Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

4 Military Discounts You Need to Know About When Buying a New Car

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When my husband left for an unaccompanied overseas tour, he left his old car with my family. At the time, he thought he had a couple more years left until he needed to buy a new one. Our ideal plan was to milk whatever years his two-door convertible had left because we wanted to buy a new vehicle for ourselves later.

However, things happened a little bit differently.

During his year away, his car started going downhill (that’s saying it nicely). There were lots of little mechanical issues that added up to a lot of money (i.e. the convertible top wouldn’t seal all the way, the window wouldn’t open and close, among other things). Plus, the engine was acting funky. I took it in to get assessed and found out that it would cost more to fix the car than what it was worth.

That’s when we decided that if we can wiggle it, we should both get new cars. The next step was working out a budget and car choices that fit our needs.

In our research, we found that there are a lot of military discounts and savings out there!

Ultimately, we utilized 2 different programs to purchase our brand-new cars that helped us save thousands. Are you shopping for a new car? Here are the military discounts and savings you need to know about.

4 Military Discounts You Need to Know About When Buying a New Car

Before you buy a new car, take time to research which car dealerships and manufacturers offer military discounts.

Buying Overseas

Military AutoSource. My dad was the one that brought this military discount program to my attention. It turns out that my own family utilized an overseas car buying program in the ‘90s to buy our tried-and-true Ford Aerostar. Purchasing your car overseas has lots of great benefits if you’re interested in a Ford or Chrysler vehicle.

The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) is typically lower and the dealerships are accommodating to match other stateside deals. These military discounts are only offered to military members overseas, so it’s something to consider when the time lines up for you. We were lucky to have the time work for us to use the military discount!

Buying Stateside

You don’t have to be overseas to bank on an amazing military discount. There are a lot of different stateside opportunities that you should explore! I’ve split up the 3 main groups that offer unique ways to save.

Car Dealerships. I was actually led to a dealership that offered deductions off my dream car’s MSRP via USAA’s car buying program. Not all dealerships participate, so start your search on USAA’s member platform to figure out which ones are included. Once I found a dealership that was within my needs, I went ahead and worked with them to buy my car.

If you don’t have USAA, dealerships may separately offer deductions for service members. It doesn’t hurt to call around and ask about military discounts. Whether you are looking for a new or used car, dealerships can work with you to get the most out of your budget.

Car Manufacturers. If you’re buying a new car, most car manufacturers offer a military appreciation bonus or military discount. The best way to research a military discount for your dream car is to go directly to their website.

Since a lot of dealerships are single car manufacturer focused, check to see if you could apply a military discount or military appreciation bonus with any other dealership discounts they offer too. Think of it this way, they want to sell you a car and use it to their advantage!

Bank Financing. Lastly, I was able to score a rebate with financing with my car manufacturer. It wasn’t actually a military discount, but it did add onto our military deals. It wasn’t my intent to finance with them, but when I sat down with the advisor, we broke down the numbers and if I planned it right I would be able to save thousands more. They offered a zero percent introductory APR and I would be able to refinance after a year.

That’s ultimately what I did, so I could use the additional discount. I was able to go with my ideal car loan with a lower APR. It would also allow me to pay off my car in a shorter amount of time.  Of course, you could utilize military friendly banks to finance from the beginning if there aren’t any particular deals to utilize at the time of purchase.

Did you get a military discount when buying your car?

Your New Duty Station Checklist

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Welcome to your new duty station. How many PCS moves does this make for your family? I’m in my 17th house now, so I’ve done my share of checking into new duty stations. If this is your first move or 20th, make sure you fully get to know your new military installation.

Once your boxes are unpacked, follow this checklist to get familiar with your new surroundings.

Your New Duty Station Checklist for Every PCS

After you unpack your last box after a PCS, what’s the next thing you do?

1. Talk to Your Sponsor

Each time you PCS, the service member is given a sponsor. This is a fellow service member that is already stationed at that location who is familiar with the area. Their job is to help make your PCS an easy one by helping you get settled in and get to know the area. Take advantage of this help and make contact with that person.

2. Find the Commissary

I love the commissary. You’ll spend a lot of time here so go ahead and find out where it is and what the hours of operation are.

Some commissaries are closed on Sundays and Mondays while others are open every day.

