Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

Springtime Means Case Lot Sale Time

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It’s DECA’s Customer Appreciation Case Lot Sale time at your local commissary. Time to make a list and stock up on some great deals. You can find a case lot sale this April or May at your local military commissary.

The sales were halted for a bit because of budget cuts but are back at commissaries in the United States as well as Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Although they used to have them at commissaries located at overseas bases, they no longer do but each commissary might hold their own type of special sale during the year. Make sure to ask when that sale may be held if you are at an OCONUS location.

A case lot sale is a chance to buy items in bulk for a very discounted rate. That is why these sales are such a good time to stock up on your favorite items. You can’t really beat the prices. They are better than normal commissary sale items. They usually take place in the parking lot or even in front of the store. It just depends on where you are located.

What will you find at a case lot sale?

Here is a list of some of the more popular items that military spouses like to buy at the sale:

  • Paper towels
  • Diapers
  • Ketchup
  • Canned soup
  • Toilet paper
  • Salad dressing
  • Crackers
  • Juice boxes
  • Macaroni and cheese
  • Baking mixes

Each location might have slightly different items so if your friend in California was able to find a great deal on dog food, keep in mind that your commissary in Virginia might not have the exact same deals going on.

If nothing else, you should check out the case lot sale for diapers and paper products. You can stock up on them and get a really great deal. Military families with small children are always looking for ways to save on diapers. When I had 2 children in diapers, I was able to buy 2 different sizes at our local case lot sale. They lasted for a long time and I knew I had found a great deal.

I have also found that case lot sales are a great time to stock up on condiments or other types of products that you put in your pantry. You should also think about buying extra food to have on hand for food drives during the year.

Some case lot sales are very busy and you will have to wait in line for a while to get what you want. I have heard stories of people having to wait hours in order to check out. It was well worth the wait because of the products they were buying and the deals that they found. Other sales are more low-key and you can really just add the products during your regular shopping trip.

Bring your favorite milspouse friend, your patience and a list of what you might be looking for. You might even be able to split something with someone else if you don’t think your family will use all of it before PCSing. Doing this will allow you to still get a great deal without overbuying the product.

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Spring into Savings This April at Your Military Commissary

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I’m a foodie. I’m a local food foodie. When my family moves to a new duty station before I ask for recommendations for a hair stylist or a dentist, I always ask my new neighbors for their lists of favorite local restaurants. Local restaurants are the key for this military spouse foodie. That’s how this Iowa girl fell in love with breakfast burritos in Arizona, udon noodles in Okinawa and grits in Mississippi.

But there’s a problem with all these local eating. The PCS.

Moving means that I find myself craving grits when I’m in California and ramen when I’m in Texas. As a solution-oriented military spouse, I’ve taken these cravings and the international food aisle at the commissary and used it as an opportunity to learn to make “local” food no matter where the Navy sends us.

Tex-Mex cuisine is one of my favorite “local” foods to make at home. Actually it’s a staple in our house and we have more than Taco Tuesdays. It’s Taco Tuesdays, Fajita Fridays, Tortilla Soup Sundays and Breakfast Burrito Wednesdays.

Luckily for me, all my favorite Tex-Mex ingredients are on sale this April at the military commissary.

Starting April 16, a 16-ounce jar of Old El Paso Think ‘n Chunky Salsa, mild or medium, is on sale for $0.99. Even if you don’t use it for a build-your-build-taco night, you can always stock up on salsa and be ready for those last-minute potlucks. Chips and salsa are my go-to potluck contribution at FRG meetings when I’m too busy to bake a dessert.

Here’s what other Old El Paso products are PowerBuys in April:

  • Taco Seasoning, Gucamole seasoning and Fajita seasoning mix packets, $0.45
  • Taco shells, $0.99
  • Chopped or whole green chiles, $0.75
  • Refined beans, traditional, fat-free and vegetarian, $0.75
  • Soft taco, beef carne asada and chipotle chicken dinner kits, $2.00

Once you feed your family, don’t forget to feed your furry family members. Several Purina products are on sale for the entire month of April.

Cat owners can buy 3-ounce Fancy Feast cat food cans for $0.53 each. Tidy Cats cat litter, 24/7 performance and instant action, is also on sale. You can buy two 14-pound cat litter containers for $8. Purina One Smartblend cat food is on sale for $9.99.

Don’t forget to pair these great discounts with coupons from coupons.com.

