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I Give Up on a DIY Military Ball Look

09/24/2018 By Meg Flanagan

My hair was an absolute rat’s nest. I’d tried and failed, at no less than five different hairstyles. My locks had been straightened, curled and twisted to the breaking point.

It was also about 10 minutes before I needed to walk out the door for a military birthday ball.

I Give Up on a DIY Military Ball Look

From curly, poofy styles to sleek chignons, I’ve rocked a wide variety of hairdos over the years. My makeup has always been on-point. Across continents, climates and through late-stage pregnancies, I have successfully DIYed my military ball glamour. This year, I give up.

That’s how my friend found me. Standing in my Spanx and strapless bra, hair fried to a crisp, no makeup and a curling iron in each hand, I had tears running down my face. I also needed to breastfeed the baby.

You could say I was in a bit of a crisis.

Why I Have to Give Up on a DIY Military Ball Look

For the last decade, I’ve been a DIY military ball queen. I don’t make my own dress. That’s a bridge too far even for me. But I certainly do my own hair and makeup.

It’s been a smashing success, filled with lots of bobby pins and hairspray.

From curly, poofy styles to sleek chignons, I’ve rocked a wide variety of hairdos over the years. My makeup, while minimalist, has always been on-point, too. Across continents, climates and through late-stage pregnancies, I have successfully DIYed my military ball glamour.

This year, I give up.

I am finding other ways to look my best on military ball night.

It is not worth the amount of stress that I put myself through. Even the years that have turned out well were stressful. There is always the moment of panic. Suddenly, I’ll look in the mirror and realize that the ‘do I was trying for is miserably failing.

Or I notice, on my way out the door, that my eyeliner is really noticeably crooked.

Who could forget the year that I thought I left the curling iron on? I blame pregnancy brain for that one though.

Getting ready on the day of the military ball was much simpler before children were involved.

I could leisurely shower and shave in the hours before go-time. Lotion? Sure! It’ll have time to dry while I browse my shoe collection. Hair could be done again and again, maybe even totally shampooed for a freshly washed look.

With kids? I’m lucky to grab a 10-minute shower. Then, I’m feeding the baby some yogurt while answering the preschooler’s never-ending questions about life and attempting to apply foundation.

Oh, in the middle of all of that, I’ve also hunted down my husband’s extra stiff neck collar thingy and his cufflinks. They were exactly where he left them after the last military ball.

There simply isn’t the time for me to do my own hair or makeup in a way that approaches presentable. If I attempted it this year, I might wind up with the 4-year-old special: a bunch of pigtails, some random bows and lots of blue eyeshadow.

I’m dropping cash on one fancy night out.

In my world, this is the major date night event. We’ve got the sitter, glamorous outfits and we just might splurge on a taxi. This year might be crazy – we’ll get a hotel room for a truly immersive ball experience.

All of that costs cash.

It’s also only one night a year and I’m going to live it up. For my family, adding the cost of professional hair or makeup is not a budget buster. The cost of dry cleaning his dress blues to destroy lingering cigar odors will be pricey than my trip to the hair stylist.

While the military birthday ball is totally his night, it’s also my night on the town too. I want to look and feel good. I don’t want to find dried baby food in my hair.

Being able to spend some time getting my hair done also means that we won’t be rushing out of the house at the last minute. I won’t be hastily trying to shove my hair into a giant sock bun with 30 seconds to go. No more lipstick applications in the car either.

Maybe this year, I’ll be able to eat a little something before we go. Perhaps I’ll remember to sneak a few packs of fruit snacks into my clutch too. Those guest speaker comments can be rather long-winded and I’m used to eating at 5:30 pm.

Saving the money by doing my own hair and makeup isn’t worth the stress and aggravation anymore. Maybe it would be a different story if my hair was easy to work with or I was less picky. But it’s not and I’m not.

I refuse to be crying in my Spanx 5 minutes before we need to leave for the military birthday ball again.