Make sure you plan your shopping trip accordingly. Stop by the commissary for a few minutes on a day you don’t need to do your big weekly shopping just to see what the selection is. Some commissaries are quite small and only offer a few things while others have a vast selection.

3. Find the ITT Office

The ITT office is a great resource. Each one offers different services which could include: travel and vacation packages, travel insurance, car rentals, flights, tours, concerts, national events and local tickets. Universal Studios, SeaWorld, DisneyLand and Walt Disney World packages are really popular. You can save a lot of money by purchasing tickets through the ITT office.

After a PCS, you might want to plan some family fun. Contact your ITT office to see what’s going on in your area.

4. Locate the MWR

The Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation Program offers an abundance of activities for families. After a busy PCS, you’re going to want to get out and have fun.

The U.S. Army MWR has 223 fitness centers, 192 child development centers, 137 swimming pools, 86 outdoor recreation centers, 79 bowling and family fun centers, 78 Army community service centers, 76 libraries, 66 auto skills centers, 48 golf courses, 54 arts & crafts centers and 12 riding stables.

There is surely something fun for your family to do to relax and get to know your new duty station.

5. Check Out the Base’s Fitness Center

Why pay a monthly fee to work out at the gym in town when you can go to the fitness center for free? Many locations have a mother and child area where you can work out and keep an eye on your little one.

If you’re self-conscious about working out in front of others or are intimidated by large crowds, go after 9 a.m. when most service members will be back to work and the gym will be quieter.

Don’t put it off. Dig to the bottom of that last PCS box and find your workout clothes.

6. Contact the CDC or Base School

Do you have children and need child care or to enroll them in school? Contact the Child Development Center to see if they have openings. If there is a wait list, it doesn’t actually go first-come first-served. There is a priority level index. You can get on the list however and enroll your child in another program in the meantime.

Contact the base school before you PCS, if you can, to find out what records you need to bring to register your children in the school.

7. Join a Spouse Group

There’s no better way to get to know a new installation and feel at home, than to make friends. No matter how many times you PCS, you will still want to get know other military spouses who know the area.

Having good friends can really make a difference in your experience living in a new place.

Contact your command ombudsman or spouse liaison. Join the enlisted or officer’s spouse club. Get online and look for base groups. Try Facebook or Meetup.com for example.

Each PCS is different. It can be a lonely road if you sit at home alone. Get out and get to know your new installation. Make friends and get involved. This could be your favorite duty station. It’s up to you to take advantage of all it offers.

After you unpack your last box after a PCS, what’s the next thing you do? What’s on your new duty station checklist?

35 Military Discounts Save Veterans Money

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

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

What about the other 364 days of the year?

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

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

35 Military Discounts That Can Save Veterans Money

14 Retailers that Offer Military Discounts

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

11 Restaurants That Offer Military Discounts

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

8 Travel Military Discounts

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

2 Special Websites Listing Military Discounts

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

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

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

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

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

Halloween Military Discounts

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The most spooktacular time of the year is coming up! I’m a huge kid at heart and enjoy dressing up for Halloween. Since being married to my husband, I’ve convinced him to share in the fun too. Last year, we dressed up as ninjas and we intend to continue the tradition this year.

If timing is tight and you can’t put together an awesome DIY Halloween costume, there are some great retail stores out there that offer military discounts.

This way you don’t have to feel like you’re breaking the bank because there are some incredibly expensive pre-made costumes out there!

Save Money on Halloween with These Military Discounts

How do you save money when shopping for Halloween?

Check out these 5 stores that offer military discounts to save cash on costumes and party supplies. Don’t forget to bring and use your military ID.

  1. Party City – 10% military discount
  2. Wholesale Halloween Costume – 10% military discount
  3. Shindigz – 20% military discount
  4. Michaels – 10% military discount
  5. Spirit Halloween and Spencer’s Gifts – 10% military discount (Thank you Army Wife 101 for tweeting at them!)

Amusement parks from coast to coast are also celebrating the season by decorating in theme. Check out your local amusement parks to see if they are participating. I’ve rounded up some of my favorites with military discounts here:

Save Money on Halloween with These Military Discounts

How do you celebrate Halloween?