Purina Pro Plan Savor dog  food is also on sale. The price is $20.99 for the entire month of April. Alpo Wholesome Biscuits dog treats are on sale for $2.07, so treat your pet with this great deal.

Finally, as a mother, I prefer to buy detergent that is recommended by dermatologists. That’s the reason I use all® Free Clear detergent to wash our clothes. All all® detergent, dryer sheets and fabric softener are on sale during April at your commissary.

Don’t forget to sign up for the MilitaryShoppers newsletter to get the monthly commissary specials delivered directly to your inbox!

Free Wi-Fi Coming to a Commissary Near You

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The commissary at Naval Air Station Oceana here in Virginia Beach has just become the first commissary to test free Wi-Fi. I was very excited to hear that it was one of the commissaries near me so that I could drive over and test it.

I often forget to load my commissary rewards card and end up sitting in my car scanning through them on my phone quickly as my 19-month-old baby repeatedly chimes from the back seat, “I go bye-bye. Groceries now, groceries now mama.” Finally being able to access the Internet inside of the commissary is great. I know my son does not want to sit still any longer than he has to and now I won’t have to keep him in the car that extra time. Of course I always tell myself I will remember next time to look at the coupons at home, but as all parents know, that doesn’t always happen.

I will make a better effort to digitally clip my rewards card coupons at home, but it is nice to be able to access them while in the commissary if I do forget. Some of the recipes I use are online so being able to glance back at them and make sure everything is on my grocery list is another great perk. I’m sure there are many reasons that people will happily find to utilize the free Wi-Fi. Entertaining your child with cartoons on YouTube so everyone can shop in peace is what one of my friends beamed about.

Having access to Wi-Fi is so mainstream now that not having it comes as a surprise to many new patrons, especially young military spouses. For those of us that have been shopping at commissaries for years without it however, this is an exciting new feature. NAS Oceana is the first to test free Wi-Fi, but once preliminary test is complete it will be rolled out to 102 commissaries stateside that already have the existing infrastructure that would be needed to support customer traffic.

A specific timeline for the program has not been determined yet. Once DeCA is able to calculate the test results here at Oceana, they will decide how quickly they can roll out free Wi-Fi to other commissaries. For those locations that will need updates to their systems to support customer Wi-Fi, it may be awhile. At this time DeCA has not made any plans to expand the offer of free Wi-Fi to commissaries overseas unfortunately.

There are so many reasons to shop at the commissary and adding free Wi-Fi just makes it that much better. What other perks would you like to see at your commissary in the future?

Not All Commissaries are Created Equal

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I enjoy shopping at the commissary. Every fort and base I’ve lived near, as an Army brat and now as a Navy spouse, has had a good commissary and I’ve always shopped at them.

I am completely bummed that we are moving this summer to a location that does not have a commissary.

When we drove up for a short house-hunting trip, I made sure we drove to the next closest base to see what their commissary is like. A friend had told me it has a small commissary. How small? There were only 6 isles and 3 cashiers.

Not all commissaries are created equal is an understatement.

I was so disappointed. It was instantly obvious that I would not be able to do our weekly grocery shopping at the commissary. I really am bummed. I like my routine and the money we save by shopping there. When it snowed here recently and the bases were closed, I bought our groceries out in town and the bill was $75 more than my usual bill at the commissary. That was an eye-opener.

Every move has its challenges and ever military installation is different. Here in Virginia Beach I am within a 20-minute drive of 3 commissaries. They are each a bit different. The one on JEB Little Creek-Fort Story has a more open floor plan than the others and it is right next to the Exchange, which is very convenient. It is my preferred commissary to shop at, especially since it has more than 20 checkout lanes.

Cellphone reception for some reason seems to be universally poor at commissaries. I’m excited that NAS Oceana Commissary is the first one to test free Wi-Fi. That is so helpful with keeping up with the electronic coupons on my rewards card as I tend to forget to load them ahead of time.

I don’t use the deli, but I have had delicious birthday cakes made at the bakery. Some commissaries do not have a deli or bakery while others have really big and popular ones. Some embrace technology and have a kiosk for customers to order their deli and bakery items while others I’ve shopped at still only have the option to take a number and wait in line. NAS Oceana’s deli actually has its own Facebook page.

It will be strange not to have any of these options on our next assignment. The commissary’s slogan “it’s worth the drive” has always been something I agreed with. There is one more base just within driving distance so I might make a monthly trip there if it turns out to have a good commissary.

