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Back to School Sidewalk Sales Coming to Our Commissaries

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Sadly, our summer vacation is coming to an end.

We will soon swap our lazy mornings for a fast-paced up and out the door routine. I guarantee there will be tears and resistance, and my kids aren’t too excited about the change either!

We can choose to spend our last days of summer sulking and wondering where the time went or we can head to our commissary and stock up on all the back to school essentials.

The Defense Commissary Agency announced the Back to School Sidewalk Sales beginning mid-August and running through September will take the place of the annual case lot sales. Don’t fret over the loss of the case lot sales, the Back to School sale offers savings on healthy family breakfasts, fresh-packed school lunches, after-school snacks, club pack items, cases of breakfast cereals, bottled water and much more.

Here is the list of Back to School Sidewalk Sale dates:

August Back to School Sidewalk Sale Dates

July 26-29

Patrick AFB

August 1-4

  • Key West NAS
  • Kingsville NAS
  • Schofield Barracks

August 1-3

Fort Rucker

August 1-5

Tyndall AFB

August 2-3

Air Force Academy

August 2-4

Charleston AFB

August 2-5

  • Fort Leavenworth
  • Kaneohe Bay MCBH
  • Quantico MCB

August 3-4

Fort Knox

August 10-11

  • Tobyhanna

August 13-16

  • Jacksonville NAS

August 14-16

  • Laughlin AFB

August 15-18

  • New River MCAS
  • Portsmouth NSY

August 15-19

  • Fort Hood – Clear Creek

August 16-18

  • Albany MCLB
  • Buckley AFB
  • Camp Merrill
  • Carlisle Barracks
  • Gunter AFB
  • New London

August 16-19

  • Anchorage Area
  • Barksdale AFB
  • Fort Belvoir
  • Fort Bragg North
  • Fort Myer
  • Imperial Beach
  • MacDill AFB
  • Smokey Point

August 17

  • Rota

August 17-18

  • Barstow MCLB
  • Bremerton NBK
  • Cairo
  • Chievres AB
  • Fort Gordon
  • Fort Hunter Liggett
  • Rock Island Arsenal
  • Shaw AFB
  • Sheppard AFB
  • Sigonella
  • Vogelweh

August 17-19

  • Annapolis NSA
  • Camp Casey
  • Cannon AFB
  • Charleston NWS
  • Edwards AFB
  • Eielson AFB
  • Forest Glen
  • Great Lakes NS
  • Hario Village
  • Kodiak
  • Lemoore NAS
  • McConnell AFB
  • Ord Community
  • Patch Barracks
  • Schinnen
  • Scott AFB
  • Selfridge ANGB
  • Vance AFB
  • White Sands
  • Yokota AB

August 17-20

  • Fort Riley

August 18

  • Ansbach
  • Lajes Field

August 18-19

  • Wiesbaden

August 18-20

  • Camp Zama

August 20-21

  • Dugway PG

August 21-22

  • Hohenfels

Aug. 23-25

  • Corpus Christi NAS
  • Crane NSA
  • Lakehurst NAES
  • Meridian NAS

August 23-26

  • Alconbury
  • JB Andrews AFB
  • Robins AFB

August 24

  • Mildenhall

August 24-25

  • Lakenheath

August 24-26

  • Aviano AB
  • Little Rock AFB
  • New Orleans NSA
  • Randolph AFB
  • Tinker AFB
  • Vicenza

August 24-27

  • K-16 Airfield Commissary

August 27-31

  • Hickam AFB

August 28-31

  • Beale AFB
  • Bolling AFB
  • Seymour Johnson AFB

August 28 – September 1

  • Fort Eustis
  • Parris Island MCRD

August 29 – September 1

  • Bridgeport MCMWTC
  • Fallon NAS
  • Fort Stewart
  • Offutt AFB

August 30-31

  • Pensacola NAS
  • Picatinny Arsenal

August 30 – September 1

  • Aberdeen PG
  • Arnold AFB
  • Baumholder
  • China Lake NAWS
  • Croughton
  • Fort Drum
  • Fort Greely
  • Fort Jackson
  • Fort Polk
  • Garmisch
  • Goodfellow AFB
  • Holloman AFB
  • Little Creek Navphibase
  • Maxwell AFB
  • McGuire AFB
  • Memphis NSA
  • Mitchel Field
  • Newport NS
  • Pittsburgh Area
  • Redstone Arsenal
  • Saratoga Springs
  • Whiting Field NAS

August 30 – September 2

  • Camp Lejeune MCB
  • Fort Lewis
  • Fort Sam Houston
  • Gulfport NCBC
  • Kirtland AFB
  • Kings Bay NSB
  • Keesler AFB
  • Lackland AFB
  • Luke AFB
  • Mayport NS
  • Richards-Gebaur
  • San Diego NB
  • Spangdahlem Air Base
  • Whidbey Island NAS