After she finished laughing, my friend revealed that she was also not ready to go. We managed to pull our hair back into big buns and slapped on some mascara. Luckily, my tears had only managed to give me a dewy fresh glow and not puffy red eyes.

Once we slid into the car, we both solemnly swore that 2017 was the very last time that we would ever attempt to DIY hair and makeup for the ball.

From now on, at least one thing is going to be handled by a professional.

Really, it’s for our mental health. And so that our husbands will stop their anxious pacing and watch checking.

Do you get your hair done professionally or do you DIY before a military ball?

Back to School Sidewalk Sales Coming to Our Commissaries

08/08/2018 By Amanda Marksmeier

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.

10 Military Discounts for When You’re Stationed in SoCal

08/01/2018 By Meg Flanagan

Welcome to glowing sunsets, mountain hikes and seemingly endless summer! Sunny Southern California can be a dream duty station for those lucky enough to get assigned here.

With beaches and wineries and, let’s be honest, Disneyland so close by, you’re going to want to go everywhere and do everything. But checking items off your SoCal bucket list can get a little pricey.

Keep costs down and hit the tourist hot spots with these military discounts.

10 Military Discounts for When You’re Stationed in SoCal

1. San Diego Zoo and Safari Park

The San Diego Zoo has been a leader in zoos and wildlife conservation for more than 100 years. Visit the historic zoo, located in Balboa Park or head to the Safari Park in Escondido for a day of adventure. With military discounts, service members and their families can save a little bit on their trip!

Active duty troops get complimentary access to both parks with their DoD ID. Military dependents can claim 10% off their daily admission fees too. There are no limits on how often troops and their families can use these discounted tickets.

Veterans and non-active duty reserve troops are not offered a discount at the gate. Tickets with discounted pricing are offered through ITT or MWR offices at military bases throughout Southern California.

2. SeaWorld San Diego

You’re sure to have a whale of a good time at SeaWorld San Diego! Head down to San Diego’s bay area for a fun-filled day of thrilling rides, entertaining animals shows and learning about our oceans.

Active duty troops and their dependents can spend a day at the park for free, thanks to the Waves of Honor military salute! This deal expires on December 31, 2018, but is typically renewed annually.

Through September 30, 2018, veterans and up to three guests can go to SeaWorld for free!

3. Hornblower Cruises

It’s fair winds and following seas for deploying service members with a dinner cruise package from Hornblower Cruises! They’ve included special extras to help make this often stressful time a little more enjoyable.

Military personnel and their families can enjoy discounted Hornblower cruises anytime when they purchase tickets through their base ITT or MWR office.

4. San Diego Padres

Take your family to the ballgame with discounted tickets! Attend a military salute game for cheaper. Going on a Sunday gets you a bigger discount too.

Make sure to bring a little extra for Cracker Jack and a drink. Maybe you’ll even catch a foul ball!

5. Legoland California

Get your brick on at Legoland and SeaLife Aquarium! Spend the day at Legoland with a 25% discount or hop between the theme park, water park and aquarium with a combo ticket. Combo tickets up the value with increased discounts and free days!

If you’re going spur of the moment, claim up to 10% off at the gate with your military ID. When you visit ITT or MWR, you can even grab discounted annual passes!

6. Temecula Wineries

Enjoy a staycation in Temecula with discounted hotel rates and winery tastings. Head to Old Town for a taste of the old west or stay at a winery resort for an immersive experience. Grab discounted tasting coupons to local wineries through 2018 to celebrate the valley’s 50 year anniversary.

Related: 30 Military-Friendly Wineries and Breweries You’ll Want to Sample

Many wineries are child-friendly, with open lawns and occasionally a playground! Bring a picnic and make a day of your adventure to the Inland Empire.

7. USS Midway

Check out the Navy of the past with a visit to the USS Midway on San Diego’s Embarcadero. Active duty military can board for free! Veterans can also claim a discount on tickets.

Stroll the decks and reminisce about the quality of chipped beef on toast at the cafe. Military kids will love to peek at the bunkrooms and see where the racks are on board.