I’m sure I’m not alone in facing disappointment on the size difference of commissaries. Naval Base San Diego boasts DeCA’s largest commissary. Its 126,000-square-foot store offers 22,500 items; that’s 2,000 more than the store held before it was remodeled. Imagine if you came from a tiny commissary and walked into that one? You would probably be quite overwhelmed. Bigger isn’t always better to everyone.

I would like to try the coffee kiosks in one of the newer commissaries. You get to blend your own beverage. I haven’t been to one that has such a thing, nor have I been to one that has a health and wellness department. The commissary at Naval Base San Diego has both of those. Perhaps one day we’ll be stationed near a commissary that has one.

Stating that all commissaries are not created equal is truly an understatement. Where’s your favorite commissary? What does it offer that keeps you shopping there?

Commission Recommends Combining Commissaries, Exchanges

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Commission Recommends Combining Military Commissaries, Exchanges

What proposed changes do you support for the commissaries?

The commissary. It’s one of those bread-and-butter military perks that comes with having your military ID. The commissary is where military families, old and young, get their milk, meat and cereal. It’s used by active duty families and retirees alike. Shopping and saving money at the commissary is one of the benefits available to our military community.

The commissary also seems to be one of the first benefits discussed every year when Congress, the Department of Defense and lobbyists are debating ways to trim the defense budget. This year isn’t any different.

Tucked in the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission’s 15 recommendations to modernize the military is a proposal to combine the commissary and exchange systems into a single defense resale organization. The commission’s final report was released in late January. You can read the entire report here.

Currently, the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) operates commissaries that provide groceries to authorized patrons (you and me and anyone else with a valid military ID) at cost with a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. DeCA promotes that commissary shoppers “save an average of more than 30 percent on their purchases compared to commercial prices – savings that amount to thousands of dollars annually when shopping regularly at a commissary.”

On the flip side of military retail coin is the DoD operated exchange system that includes the Army Air Force Exchange System (AAFES), the Navy Exchange (NEX), and the Marine Corps Exchange (MCX). Exchanges have everything from beer to military uniforms and sell their merchandise at a profit. The benefit of the exchange is no sales tax.

Keep in mind that the “gross profits (from the exchanges) are used to support the exchange system, covering operating and other expenses; recapitalize facilities and systems; or are provided as dividends to fund MWR programs.”

When you’re stationed overseas, both the commissary and exchange are vital to your quality of life. Both retail organizations hire military dependents and veterans.

Together, commissaries and exchanges provide goods and services with total annual sales of more than $17 billion in 2013.

Based on an in-depth study that included town hall meetings and quality of life surveys, the bipartisan Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission unanimously recommended a consolidated resale organization.

A consolidated resale organization, with combined resources, increased operational flexibility, and better alignment of incentives and policies, would improve the viability and stability of these systems. It would sustain the benefit while reducing the combined reliance on appropriated funding over time. The increased flexibility and opportunities available to a consolidated organization could enable a deeper level of cooperation to improve quality and drive the efficiencies recommended by numerous studies. The many similarities, overlaps, and redundancies in processes, staffing, and support infrastructures favor the consolidation process. Establishing an executive structure and means of oversight that ensures alignment with the needs and goals of Service members and the Military Services is critical.”

–the 2015 Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission Final Report

The proposal also said that a portion of profits would continue to support MWR programs and the commissaries would keep their current 5-percent surcharge. The surcharge was set at 5 percent in 1983.

This consolidated system would “allow the sale of convenience items in commissaries at a profit, including products and services typically found in commercial grocers.” Food and other “essential items” would still be sold at cost.

The report also said “This expanded commissary product line would include beer and wine, but those sales must align with DoD’s efforts to deglamorize alcohol and reduce its abuse.”

Basically in a nutshell, this proposal is intended to reduce the overhead costs of operating the commissaries and exchanges separately. It’s not expected to affect the costs of shopping at either store and if approved, this consolidated system may make shopping on-base more like shopping at Walmart.

Now it’s your turn: What proposed changes do you support for the commissaries?

March Madness Deals at the Commissary

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As March Madness (and hopefully the weather!) heats up, the commissary is keeping its deals hot too. There are a lot of great sales and deals on all types of goodies from mouth-watering biscuits to savory sauces.

