitious, tow a small roller luggage bag.

Ghost

Ready for an easy one? Use old white sheets and drape them over head. Cut holes where your eyes would be and voila! You’re a ghost.

10 Easy DIY Halloween Costumes

Don’t forget to enter MilitaryShoppers Halloween Photo Contest. Simply share 1 photo with MilitaryShoppers this month and you’ll be entered in a drawing to win a $100 Toys R Us e-gift card.

Pumpkin

Wear an extra large solid orange shirt. At the store, buy sheets of black felt and decorative vine rope. Outline and cut out the pumpkin’s face and glue (or you can safety pin) the felt cut-outs on the orange shirt. Use plastic bags or newspaper to make the pumpkin shape underneath the T-shirt. Wear the vine rope as a necklace.

Cat and Dog

For a cat, wear all black, orange or gray. For a dog, wear brown, black or tan. Buy felt to match your color and enough to make ears and a tail. Cut the fabric to shape the ears and glue it on an headband. Pin on the tail to your back with the remainder of the felt and make sure it’s in the right shape. Use black eyeliner to draw whiskers and pink/salmon colored lipstick for your nose.

10 Easy DIY Halloween Costumes

Children can raid mom’s makeup bag for eyeliner and lipstick to create cheap Halloween costumes.

Super Hero

Wear clothing that matches or all the same color. Use colored duct or construction tape to outline your superhero letter or number on your shirt. Does your character wear a mask? Buy a couple yards of fabric and cut out eyeholes. Or does your character wear a cape? Do the same and tie the cape around your neck.

Are you a DIY Halloween costume guru? Share your tips for creating a costume in the comments section.

 

Plan B: The Military Spouse Breadwinner

By

While downsizing the military will trim the government’s budget, it’s leaving a lot of families wondering how they are going to pay the bills. Just last month it was announced that 550 Army majors were told they will be without a job next spring. Some of these soldiers were deployed when they were given the news. While some may have been told ahead of time that their job was on the line, for others it was a shock. How are they going to support their families? Where will they find work? Will their spouse need to return to the workforce as well?

Plan B: A Military Spouse as a Breadwinner

Are you a military spouse searching for a job?

DoD statistics show that 1 in 4 military spouses are unemployed and seeking work. Some may be looking for any position that will pay the bills while others search for positions in their career field. Either way, there are resources available to help you find the right fit for your needs.

Military OneSource is a great tool that has had tremendous success in partnering spouses with jobs. Since 2011 they have employed more than 60,000 military spouses. Their Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) website is a job database. Search your area for open positions or use their career advice section to help you get a start on your job search.

National Military Family Association has a wonderful collection of information including links to just about any military spouse employment channel. It has information on Military Spouse Preference and how to apply with it, how to apply for federal jobs, starting a home-based business and details on unemployment.

Military Spouse as the Family's Breadwinner

Have you been searching for a job?

Military Spouse Corporate Career Network is a free service to all military spouses including those of retired service members and caregivers to those wounded in war. They offer job placement and training. For those spouses that have been out of the career force, they offer gap skills training and apprenticeships.

Each branch of the military has a dedicated program to help spouses find employment. Each program offers classes and seminars on things such as resume writing and interview prep as well as tips on networking. They have dedicated counselors that you can meet with you one-on-one to go over your resume and answer any employment questions.

These are the military spouse employment programs:

Army: Employment Readiness Program

Navy: Spouse Employment Assistance Program

Air Force: Career Focus Program

Marine Corps: Family Member Employment Assistance Program

Coast Guard: Access CG SUPRT or call (855) 247-8778

These are all great resources for spouses returning to work. Remember your fellow military spouses as well. Networking is key these days to finding employment. Attend an FRG event and talk to some of them. They may know of an opening at their company they work for or have tips on how they found a job in that market.

Don’t jump right in and blast your “one size fits all” resume to every company in town. Take the time to tailor it to that specific job. An interviewer typically spends 30 seconds reviewing a resume before deciding if it goes in the trash or into the contact stack. Make sure you read the job posting and put those keywords in your resume. If it is sent electronically, there are computer programs that search for specific words and automatically filter out those that don’t contain them. Employers are busy and don’t want to waste their time on general resumes. Show that you are truly interested in the position by proving you took the time to read their job ad.

