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Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

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.

Never miss a commissary special event by signing up for MilitaryShoppers newsletter and liking their Facebook page.

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?

Have You Noticed Price Changes at Your Commissary?

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Prices have already started shifting at the commissary under the new variable pricing strategy. Have you noticed a difference? The change began earlier this spring when the commissary tested the new program out in 10 stores.

Now the variable pricing strategy is being implemented across the country. Don’t worry; you’ll still see great savings.

Have You Noticed Price Changes at Your Commissary?

Michelle Hooper, a customer service ambassador at the Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, Commissary, scans prices. Luke won the 2015 Defense Commissary Agency’s Director’s Award for the Best Superstore. (DeCA photo)

If you missed the big announcement, last year the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorized a significant change in how the commissary determines the price of goods. Previously, the commissary set prices at cost plus a 5 percent surcharge. That surcharge money was used to maintain commissary facilities and to build new ones, such as the $38-million commissary at Fort Belvoir.

DeCA, the Defense Commissary Agency, which operates the commissaries, is funded by taxpayers’ money with a budget of $1.3 billion annually. Washington has been trying for years to get the commissary to be more self-sufficient and rely less on federal funding.

This year they are finally attempting to do just that. Variable pricing is one of their strategies. The commissary will also be introducing store brand products as well.

What is variable pricing?

Previously, the products at the commissary were sold at cost plus the 5 percent surcharge. Under variable pricing, the prices of goods will no longer be that simple.

Instead, many factors are taken into consideration when setting the price of products. This includes the market price, cost of obtaining the item, how well the items sell and more.

This isn’t something new the commissary came up with or that those in Washington fathomed. It is how commercial grocery stores determine their prices. The commissary is now embracing a similar pricing system.

Prices have always changed at the commissary based on the cost the commissary incurs for items from manufacturers. Many factors cause manufacturers to change the price they charge, such as weather and their cost of doing business.

Prices will now fluctuate with the market instead of simply with the manufacturers. While some prices might be going down, others might go up. Overall savings at the commissary will not change however.

How much will each region save?

Commissaries are grouped into regions. Market research is conducted in each region to determine the prices goods will be set at. This includes comparing the prices of about 1,000 products locally as well as the estimated 38,000 products that are checked nationally.

The cost of living varies across the country and with that is the cost of food. Researchers then are tasked with comparing the prices of items at different grocery stores across individual regions to determine the best price to set commissary products at. As the cost of living is higher in some areas and lower in others, so too will be the savings level in each region.

These savings will range from 17.6 percent to 44.2 percent over commercial grocery stores depending on which region you are in. Below are the regions and the overall savings expected.

Region            Savings %

New England            21.4%

South Atlantic          19.9%

South Central           18.1%

Pacific                       20.9%

Mountain                  17.6%

North Central           20.2%

Alaska/Hawaii          32.6%

Overseas                    44.2%

Which region am I in?

Now that you know how much savings each region is expected to save, you may want to see which region you are in. Commissaries aren’t in typical geographical groupings, as Virginia is included in the New England region as opposed to the South Atlantic for example.

To find out which region your commissary is in, look for your military installation on this map. Are you in the region you expected? How do you feel about the savings percentage your region is expected to get?

Next time you go to your commissary, check the prices and see if you can tell a difference.

Have you noticed a change in prices at your commissary? Which items did you notice have a price difference? Tell us in the comments section.

Healthy Meals You Can Make When You’re Living in a Hotel

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With suitcases and PCS orders in hand, many of us will be spending our summer nights trying to keep ourselves and the kids entertained, be it a movie night or at the hotel pool.

Healthy Meals You Can Make When You're Living in a Hotel

You can keep your family fed and content while living in a hotel. Here are our tips for healthy eating when you are living in a hotel for an extended period of time.