 

Looking for something quick and tasty to eat while watching your favorite college basketball team? Totino’s pepperoni party pizza (10.2 oz) is just 89 cents! For the finger-food lovers, Totino’s pepperoni pizza rolls are on sale for $2.25 for a package of 40 bite-sized pieces. I’m not much of a basketball fan, but I’ll be grabbing some pizzas to have on hand for the evenings that I don’t feel spending a lot of time in the kitchen.

If you want something more snack-like for the game, a bag of traditional or bold Chex Mix is $1.25. My favorite Chex Mix flavors are also on sale, dark chocolate and turtle. I definitely prefer sweeter snacks and enjoy the chocolate-covered Chex Mix flavors. Yum.

My inner Southern girl is pumped because of the reduced prices in Pillsbury Grands biscuits too. I usually make my favorite recipe of drop biscuits, but sometimes I run out of time to mix together a batch. Pillsbury has a lot of great options for fast biscuit baking. The sale includes the big homestyle or flaky layers butter tastin’ (16.3 oz) for $1.25 and for a bigger family, the butter tastin’ buttermilk or southern style (25 oz)  is $2. Combine this sale with a coupon to save $0.50 when you buy 2 cans. If you’re like me with a smaller family, I’ll still grab the bigger size and keep them in the fridge for longevity and save them for another evening.

Campbell’s has a great product to help you put together a quick dinner on a busy night. For $1.39, you can buy Creamy Garlic Butter oven sauces (12 oz) or Chicken Marsala Skillet Sauces (9 oz). Then, all you need to do is throw some chicken in the mix. If you need a hearty meal for the kids or for the kids at heart, Campbell’s Chicken & Stars, Toy Story or Disney Princess (10.5 oz) condensed soup is 5 cans for $5.

When I find any deals that I can stock up on food, I jump at the chance. Prego sauces are 2 for $3 this month. You can choose from the 14.5 oz Alfredo sauces: Homestyle Alfredo, Artisan Three Cheese or Roasted Garlic Parmesan as well as tomato sauces: Traditional (24 oz), Spicy Sausage, Italian Sausage, Garlic or Heart Smart Traditional (23.5 oz).

Remember last month when the commissary had some fabulous sales for our furry family members?

Purina is running some additional deals till March 15! Whisker Lickin’s Cat Treat (my cat’s absolute favorite treats) are only 99 cents. Seriously, my cat would literally do tricks for their tuna flavored treats. Some other deals for cats:

  • $4.99 Tidy Cats 14 lbs. clumping litter (multiple cats, instant action or 24/7 performance)
  • $9.99 Friskies 24-pack cat food classic pate or meaty bits
  • $4.99 3.15 lbs. Cat Chow cat food (Naturals, Healthy Weight or Indoor)

The sales for our pooches are: $23.99 for 31.1 lbs. Beneful healthy weight dog food and $5.04 for 12-pack moist and meaty dog food (burger with cheddar cheese flavor or chopped burger).

Don’t forget to look through the rest of the March commissary deals by clicking here!

Want to know the weekly manager’s specials? Sign up for the newsletter.

100 items added to Value Brand Program

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commissary

The following news release originally appeared on Commissaries.com:

Nearly 100 items to be added to Value Brand Program

FORT LEE, Va. (Feb. 5, 2015) – With nearly 100 more items set to be added to the Commissary Value Brand program, military patrons will have even more opportunities to save, according to the Defense Commissary Agency’s senior enlisted advisor to the director.

“The reenergizing of this program is still in its infancy, but we are making improvements each and every day,” said Air Force Command Chief Master Sgt. Stuart M. Allison. “We recommend that patrons continue to monitor the orange ‘Value’ signs in the stores because they will see a larger offering of products.”

By the middle of February, commissary patrons can expect to see labels identifying the addition of 99 more items to the Value Brand lineup. The new products include several cheeses, condiments, canned and powdered milk, canned soup, dry pasta, honey, rice, laundry bleach and paper towels.

DeCA reintroduced Commissary Value Brand in November, bringing back a sales initiative known 14 years ago as the “Best Value Item” program. The average savings for Value Brand is about 42 percent when compared to national brands and 25 percent against the store brand and private label items found in commercial retail stores.

Amid its resurrection, Value Brand is catching on with commissary customers, said Gordon Jones, the agency’s deputy director of sales.

“We are very pleased with the Value Brand program and have received positive feedback about it from our patrons,” Jones added. “We will continue to look at opportunities to expand Value Brand to other categories within our stores.”