8. Old Town Trolley Tours

Dip your toes into all San Diego has to offer with a fun hop-on hop-off trolley tour. From Old Town to Coronado, you’ll learn all about the history of this wonderful city. Head to ITT and MWR for discounted tickets.

In November, military personnel and veterans can hitch a ride for free!

9. Knott’s Berry Farm

Brave the big drops and loop-the-loops on some giant roller coasters at a discount! Military troops and their families can grab cheaper admission every day when you show your ID at the gate. However, military personnel need to be present to qualify for the discount.

While you’re there, say “hi” to Snoopy, Charlie Brown and friends. Grab a chicken dinner and make sure you leave room for dessert!

10. Disneyland and California Adventure

It’s not SoCal without a visit to Mickey and company! Now you can go to the Happiest Place on Earth with a sizeable discount.

Grab multi-day passes with the Military Salute ticket packages. Some packages offer options to hop between Disneyland and California Adventure! You are limited to six tickets per military family per year. This deal is also only for active duty troops and their dependents.

When you buy military tickets, you’ll also qualify for a discounted PhotoPass.

If you’ve already used your Military Salute tickets, discounted passes are available at ITT and MWR offices nationwide. Make a total vacation of it and stay at Disneyland with a military discount. Call the resort or book online to qualify.

What are your favorite SoCal military discounts or special offers? Share your top spots in the comments!

The Commissary’s 5% Surcharge Isn’t Going Away

07/30/2018 By Kimber Green

There are so many changes happening at the commissary that many people have questioned if the 5% surcharge will be going away as well. At this point, the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) hasn’t announced that it is considering it.

The Commissary's 5% Surcharge Isn't Going Away

When the commissary was first approved, it was set by law that goods would be sold at cost plus a 5% surcharge. The surcharge covers the cost of maintaining and improving commissary infrastructure.

The government is always looking for ways to save money and the commissary certainly takes a big chunk of the defense buget. The government wants DeCA to be more self-sufficient. If they drop the surcharge, then more taxpayers’ money would have to fund the commissary.

When the commissary was first approved, it was set by law that goods would be sold at cost plus a 5% surcharge. The surcharge covers the cost of maintaining and improving commissary infrastructure. The government funded the rest.

For FY 2018, DeCA requested $1.3 billion in appropriations to cover costs such as: civilian and military labor, labor contracts, transportation of commissary goods overseas, and other general and administrative support. Many new programs have been implemented since to help reduce federal funding.

What has changed at the commissary?

Quite a lot has changed recently.

Have you noticed prices at the commissary aren’t the same? That’s because DeCA moved from set prices to variable pricing. That means that prices are not consistent across the country now. If you live near D.C., you’ll find prices are higher there than at a commissary in Georgia. That’s because the cost of living is higher in D.C. and therefore, items cost more.

Goods fluctuate with market prices as well.

Previously, prices changed at the commissary when the cost changed through the manufacturer. Now they change with the market similarly to how commercial grocery stores handle pricing.

Commissary shoppers are still getting great savings even with the 5% surcharge. In some areas, shoppers are seeing as much as 44.2% savings. You can read more about variable pricing here and see how much your region is saving.

DeCA has made some substantial changes in a relatively short time to start relying less on the government for their funding. The success of these is noticeable in how much money DeCA requested in appropriations for FY 2019. They asked for $123 million less than they did for FY 2018. While you would think the government would be happy about that, they are already asking how much more money they can reduce their appropriations.

From the customer’s standpoint, how do you feel about these changes?

The government wants to save money but DeCA still wants to bring great savings to military families. The commissary benefit is a part of the compensation package and is a great recruitment and retention tool. It isn’t going away.

Neither is the 5% surcharge. The surcharge is one thing that customers ask about a lot.

The exchange doesn’t have a surcharge; so many people don’t understand why the commissary does.

The commissaries and exchanges are two different entities and are funded differently. For now, the 5% surcharge stays in place, but if another change occurs, combining the commissary and exchange, you might see something different. That’s a long way down the road though as a new study just began this month.