August 31 – September 1

  • Fort Lee
  • Peterson AFB
  • Sasebo
  • Yokosuka NFA

August 31 – September 2

  • Andersen AFB
  • Camp Foster MCB
  • Camp Kinser MCB
  • Camp Pendleton MCB
  • Chinhae
  • Daegu
  • Davis-Monthan AFB
  • Fort Campbell
  • Hill AFB
  • Harrison Village
  • Kadena AB
  • Los Angeles AFB
  • Moffett Field
  • Moody AFB
  • Norfolk NAVSTA
  • Osan AB
  • Portsmouth NNSY
  • Sagamihara
  • Vandenberg AFB

August 31 – September 3

  • Camp Carroll
  • Iwakuni MCAS

August 31 – September 4

  • March ARB

September Back to School Sidewalk Sales Dates

September 1-2

  • Dover AFB

September 3-6

  • Menwith Hill

September 4-7

  • Panzer Kaserne

September 5-6

  • Izmir

September 6-9

  • Bangor ANGB

September 7-8

  • Bangor NBK
  • Fort McCoy
  • Incirlik AB
  • Riyadh

September 7-9

  • Camp Humphreys
  • Fort Worth

September 8-9

  • Ankara
  • F. E. Warren AFB

Sept. 12-16

  • Columbus AFB

September 13

  • Kelley Barracks

September 13-15

  • Dahlgren NSF
  • Eglin AFB
  • Fort Benning
  • Fort Bragg South
  • Fort Sill
  • Malmstrom AFB
  • Wright-Patterson AFB

September 13-16

  • Dyess AFB
  • Ellsworth AFB
  • Fairchild AFB
  • Fort Bliss
  • McChord AFB
  • Miramar MCAS
  • Nellis AFB
  • North Island NAS
  • Travis AFB

September 14

  • Livorno
  • Rota

September 14-15

  • Patuxent River NAS
  • Vilseck
  • Whiteman AFB

September 14-16

  • Altus AFB
  • Atsugi NAF
  • Cherry Point MCAS
  • Fort Carson
  • Fort Hamilton
  • Fort Huachuca
  • Fort Leonard Wood
  • Fort Wainwright
  • Hanscom AFB
  • Kunsan AB
  • Minot AFB
  • Misawa AB
  • Naples NSA
  • Oceana NAS
  • Orote
  • Robinson Barracks
  • San Onofre
  • West Point
  • Yongsan

September 15-16

  • Camp Courtney MCB
  • Ramstein AB

September 20-23 

  • Fort Detrick

September 21-22

  • Grafenwoehr

September 24-27

  • Fort Irwin

September 27-29

  • Langley AFB
  • McClellan
  • Port Hueneme

September 27-30

  • Fort Hood – Warrior Way
  • Hurlburt Field

September 28-30

  • Fort Meade
  • Grand Forks AFB
  • Mountain Home AFB
  • Pearl Harbor

October 13-15

  • Twentynine Palms MCAGCC

October 12-13

  • Yuma PG

October 12-14

  • El Centro NAF

October 26-28

  • Yuma MCAS

In addition to the savings the Back to School Sidewalk Sales, participating commissaries will also be hosting sale events throughout August and some of these are pretty cool!

The first event is the Back to School Sweepstakes. Patrons can enter to win a $100 commissary or exchange gift cards or a $50 entertainment/restaurant gift card that can be used at AAFES theatres or exchange food malls. For full details and instructions on how to enter this sweepstakes, ask your local commissary manager.

The next event is the Box Tops for Education event taking place from August 6-19 at participating stores.

Cutting out box tops can be a pain, but schools can earn up to $20,000 a year from Box Tops.

What could your school do with an extra $20,000?

This promotion includes double box top value on several General Mills products, high-value coupons, in-store product demonstrations and decorative displays.

“Make this School Year a Success Story” is another event taking place August 6 to 19. This event sponsored by Kellogg’s and Scholastics offers discounted prices on Kellogg’s brand items and free Scholastic books. These free books would make a great addition to your child’s classroom library. For full details visit your local commissary.

This promotion doesn’t only save money but will provide a fun family outing. Back-to-school free movie ticket allows customers to earn a free movie ticket when they purchase seven name brand products in one transaction at participating commissaries between August 5 and September 5.

Brands include Gatorade, Entenmann’s, Oreo, Nabisco, Frito Lay, Planters, Capri Sun, Kraft, Oscar Mayer, Hillshire Farm, (these are all lunch box staples) Aveeno, Neutrogena, Tylenol, Listerine, Centrum, Tums, Sensodyne, Aquafresh, Biotene, (great opportunity to stock up on personal hygiene products) Scott towels and Kleenex (these are a must-have for any classroom). For complete rules for the back-to-school free movie ticket, check out your local commissary.

The AXE “Back to School” Sweepstakes is perfect for parents of middle school and high school boys.

Visit the AXE shower gel, deodorant and hair care product displays in your local commissary from now through September 15 to enter to win a variety of prizes including commissary gift cards, Apple MacBooks, iPads, iPods and Apple gift cards. There will more than 90 prizes awarded.