The normally easy chore of figuring out what to eat, however, often becomes a debate over which fast-food joint or sit-down restaurant to dine in. But for those of us watching our budgets and our waistlines, what we wouldn’t give for a wholesome, healthy home-cooked meal.

What if I told you it was possible to save money and still eat healthy, even without the convenience of a full kitchen?

Keep the family fed and content while living in a hotel?

You can do it. Here’s how.

Assemble Your Make-Shift Kitchen

First, a little preparation is necessary. If you know that you’ll be away from home and want to try to avoid eating out every night, consider buying or bringing an electric griddle and crockpot. Between the two of them, you can cook just about anything.

You’ll also need a large tote that you can push under the bed or store in a closet as your make-shift pantry. Stock it with non-perishable must-have items like cereal, a handful of your favorite spices (we like garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, paprika, salt and pepper), a box of your favorite baking mix, a couple cans of cream-of-something soup, canned beans and other vegetables, your favorite sweetener (sugar, stevia or maple syrup) and olive oil.

Toss in a good kitchen knife, a couple of wooden spoons, some resealable kitchen bags and a cutting board, and you’re all set.

Bonus points if you have a small blender or food processor (like a Ninja) and can manage to bring it along. It can make things like homemade salad dressing, salsa, smoothies or even a margarita.

Bonus tip: If you do stop for a quick bite to eat here and there, consider keeping any unused condiment packets. They come in handy and generally don’t require refrigeration.

Plan Your Meals

This is kind of an eat-at-home staple chore, but if you’ve decided to choose homemade while traveling, it’s even more important. The key is planning meals that won’t require a lot of refrigerated ingredients. Even still, be prepared to shop every few days, if not daily.

Not sure what to plan? Here are some easy, no-cook recipes to inspire you.

Breakfast Options

If you have access to a refrigerator, a half-gallon of milk and a wholesome, vitamin-packed cereal can make breakfast a snap. Pair it with a banana and half of an English muffin with a bit of peanut butter and you’ve got the kind of balanced breakfast all the cereal commercials boast about.

No refrigerator? Consider buying the small, vacuum-sealed boxes of milk or powdered milk from the baking aisle. The small quantity of each box makes it easy to only use what you need.

Not a cereal person? Go continental. A couple of fresh-baked bagels or croissants, a little hard cheese and fruit makes for the perfect morning meal.

Wants something a little more special? Try some overnight oats. Just mix equal parts of oats and milk or yogurt. Then add fruit, spice and sweetener: add pumpkin puree, a drizzle of maple syrup and a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice (like this recipe) or try slicing in bananas and a couple of tablespoons of hazelnut spread. Mix the ingredients in a cup or bowl and leave in the refrigerator overnight (6 to 8 hours) and presto-chango, you’ve got a hearty, healthy and delicious breakfast with absolutely zero cooking!

Simple Entrees That You Can Prepare in Your Hotel Room

If you’re anything like me, warmer temperatures bring the desire to eat light. Thankfully, lighter fare lends itself to easy preparation.

If you have your electric griddle, try cooking up a couple of chicken breasts (or purchase a rotisserie chicken), dice it up and toss it in a bowl with a chopped head of broccoli, some sunflower seeds and a handful of sliced grapes. Add a little bit of sour cream, yogurt or mayo and you’ve got a delicious chicken salad that goes great on a sandwich or is perfect for topping your favorite crackers.

Are you a seafood lover? Fresh seafood is what summer is all about at my house. Fresh fish or shrimp is quick to cook or you can even drop it in a resealable bag with some citrus juice and spices. Cooking is not required. Check out this recipe for no-cook shrimp, Mediterranean style.

Easier still, skip the meat and look to beans for your protein like in this delicious Southwest Salad. Just chop, toss and dig in.

Do you have any amazing meals that you’ve prepared in a hotel room? Submit your recipes to MilitaryShoppers’ monthly recipe contest today.

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.