Military Spouse as the Family Breadwinner

Being the family breadwinner can be stressful.

Looking for a job can be scary, especially if your spouse will be losing his or her job. Will you now become the breadwinner of the family? Take some time and seriously consider what you want in a job and what is most important to you. How many hours will you be able to realistically work? What is the minimum amount of money you will need to pay the bills if you are the main source of income for the family? Are you willing to take an entry level position and work your way up? Start your job search early so you don’t end up rushing into a job that will make you miserable.

Finding a job to provide for your family is stressful. Utilize these resources and tips to help ease the process.

Are you a military spouse searching for a job? Are you worried about becoming the breadwinner if your spouse is forced to leave the military?

Military Newlyweds Skip Warehouse, Bulk Buy at Commissary

By

Commissary Better Than Warehouse Stores

Buying bulk items at the commissary saves money for military newlyweds.

Once my husband and I moved into our first home, we wanted to put together a grocery shopping plan that would be the most economical for us. We just paid for a wedding and furniture to fill our house, so we quickly shifted our priority to saving as much money as possible.

We considered memberships to warehouse stores like Costco and Sam’s Club, where you pay an annual rate to use the facility. But, we realized that route might not be the best for us. Right now, it’s just my husband and I, plus a cat. To really reap the benefits of a warehouse store we would need to use the perishable items in a more timely manner. The last thing we would want to do is have 40 pounds of produce and not use it all before it spoils.

Besides, the warehouse stores are further away than our military commissary, so in the long run, it wouldn’t be cost effective. We would pay for a membership to drive a little further and we would still need to shop at a grocery store for perishable items. We were looking for a streamlined one-stop shop approach.

That’s when we calculated that our military commissary is the best place for our grocery needs and that we would do our bulk buying at the commissary too.

If we purchase the largest size available in-store, that would last us a good amount of time. Also, we would actually be saving money in the long term. Who doesn’t like saving money?

We bought everything that we would need to start out all at once including all our toiletries, cleaning supplies (trash bags, all-purpose cleaner, etc.), spice selection, a week’s worth of food and more. That first bill cost us a couple hundred dollars. Since our first time huge purchase, the average weekly commissary bill is around $20. Yes, that’s right, just about $20 per a week.

As a result, we run out of different items at different times and we refill our supply when it’s needed. Everything is spread out and for the most part our commissary bill stays the same each time.

To me, that’s a pretty good deal. I’m sure there are even ways to bring the cost down and if you feel like splurging sometimes for a filet mignon instead of a sirloin steak that would affect the average too.

Bulk buying has always been a way to save money over time. Brands bundle more than one item of their products together for little savings here and there. Let’s say one bottle of contacts solution costs $8. The double pack may costs $13 If you are an avid contacts user and use 1 bottle a month over a year span you’ll save $18. It doesn’t seem like a lot, but if you have the habit of doing that with all your needed items you’ll see some awesome savings.

Here are 2 examples to show how bulk buying can save money over the long term based on actual figures from my military commissary.

Cats eat an average of 10 pounds of dry cat food per a month.

$3.99 for a 3.15 lb. bag = $1.27 per lb. and $152.40/year

$11.99 for a 15 lb. bag = $0.80 per lb. and $96.00/year

$56.40 in savings a year for cat food.

Bulk Buying at Your Military Commissary

What bulk items do you buy at your military commissary?

In my house, we use on average 32 regular rolls of toilet paper per a month.

$12.99 for 64 regular rolls = $0.20 and $76.80/year

$2.92 for 8 regular rolls = $0.37 and $142.08/year

$65.28 in savings a year for toilet paper.

Bulk Buying Saves Money at the Commissary

Bulk buying has always been a way to save money.

And of course, the savings continue for every other item you bulk buy! Plus you never pay an annual membership fee to shop at the commissary.

What bulk items do you buy at your military commissary?

Are You Deep in Credit Card Debt? Consider Using a Credit Counselor

By

There was a time in my life that I bit off more than I could chew regarding my credit limit. I was young and naive on the specifics of credit cards. I signed up for 3 different accounts before the age of 20. Of course, the credit card companies were itching for people like me. They fed me stories on how I needed to build up my credit history and establish a good foundation for the future.