Cheese is a great way for kids to get much-needed protein and dairy wrapped up in a healthy snack.  The Say “Cheese Please!” promotion offers savings on Freedom’s Choice cheese products. Stock up on all things cheese August 20 through September 9 at your local commissary.

If these great promotions and sales aren’t enough to soften the blow of the preparation for a new school year, DeCA’s industry partners will be offering additional discounts and themed items with low pricing. Be sure to check the end of the aisle for these discounted products.

Most of these promotions are offered worldwide however some overseas stores may have substitute events for certain promotional programs. Customers are encouraged to check with their store manager to confirm dates and promotions.

The start of a new school year is often met with a little anxiety, especially for our military children who experience the first day in a new school far too often.

By stocking up on school supplies, breakfasts must-haves, lunch box necessities and healthy afternoon snacks we can all step into the new school year prepared and ready for success.

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You Can Buy Commissary Gift Cards at the NEX

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You can now buy commissary gifts cards at 43 NEX locations.

The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) and the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) announced this decision saying they “teamed up to make it more convenient for you to share the gift of groceries with the authorized commissary customers in your life!”

“NEXCOM and DeCA teams have provided a win-win for our shared patrons. This coordinated effort seeks to provide our deserving customers additional convenience, and throughout the year our teams will be continuing the collaboration on other joint opportunities and events for our service members and their families,” said Retired Rear Adm. Robert J. Bianchi, NEXCOM CEO and DeCA Interim Director and CEO in a press release.

Until recently, you could only purchase commissary gift cards at the commissary or online from DeCA’s website.

Now the cards are in the NEX, near the front registers. When you purchase one, tell the cashier how much to load onto the gift card. The minimum is $5. The maximum is $300.

These gift cards can only be redeemed by an authorized commissary patron, which means the person receiving the gift card must have commissary privileges. If you’re thinking about giving one as a thank you gift to your child’s caregiver at the on-base Child Development Center, double check that he or she is able to purchase items at the commissary. Government employees do not have commissary privileges unless they are a military spouse or retired service member.

Here are five more things you need to know about commissary gift cards:

Expiration Date. The cards expire five years from the date of purchase.

Gift Card Balance. You can check the balance of your gift card by calling 877-988-4438.

Handling Fee. If you purchase the gift card online, there is a handling fee. There is not a fee is you purchased the gift card at the commissary or NEX.

Overseas Shipping. Gift cards can be mailed to APO, FPO or DPO addresses. This is great when your husband is deployed and you know he needs snacks. You don’t have spend time and money buying the snacks and shipping them in a care package. You can send him a commissary gift card and he can pick out what he wants from the closest commissary.

No Limit. There’s not a limit on how many gift cards you can purchase at once. But if you’re the FRG president and you need 10 gift cards with $100 on each card for your command’s Thanksgiving social, it may make more sense to order the cards online.

This decision by DeCA and NEXCOM to sell gift cards in the NEX is just one in a series of promotions that are linking commissaries and exchanges.

First DeCA allowed patrons to use their Military Star Card at commissaries. Prior to this, patrons could not use their Military Star Card at the commissary. Then DeCA and AAFES did a joint promotion for April’s Month of the Military Child. In May, some commissaries co-hosted a sidewalk sale with their nearby exchanges.

What does these joint promotions and sales between the commissaries and exchanges mean for DeCA’s future?

Honestly, it’s too early to tell, but it looks like the line between DeCA and the exchange is becoming blurred. Will these combined promotions increase sales at commissaries? Maybe.

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Don’t Miss Your Commissary’s Sidewalk Sale

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by Amanda Marksmeier, Guest Contributor

I have a confession to make. I am slightly obsessed with TLC’s “Extreme Couponing” and thanks to TV streaming services I can binge watch as many coupon clipping episodes as my heart desires. For those not familiar with the show, it follows couponers through the process of clipping, creating lists, searching deals, down the grocery aisles culminating in the final check out where viewers share in the nail-biting excitement to see just how much money was saved.

I know reality TV is far from real. I know most of these extreme savings are almost impossible to achieve for the average shoppers. I have tried my hand at couponing, price matching and searching for the best deal but let’s face it, it requires a lot of time, math and patience to master the art of extreme couponing. Between working, carpooling, cleaning, care for the kids and my other half I don’t have the time to invest.

For those of us too busy for extreme couponing fear not, we can still save big at the upcoming commissary sidewalk sale!

“Thank You For Your Service”

The Defense Commissary Agency, which operates more than 250 commissaries worldwide, is saying “Thank You For Your Service” to their patrons by hosting commissary sidewalk sales throughout the months of April and May.

These sales coincide with April’s Month of the Military Child and May’s Military Appreciation Month.

Weather permitting all commissaries, stateside and abroad, will host a two- or three-day sidewalk sale event beginning April 16 and running through May 31. Visit your commissary’s website to see the exact dates of the sale in your area.