Six Flags Fright Fest – There are more than 10 Six Flags parks across the nation and most (if not all) offer military pricing. Your local MWR or leisure travel services (LTS) office could also have military discount vouchers for your family to use. I’ve been to Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Over Texas, America and Great Adventure. For Fright Fest, they add Halloween touches throughout the park and employees get dressed up to add to the experience.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party – If you’re not looking for a big scare, Disney World would be your ideal location to enjoy a themed event. Your family can utilize Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Military Discount and attend Mickey’s special party on a military discount.

Kings Dominion Halloween Haunt – Kings Dominion is about 80 miles south of Washington, D.C., and I know lots of families in the northern Virginia area who love to go there. They have a fun Halloween Haunt event and also offer a military discount for up to 6 tickets at the door.

Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights – Not for the faint of heart, Universal Studios hosts a freaky Halloween party in both California and Florida. They encourage families to get tickets at your local MWR or ticket office on base.

Legoland Brick-O-Treat – Legoland offers a 10% military discount at the ticket booth for families. Your local installation ticket office might have a better discount and if you’re a resident of California because of military service, you can qualify for a great discount deal.

Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream – Williamsburg and Tampa locations are throwing their annual Howl-O-Scream party and they have an amazing deal for military families. A part of their Waves of Honor Program, they offer one complimentary admission for active duty families (up to 3 dependents).

This time of year also yields lots of great coupons from candy companies, so don’t be afraid to collect what you can and use them at the commissary. Your base commissary is ready to stock your trick-or-treat bowl!

How do you save money when shopping for Halloween?

Are Military Discounts for Service Members or Spouses?

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I always get excited to be able to use a military discount. Most places that do them offer about 10% off but there are a few that offer more. Sometimes bigger places like amusement parks will have free days or 50% off of tickets for those in the military.

Sometimes all you need is a military ID, it doesn’t matter if you are a military spouse or not. Other times the military discount is only for the service member.

Are Military Discounts for Service Members, Military Spouses or Both?

We should thank businesses for having a military discount instead of getting upset at them for not offering the military discount to the military spouse too.

Most of the time I only ask for a military discount if I have heard that there is one at the location that I am in. Every once in a while I might just ask on a whim. Sometimes I feel a little odd about asking even though I know there is really no harm in asking for a military discount. Some people think asking is being greedy but I see it as a way to save money.

When I turn 55 I will start asking about a senior discount and I don’t see anything wrong with that either.

You would never demand a discount but asking for one politely shouldn’t be an issue.

The service member is benefiting from the money that is saved, whether they are using the discount themselves or not. And isn’t that the point of the discount? To give back to those who serve?

By giving the discount to the spouse too, the business is helping the service member save their money. Offering a military discount is a way to support military families and can make a spouse choose one restaurant over another because they offer the discount.

When I hear that a business only gives a discount to the person who has signed up to join the military, I don’t get mad at that policy, but in some cases it can be frustrating.

For example, if a company is giving out the discount and your spouse is deployed. There is no way for them to use the discount.

In those cases a military discount would be great if the spouse got the discount since the service member could not, especially if the reason is that they are deployed or away for any type of military training. A discount is a great way for a business to say thank you for your service and what better way to do that then to help save them money during a deployment.

I also can understand that offering a military discount can be hard to do if you have a business and having the military discount be only for the service member could be the only way they can even offer the discount in the first place. Since not every business offers them, complaining to the business about the details of their discount would be rude.

We should be thanking them for having one in the first place instead of getting upset at them for not giving the military discount to the spouse too.

I think asking for a discount is perfectly OK for a military spouse to do. Claiming a discount is a way to save a little money and we all know that military paychecks could be higher. The company might say no or they might have limitations on the discount so that it can not be used by the spouse.

Either way asking does not hurt and once you find out about a discount you will know to use it every time you go to that location.

Do you feel uncomfortable asking for a military discount? Why or why not?

How to Save Money When Flying This Summer

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This country we call home is huge! From coast to coast, it’s more than 3,000 miles. That, of course, doesn’t cover any overseas travel that you desire to do. It takes hours and hours, just to drive hundreds of miles, so naturally flying becomes our main choice in travel to make the best use of our time.

With summer in full swing and our family’s schedule a little more open and available (for the most part!), we’re more inclined to use that time vacationing.