Don’t Fall for a Military Coupon Scam

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Commissary shoppers love to save money using military coupons. You can find military coupons at your commissary. I like to look for those free flyers just inside the front door or ask my commissary bagger to tuck one into my groceries, when she has them.

As we’ve said before the best military coupons are the ones that you don’t clip. There are plenty of military coupons online, ready for commissary shoppers.

But for every military coupon that you find online there may be a fake coupon looking to leer you in.

Fake coupons are on the rise. Smart commissary shoppers need to know how to spot a fake military coupon. Here are 3 things you need to know when trying to figure if your military coupon is real or fake.

No Expiration Date

Every coupon, digital or paper, will have an expiration date. There are no exceptions to this rule. If you e-clip a coupon that doesn’t have an expiration date, it’s a fake. Don’t try to use it at your commissary.

Pro-tip: Always look for an expiration date before printing out a coupon.

Photocopied Coupons

These fake military coupons are easy to spot. If a coupon has been photocopied, it is no longer valid. You can’t photocopy a coupon for your mother, sister and your five closest friends and expect them to be able to use it. Photocopying a coupon is against coupon rules.

Pro-tip: Only print military coupons from authorized coupon distributors like Coupons.com.

Too Good to Be True Coupons

Let’s say you’re scrolling on Facebook and you see a “too good to be true” military coupon in your newsfeed. Since you are tempted, you click on this coupon and it brings you to different website, one that requires that you put in your credit card information in order to receive this offer.

Don’t do it.

This website is a scam trying to steal your personal information. Never give you Social Security number, bank information or credit card number to redeem a coupon.

What’s an example of this type of fake coupon?

Late last year, the grocery store Kroger warned its shoppers about a fake coupon claiming to offer a “FREE $60 Kroger Coupon” with a $70 minimum purchase. It said the expiration date was 12/31/2016.

Kroger posted a photo of the fake coupon on its Facebook page with this message.

 “Fake coupon alert! There’s currently an unauthorized ‘FREE $60 Kroger Coupon’ offer floating around. It’s not real! We don’t recommend engaging with the site(s) that offer links to the coupon, or providing them with any personal information. Our team is actively working with Facebook and domain service providers to address the concern.”

Similar fake coupons have been circulating for Kohl’s, Disneyland and Food Lion.

Here’s another scenario that has been happening a lot with fake online coupons. Again you see that “amazing deal” while scrolling on social media. But this time when you click on the link for more details or to redeem the offer, you download malware on your computer.

The Coupon Information Center has a database of fake coupons. You can search for a specific coupon on this website or review the list. I recommend reviewing this list if you’re an active digital coupon user.

Pro-tip: To test a coupon, do a Google search with the coupon’s offer and the word “scam” or “fraud” in the search bar.

You don’t have to worry about printing a fake military coupon when you use coupons from Coupons.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.

8 Apps for Military Coupons

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Military coupons are in abundance if you know where to look. There are amazing apps for your phone full of military coupons and best of all, they’re free.

Here is a list of our favorite military coupon apps.

SCOUT Military Discounts

Looking for a large amount of military coupons in one place? Then SCOUT Military Discounts is the app you want. It has thousands of military coupons and discounts.

Not only does it have great military coupons, but it also has unique features that set it apart from other apps. These include USO locations, military-friendly charities and lists of freebies on Veterans Day.

Commissary Rewards App

Have you signed up for the Commissary Rewards Card?

Once you have, download the Commissary Rewards App and log in. With the Commissary Rewards App, you can clip military coupons on the go with just the tap of your finger.

There is a huge selection of military coupons in the app. When you check out, just scan your Commissary Rewards Card.

Military Cost Cutters

Military Cost Cutters brings together military-friendly businesses and veterans. The app was created by veterans for the military community. Through this app, you can search for military-friendly businesses and find military coupons and discounts.

Some of the perks of this app include: having a QR code scanning function, being able to search any location for specials, upload any military coupons or discounts you find and rate businesses.