With the influx of new items, the Value Brand mix will boast nearly 400 products such as frozen vegetables, pizza and entrees; pet foods; health and beauty care; cereals; cleaning supplies; soft drinks; coffee; canned fruit, soup and fish; disposable lunch and storage bags; condiments and more.

Shoppers like Dr. Thelma G. Smith, the spouse of a disabled Vietnam veteran, said she’s seen the orange signs at the Fort Lee Commissary. “I’ve chosen a few of them basically because of the pricing. From the few things that I’ve bought, I found the frozen vegetables to be very good – good quality for taste and good quality for cooking.”

The orange “Value” signs on the shelves, along with posters, banners, buttons, danglers and special displays make it easy for customers to spot these extra savings in stores. Shoppers who venture on DeCA’s website, commissaries.com, or stay tuned to the agency’s social media outlets, especially Facebook and Twitter, can get a heads up on value deals before they hit the store.

In addition to Commissary Value Brand items, biweekly promotions and other special sales offer targeted discounts. If commissary patrons take the time to add Value Brand to their savings strategy it will pay off at the register, Allison said.

“We are a big believer in checking the commissary sales flyer found on www.commissaries.com,” said Allison about how he and his wife prepare before they shop. “We also like to check out the promotional sales items, and we use our Commissary Rewards Card. By adding the Value Brand program to the mix, we maximize our savings even more.”

Allison said that commissary patrons can only benefit from a program that is growing and improving every day. His advice: Look for those orange signs.

“We’ve carried most of these items for years, but they were sort of hidden,” he said. “Unless you knew to look for them, you weren’t truly aware they existed. Now we’re giving the customer a highly visible option to compare and add more savings to their shopping experience.”

NOTE: To see photos of the Commissary Value Brand, please visit our Flicker page. And, you can see Value Brand videos on YouTube here and here.

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

Media Contact:
Kevin L. Robinson
(804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773
kevin.robinson@deca.mil

*SEE THE ORIGINAL NEWS RELEASE HERE

You’ll Love the February Deals at Your Commissary

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I don’t know about you, but I’m loving the commissary specials for February! It’s probably because of all the deals in juices and for our furry friends this month.

My husband absolutely loves orange juice. He has at least one tall glass every single day. Seriously, we toss in 2 cartons of OJ in our basket at every visit to the commissary. From February 19 to March 4, Minute Maid Premium orange juice is 2 for $3. That’s right folks, meaning each carton is only $1.50 (yes, I’m pretty excited about it!). We’ll be sticking more than a couple of cartons in our basket in that timeframe. That’s for sure.

Not only will there be a discount on Minute Maid orange juice, V8 brand also will be on sale. The 64 oz. V8 Splash juice drink with flavors like Tropical Blend, Strawberry Kiwi, Berry Blend, Mango Peach or Diet Tropical Blend will be 2 for $3 from February 5 to February 16. I’m the tropical juice drinker, so I’ll be grabbing some of that and if you’re into the V8 Fusion drinks, they will be on sale from February 16 to March 15 at 2 for $4.

In our house, our cat Xena is our furry family member (let me be honest, she’s like a child to me) and it’s important for us to make sure she’s happy too. Her favorite treats, Purina Whisker Lickin’s is only $.99. I can probably get enough treats to last her for years at that price. Purina also has a couple other goods on sale too: One Smartblend Cat Food ($5.50) and Fancy Feast Mornings (65 cents). For the pup lovers, Purina’s 16 lbs. Alpo, Come & Get It or Prime Cuts Dog Food will be $6.99 with 28 oz. T-Bonz snacks at $3.50 and 13 oz. Pro Plan Select Dog Food at $1.26.

There’s no denying that it’s still cold outside for most of us. Campbell’s 17 oz. Organic Soup (Lentil, Chicken Noodle or Sun-Ripened Tomato & Basil) is only $2.33 and Homestyle selections (Chicken Noodle, Zesty Tomato Bisque or Healthy Request Italian-Style Wedding is 2 for $3. Paired with a tasty grilled cheese sandwich any of those would be delicious for a quick weeknight meal.

Don’t forget to pair these great discounts with coupons from coupons.com.

If you’re a huge snacker, there are a handful of deals that might be to your liking. I’ve mentioned before that my husband and I love to hike and I’ve actually shared with you some great trail mix and granola bar recipes in the past. Cascadian Farms’ 13 oz. Organic Granola Cereal will be on sale at $1.99 and that would be a great addition for your trail mix. In addition, Larabar Renola, which is grain free granola (yes, grain free and also gluten free!) is a powerbuy at $4.99 for cinnamon nut or berry. It would be a great alternative to actual granola in your trail mix or granola bar recipes. I’m interested to give it a try!