Searching for Cheaper Airfare? Here’s How to Save Money When Flying This Summer

Searching for Cheaper Airfare? Here's How to Save Money When Flying This Summer

If the online prices aren’t appealing to you, call the airlines directly and ask for a military discount.

Like several other military families, I try and fly back to my hometown of Austin, Texas, at least once a year outside of the holidays. Whether you are using your summer time off to go to grandma’s house or to explore a new location, it’s most likely it’s far enough away where you need to hop on a plane. My parents have also spent a lot of time in the air, especially my dad. He utilized frequent flyer miles with his job.

Plan Your Travel in Advance, Avoid Holiday Travel

I give credit to him because he’s the one that has shared tips and tricks for me to get the most bang for my buck when purchasing airline tickets, particularly back to my hometown.

The sooner you have dates locked down for travel is really the best time to buy, especially if it’s during a holiday. Aim to purchase airfare about 50 days out, if you can manage. And really, if you can help it, avoid the holidays (that means, no to a last-minute Labor Day weekend getaway) altogether!

Tuesdays Best Day to Buy, Best Day to Fly

But, we all know that military life can be a bit unpredictable, so it’s good to have a couple more things to consider before buying a plane ticket. There are times of the day and days of the week that yield cheaper prices for everyone. I typically purchase my plane tickets on the No. 1 buying day, which is Tuesday (according to Forbes and Business Insider).

In addition, the day you travel helps with ticket price. CNN says that Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the ideal days to travel and to avoid Sundays and Fridays. I’ve come to realize that Saturdays and Mondays sometimes have pricier tickets, so I stay away from those days as well.

I use resources like Kayak.com to gauge the difference in prices between the airlines and it also shows the prices days before and after your requested travel day. I love the ability to compare airlines and days of the week.

If the prices you see online aren’t appealing to you, go straight to the airlines for special rates.

Luckily for the military community, several airlines offer a military discount.

United, Jet Blue, American Airlines (now includes US Airways), Southwest and Delta are the major airlines that advertise a discount for military members. Most require a phone call to receive the military rate as it’s not available to purchase online.

I typically write down what’s available online and then call to see if there is a substantial difference. Generally, the online rate might be cheaper, but that’s only based on my experiences.

For example, on my recent vacation to Seattle, I contacted Southwest airlines because the flight times and prices online were the cheapest. I called to speak to a representative about the military rate and Southwest’s “Wanna Get Away” rate was cheaper, so while I was on the phone with them, I made the online reservation.

Don’t Forget About Space-A Travel

Another great (and sometimes scary) way to save money is to use Space-A travel. I know, yikes! It’s a bit confusing and really, from what I know about it, you really should have a lot of wiggle room with your travel date, if you’re opting to use it.

My parents have used Space-A travel and I’ve participated as a military child. From what I remember, don’t forget to ask a lot of questions and I would suggest having your spouse talk through it with their command. Schedules can sometimes change, so there are a whole lot of things to consider when you decide to fly at the mercy of the military.

Are you planning to fly this summer? How do you save money on airfare during the peak travel season?

Save Money This Summer with These Military Discounts

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Save Money This Summer with These Military Discounts

What are your favorite military discounts to use on your summer vacation?

Summer is almost here and that means vacation time is quickly approaching. Save money, time and frustration by planning ahead and taking advantage of military discounts on summer fun. You’ll be able to make the most of your summer with these great military discounts.

Here are a few military discounts you don’t want to miss this summer.

  • Adventure Island Tampa: Free tickets are available for active duty military and their families; veterans get half off tickets as well.
  • Aquatica San Diego: Active duty military families receive free tickets and veterans get half off tickets.
  • Busch Gardens: Active duty service members and up to 3 dependents get complimentary admission once a year. You’ll need to fill out a form online and bring it to the ticket counter with your military ID to get your actual pass. Don’t wait in line at the gate like I did only to find out you have to go back to the ticket counter!
  • SeaWorld: Free tickets are available to active duty service members and their families. Veterans get a 50% discount.
  • Sesame Park Place: All active duty military families can get free tickets and veterans receive a 50% discount.

    Save Money This Summer with These Military Discounts

    Have you taken your family to Disney yet?