They also have a rewards program where you can receive deals from businesses that you have shopped with.

Shop Savvy

The Shop Savvy app is the ultimate shopping partner. Not only does it have great military coupons, deals and specials, but you can also get cash back after shopping.

A great feature is the option to scan barcodes to compare prices from one store to another. If you’re a frugal shopper, you can set price drop alerts for a particular item so you’ll know when the best deal is available.

You can make your shopping list and do all of your shopping right in the app.

Discount Soldier

Discount Soldier is another great app for military coupons and discounts. It is a community where military families share military coupons and discounts they find.

Members of Discount Soldier can add discounts they find right to the app. This app has no in-app purchases to slow you down. They have a great website as well.

Ibotta: Cash Back App

Ibotta is an extremely popular cash back app. They have great deals ranging from clothing stores and craft stores to grocery stores, and don’t forget about military coupons.

The key feature of Ibotta is rebates. All you have to do is scan your receipts with your camera phone and when you’re ready to collect the rebates, they will pay you through PayPal or through a gift card.

To potentially earn more, you can shop with friends to unlock group discounts.

Pro-tip: Ibotta works with commissary receipts.

Checkout 51

If you can’t find a military coupon for something you’ve had your eye on, perhaps you can get cash back with Checkout 51. They give cash back from brand names. Every Thursday new offers are added to the list. You can purchase these products anywhere and then take a picture of your receipt to get cash back.

They will mail you a check when your rebate totals $20.  This app is also available in Spanish.

RetailMeNot

RetailMeNot is an award-winning app and one of our favorites.

If there is a promo code, military coupon or discount available, RetailMeNot will have it.

With this one app you won’t have to search for a promotion code when purchasing products online or cut coupons at home. Simply type in the name of the business you are shopping at and it will show you the coupons available for it, both in store and online.

There are more than 50,000 retailers and thousands of restaurants with discounts and offers in RetailMeNot. Use the map that shows specials near you or set alerts for your favorite shops to see more deals.

These are our favorite apps for military coupons and discounts.

What apps do you use for military coupons?

Spring Case Lot Sales Are Happening!

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Have you been waiting with bated breath for the spring Customer Appreciation Case Lot Sales?  Good news!  They’re here and as most of our fellow military families know very well, now’s the time to

Stock Up and Save!

This spring is no different, if you’re looking to load up on great items at great prices, the National Case Lot Sales event at your local Commissary is the place to do it.  This year, the Defense Commissary Agency is hosting a Customer Appreciation Case Lot Sale at each Commissary nationwide, including those in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. With savings at a maximum, Case Lot Sales are widely anticipated.

When is the Case Lot Sale?

Visit the Case Lot Sale store dates page for your local commissary sale dates.

What items will you see at a Case Lot Sale?

The Case Lot Sales offer items that you typically find at club stores, as well as individually packaged items that can be bought in bulk.  These sales are a great opportunity to stock up on a wide variety of pantry items at extremely discounted prices.  See DeCA’s list of product categories here.

What kind of savings can you expect?

Case Lot Sale commissary shoppers can bolster a savings of “up to 50%” according to DeCA’s Director of Sales, Tracie Russ.

Overseas?

Commissaries overseas will not be officially participating in Case Lot Sales, but commissary customers in Europe and the Pacific may benefit from similar style savings at  “sidewalk sales.”

Don’t miss out on your local commissaries Case Lot Sales! For additional information on the spring Customer Appreciation Case Lot Sales, please visit the DeCA website.

 

5 Ways to Make Meal Planning More Fun, Less Overwhelming

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If you aren’t already meal planning, the thought alone can be daunting and overwhelming. It takes time and forethought to plan an entire week or even month worth of meals.

Give it a try and you’ll discover that meal planning can actually be fun and satisfying.

