Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

15 Military Discounts for a Great School Year

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The back-to-school ritual of buying school supplies, backpacks, lunch boxes, sneakers and clothing can take a bite out of your budget. I know I had sticker shock when buying school supplies for my 2 children. The total cost was insane.

And we still needed to buy new tennis shoes for both of them. I pray that they don’t grow out of their shoes before Halloween.

Military Discounts for a Great School Year

We’ve compiled a list of military discounts to help your child have a great school year.

The costs of getting your kids back to school is no joke. Once school starts, the expenses don’t end. There are still the after-school activities and possibly hiring a tutor to help get your student through chemistry or French.

You can reduce these growing expenses by shopping at stores that offer a military discount. We’ve compiled a list of military discounts to help your child have a great school year.

15 Military Discounts for a Great School Year

Dressing for Success

Old Navy. If you are looking to buy school uniforms (or comfortable school clothes) for your military child, be sure to stop by Old Navy and take advantage of their 10% military discount. This offer is valid for active duty, retired, reserve and military spouses. You must present your military ID card at the time of purchase at the store. This discount is not available for online purchases.

Nike. Nike offers a 10% military discount on Nike.com as well as at Nike, Converse and Hurley stores.

Foot Locker. Foot Locker offers a 20% military discount.

Finish Line. Finish Line has a 20% military discount.

Payless. This shoe store offers a 10% military discount.

Stride Rite. If you have preschoolers, don’t forget to ask about Stride Rite’s 10% military discount.

Adidas Shoes. Adidas Shoes offers a 10% military discount.

Under Armour. Under Armour offers a 10% discount to active duty and veterans on their website and in all Under Armour stores. Online purchases are verified through ID.ME.

Abercrombie & Fitch. The military discount at this store may be 10% or 15%, depending on the location.

Aeropostale. This clothing store offers a military discount of either 10% or 20% depending on the location.

American Eagle Outfitters. American Eagle Outfitters has a 10% to 15% military discount that is available, at the manager’s discretion.

Claire’s. They have a 20% military discount on accessories and jewelry.

Kohl’s. Kohl’s offers a 15% military discount at select stores nationwide.

Gap. The Gap offers a 10% discount on the first of every month. It is available in store only.

When Your Child Needs Help on His Homework

Tutor.com. Active duty service members and their dependents (grades K-12) can receive free tutoring and homework help through Tutor.com. Tutor.com says that “Students can get personalized help in 40 Math, Science, Social Studies, English and World Language subjects, including Algebra, Statistics, Biology, Essay Writing, Spanish, German and French.”

Tutors are also available to help students prepare for the SAT and ACT.

Students can connect with tutors online through their smart phones and tablets 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The service is available every day except on January 1, Thanksgiving and December 25.

This free service is funded by the Department of Defense (DoD) MWR Library Program, the DoD Navy General Library Program, the DoD Voluntary Education Program and Coast Guard Mutual Assistance.

Hire a military spouse. Let’s say your wife is the math whiz in your house, but she’s away for training when your teenager is asking you questions about his geometry homework. Consider hiring a military spouse to temporarily or occasionally tutor your child.

Many military spouses have degrees in education and because of various circumstances they aren’t working full-time. They may be interested in spending 5 hours a week teaching your military child. This can be an affordable option for face-to-face tutoring for military families.

Preparing for College Testing

eKnowledge. Is your military child dreading the ACT or SAT test? Consider enrolling her in eKnowledge’s SAT and ACT College Test Preparation Programs. This interactive, multimedia and online course is available to military dependents for free.

When You’re Feeling the Pinch of Private Tuition

Many private schools offer a military discount, but you need to ask for it. Before you pay the enrollment fees, be sure to speak with a school administrator. Parents should be ready to explain their situation (active duty family, one income) and then ask directly if there’s a possibility of a discount.

Did we miss any great military discounts for this list? Please tell us in the comments section.

4 Tips for Finding Military Discounts

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Military discounts save military spouses and service members money. Who doesn’t want to save money? Everyone. We are all looking for a deal or a discount as a way to spend a little less when dining or shopping off base.

But let’s say that you recently moved to a new location. When you find yourself living in a new city, you are often unaware of which businesses offer military discounts.

What is a savvy money-saving military spouse to do?

Here are 4 tips for finding military discounts at your new location, wherever that may be.

4 Tips for Finding Military Discounts

Are you wondering which local restaurants offer a military discount?

Download military discounts apps on your smartphone.

Downloading a military discount app on your smartphone is the easiest way to find the local restaurants and stores that offer military discounts. There are several different apps available for military families.

I use the SCOUT military discount app. This app, which is free on both Google Play and iOS, is a comprehensive app for identifying military discounts near me. When using the app, I can easily see which businesses offer a discount through the map view.

For example, if I’m shopping at the outlet mall, I can see the red flags on the map and know which retail stores offer a military discount. (Thank you Express!) I can also see how much the discount is.

I like that I can easily add a military discount to the SCOUT military discount app. It takes less than 5 minutes and I feel like I’m helping out other military spouses when I add in my military discount tip. They really need to know about the local coffee shop that offers free coffee for military service members in uniform on Tuesdays. Don’t you agree?

