As part of the Defense Commissary Agency‘s continuing efforts to increase value and convenience at military commissaries across the world, military shoppers at more than 200 commissaries will have the option to use their Military Star card to pay for groceries starting in October. The additional credit card payment method is being incorporated into the point-of-sale payment overhaul already scheduled for the fall.
There are many reasons to be excited about this new option and a few concerns you may want to consider before using your Military Star card at the commissary.
The Benefits of Using Your Military Star Card at the Commissary
Many shoppers are already using credit cards to pay for groceries. Using the Military Star card has some distinct advantages:
Low Interest Rate
In addition to the low interest rate and fair credit lines offered even to those with little or bad credit , the Star card offers no late or over limit fees and the interest rate is reduced and payments waived during deployments. For junior service members and their spouses, the Military Star card can be a great way to build good credit.
Reap the Rewards
In addition to the Commissary Rewards program, shoppers using their Star card can earn extra rewards. Just like many other retail rewards cards, Military Star card users earn 10% back on all of their purchases. These rewards come in the form of a certificate or payment cards that are eligible for redemption at exchanges, shoppettes and on-post food vendors.
Our fingers are crossed that the rewards will also be eligible for use at the commissary. Every reward earned offers shoppers the potential to save some of their hard-earned cash.
Using the Star Card Supports MWR Programs
A considerable amount of the monies earned through interest on Military Star cards is used to fund MWR events and programs. Using your Star card helps keep our military dollars within our community.
Provides Options to Military Families
In her article, Star Card At The Commissary: Good or Bad? , Kate Horrell mentions one important benefit of this payment option:
“Service members who have run out of money will be able to purchase affordable, real food on credit instead of buying expensive junk food at the exchanges or minimarts/shoppettes.”
We know an unhealthy diet is usually a cheap diet, so having the Star card as an option for those months where a paycheck runs a little thin could be a value for some military families.
DeCA Gets to Save
Adding the Military Star card to the list of credit cards currently accepted at commissaries offers a direct benefit to DeCA. For every credit card purchase processed, DeCA must pay a small transaction fee to the credit card processor. Military Star card transactions, in comparison, cost less than say the fees paid to Visa or Mastercard.
The Concerns Associated with Using Your Military Star Card at the Commissary
So we’ve covered the benefits, but what should service members and their families think about before swiping their Star card? Two words – debt management.
Using the card to earn rewards can be a great way to stretch your budget, but that only works to your advantage if you pay off your credit card balance each month.
Credit for Consumables
Many financial advisors warn against using credit to purchase consumable goods. While it is easy and convenient to charge that $200 grocery bill to a credit card, if you only pay the minimum payment, by the time you pay off the balance, you’ll have paid an additional $15 or more in interest. And if you make a habit of it for every weekly grocery run, your annual grocery shopping bill could be more than $700 over what it would have been if you’d just paid cash.
Option for Garnishment
Plus, if you use your Star Card and don’t make a payment, you may soon find your military wages garnished to pay the bill. Regular credit cards don’t have that option.
If you are going to use your Military Star card at the commissary, reap the benefits, but take care to treat it just like any other credit card purchase and shop responsibly.
I think it’s a great idea! I will certainly use mine. I’ve use credit cards in the commissary, and some have higher APR rates than I like……so the Star Card will be a greater advantage as far as lower finance charges and the option of rewards.certificates.
Reward is 2% not 10%. Still a great deal vs a non-rewards card.
Maybe. I found out they expire your points if you don’t reach a certain level. I stopped using the card.
How did you figure 10% back on all purchases?
Yes. We used to buy gift cards to use at the commissary!mthis way, we pay less to use the card and get the rewards, It’s a win win!
It’s about time! Should have been allowed to use it there for many years already! Somebody who makes decisions finally got smart! 🙂
I think it’s a great idea. I will be using it at the commissary if it comes available to use there. Also some people only have the STAR Card that you said at the gas station they use it at the bowling alley they use it at the BX so why not use it at the commissary it all goes back to MWR anyway I think it’s a great idea.
Yes, of course. Use other credit cards but really never gave the Military Star a thought!thought – good idea.
Absolutely! I love my Military Star Card and have hoped it would be accepted at the Commissary someday!
When the Star card first appeared it was a rip-off of the service member. Many service members were lured into accepting this “benefit” only to be hit with high interest rates and aggressive collection people that would pester the military leadership in efforts to collect money from young soldiers whose spouse had run up the credit card while he was deployed.
Most definitely! Yes!!
We are retired an we purchase our fuel on the bases and the thing’s we need from the exchange..this would be great.
Yes, I would definitely use my Military Star Card at the Commissary.
Great idea and yes, I probably will. I had already asked at my commissary about using it. I like the rewards generated by using my Star card and I always pay the amount owed off in full.
I would, upon occasion use my card.