First however, understand what meal planning is. By planning ahead and choosing meals, you will be setting yourself and your family up to a healthy lifestyle. Many people mistakenly think meal planning is about following a diet. It is however, simply choosing which meals your family will eat ahead of time.

By having a set plan, you will be less likely to settle for junk food or fast food.

You will have the ingredients on hand and not have to rush to the commissary at the last minute. You’ll have the peace of mind that dinner is set and you won’t be stressing over what you’ll make last minute.

Start meal planning by setting a specific time to write out a week’s worth of meals.

On Sunday mornings, I flip through cookbooks and magazines as well as search recipes in my recipe apps on my phone. Once you’ve found a few recipes you want to try, look through your pantry to see if you already have some of the ingredients. Make a list of what you need to buy at the grocery store and set a time to go shopping.

When choosing meals make sure to look at your calendar to see how busy your week is. There may be some nights that you need quick meals and some when family members will be eating at different times so you will need a re-heatable dinner. Decide on a night where you have plenty of time to make a big family meal. Take into consideration the weather as well. If it’s going to be particularly cold, you may want soup one night. The same goes for balmy nights when your family may enjoy grilling.

Make sure to include family members in meal planning. If you have a picky eater, let them choose one meal or at least one portion of a meal so that you know they will be eating something. Run the weekly recipes by family members to see their reactions to the choices. You don’t want to spend time and money cooking something no one is likely to eat.

Plan for leftovers. You don’t necessarily have to include 7 days in your meal planning. If you’re having soup or casserole this week, there might be enough for leftovers. You can also make extra so that you have leftovers. Freeze them to make another week easier if you don’t want to eat them the next day.

While you’re at the commissary, see what’s on sale. Most people will advise sticking to your shopping list to save money, but if you find something you know your family will eat, go ahead and buy it. You can fit it into your plans. Make sure not to overbuy however. If your refrigerator is stuffed, items will be hidden and go bad. When you get home, go ahead and prep food. You can wash fruit, chop vegetables and make sauces to save time later in the week.

Does this all sound like a lot of work? Make meal planning more fun with these 5 tips.

Make meal planning more fun with these 5 tips.

Do you use a meal plan? What are your tips for making meal planning fun?

Designate a Theme for Each Day

It can be difficult to be creative with cooking so simplify the process by designating each weeknight as a different theme. Some popular themes include: Meatless Mondays, Taco Tuesdays, Crockpot Wednesdays, Leftover Thursdays, Pizza Fridays, Sandwich Saturdays and Soup/Salad Sundays.

Make a Fun Menu Board to Display

Get excited about meal planning by presenting the weekly menu in a fun way. You can simply buy a chalkboard to hang on the pantry door or get creative and make your own. By having the weekly meals posted, you’ll know what’s next and so will your family.

Use a Meal Planning App or Website

You can simply use paper lists and a calendar or you can get creative and download a meal planning app for your computer or phone. Paprika is a great app to keep track of recipes, organize a meal calendar and make your grocery list but it isn’t free. I also use All the Cooks app to store and get recipes; it’s free.

Choosemyplate.gov is a great site to make sure the meals you’re choosing are healthy and cover all the food groups. You can search recipes and look up sample menus that fit proper nutrition by age, which is great for children.

Looking for more tried-and-true recipes? Browse the MilitaryShoppers’ Recipes Quick Search tool.

Get Your Family Involved

I already mentioned it, but it’s worth repeating. Why do all the work choosing meals? Get your family involved in meal planning. Ask them what they feel like having or challenge them to find a new recipe. Let your children help you with shopping as well as prepping meals.

Shape Up Meals with Colorful Ideas

This is particularly fun with kids. Set a night with all food in the same shape. Make meals colorful by designating a dish with everything the same color. You can work on the alphabet by nominating a night where all items begin with the same letter. This will get the whole family involved and having fun with it.

Meal planning doesn’t have to be difficult; it can be quite fun.

Do you use a meal plan? What are your tips for making meal planning fun?