  • Walt Disney World Resort: Disney is currently offering 3-day military park hopper tickets for $132. See your base ticketing office for details.
  • Blue Star Theatres: Military families and veterans can enjoy free admission to over 100 theatres around the country.
  • Water Country USA: Free admission is available for active duty military, reservists and National Guard as well as 3 direct dependents.
  • Cedar Point: Enjoy $21 off regular admission for all active duty, veterans and their families.
  • Colonial Williamsburg: Admission is free for military families May 22-25, 2015. Visit your MWR/ITT office to purchase discounted admission tickets the rest of the year.

    Colonial Williamsburg is a great to visit. It's educational and fun.

    Colonial Williamsburg is a great to visit. It’s educational and fun.

  • Dollywood: Active duty, reservists, veterans and their families receive a 30% discount on one day admission. These tickets cannot be pre-purchased and can only be purchased at the front gate of Dollywood or Dollywood’s Splash Country.
  • King’s Dominion: Free admission is offered May 23-25 and July 4-5 for all active duty and retired military. Active duty and veterans are eligible for discounted tickets, up to 6 with each ID, at the gate throughout the year.
  • King’s Island: Free admission for military personnel May 22-25 and July 3-5. Active duty military receive discounts for themselves and up to 6 others by showing their ID at the gate throughout the year.
  • Lego Land: Active duty military get a free one day pass and friends and family receive a discount on admission at the gate.
  • Six Flags: Most military bases offer discounted admission tickets. Check with your MWR/ITT office.
  • Universal Studios: On-site hotel vacation packages and discounts on admission tickets are available for military families. Contact your MWR/ITT for details.
  • Great Wolf Lodge: All active duty service members receive 20% discount and free admission to the water park with their stay.
  • Museums: Many museums across America including: Museum of Modern Art in New York, the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas, the Southwest Florida Military Museum in Cape Coral and the USS Midway Museum in San Diego offer free entrance or discounts for military families.
  • Movie Theaters: Many theaters offer military discounts, usually the same price as a senior or student ticket. You’ll need to use the actual ticket counter to get them and to show your ID.
  • Summer Camp for Children: Many camps across the country are free or discounted for military dependents, particularly if one of the parents is deployed. Check with your local camps.
  • Major League Baseball: The league offers discounted tickets to many games and each team also has a specific military appreciation day. Check with your favorite team for details.

There are so many fun, exciting and educational things to do with your family this summer and saving money while having fun is always a bonus. If you didn’t see a particular theme park listed here that you are planning a trip to this year, call ahead or check their website for military discounts. Many businesses around the country offer some type of military discount; all you have to do is ask.

What are your favorite military discounts? Tell us in the comments section.

9 Low-Cost Date Night Activities to Ignite Your Love

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One of the best pieces of advice my parents gave me when I started my marriage is to not sacrifice date night. They’ve been going out at least once a week for as long as I could remember! Now after 30+ years of marriage and a 20+ year military career, they still enjoy the time spent out exploring something new or visiting a familiar place.

Especially with unexpected separations that military couples endure, it’s important to set aside time dedicated to strengthening your relationship. Date night is a great way to rekindle your love and to continue learning from each other. So, taking my parent’s advice to heart, my husband and I are constantly looking for ways to keep the flame alive.

Another important piece of advice, date night doesn’t have to break the bank. My parents love to utilize dining deals from local restaurants (i.e., 2 for 1 pasta dishes or 2 taco dinners for $20). Check out your local eateries to see if anything like that is possible.

Aside from going out to dinner, I wanted to share with you 9 fun and (possibly) romantic date night activities that are easy on your wallet that my husband and I regularly practice.