What’s on Sale?

My favorite part of “Extreme Couponing” is the stockpiles. If you are a fan of the show you know what I’m talking about. Garage shelves lined with hundreds of bottles of detergent, boxes of dried pasta and tubes of toothpaste. I can remember one episode where a teenage boy had a stockpile of feminine hygiene products. Why, you ask. Because he got them all free!

While I don’t condone hoarding products you don’t need, creating a stockpile of products your family uses not only saves on trips to the store but also can save tons of cash!

The sidewalk sale will be slashing prices on food sold by the case. Think canned food items. These are great to stock up on while on sale. Imagine purchasing a couple of cases of peas, carrots, and corn. You’ll have veggies for months. In addition to case sales, you can also take advantage of mix and match sales on products such as barbecue sauce, cold cereals, dry pasta, yogurt and more.

Mix and match sale items include a variety of products like fruit snacks, crackers, pastries, popcorn and potato chips, perfect for school lunches.

Summer is coming which means the kids will be home all day. Start preparing now by loading up on juices, teas, and snacks, with these low prices you can get your little one’s favorite summer treats!

Stay hydrated with sales on water, juices, sodas, sports drinks, milk and more. My family buys milk two gallons at a time so I will be taking advantage of the deals on milk. Fill your freezer with frozen family meals for those busy weeknights or during the deployment slump when you don’t feel like cooking.

Some of my favorite get-togethers are themed dinners. Who doesn’t love an Italian night or Taco Tuesday? International foods such as Italian, Asian and Hispanic items can be purchased at discounted prices during the commissary sidewalk sale.

Storage, freezer, sandwich and snack bags will be on sale as well as paper products and cleaning supplies. Now is your chance to load up on laundry detergent – it will come in handy when your service member returns home from the field or deployment!

If all the food and paper products aren’t enough savings, health and beauty items will be included in the commissary sidewalk sale as well. Oh, and did I mention diapers and wipes? Diapers, second to formula, is the largest expense families incur with babies. On average it costs a family over $500 a year to diaper a baby. Cut some of that cost by stocking up on diapers during the commissary sidewalk sale.

Need more savings? Some commissaries will be partnering with nearby exchanges for additional promotions and sales.

According to the USDA, a family of four spends on average $200 a week on groceries. The sidewalk sale is a way for military families to reduce their weekly spending by creating a stockpile of non-perishable and bulk items.

So what items will you be picking up at your commissary’s sidewalk sale?

Amanda Marksmeier is an Army wife and mother of four. She works as an employment specialist assisting the military community in achieving their career goals. Amanda is also a contributing writer for a quarterly employment journal and has written for several military affiliated blogs.

Will You Use the ‘No Bagger’ Lane at Your Commissary?

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Every Sunday hubby and I peruse the aisles of the commissary. We cross items off our list, but inevitably end up in the checkout lane with way more than we had planned on buying. Somehow the 3 teenagers who call our house home never fail in depleting our pantry.

We toss our canvas bags up onto the conveyor belt and try to put like items up to be bagged together: first the refrigerated stuff, then the boxes and cans, followed by produce, and then all of the fragile items like bread and eggs.

In an off-base grocery store, one of us would be quick to take up a fighting position down at the bagging area, carefully arranging our groceries to facilitate the quickest dispersal into our cabinets and refrigerator.

At the commissary bagging our groceries has never been an option…until now.

The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) began a test run of checkout lanes with no baggers in January after receiving customer feedback requesting it. At 121 commissaries shoppers have the option to choose a lane where they bag their own groceries. Differing from the self-checkout lanes, which have long since been available, these lanes will still have a dedicated cashier to ring your groceries up for you.

I haven’t seen this option at our commissary, but even so, I’m a little torn about the idea.

While my husband and I like bagging our own groceries at off-base grocery stores, tipping a bagger at the commissary is a military community tradition.

Baggers have been a part of the commissary “experience” for as long as I can remember. Even growing up overseas as an Air Force brat, I remember the nice ladies and teenagers who walked with us out to the car and helped to load the bulk of our weekly foraging.

What I didn’t know as a kid is that all commissary baggers, most of whom are retirees, military spouses and military dependents, are independent contractors.

As such, they do not add to the cost of running the commissary in any way, but that doesn’t mean, of course, that they offer their services for free.

Admittedly, there was a time, back when we were a younger military family, that even a few extra dollars each week had an impact. I can’t tell you how many times I had to to scrounge for quarters or crumpled up dollar bills to tip the nice kid who loaded up the back of my car while I tried to wrangle my kids into their car seats. I am sure there was more than one occasion when I was angry and frustrated at having to offer some kind of payment, even though, technically, it’s not required. And it would have been a commissary etiquette faux pas to ask them not to bag my haul.

But now, thanks to many years of hard work and progression in our chosen careers, hubby and I can certainly afford to pass a five-spot to the retiree or high school student trying to make a few extra bucks during the weekend shopping rush.