Ask about military discounts in your local spouses Facebook group.

When you’re new to a city, you have a lot of questions. You are looking for the best Chinese take-out place and most affordable hairdresser who will get your color just right.

Where do you turn to for these answers? It’s your local spouses Facebook group.

Every military installation has an “unofficial” spouses Facebook group where you can post your questions and other military spouses will answer it. When you’re asking for recommendations for a vet for your pet or best romantic restaurant to celebrate your anniversary, don’t forget to ask if those businesses offer military discounts.

Follow websites that showcase military discounts.

Information about military discounts is always within your fingertips. Websites, like MilitaryShoppers, are dedicated to sharing military discounts with you. The information is out there, so take advantage of it. Sign up for the MilitaryShoppers newsletter or like us on Facebook so that you know everything there is to know about military discounts. Click here to sign up for the MilitaryShoppers newsletter today!

Ask for a military discount at your favorite restaurants and stores.

For years I simply forgot to ask for a military discount. Don’t be like me.

Whenever you are paying, make it a habit to sweetly ask “do you offer a military discount?” and have your military ID card ready to show the cashier. It never hurts to ask.

What are your tips for finding military discounts in your new city? Share them in the comments section.

35 Military Discounts Save Veterans Money

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Veterans Day gives a lot of businesses from coast-to-coast a reason to offer wonderful military discounts to our service members, veterans and their families. I’ve seen a handful of commercials on TV that have been advertising deals to veterans, which is great! My husband and I have also utilized these special military discounts in the past.

This time of year, there will be a long list of military discounts for military families. But, most businesses will only offer the military discount on November 11. And then, some places might extend it out a day or so before and after Veterans Day.

What about the other 364 days of the year?

To my surprise, there are a lot of businesses that offer year-round military discounts. From restaurants to retailers, the list is pretty extensive. A handful have special military discount days, while others may offer it at any point. Either way, your military family has other chances to use these deals.

Here are 35 military discounts that help veterans and their family members save money.

35 Military Discounts That Can Save Veterans Money

14 Retailers that Offer Military Discounts

  1. Calvin Klein, 15% off purchases
  2. Columbia Sportswear, 10% off purchases
  3. Dell, 10% off purchases
  4. Foot Locker, 20% off purchases
  5. Home Depot, 10% off purchases
  6. Joann Fabrics, 10% off purchases
  7. Lowe’s, 10% off purchases
  8. Michael’s, 10% off purchases
  9. New York and Company, 15% off purchases
  10. Nike, 10% off purchases
  11. Old Navy, Military Mondays 10% off purchases (A little birdie told me it’s everyday now, at least for my local Old Navy. Worth a shot to check out in your neck of the woods!)
  12. Payless Shoe Store, 10% off purchases
  13. Timberland, 20% off purchases
  14. Under Armour, 10% off purchases

11 Restaurants That Offer Military Discounts

  1. Applebee’s, 10% off military discount
  2. Boston Market, 20% off military discount
  3. Buffalo Wild Wings, 10% off military discount
  4. Denny’s, 10% off military discount
  5. Joe’s Crab Shack, 10% off military discount
  6. Longhorn Steakhouse, 10% off military discount
  7. Quiznos, 10% off military discount
  8. Red Lobster, 10% off military discount
  9. Sonic Drive-In, 10% off military discount
  10. Texas Roadhouse, 10% off military discount
  11. T.G.I. Fridays, 10% off military discount

8 Travel Military Discounts

  1. Amtrak, 10% off military discount
  2. Carnival, offers military fares
  3. Choice Hotels, offers military/government rate
  4. Marriott, offers military/government rate
  5. Hilton, offers military/government rate
  6. Ramada, offers military/government rate (My husband and I got a great deal when we visited family earlier this month.)
  7. Royal Caribbean, special rates on select cruises
  8. Wyndham Hotels, offers military/government rate (Last Thanksgiving, we stayed at the Wyndham in Gettysburg, Penn., and loved the deal we got!)

2 Special Websites Listing Military Discounts

  1. GovX. As a huge shopping hub open to Armed Forces personnel and their closest family members, GovX offers amazing deals! Whether it is technology or tactical gear and everything in between, the online destination has it all. My family uses it to buy sporting event tickets. They offer exclusive discounts to watch your favorite teams no matter the time of year!
  2. ID.me Shop. This is another website that offers special deals to military members. You can get special alerts sent to you, so you’re in the know of the places that are currently running discounts. Some of the places that I mention above offer a cash back bonus in addition to the military discount through ID.me like Under Armour and Dell Computers.

All locations that I mentioned are subject to change, so ask your local store employees if they offer a military discount.

Also, some businesses have limitations. For example, Lowe’s offers 10% up to $500. I shared a lot of businesses that my husband and myself use on a regular basis. In addition, I asked other military friends and families of their favorite places too.

Keep in mind that this list just touches on the available military discounts out there. There are a lot of wonderful local businesses that offer a military discount along with some bigger franchise out here. It doesn’t hurt to ask any business you patronize if they offer a military discount.

Which military discounts do you use the most when shopping or traveling?

Military Discounts – Which Ones Are Your Favorites?

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military discounts, shopping for military

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?