  1. Cook dinner together: We’ve found this to be our go-to activity because we love the end result! It’s fun to pick a recipe and work together to create a delicious meal. Yum!9 Low-Cost Date Night Activities to Ignite Your Love
  2. Go to the movies: Check out your installation’s MWR for ticket vouchers and/or movie theaters to see if a movie that you’re interested in watching is playing. My husband and I have seen several movies on-post already and utilize the vouchers given out by our MWR. Also, big theater companies like AMC and Cinemark offer discounted rates for military. Call your nearby movie theater to see if they offer a military discount.
  3. Walk in a park: Early in our relationship, my husband and I took a lot of walks on the trails on and around Fort Drum. It was an opportunity for us to talk and soak in the beautiful sights– for free!
  4. Play a game: One evening my husband and I were completely stumped on what to do. Then, he suggested playing cards. We spent the evening teaching each other the card games we knew. That motivated us to purchase other board games like Scrabble and Monopoly to play on other evenings (they are under $20 on Amazon.com). A little competition doesn’t hurt in a marriage.
  5. Shop at a flea market or thrift store: To be honest, I might enjoy this activity more than my husband, but we both like the idea of finding unique items together. Since we’re still on the lookout for items to fill our home, this is a great way to find a bargain too.
  6. Visit the library: Sharing quiet moments together can also be powerful. Swing by your local library to pick out your next read and if it happens to be close to closing time, head to a coffee shop to continue your reading with a coffee or tea.9 Low-Cost Date Night Activities to Ignite Your Love
  7. Start an ongoing project: It’s going to sound silly when I say this out loud, but my husband and I build with Legos. We strategize and come up with ways to put together different structures. There are so many other things that you and your loved one can do. It can be an art project or maybe a home improvement venture. Whatever it is, it’s a great way for you and your spouse to work as a team.
  8. Learn something new together: This should be anything like going to a museum (which many have discounted military rates) or attend an evening class at a community center. My husband and I enjoy learning from our experiences together.
  9. Buy tickets on special military discount sites: For the nights that you want to splurge a little bit, check out GovX, Veteran Tickets or your local USO for discounted tickets to performances in your area.

What’s your go-to activity for a romantic and easy date night? Share your ideas in the comments section.

How to Spend Your Tax Refund Wisely

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It’s that wonderful time of year: tax season.

How to Spend Your Tax Refund Wisely

 

I’m always such a procrastinator when it comes to taxes. I don’t wait until the last minute, but I put it off as long as I can. The first time my husband and I filed taxes together he insisted on going to a tax preparation business out in town. I’ve always done my own taxes so I was quite mad when we finished up and I saw our bill. I’m still annoyed by it so I continue to procrastinate every year.

My husband is adamant that we use a tax preparation company since they offer a guarantee that if something is wrong, they will fix it. Having special military pay and working in tax-free zones for part of the year can all add up to some tax confusion so having the comfort of knowing a professional is doing the paperwork is a bit of a relief.

How to Spend Your Tax Refund Wisely

Recently I discovered that H&R Block has offices on more than 100 military bases offering free tax services. You have options for filing your taxes for free too. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program offers “no-cost tax advice and preparation, return filing and other tax assistance to military members and their families” and through Military OneSource, you can use H&R Block At Home Online Tax Return Preparation. If you want help, you can go in person or call their help line 24/7 until June or if you want to do it yourself at home you can too. You don’t need to spend money to file your taxes. 

However you choose to file your taxes, you have to do it before April 15. Hopefully you’ll be receiving a refund. We can all hope.

Once you file your taxes you still have one big decision left to make, what are you going to do with your tax refund?

There are 5 options of how to wisely reinvent your tax return.

Pay off credit card debt: Take this opportunity to pay off, or at least lower, your credit card debt. If you have student loans, vehicle payments or mortgage payments, you could put your return toward that as well.

Invest in your future: Financial planning, while not very exciting, is important. Meet with a financial adviser and see what types of investments are right for you. Perhaps it’s time to start a Roth IRA if you don’t already have one.

Invest in your children’s future: If you have children and hope they will go to college one day, setting up a college fund now can help offset tuition and other expenses down the road.

Buy a new vehicle: Have you been dreaming of a new car? Your tax refund might give you the additional income desired to put down a significant down payment.

Take a vacation: Everyone needs a little down time. Take some much needed time with your family, or just yourself and get away for a while. While you are vacationing, don’t forget to ask for a military discount at hotels, museums, attractions and restaurants. You can also book a vacation at a military resort if you want to stretch your tax refund dollars a little farther.

No matter how you choose to use your tax refund, do something that will make you happy. While your neighbor is showing off his new shiny car, you might be smiling having invested in your children’s 529 college savings program. It might not be flashy, but it will have a great reward one day when your children head off to college.

What are you planning to do with your tax refund?

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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