When you consider that the average check out experience probably runs about 10 to 12 minutes, I’d wager baggers are making about $10 to 15 per hour, a reasonable wage considering most of their work is done over just a couple of days a week.

I like the idea of being able to pack my groceries the way I want them packed.

Even just the few minutes it saves after we arrive home is welcomed. But the thought of not having the baggers available, of potentially ending that tradition, makes me a little sad.

I am all for progress, but the idea of potentially eliminating a job opportunity for folks within our military community to continue to serve in our community just feels wrong.

Baggers are a long-standing tradition of military commissaries. Is it time to send them packing?

More Commissary Brand Items Available to Shoppers

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The commissary is a consistent source of quality products at good prices. Shoppers know that they will be able to find the essentials, like milk and bread, as well as specialty products, like German potato dumping mix or Korean chili paste.

Now the commissary has even more value in store as they continue to roll out their store brand products.

Private Label Price Perks

Store brand, also called private label, products are offered at lower prices to customers. Stores offer brands developed in-house or through labels created with their retail suppliers. This helps to cut out the middleman and provide quality products at lower prices.

Major grocery retailers, like Giant, Walmart and Target, have offered private label products for years. These brands often span the spectrum of grocery items and dry goods, like toilet paper or disposable plates and utensils.

Recent surveys and studies indicated that commissary patrons were shopping off base in order to take advantage of sales and lower prices on store brands at major retailers. Approximately 20% of sales at these retailers involved their own private label brands.

3 Brands for All Commissary Products

The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) has produced 3 store brand labels, with their private label supplier SpartanNash, to encompass different major product types.

Freedom’s Choice is for food items. Right now, many commissaries are carrying bottled water and cheese under the Freedom’s Choice label. Other items available at stateside commissaries include cheese, rice and dry beans, shelf-stable juices, water enhancers and powdered soft drinks,

HomeBase is for non-food products, like household items and cleaning supplies. Commissaries are currently selling HomeBase brand paper plates and trash bags. Some stateside commissaries are also stocking foam and plastic plates, paper towels and bath tissue.

TopCare products cover medical and first aid products, dietary supplements and beauty needs. Many stores already have TopCare antibiotic ointment and acid reduction medication on the shelves. TopCare is not a DeCA exclusive brand.

Quality and Price

The commissary stands behind their new store brands, with rigorous testing to national standards. All edible products meet or exceed USDA wholesomeness standards. All products undergo extensive testing for quality and performance, according to the FAQ section on Commissaries.com.

Each product features a money back guarantee on their label.

TopCare, HomeBase and Freedom’s Choice are offered at prices that are competitive with national brands and products.

Product Roll-Out

Many stateside commissaries are already stocking many Freedom’s Choice, HomeBase and TopCare products. Approximately 400 products were anticipated to be on CONUS store shelves by the close of 2017.

Overseas commissaries are approximately 6 weeks behind stateside stores in stocking in-house brands on their shelves. This is due to time delays as a result of shipping products to military bases in Europe and Asia.

Products will continue to be added to the 3 core store brands over the next few years. DeCA’s goal is to produce 3,000 to 4,000 products in the Freedom’s Choice, HomeBase and TopCare lines.

As products continue to roll-out, the items available will vary between commissaries. This is based on size and location of individual stores. As noted, OCONUS commissaries will see new commissary brand items about 6 weeks after they appear in stateside stores.

Have you tried the commissary’s new brands: Freedom’s Choice, HomeBase and TopCare? Tell us what you think in the comments.

DeCA’s Private Label Program Off to Good Start

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Name your favorite commercial grocery retailer. Be it Walmart, Giant, Target or Wegmans, they’ve each got their own line of private label products. And if you’re anything like me, you’re more than happy to add a store brand item to your cart if it means a few dollars off your bill.

And now, DeCA, has expanded its arsenal in the fight to keep our commissaries open by launching a series of new products under its own store brand. Commissary shoppers rejoice! Even more savings? I’ll take it.

While the plan to add commissary private label products to the shelves has been in the works for over a year, the private label program’s 2 easily recognizable and aptly-named brands — Freedom’s Choice and Homebase — were officially announced in February.

Freedom’s Choice branded food products will be sourced from leading manufacturers and undergo a rigorous testing and selection process. Homebase products will be non-food items including things like plastic bags. As a weekly commissary shopper, I for one, can hardly wait to see these new products hit the shelves.

A Year of Creative Initiatives

It’s hard not to be impressed by the series of creative initiatives DeCA has rolled out in the last year in an attempt to revitalize local commissaries and help shrink the nearly billion-dollar taxpayer-funded subsidy required to keep commissaries open. These initiatives have included everything from variable pricing structures to curbside pick-up.

Private labeling seems to be one of the most promising efforts. In fact, according to the DeCA website, nearly 60% of its patrons expressed an openness to buying a private label product.

“Our customers have been asking for private label for a long time,” said DeCA’s director and CEO Joseph H. Jeu.