Should Military Families Use a Financial Consultant?

Military families should work with nonprofit debt managers to reduce their credit card debt.

What they neglected to say was their extremely high interest rates and the actual importance to pay off your balances in a timely manner. Otherwise, you’d be accruing more interest and adding to your debt. Years passed with me just paying the minimum payments with all my credit cards at near max. If I continued to pay my credit cards at the minimum amount, it would have taken me 25 years to pay off the remaining balance.

Despite conversations with my credit card companies, I had to take additional action. It got to a point where I was drowning in my credit card debt and I didn’t see an end in sight. I wanted to find a way to get myself back on track and eliminate my debt as well as learn some safe credit card habits. So I researched ways and programs that could help me.

Are you deep in debt? Here are debt and credit counseling tips for military families.

Military OneSource provides free financial counseling. All you need to do is give them a call and they can walk you through options that could help you negotiate a reduced rate with your creditors  and offer basic education on money matters, including debt management and things as common as setting up a budget. They can give you the foundation to tackle your goals and become debt free.

Another great option is enrolling with a debt management organization, which is the route I chose to take. You are assigned a credit counselor that is familiar with your situation. I wanted the ease of a single professional guiding me through the process and also a company that took care of negotiating with my creditors on my behalf. I made 1 payment to my counselor and they allocated the appropriate funds to each creditor.

Everything was simplified to me by my debt counselor, down to the penny. Because they knew my financial history, I was able to get a thorough explanation as well as a very streamline approach to be successful. I really liked having everything mapped out for me and finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

I sat down with my counselor to evaluate what was possible with my income minus all my living expenses. Even with the small fee the debt management charged, they were able to negotiate a payment plan with my creditors that would have my debt paid off in 5 years (instead of the calculated 25). That to me was a win-win situation.

Want to win a $50 commissary gift card? Register to win with MilitaryShoppers.

Be very careful with shopping around for a debt management counselor, especially if you’re going to do it outside of Military OneSource or any other military, veteran or government entities. Basic signs for a credible organization are that they are a member of the National Foundation of Credit Counseling (NFCC) and the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies as well as backed by the Council of Accreditation. Another telltale sign is that they are a nonprofit organization.

Military Service Members and Debt: How to Get Out

I needed to eliminate my debt as well as learn some safe credit card habits.

Debt management companies as well as accredited counselors are there to help and inform consumers. At first, it was very intimidating for me, especially because I had no financial background or any previous education. After discussing my credit card debt in depth, I felt confident and looked forward to reducing my debt and saving for the future.

You don’t have to limit yourself to the payment amount that was calculated by your debt counselor. If you can pay a little more each month, wiggle it into your payment schedule and it’s possible to pay the credit card debt faster than your plan. When I received my tax deductions, that’s when I added more to my payments and finished off my debt counseling plan earlier than 5 years.

In addition to knocking down the time it would take to payoff the debt, Debt management company taught me safe credit habits. The last thing I would want is to be in a similar situation again.

Have you ever worked with a credit or debt counselor? Would you recommend it? Tell us in the comments section below.

Money Terms Every MilSo Should Know

By

6355840185_c3de79a0b7_oServicemembers and their spouses quickly learn that the military lifestyle includes a lot of acronyms and code words. DoD (Department of Defense), MOS (Military Occupational Specialty), Temporary Duty (TDY), Roger, Copy. The list goes on and on.

What military spouses don’t realize is the importance of knowing military financial terms.

There are so many different components to remember and understand that spouses should educate themselves too. Military members completely rely on MyPay to access their earnings, so you should consider setting up a limited access account too.

Below is a list of the must-know financial terms that will help military spouses digest and navigate through all the sections of the Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) and military life.