14 years ago, my husband was a private. On our first move out of basic training we had to drive 18 hours to our duty station. We had just enough money to get there,and then our car broke down on the way. I had to borrow money to fix the car and pay for 3 extra days in a hotel in a town I didn’t plan on staying in. When we finally got to our duty station we were flat broke. I went to the commissary thinking I could use the star card for groceries, but when I got to the check out they said no. I have seen countless people make the same mistake. I even paid for a persons groceries who I saw was in the same situation that I was in 14 years ago. This could really help families who are just getting started in their military career.
Absolutely, I will use my Military Star card at the Commissary. Anything to benefit our service members is a good thing.
I will use it because of the way I use my Star Card it will be a net gain for me. I have two cards, a debit bank card that pays straight from my bank account and my basic Exchange Star Card. The Star Card is my only credit account. I make sure I never have a statement balance I can’t pay, thus I pay the last statement balance off each month, hence no interest accrues and with the rewards program, I will get more reward points. Basically, I already get a net gain from the way I use my card, so for me with not accruing interest and more rewards, I will see an increase in my current net gain by using it at the Commissary. Also with the Star Card, the statement cycle is from the 5th each month to the 4th of the next month, when that cycle closes you then have until the close of the next statement cycle on the 4th of the month after that to pay it off to avoid interest. Depending on how close to the 5th I use my card I can have virtually two months to pay those purchases off before interest accrues. Therefore because I currently pay for my groceries directly from my bank account at the time of purchase, I can by starting on the 5th and sticking to my typical commissary expenditures, have a perpetual two month delay of actually paying out of my bank account for them, that creates a virtual circumstance that will be like getting two months of groceries for free. Yep, I will definitely use it, a net gain from the Star Card via their rewards program and a virtual two months of free groceries, it’s a win, win for me.
Not free, virtual of otherwise. You still have to pay it’s just at the end of two(2) months. TNSTAAFL!!
This is mainly to clarify my original post and to reaffirm what I wrote was factual and actual. Please read carefully, if you don’t it may be difficult to follow and you will be as confused and misinformed as the above reply to my first post. First, this technique is not something I came up with, this is a common accounting technique of converting to deferred pay (financing) from cash pay to save the money otherwise paid with a cash method during the period of deferment granted by the financing source. The virtual circumstance I referred to can only occur under conditions like that which I stated; here I will outline it in more detail. I currently pay for commissary purchases with a cash method, from my bank account, at the time, hence I’m paying now, not months later, as you can with a charge card (paying from your bank account or other cash source is when you actually pay for things not when it’s deferred as with a charge card). So in this circumstance, where I will be converting from a cash method (directly from my bank account) to a deferred payment method (charge card), during those first two intervening months I literal will NOT pay from my bank account for commissary purchases, that is NOT virtual, but maintaining it is, I will elaborate. (For the next part, just for clarification; with the Star Card the statement balance is not the total account balance on the card at that time, nor is it the amount due to avoid a late payment, it’s the designated past amount you have to pay by the designated date to avoid interest [see my previous post for those details], which allows, if paid on time, a perpetually carried two month worth of charges with out interest). Yes, I pay for those particular purchases when I pay each corresponding Star Card statement balance (not the account balance) two months from when I start, but not with money that would have otherwise been spent on those particular commissary purchases during those months. When I start to pay the commissary purchases again, what I pay the commissary portions of each statement balance with is money from the current month’s pay, money that would otherwise have paid the current month’s commissary purchases. The current month’s purchases are being charged to the card, to be paid with the statement balance that is not due for two months, the purchases from the previous month are still being carried (interest free) to be paid with the next due statement balance, again with money that would have otherwise paid for that current month’s commissary purchases. It will continue like that each following month perpetually as long as I pay off the statement balance. That is why I said “virtual”, though I will literally pay for those particular purchases, it’s not with the money I otherwise would have paid them with, I get to keep that money, the same as if I didn’t pay for them at all. That perpetual deferment and maintaining it is key to this technique working, though I get to actually keep that first two months of shopping money, it remains virtually because it relies on maintaining the perpetual deferment in paying for each particular month of purchases. I would “pay up” if I paid off the account balance in full such as to switch to having a zero balance at the start of each statement cycle, rather than just the current statement balance from each cycle as I currently do. As well as if I paid off the card to close the account or for example to convert back to cash method, where I have to pay past balances from a cash source while still paying cash/now for current purchases. However again by always paying off just the statement balance, those circumstances can be put off for as long as I want, to the point where when I started it will be so long ago it’s of no appreciable consequence or they need never occur. Potentially if I stick to the payment method of always paying just the current statement balance on time, because of the perpetual deferment it creates, of always paying purchases up to two months after they occur, I would not have to pay off those two deferred months of the charges or interest on my Star Card in my lifetime, though it could be paid off through my “estate” posthumously by whom ever handles the affairs of my final “estate”, I directly would not.