What questions do you have about the commissary’s 5% surcharge?

10 Smart Habits Military Families Should Adopt This School Year

07/25/2018 By Meg Flanagan

New year, new you, right? January is more than six months in the past, but the start of a new school year is the perfect opportunity to ditch your bad habits.

10 Smart Habits Military Families Should Adopt This School Year

Are you ready to start fresh?

10 Smart Habits to Save Money and Reduce Costs During the School Year

1. Repurpose What You Have

Be honest. How many mix-matched sets of curtains do you have in boxes?

Many military families collect several different types of curtains, towels, shelves and storage solutions over the years. When every house you live in is slightly, or majorly, different, it’s tempting to get new things.

Instead of shopping at the PX for new stuff, pull out what you already have.

Reusing or repurposing things you already own works for school supplies too. Try to use last year’s backpack and lunchbox. Try on clothes to see what still fits.

2. Ditch the Plastic Bags

I’ve got a huge stash of plastic brown commissary bags sitting under my sink. They’re great when I walk the dog or need to collect wet bathing suits. But I really don’t need quite so many.

Instead of collecting plastic shopping bags, make the switch to reusable grocery bags.

Pick up a few eco-friendly shopping bags at the commissary or PX. They’re usually located near the cashiers. Local grocery stores also sell fabric bags. You’ll love using your Sprouts bag in Okinawa!

If you forget your bags at home, reuse the plastic bags to pick up dog waste, pack lunches or tote wet bathing suits home from the pool.

You can also recycle plastic bags at the commissary. Look for the collection bins near the front of the store.

3. BYOBottle of Water

Buying bottled water can get pricey! From vending machines, it can run you over $2 a pop! If you’re drinking lots of water, the cost adds up fast.

Instead, bring your own bottle of water. Just fill it from the tap at home.

Tap water might not be for everyone. If you live on or near a military base, you may decide to drink bottled water and that’s understandable.

To improve your tap water, consider installing a filter or working with a water filtration company.

4. Plant a Flower Bed or Vegetable Garden

You’re only living there for a few years, so maintaining the lawn or landscaping might not seem like a priority. You should make it one!

Gardening can seriously help improve mental health! Next time you need to kick the deployment doldrums or beat the PCS blues, planting a few plants or pulling some weeds is worth a try.

Beyond boosting your mood, keeping up your yard can be required as part of your lease agreement. On-base residents are typically required to maintain the lawn and any plants on their property.

Some off-base homes might ask you to handle minor upkeep too. Being a good tenant can help you when you PCS, since prospective landlords may ask for contact information for your previous landlords.

5. Carpool to School (or Work)

Whether you live on or off base, you might be headed to the same school or work location as your neighbors. Before you all pull out of your driveways in separate cars, consider setting up a neighborhood carpool.

Active duty troops headed to similar areas on base might rotate driving duties. You could connect with other parents to figure out a good drop off and pick up schedule for school.

Carpooling helps everyone to save on gas, can build great relationships and reduces fossil fuel emissions.

6. Menu Planning for the Win

Every week, it seemed like I was left with food that wasn’t eaten. Whether it’s one sad apple in the drawer or a box of salad greens, something spoiled in the refrigerator.

Well, not anymore.

Or at least not as often.

Since we started menu planning, we’ve cut down our wasted food by a lot!

We’ve set up a general meal rotation that we run through every week. I tweak a few things weekly, based on what’s in season or on sale. Having a mostly standard set of meals makes it easy to shop since we eat the same things every week.

Another option is to plan out unique meals by the week or month. As you plan, write down ingredients for each meal. Try to plan several meals each week that use similar ingredients so that you can use leftovers. On example would be to roast chicken on Sunday, eat pot pie on Monday and have chicken fried rice on Wednesday.

When you’re making your shopping list, check for ingredients that are already in your pantry or fridge. Then just buy anything extra that you need, plus general weekly staple items like milk and eggs.