  1. Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS): The accounting and financial institution responsible for paying military members, DoD employees and other governmental departments. DFAS is also responsible for retirement pay.
  2. Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH): The amount given to a service member based on their location, rank and dependent status assessed from the regular housing market on or around the duty station. Formerly called Basic Allowance for Quarters (BAQ), it’s still in LES statements as such, but means the same thing as BAH.
  3. Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA): The taxable amount given to designated families to fund non-housing costs depending on their location to supplement the area’s cost-of-living. Not all duty stations receive it and to find out if your location includes COLA pick your area here: OCONUS (overseas) or CONUS (continental United States)
  4. Basic Allowance for Sustenance (BAS): The money given to military members to offset the cost of food with all ranks within enlisted or officer getting one set amount unless overseas.
  5. Family Separation Allowance (FSA): Military members receive this when they are away from their duty station and family for a TDY lasting more than 30 days OR on an unaccompanied tour that brings them to another location.
  6. Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay (HFP/IDP): It’s mostly given to military members deployed in dangerous situations and is determined on location and/or certified by the commander. Both pay categories are categorized together but still separate, read here for specifics.
  7. Hardship Duty Pay (HDP): Classified into 3 different categories: location, mission and tempo, it’s given to service members that are assigned to areas that offer lower than standard living conditions depending on the duty.
  8. Assignment Incentive Pay (AIP): It’s additional pay awarded to military members that have a non-typical duty or or even extended stay. Mostly given to those that volunteer for a particular service.
  9. Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay (HDIP): Pay given to military members that holds a job considered hazardous like flight crew and/or parachute teams.
  10. Thrift Savings Plan (TSP): The type of retirement plan given to service members that can be deducted from their pay. Similar to the civilian 401(k), it’s a great way to invest and is encouraged for service members.
  11. Date of Initial Entry to Military Service (DIEMS): This is the date that you first entered into military service and cannot change. It’s very important in calculating your retirement benefits when it comes time.
  12. Pay Allotment: Military members can utilize allotments to help with various payments that are required such as loans, rent or outside insurances. The funds are taken away straight from pay and given to the designated institution.
  13. Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA): There are particular deductions that are taken away from military members’ pay, such as Federal Taxes, Social Security and Medicare.
  14. Servicemember Group Life Insurance (SGLI): The deductions via military members wages that covers life insurance. If servicemembers have dependents, there is a separate deduction for family members. This covers life insurance during time in service.
  15. Survivor Benefits Plan (SBP): Signing up for a SBP typically happens at retirement and funds are deducted from retirement pay, which gives surviving family members an annuity (a specific amount per month based on the lifespan of the beneficiary) in the event the servicemember cannot receive it anymore.
  16. Retirement Plan (RET PLAN): Usually, at a minimum of 20 years, servicemembers are granted retirement pay. It should currently be on your LES statement. Depending on your plan of service, there are four different plans that the military can chose from: Final Pay, High-36 Month Average, REDUX and Disability. To decide the best plan, members should seriously consider their military path. This link calls out each plan in more detail: http://militarypay.defense.gov/retirement/.

There are a handful of civilian financial terms that are uncommonly known that you should know outlined below.

  1. Net Worth: Think of it this way, it’s all your total assets (the money that goes in your pocket plus other investments like if you own a home) minus liabilities (debt and/or overhead costs). The overall wealth of your family.
  2. FICO score: The FICO score is calculated using the figures from your consumer credit files on: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion as well as other factors based on your credit habits with your payment history as the number one contributor. That’s why it’s very important to pay bills on time, at it’s minimum and pay it off in a timely manner.
  3. Interest: It’s a designated percentage based on a figure that is given in a set amount of time typically calculated in savings plans and credit debt.
  4. Individual Retirement Account (IRA): Separate from a 401(k) or TSP, it’s an account put together by an individual usually via a bank or credit union that saves money for retirement. The funds that are collected are set-up to be tax-free or tax-deferred depended on the type of IRA. There are three types: Traditional, Roth and Rollover. It’s recommended to establish an IRA, especially if having a 401(k)and/or TSP isn’t available. Who wouldn’t love extra money at retirement that offers tax benefits?! Consult your financial adviser.

 

Did you know these military money terms? Did we miss any? Please share them in the comments section below.

Need Money for Food? You May Qualify for FSSA

By

Facts on FSSA for Military Families

FSSA applicants must submit accurate paperwork annually.

The Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance (FSSA) is a financial support program that few active duty military families utilized or know about. This Department of Defense program is designed to help service members reach financial stability so that they will no longer be eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) , formerly known as food stamps.