Other great deals for snacks I have to mention:

  • Totino’s Pizza Rolls, $2.25
  • Totino’s Party Pizza, $.89
  • FritoLay Party Sized: Tostitos, Lay’s Potato Chips, Ruffles and Doritos, $2.98

So basically, if you have the munchies, you’re covered!

Want to see the all of February’s Commissary Specials?

Don’t forget to Sign up for the MilitaryShoppers newsletter to get them delivered directly to your inbox!

Find Affordable International Cuisine at Your Commissary

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Whether you’re stationed at a CONUS or OCONUS location, there is no denying that the commissary is a wonderful resource for military families. MilitaryShoppers recently shared 10 great reasons why your family should be shopping in the commissary mentioning the amazing international food aisle.

The international food aisle has a special place in my heart because it offers a little taste of home for me.

I absolutely love it! My Filipino mother met my father while he was stationed overseas. During my father’s 20+ years in service, we were lucky to be stationed in the Philippines and some other Pacific locations. When we arrived stateside, the commissary provided the supplies needed for my family to recreate the sentimental meals that pretty much summed up my childhood from anywhere we were stationed.

It’s actually a challenge to find certain ingredients at your traditional grocery store, for example, pancit noodles, Sky Flakes or lumpia wrapper wouldn’t be accessible to us otherwise. While we were located in South Carolina, Utah, Texas, among other places, there would be Asian markets that might (only might) have what we need or something comparable, but there was no beating the commissary. It’s always the right price and seemed to more convenient for us. My mom would be able to get her fix on her favorite snacks and we would stock up on rice for months.

The specialty foods might also be spread out throughout the commissary, so keep a lookout. My favorite Filipino sweets are in the bakery section. I noticed them when I was getting dinner rolls, so I was delightfully surprised to see that the commissary distributed them. Also, if I’m not feeling up to making the popular appetizer, lumpia, there are actually pre-rolled frozen, ready-to-cook lumpia in the freezer section. I know they are also there in the commissaries I’ve encountered in the past. Be sure to patrol the freezer section.

In addition to sharing our culture and favorite foods, we were so lucky to come across others from all over the world! The military allows for all families to take a piece of their duty station with them when they PCS and the Asian selection is just a fraction of what’s on hand. In my experience, I am truly amazed and proud of how open the military community is to other cultures– and their food!

Even if you haven’t actually been to an OCONUS location yet, the international foods available gives you an opportunity to try out new flavors or recipes that you’ve been itching to put together. Also, if you received overseas orders, your family can get a head start on the cultural food.

What’s your favorite specialty food item sold at your military commissary?

What’s This Surcharge on My Commissary Receipt?

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There are many great reasons to shop at your military commissary and saving money on groceries is usually No. 1. The commissary is able to sell products on average for 30 percent less than those at civilian grocery stores because all items are sold at cost. This is a great savings for customers, but some still question the real savings when they see the 5 percent surcharge added at the checkout.

Why is there a surcharge at the commissary and what does it cover?

It goes right back into the stores, paying for new construction, renovations and repairs, equipment and store-level information technology systems such as the checkouts. This provides modern facilities for service members at a reduced cost to taxpayers.

According to the Defense Commissary Agency, “the surcharge does not diminish commissary savings, because it is included in our savings calculations along with any state sales tax applied at the retail grocery stores, to show how much our customers actually save at the register.”

The surcharge isn’t new. In fact, Congress set the surcharge in 1952 at 2 percent in order to make commissaries more self-sustaining and less reliant on appropriated funding. It was raised three more times over the years and has stayed at 5 percent since 1983. This surcharge covers all stateside and overseas commissaries now.

The law requires the surcharge to be added to all items sold at the commissary and is therefore applied to the total purchase before coupon deductions are made. For example, if you have $50 worth of groceries before coupons then the 5 percent surcharge would be applied as $50 x .05 = $2.50. If you then have $10 worth in coupons the total at the end of your bill will be $50 + $2.50 surcharge = $52.50 – $10 =$42.50

The next time you buy groceries at the commissary look at your receipt. That surcharge is the amount you personally contributed to improve your commissary.

What changes have you noticed at your local military commissary? Do you have questions about the commissary? Ask us in the comment section below.