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!

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!

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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?

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January’s Commissary Specials Caused Me to Do a Double Take

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I experienced sticker shock in my hometown grocery store last week. Like many military families, I spent the holiday season with my parents in the Midwest. Now places like South Dakota and Nebraska tend to be known for low-cost living. But when my mom asked me to pick up a few essential items (milk, eggs, bread, sugar, graham crackers) on my way to her house, I was stunned by the prices.

My brain worked through a series of thoughts. First there was confusion. This price can’t be right, can it? It must be an error. Followed closely by flabbergasted. Is this some kind of holiday price increase? My mom said “Nope.” And finally I felt grateful. I found myself in the cracker aisle of a locally owned grocery store in my hometown thanking Uncle Sam for our military commissaries.

This month’s commissary specials offer a mix of party food for the big game along with pantry staples that fit with my New Year’s resolution to spend less and save more money in 2015.

Muir Glen organic fire roasted diced tomatoes, the main ingredient in my football playoff chili, are on sale this month. A 14.5-ounce can is only $1.00. One buck. That price made me do a double-take. That’s dirt cheap. That’s cheaper than if I grew my OWN organic tomatoes and canned them at the end of the season. You can guarantee I’ll be stocking up on the Muir Glen diced tomatoes. My family will be eating Spicy Cajun Gumbo on Mardi Gras and Tortilla Taco Meatball Soup for easy, breezy Sunday night dinners.

Winter is the best time of year for soup. Whether you like the Campbell’s Homestyle Healthy Soup (Italian-style wedding or chicken with whole grain pasta) or Campbell’s Chunky Soup (sausage gumbo is my favorite), you can have your pick. Both are on sale this month at the commissary. Serving soup for lunch or dinner is an affordable way to warm up during January.

What to know what other commissary specials made me do a double-take?

  • Old El Paso refried beans, $.75. Save an additional $.30 with this coupon.
  • Green Giant Nibblers 6 mini ears of corn on the cob, $1.50
  • Totino Party Pepperoni Pizza, $.89
  • Pace Chunky Salsa, 2 for $3
  • V8 Vegetable Juice, Healthy Greens, $2.98 Pair that sale price with this $1.00 coupon and they are practically giving the V8 Carrot Mango to you.

In case you were wondering, Pace Chunky Salsa is another ingredient in my football chili.

Are you a fan of Frito-Lay chips? Lay’s Classic Potato Chips ($2.00), Ruffles, original or Cheddar and Sour Cream ($2.09) and Tostitos Scoops ($2.50) along with Doritos ($2.50) are all on sale this month. Don’t forget to stock up on chips for the big game. It’s the ultimatum game day snack. But please, don’t crunch during the commercials.

Pair it with Tostitos Queso Dip, on sale for $2.50, and you’ll be doing a happy dance when you walk out of the commissary. Save more, spend less and do more double-takes with this month’s sale specials at your military commissary.

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Save Money with Discounted Thanksgiving Dinner Items This Month

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Even though I haven’t completely recovered from my Halloween candy indulgence (I need to get those Snickers out of my house), I am mentally preparing for my family’s Thanksgiving food feast. Have you made your Thanksgiving dinner shopping list yet? How many people are you hosting this November? Are you having a potluck?

Preparing a Thanksgiving dinner is a cooking triathlon. The first event? Shopping for your family’s turkey and the mountain of ingredients for appetizers, side dishes and desserts. The second event is prep work. Thanksgiving-cooking gurus recommend making as much food as possible ahead of time. This sprint of cooking starts a week before the holiday and ends when you take that golden turkey out of the oven. Then the final event…clean-up duty.

Despite this complicated and at times overwhelming meal creation, Thanksgiving dinner remains my favorite holiday meal.