7. Compost

Since you’re already gardening, it’s a no-brainer to take your hobby to the next level! Composting vegetable scraps and other food waste can help to enrich your soil. That leads to better blossoms and yummier veggies.

Collect fruit and vegetable peels, egg shells, coffee grounds and other food waste in a compost bin. Transfer to a larger compost pile or system. Over time, those food scraps and waste will break down into super-rich soil. Spread your enriched dirt over your garden beds and watch your plants thrive!

8. Recycle, Don’t Trash

Living in Japan and traveling overseas has been eye-opening in terms of what can be recycled and what must be trashed.

There are lots of options for recycling items. It just takes a little effort to break down cardboard boxes and rinse cans or bottles.

As you cook and eat, be mindful of food packaging and what you do with empty containers. Most glass, metal, paper, cardboard and plastic can and should be recycled.

Check the recycling policies where you live for specific rules about removing caps or rinsing containers.

9. Pick Up Together

Instead of posting an angry rant in the neighborhood Facebook page, grab a trash bag and pick up a little bit of trash. Better yet, set up recurring neighborhood clean-ups!

You’ll connect with your neighbors in new and different ways. Plus, your community will look so much better without litter or pet waste.

10. Purge the Items You Haven’t Used

So those curtains…if you haven’t used them in a few moves, it might be time to give up the ghost. Instead of dragging them to yet another duty station, where you won’t unpack them again, donate or sell them.

However you do it, get rid of the stuff you haven’t used in a while. If you can’t or don’t use it, it’s time to lose it!

What habits do you want to change this school year?

How to Prevent Conflict When Your In-Laws Visit You

05/07/2018 By Meg Flanagan

Many military couples host their in-laws, friends and extended family members during the summer months. Afterall, what’s the point of being stationed in Hawaii, if your house doesn’t become a revolving door for cousins who want to spend time with you, but also enjoy having you as their tour guide and your house as a free hotel room. You are happy to host them as your guests until you realize you are spending way more money on groceries when they are staying with you.

How to Prevent Conflict When Your In-Laws Visit You

Are hosting guests a financial strain on your budget? Can you ask your parents to buy the groceries when they are staying with you? Will your father-in-law watch your kids for date night?

What happens where you as the host feel like you can’t afford (or don’t want) to pay the costs associated with guests. This conflict over who pays seems like a source of unspoken frustration among military spouses.

A military spouse posted this question in a Facebook group:

When your relatives come to visit you, who pays for stuff? You or them? Can you ask them to help out around the house when they are staying with you?

Some military spouses responded saying they believe that guests shouldn’t pay or chip in with housework, ever. Your guests are on vacation and might have dropped serious cash to get there. The hosts should pick up the tab along with the extra work.

Others were firmly on the opposite end of the spectrum. Visitors are getting free lodging so assisting with cooking, cleaning, child care or groceries is a fair trade.

Most military spouses agreed that every situation is unique. Cost of travel and budget were factors that everyone considered. Others talked about the frequency of visits and reciprocity of the expectations when the host/guest roles are reversed.

Where is the disconnect?

Almost everyone agreed that family visits can be a huge source of conflict, especially when the in-laws are involved.

The heart of these might be a lack of shared cultural, familial history. It could be that your mother-in-law comes from a family where hosts have historically paid for everything. Maybe this is how it worked with her own mother-in-law!

When the visit or your guest’s expectations don’t go as you thought, it can cause frustration. Over time, with visit after visit, the frustration turns to anger which turns to resentment.

How can you prevent family vacation conflicts?

It all comes down to communication! If things are going well, you’re probably on the same wavelength. When you’re feeling frustrated during a family visit, it’s time to have a friendly sit-down.

First, decide what you are comfortable doing as a host. What makes you frustrated or upset? Is it having to do all the cooking, cleaning, shopping and paying? Are you comfortable with splitting things in different ways? What do you want your guests to help, or not help, with?

Be very clear with yourself and your spouse. Knowing where you are willing to compromise is just as important as your hard limits.