Eligibility for FSSA is based on the family’s income and household size. There must be at least 1 dependent living in the home to qualify. If the household income is not 130% above the poverty line then the family may meet the requirements. There is an online worksheet that can be used to determine eligibility. Note that you do not have to qualify for or be utilizing SNAP at the time of application for FSSA.

In order to prove your income level the sponsor must provide a copy of his or her LES, pay stubs for other working family members, current bank statements and previous tax returns. To verify your household size you need the service member’s Page 2, a list of dependents as shown in DEERS and social security numbers. Once the application is completed online and the service member has their commanding officer sign off on it, the amount of FSSA will be determined and paid. This amount will be no more than $1,100 a month and therefore, there are other things to consider when accepting this financial support.

Facts on FSSA for Military Families

Enjoy family time and worry less about money.

While this allowance is non-taxable, it can change your eligibility for other financial support programs such as subsidized school lunches, WIC (Women, Infant and Children nutritional support program) as well as earned income tax credit.

The purpose behind FSSA is to provide military families with enough financial stability that they will no longer need SNAP specifically, but hopefully this will also help families alleviate the need for some of these other programs.

Each command is required to have a FSSA Coordinator so if you have questions or simply prefer filling out paperwork in person rather than using the online worksheet, they are available. You can also get detailed information on FSSA at the Fleet and Family Support Center, Army Community Services, or Marine Corps Community Services.

Re-certification must take place 30 days after a change in household income or family size as well as when there is a change of duty station. It may be more convenient to use the online worksheet if you find your family situation changing frequently. The loss or addition of a spouse’s job for example will change your income level as will advance in pay grade for the active duty member. At minimum, each year the family will need to be re-certified.

Payments will not automatically stop due to a change of duty station or situation; it is the member’s responsibility to inform the FSSA Coordinator of this change. A change of as small as $100 in income must be reported within 30 days. If this or any other change is found and not reported there are repercussions such as disciplinary action and wage garnishment.

A Department of Defense official recently said that 668 full-time active-duty members and activated guardsmen and reservists are receiving FSSA.

All of these facts are not meant to scare or deter military families from applying. The application process and re-certification are quite simple. This is simply an explanation of the program in detail so that families know about the program and how to apply for it.

FSSA Facts for Military Families

How would you feel checking out at the commissary without your SNAP card? Relief? Less anxiety?

How do you feel about the FSSA program? Have you used it?

Military Savings

By

When the military community needs a good military discount they look to MilitaryShoppers.com. Military Shoppers knows that the military community deserves additional military savings for their sacrifice to their country and its citizens. Military savings are important to the military community and Military Shoppers makes it their priority to deliver military savings to the military community. With military benefits being revoked each year, the military community relies heavily on military savings and military discounts. When it comes to grocery items, the military community turns to the commissary for special military savings. The commissary sells products to authorized military patrons at cost plus 5% and accepts applicable commissary and manufacturer coupons, providing the military community additional military savings. When shopping the commissary, commissary shoppers can expect to save an average of 30% on their purchases compared to commercial prices. The commissary also offers customer appreciation case lot sales throughout the year. These are special sales that offer discounts on large quantities of product. The military savings at case lot sales are unmatched. In addition to the already low pricing at the commissary, Military Shoppers’ commissary specials flyer presents commissary patrons with additional military savings on selected items available only in the commissary for a limited time.   The extra special low commissary prices can be found in the commissary specials flyer. The commissary specials flyer with additional military savings can be seen online, on facebook, on pinterest or delivered directly to your inbox by signing up. Sign up for free and take advantage of the military savings available today! Don’t forget your commissary coupons and Commissary Rewards Card for additional military savings. Commissary coupons are accepted and allow military shoppers to maximize military savings. If you haven’t started following Military Shoppers yet, do it now for insight on all of your military savings needs.

Military Spouse Says ‘No One Hires Someone Like Me’

By

Untitled-2Dear MilitaryShoppers,

I’m a wife to an E7. Who might get QSP’d soon. I have dedicated my life, as many others, to my family and husband. Now, we are faced with him losing his job. I haven’t worked in a long time. No one hires someone like me. I need a degree. Please, any info?