If commissary shoppers hold true to their word, the planned product line seems destined for success. In fact, if all goes according to plan, the new private label product line could help reduce commissary costs by half a billion dollars in the next 10 years.

The new program promises that nearly 1,000 private label products will be on commissary shelves by the end of 2017, but shoppers will only see a few initial products. The first products were due to hit shelves in May, and a recent visit to the Fort Meade commissary confirmed that the program is indeed underway.

My First Private Label Purchase

I expected to see the products presented with a greater fanfare, but I was able to locate 2 products, bottled water under the Freedom’s Choice label and kitchen garbage bags under the Homebase brand. Both were attractively packaged and both were offered at a substantial savings over the next cheapest brand.

The case of water offered a $0.40 savings over our usual brand. Calculated out, a 40-cent savings on each of 2 cases of water per week would save our family just over $40 per year!  I am also happy to report, that as far as taste is concerned, the water was met with the approval of our entire family – including one kid who happens to be very particular about her bottled water!

I will be keeping my eyes open for additional private labels items. My hope is we will see products like pasta, gluten-free items, vitamins and juices. It might also be nice to see it in the freezer section on items like frozen vegetables, ice cream and even pizza.

My hope is that in sourcing items for this product line, DeCA will keep the dietary needs of military families in mind. It would be great to see items offered at a low cost that also make eating healthy a little bit easier.

Have you seen the commissary store brands, Freedom’s Choice and Homebase at your commissary?

Don’t Miss the Spring Case Lot Sale at Your Commissary

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It’s that time of year again when the Defense Commissary Agency’s spring Customer Appreciation Case Lot Sale starts at commissaries stateside.

Have you shopped at a case lot sale? May is a great time to stock up on household items you use often.

You’ll find plenty of great deals at the commissary case lot sale to help you fill up your pantry without emptying your wallet.

Case lot sale dates are different for each commissary so be sure to check with the commissary website to see when your local commissary will be having their case lot sale.

Weather can cause the date to change. Call your commissary to confirm the case lot sale is still on schedule if weather in the area has not been good.

Not all commissaries will be having a case lot sale in May. A few had their case lot sales in April.

Eight stateside commissaries will not be participating at all including: Los Angeles AFB, Luke AFB, Davis-Monthan AFB, Patch Barracks, Fort Gordon, Robins AFB, Fort Huachuca and Hurlburt Field.

Military installations that have a case lot sale are only stateside. Overseas commissaries may have sidewalk sales or other promotions that are similar.

What will you find at a case lot sale?

A case lot sale is much like shopping at the big box stores, without the membership fee. They are usually set up under tents in the commissary parking lot. Some of the items you’ll find include:

  • Baby products: diapers, wipes, soap and lotion
  • Paper products: toilet paper, paper towels, napkins
  • Cleaning supplies: laundry detergent, dryer sheets, cleaning wipes and household cleaning products
  • Food storage: sandwich bags, storage bags and freezer bags
  • Pet supplies: dry and wet dog and cat food and dog and cat treats
  • Snacks: bulk chips, cereal, popcorn, crackers, pastries and fruit snacks
  • Canned goods: canned vegetables, canned fruit and fruit cups
  • International food: Hispanic, Asian and Italian food
  • Beverages: bottled water, soda, flavored water, sports drinks and juice

How to prepare for a case lot sale

A successful shopping trip to the commissary case lot sale is one where you buy only items that you will use. Don’t get carried away buying things you won’t use just because they are on sale.

Follow these 8 tips to ensure that you are a smart shopper at your case lot sale.

  1. Inventory your pantry to see how much you already have.
  2. Check the amount of space available to store items.
  3. Empty your vehicle so there is space to bring new products home.
  4. Make a list of things you would like to stock up on.
  5. Look for coupons. Yes, you can use coupons. See what is offered on the commissary rewards card and digitally clip the coupons. You can find out more about the commissary rewards card here.
  6. Eat before you go to the case lot sale so you aren’t tempted to buy extra things just because you are hungry.
  7. Look at expiration dates on items before you put them in your shopping cart. Can you use that entire product before it expires?
  8. Take another military spouse or service member with you. If you aren’t able to use all of a product before it expires, consider splitting the products between each other.

Case lot sales are a busy time for commissaries. Make sure you have plenty of time to shop. You can find products on average 50% off.

It is a great time to stock up on items you will use. Make sure to check the dates of your local commissary case lot sale and make plans to attend.

Do you know when your commissary is having its case lot sale? Click here for the list of dates.

Finding Answers to Your Commissary Questions

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This year commissaries across the globe are celebrating 150 years of service. They have come a long way since then. In its humble beginning the commissary was merely an officer-only benefit allowing them to purchase goods at cost. Since then it has expanded to an indispensable benefit for all service members, retirees and their families.

You may have questions about this military benefit and finding answers has never been easier.

DeCA, the Defense Commissary Agency, manages all commissaries. They have a newly improved website, commissaries.com, where you can find the answer to many of your questions.