I have been using a credit card with a cash back program and I pay off all my credit card bill every month. So unless the Star card gives me more cash back, I will continue using my Mastercard at the commissary.
I think it’s a great idea!
This has been a long time coming. So glad to be able to use one card for everything on base. The Star Card is such a good deal and always so much better than most credit cards – wish we could use it in civilian stores.
Yes I would definitely use it.
Would definitely use my Star card in the commissary.
I would LOVE to be able to use my Star Card at the Commissary. I would only have to keep one card accessible while on post and the “cash back rewards” are much higher. I had the Star MasterCard (which was wonderful, one card for everything), then they broke it down into 2 cards again (but at least I was still getting 2% on post) and now they are getting rid of it completely. The only downside I see is that I can pay my credit card bill with the points I accrue, but only get AAFES gift cards with the Star Card. I “can’t” use gift cards to pay for gas (lose my 5¢) or food court (lose my 10%) and as long as I am stationed CONUS, I don’t use the Main Exchange much (not cost effective vs Commissary, Target etc.).
We don’t have a STAR card anymore. We are all cash and debit cards. However, if we had a STAR card, we still should not use it. Thanks for asking.
This will be a great opportunity to help those who cannot manage through the months when there bank accounts are short and they need to buy food. The Star card should consider lowering there intrest on the card. Because not all of us can pay the card off when received.
I thought this was long over due. It makes a lot of sense, Support ourselves, at the same time MWR. REMEMBER it is still a CREDIT CARD!
I would use my star card there. I am Air Force retired. The commissary is the best prices available.
I will definitely use my Star card if I can also reap the rewards. This is a great benefit!!!
When it comes to groceries o try to is debit. If I absolutely have to use credit I would want to pay that off as soon as possible. What’s the point of trying to save money at the commissary if you only end up paying interest. I usually don’t purchase everyday items with my Star card. I usually buy other things like pots and pans or even furniture and iPods. And at the commissary you pay a surcharge. At the BX you don’t pay tax or anything. Maybe a deli charge at most. For military families trying to save money I would vote against using the Star card unless absolutely necessary.
Yes I will use my military star card
YesI I will. Will benefit me as I have had to use a higher APR card close to payday at an outside store closer to home.
Would not use it! My Sam’s Club MasterCard returns 2% cash for groceries!
Personally, I think it’s a bad idea to accept the card at the commissary, too easy for junior personnel to get into deep debt. Great idea for those who are able to use it and pay it off monthly.
It’s ABOUT TIME! Now if we can also use it to Pay our MWR Bills…HELLO!
Yes, of course I will….why not?
I pay off my credit card balance every month…would rather use Star Card, than other type of charge card.
I think it is a great idea!!
I use the Star Card on base in the exchange, to get a haircut, to buy gas, why not in the commissary? Yes, I am in favor of commissary use to be added to the list of uses.
yes, for sure
Yes I will use it at the commissary
Yes, we use the Star Card at commissary and gas station. Question, why does the USAF get five cents off per gallon when using the card and the Navy does not????
Yes, I will definitely use it. Too many benefits for the overall military community, as well as for the user. It is nice to see the Star Card eligibility vendor use expanded since it is so limited at present; just the PX and concessionaires at present.
USN CDR (ret.)
Way overdue concept. Should be authorized for all military purchases .
Yes I would use mine.
.I will definitely use it.. I’m surprised they haven’t done it sooner.
We would use it, since we already pay by card.
i have a VISA card that gets 1% and pays in cash after spending $2500. i call and my option is to get a $25.00 check.
i got two the commissary twice a month spending 600 a month. and the only time i use the military card is when i plan to buy a fridge or large item and there is a special to use your card. on my card i also get 5 cent of a gallon of gas when a go to walmart’s gas station.
i dont think it would work out for me…..unless i could use the card anywhere and ge t10% off all my purchases.
count me out.
Great! Let’s go with it.
Yes, I would use the Star card at the commissary.
yes, I would use at commissary
Yes, I will use my Star Card at the Commissary. When I first got it, years ago, I was amazed that I could not use it at the Commissary.
Yes and Yes! Convenience and 10% back!
I will probably use mine at the commissary.
I will not use the military star card in the commissary. 1. Using a revolving charge for groceries is just wrong. Only if there has been a monetary emergency during the month and it’s the only way the family is going to eat should it ever be considered. 2. You don’t get 10% in rewards from the Star Card, you get 2%. I get 6% on my AMEX blue card and I can get that as a statement credit which is the same as cash in the bank. 3. Star card rewards can only be redeemed for merchandise in the Exchange which unfortunately is rarely the cheapest place in town.
I don’t understand the statement above under Rewards that “Military Star card users earn 10% back on all their purchases”? This is not true now or for the years I have been a Military Star card holder. Please explain
Absolutely, I will use it at the Commissary. Perhaps not every visit but nonetheless I will use it. It’s a great idea
Sounds good to me…will be using it…
I read Fall, but do you have an exact date?