–Supportive Military Spouse

Dear Military Spouse,

I am sorry to hear that your husband will be facing Qualitative Service Program or QSP. No one expects to face involuntary early separation, but it is a reality in the downsizing of today’s military. This transition to the civilian world will be hard.

I think the first thing you need to do is take some time to figure out what you would want to do after he gets out. Will you guys be moving to a different location than you currently live? What’s the job market there? What’s the cost of living? Do you already own a home there?

But before the early separation, you need to put together your resume. Include all your volunteer work with the military through the years and any jobs you might have had. Do not think that no one will hire you because you do not have a degree. You do have something to offer, it is just a matter of putting things together so that you can start applying for the right jobs. You should be able to go to the Army Career and Alumni Program (ACAP) on post to receive assistance with your resume and to find some professional guidance.

Once you have completed your resume, create a LinkedIn profile. Start with the information on your resume and add it to your profile. Start connecting via LinkedIn and even Facebook with potential job leads. Practice your elevation pitch. Let your friends and family members know that you are actively seeking employment.

You can start looking for jobs online at sites such as Indeed.com or Craigslist. Check the listings everyday and apply to any of them that you think would be a good fit. Research military friendly employers and plan to apply for jobs with these companies. Attend a local job fair along with job fairs for veterans and military spouses. Again, be ready to talk about your work experience.

1365612276cagn4

Another option would be to start your own business. This option is not for everyone but it is something to think about. What are your talents? What are your abilities? Some military spouses have started businesses and are then able to be the family breadwinner after the service member gets out of the military.

Losing the security that the active duty Army brings can be very scary but there are options. Even though you haven’t worked in a long time, it is still possible for you to find a job. It might take some time but you should be able to find something eventually. Stay positive.

10 Ways to Spend Less on School Supplies

By

10 Ways to Save Money When Buying School Supplies

The cost of school supplies can be shocking for military families, especially if they are buying for more than 1 child.

It’s August and school is due to start again. With a new school year brings the need to buy new school supplies. A lot of schools will provide the school supply list ahead of time. The supplies are based on grade level to make it easy for you to know what you need to buy for your student. The cost of school supplies can be shocking for military families, especially if they are buying for more than 1 child.

Here are 10 ways to save money when shopping for school supplies:

  1. Compare prices. This might seem obvious but make sure you check and see which stores have the best prices. It might be worth your time to find the best deal.
  2. Use coupons. Look and see if you can find any coupons for school supplies. This will save you a little bit of cash.
  3. Tax free weekend. Some states will do this right before school starts. You can save money on taxes by shopping during this time.
  4. Stock up year-round. If you can know what the school supplies are ahead of time, shop year-round for them when you spot a deal. Even if you don’t find a deal you will be able to spread what you need to spend over months instead of having to spend it all on a single shopping trip.
  5. Check the dollar store. You should be able to get some of your supplies for a lot cheaper there.
  6. Shop your home. You probably have at least some scissors, Kleenex and maybe even crayons sitting around your house that you can use for the following  school year. When it comes to backpacks, don’t buy a new one unless it needs to be replaced.
  7. Wait until school starts. This is a hard one for me. I want to be prepared but year after year the teacher requests something a little different from the general list that the school gives out. By doing this you will only buy what is needed and won’t waste money on something that isn’t required by the teacher.
  8. Don’t go for the fancy stuff. While we were shopping I noticed a big difference in price from a regular blue notebook and one with a character on it. To save money it is best to stay away from trademarked items.
  9. Register for contests. There will be school supply giveaways either locally or online. Enter as many as you can. You never know, you might just be the winner and won’t have to pay for anything this year.
  10. Buy in bulk and split them up. Most likely some of your kids are going to require buying the same items. Check and see if buying a 6-pack of highlighters is cheaper and 2- or 3-packs. We have also done this with pencils and glue sticks.
10 Ways to Save Money When Shopping for Back to School

Buy school supply staples, like pencils and crayons, year-round to save money.

School supply shopping can be hard on your budget but hopefully this list will give you a few ideas to make it a little easier for you and your budget.

What are your tips for saving money when shopping for school supplies?