Commissary Locations

Do you know where your nearest commissaries are? Each time you PCS or are on vacation, instead of going to a commercial grocery store, look at commissaries.com to find commissaries near you. You can search by city and state or the ZIP code. There’s an alphabetical listing if you know the name of the military installation as well. You can even get step-by-step directions to the commissary right on the website.

Commissary Hours and Services, Including Case Lot Sales

All commissaries have their own page on the website. You can find store hours and services offered as well as special events such as case lot sales. It’s always a great idea to check their site before you go to an event as weather can cause cancellations.

Do you know about Click2Go? If you are near the commissaries at Fort Lee, Offutt Air Force Base or Travis Air Force Base, they have a special program known as Click2Go. You can order your groceries online and choose the time you want to pick them up. Then just head to the commissary and pay when you get them.

Don’t forget your coupons. You can see the weekly flyer online and clip coupons. Once you’ve picked up a Commissary Rewards Card at one of your nearest commissaries, you can go to commissaries.com and register it. From there you can clip digital coupons and have them added right to your Commissary Rewards Card. There’s no need to print and cut coupons any more. Simply have the cashier scan your card at check out.

Not sure what to make for dinner? There is a recipe section on commissaries.com. There is even a section with recipes specifically tailored for kids. Save a bit more money by choosing a recipe under the “Thinking Outside the Box” section. This page has recipes that use ingredients that are on sale that week.

Getting Your Commissary Questions Answered

There is a huge section for frequently asked questions on commissaries.com. Want to know how pricing works? You aren’t alone. You can read about how prices are determined, how they change and how savings are determined.

Many patrons have questions about the surcharge. You can find your answers at commissaries.com. The money is used to maintain and improve facilities. You can see a list of commissaries slated for construction as well. Fort Belvoir and NAS Jacksonville recently held ribbon-cutting ceremonies for new commissaries at those military installations.

Did you know commissaries will be introducing a private label soon? You can stay on top of the latest news and changes with the commissary at commissaries.com.

While you’re there, you might want to read about the variable pricing test that is happening at 10 commissaries. The Department of Defense is always looking to improve your commissary benefit. Make sure you keep up to date with these changes.

Have you checked out DeCA’s improved website, commissaries.com?

15 Military Coupon Mistakes That Smart Military Spouses Make

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Shopping at the commissary is a great way to save money and having military coupons make it even better. Are you a savvy shopper that clips military coupons before heading to the commissary? Even the best couponers make mistakes.

Here are 15 military coupon mistakes that smart military spouses make and how to avoid them.

Not Having a Commissary Rewards Card

The Commissary Rewards Card should be your first stop when looking for military coupons. You can digitally clip military coupons and add them to your Commissary Rewards Card. If you don’t have one, you can pick one up at any commissary.

Forgetting to Register at MilitaryShoppers.com

MilitaryShoppers has printable military coupons and the commissary flyer.  Sign up for emails and get commissary deals, product highlights and more.

Not Scheduling Adequate Time to Shop

When you’re in a hurry, you don’t pay attention to detail. Make sure you plan your trip to the commissary with enough time to shop. Eat before you go so you aren’t tempted to put things in your shopping cart that you don’t have military coupons for.

Not Picking Up the Military Coupon Flyers at Your Commissary

There are military coupon flyers at the commissary. Don’t skip those thinking you have all the military coupons you need. There might be a better military coupon inside the flyer.

Ignoring Military Coupons on the Shelves

Often there are military coupons on the shelf. Compare them to the ones you have and see which one is the better deal.

Not Knowing When New Military Coupons Are Available

If you only look for coupons in the Sunday paper, you are missing out on great savings. The Commissary Rewards Card site has new coupons almost daily. As soon as manufacturers provided them, they are live on the site. Many other sites like coupon.com post new coupons daily.

Couponing on Your Own

Learning from others will help you expand your savings. Contact your local Fleet and Family Center to see if there is a coupon exchange program. It’s also a great way to get to know other military spouses.

Buying the Item Even if It Doesn’t Scan at the Discounted Price

Sometimes coupons don’t scan. Don’t settle and buy a product if you aren’t able to get the discount. Ask the clerk to scan the military coupon again or to type in the discount. If that doesn’t work, ask to speak to a manager.

Buying Something You Don’t Need Just Because You Have a Coupon

Just because there is a military coupon for an item does not mean that you should buy it if you aren’t going to use the product. Pay attention to what you are buying and don’t stray from your grocery list just because there is a coupon.

Failing to Stock Up on Items Your Family Uses

If there is a product, such as toilet paper, that your family uses often consider stocking up when there are good military coupons for it. You will save money over time if you purchase bigger quantities.

Having a Disorganized Coupon Folder

Everyone has their own way of sorting military coupons. Organize your folder the way that works best for you. Is it grouping coupons in the order that you will find items in the commissary or putting all the soon-to-expire coupons up front?