Last year, the American Farm Bureau Federation announced that the average cost of a Thanksgiving dinner (turkey, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, etc.) for 10 adults cost nearly $50 in groceries. I’m willing to bet that military families with the advantage of everyday low commissary prices combined with special discounts this month will purchase their Thanksgiving dinners for less than $50. What do you think? How much is your holiday food budget for Thanksgiving? How are you planning to save money while cooking enough food for a small Army? The answer is easy: Shop this month’s commissary specials.

If my favorite Thanksgiving dish– green bean casserole– is on your menu, be sure to stock up on Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup. It’s on sale this month for only 67 cents per can. At that price, you can make green bean casserole for Thanksgiving AND Christmas.

Another pantry staple that you don’t want to run out of is Swanson chicken broth because a dry turkey is a terrible turkey. Keep that bird moist and tasty with plenty of chicken broth in the stuffing. I also put a sizeable amount in the bottom of the turkey roaster to keep it cooking evenly without drying out for hours.

Military families will also save money this month when they buy their Pillsbury crescent dinner rolls at their military commissary. This month, the convenient dinner rolls are on sale for $1.50 each. At that low price, you won’t mind when your husband invites 20 single sailors to Thanksgiving dinner at the last minute.

Prefer biscuits to crescent rolls? You’re in luck. Pillsbury biscuits are also on sale at your military commissary this month. The sale price is $1.28 each.

My mother is on the only person I know who makes her pie crust from scratch. For the rest of us with time and patience on our hands there is Pillsbury pie crust. It’s also on sale this month.

Want more convenient ways to save money at your commissary? Be sure to ask for a 2014 Thanksgiving Turkey Coupon Promotion booklet the next time you shop your military commissary. Quantities are limited.

Good luck to all those Thanksgiving dinner triathletes. May your turkey stay moist, may your leftovers be minimal and may your guests be kind enough to offer to wash your dishes.

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Your Tailgating Favorites on Sale at Your Commissary

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Football season has sprung and fans around the country are gearing up for America’s favorite pastime. That means tailgating!

October Specials at Military Commissary

Are you ready for some football?

Aside from bringing excitement for their team, football fans typically come hungry and expect delicious food while tailgating or watching the game in the comfort of your warm home.

Are you ready for some touchdown worthy deals that would complete your football bash? This month’s commissary specials offer great options to help you save money.

Start with a bag of Banquet Chicken nuggets ($2.50 each), which is the ideal football finger food. They have fun shaped nuggets too– for the kids or kids at heart.

Then, grab some hearty chili from Wolf Brand that offers chili with beans ($0.89 for 15 oz. can) or no beans ($1.19 15 oz. can)–for those that believe that “real” chili is beanless. Chili is perfect by itself or an addition for hot dogs, hamburgers and cheese dip (or where I come from we call it queso). Use original Velveeta cheese (on sale at $5.99) and throw it in a slow cooker with your chili preference for an easy and tasty side dish with chips.

Mix in PACE Restaurant Style Salsa (2 for $3) with Velveeta cheese for another dip selection that has a great south-of-the-border kick. It’s always good to have different choices. Feeling ambitious? Try throwing everything together (chili, cheese and some salsa).

What's on Sale at Your Military Commissary in October

Are you ready for touchdown worthy deals?

For another meatless side dish, heat up VanCamp’s New Orleans Red Kidney Beans ($0.65) or Dark Red Kidney Beans ($0.59) to satisfy everyone’s palate. Bring Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa Mix ($3.99) Milk Chocolate or Marshmallow to stay warm on the cool evenings.

Don’t forget one of the most important condiment for your football party– ketchup! Starting October 9, Hunt’s Ketchup is only $0.75 for a 24-ounce bottle. Stock up to make sure you don’t run out of ketchup all football season long.

October is also the month for spooktacular fun for families with Halloween. Looking for the perfect family dinner after a night of trick or treating (or any other busy night)? There are a variety of frozen pizza choices that would be perfect to cook in the oven for a speedy dinner. For instance, Tombstone pizza is on sale for $2.75 each all month long. Check out other frozen pizza specials throughout the month and keep them in the freezer for the right night.

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