Not Taking All Your Coupons in the Store with You

Don’t just take the coupons that you are going to use into the commissary. Perhaps you will find an item that your family uses on sale. Add a coupon to that and it’s a great day to stock up.

Not Knowing the Commissary’s Coupon Policies

It’s important to know store coupon policies. The commissary, for example, does not double coupons. If you print a coupon and have a digital one for the same item on your Commissary Rewards Card, you cannot use both. The commissary also does not take expired coupons stateside, but will take them up to 6 months expired overseas.

Not Reading the Fine Print on Coupons

Always read the fine print on coupons. Some have a specific size the coupon is good for while others are for multiple items. Make sure you buy all items required and place them together on the conveyor belt.

Failing to Watch the Monitor as Items and Coupons Are Scanned

Our final tip is to make sure you pay attention as your items are scanned. You’ve done all the work to find coupons; make sure you get the discount. If the coupon scans incorrectly, point it out to the cashier. If you have a problem, ask to speak to a manager. It’s your money; make sure you get the most from it.

Want military coupons, discounts and savings delivered to your inbox? Sign up for MilitaryShoppers email newsletter today.

Our Favorite Feel-Good Commissary Stories

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The commissary stocks your favorite foods. From fresh deli meats to moist birthday cakes, the commissary carries nearly everything a military family needs to bring the flavors of home to their homes.

These stores are so much more than just the items on their shelves. It’s the people we meet and personal connections we make that keep us going back time and again. We asked our readers to share their favorite feel-good commissary stories with us. Here’s what they said.

Our Favorite Feel-Good Commissary Stories

Always On

When the power went out at the air base in Incirlik, Turkey, this July, all military personnel and their families were left in the dark. The commissary still had full power, thanks to an independent generator. In the middle of the political turmoil, families were unable to charge their cell phones or use the internet to connect with loved ones back home.

So the commissary set out chairs, power cords and shared the store’s Wi-Fi with the community. Service members and families could swing in for pantry staples and get in touch with their families stateside. Plus, the commissary was the only open building with air conditioning!

Paying It Forward

Our budgets are often tight, even with a consistent paycheck coming in. It can make buying essentials, like milk or diapers, challenging for many military families.

Near Fort Bliss in Texas, the local Fox affiliate stopped into the base commissary to surprise military families by picking up their tabs. At the register, they stopped several customers and offered to pay for everything in their shopping carts. Just as a way of saying “Thank you for your service.”

One young mother explained a little bit more about her tight budget. The Fox team sent her back into the commissary to load her cart with diapers and milk for the kids. Then they paid for the whole thing!

Littlest Helpers

It’s the little things that make commissary trips or any shopping trip with kids easier.

Lizann, a military spouse, told me about a special connection between their son and one grocery bagger. On every grocery trip, this military spouse makes sure to be in this bagger’s line. This bagger remembers their little boy and lets him help her bag their groceries. She always greets him by name and often gives him a sticker.

It’s a great reward for helping his parents!

Special Attention

A military spouse on a specific diet in a new place can be a struggle. When one military spouse needed to skip the rice on her sushi, the kind people at the sushi counter were more than ready to help her.

They created special sashimi plates for her, with just fish and no rice. They also shared the nutritional labels for all of their products with her.

And every time she goes in, the sushi staff chats with her about her day!

Food Requests

Speaking of special diets, it can be costly to adhere to an exclusionary meal plan. One spouse was paying very high prices for non-dairy items out in town. And she was having to make multiple trips to different stores to track down specific products, Meg told me.

While grabbing some items in the dairy section one day, she bumped into the section manager. She shared her frustration about the lack of non-dairy yogurt with him.

The manager checked with the suppliers to see if the product was available for stocking. It was!

Less than 2 weeks later, her specially requested non-dairy item was on the shelves! Plus, the department started adding even more dairy-free products.

Touch of Home

On a 6-month tour in Italy, having a commissary with American food items helped one veteran feel more connected to home.

On weekends, he and his friends would go to the commissary and load up on their favorites. Then they would cook and eat together. It helped these troops to feel more connected to home, especially when stationed overseas.

For families with small children, it is also important to have the same foods no matter where they live. Being able to open the pantry and make macaroni and cheese while living in Japan is comforting.

The commissary also makes it easier to take new favorites with you. The diversity and depth of their international foods aisle makes it simpler to create authentic Spanish, Japanese or German meals while living in Kansas.

Recognition

Murphy’s Law struck one military spouse less than 24 hours after her husband left for his deployment.

While buying essentials at the commissary, she discovered that her military dependent ID card was missing. She searched high and low: in the car, in her purse and all around the store. Even retracing her steps in the parking lot. Nothing.

And her groceries were still sitting in the cart. Her face was burning with embarrassment!

Luckily, the commissary manager saw her predicament.

“I know you. You shop here all the time. You’re good!”

With groceries purchased, she finally found the missing ID in the parking lot of her children’s school! And never forgot this act of kindness.

Do you have a feel-good commissary story? Share it in the comments section.