Solve family visit conflicts

Start neutrally:

“What do you want to do tomorrow?”

Share a few different activities that everyone can enjoy and bring out brochures. Talk about price and ask if this activity is in their budget. You could do this with any part of your trip from tourist attractions to meal planning to paying for gas.

Sit down with your visitors to plot out the events and meals that will happen during the vacation. Ask about which activities fit their budget. Share unique eating experiences in your area at a variety of price points and ask which ones they think will best suit them. Invite them to go grocery shopping with you.

For slightly more complicated situations, you might need to be more to the point. Request politely and kindly that your guest helps you.

You could try:

  • While I cook the main course, could you prep the salad?
  • Please feel free to bring your favorite drinks with you, as we mostly drink water.
  • Would you be able to step in with the kids while I (go for a run, head to the store, do this chore)?

Another route is giving praise for desired actions:

  • Thanks so much for putting on the coffee! I so appreciate having hot coffee when I woke up today!
  • The kids love spending time with you, especially since we live so far apart. I know they’re over the moon to just be with you!
  • You make such good (food item)! We’d love to share this special meal with you! Could we make it together?
  • It’s so nice to have your help (sorting the laundry, emptying the dishwasher, walking the dog)! Thanks!

Often it could just take a nudge or gentle push to move your guests to help you, if that’s what you want.

What happens in a stand-off?

You might find yourself between a rock and a hard place. You’re super uncomfortable in your own home and stretched beyond your limits.

The first conversation should be with your spouse. Decompress and share your frustrations with him or her. Explain what would make this visit better or at least slightly easier. Then create a plan of action to find a solution. You and your spouse should take this on as a team.

If your conflict is with a member of your own family, you should handle it. For in-law issues, your spouse should take the lead. Yes, these conversations will be awkward and uncomfortable, but they need to happen. Not talking about it is a recipe for more anger and resentment in the future.

Start small and use lots of “I feel” statements.

“I feel very tired after working all day and taking care of the kids. It’s overwhelming for me to cook dinner by myself for everyone every night.”

Talk about the good points of the visit, too. Share fun experiences that you’ve done together or how much their visit means to your kids. Then make your big ask. What is it that would make the visit more enjoyable for you as the host?

“I love spending time with you, but doing all the cooking and then all the cleaning makes it hard to do that. Would you be willing to dry if I wash?”

If your concern is financial, be upfront about that, too.

“We love going to all these great places, but we are really watching our bottom line right now. We cannot afford to pay for everyone in our group to go. Can we find another solution?”

Your guests might be genuinely surprised to hear your frustrations!

While it might be really uncomfortable, you could find solutions that work for everyone. Even if things aren’t 100% better, at the very least, you’ve shared your feelings.

If things remain at a stand-off, consider ways to meet on neutral territory. You could pick a location in the middle where you can both stay in hotels or shorten their visits, if possible.

How do you have handled host/guest conflicts? Share your best tips in the comments!

Military Discounts for Your Child’s Birthday Party

03/21/2018 By Kimber Green

Have you started planning your child’s birthday party? Hosting a birthday party can be expensive, as I’m sure you’ve already discovered. Military discounts are so helpful when buying party supplies or booking a birthday party location.

Here is a list of military discounts to help you make your child’s next birthday party not only memorable, but also affordable.

Party Supply Stores

If you plan on decorating for the birthday party, you’ll want to stock up on supplies. There are many retailers to consider purchasing your supplies from. Try a local party supply store to help out a small business if you can. Ask them if they offer a military discount. Many small businesses like to give back to the military community.

If that isn’t an option, try a national chain such as Party City. They offer a 10% military discount on all items bought in store. If you see something on their website but it isn’t available in store, they can order it for you and have it sent to your house without paying for shipping.

If you are shopping for birthday party supplies online, try Shindigz. They have a 20% discount for military families. They also offer free shipping for purchases over $49.

Whole Sale Party Supplies has a 10% military discount and they provide free shipping with purchases of $39 or more.

Craft Stores

Perhaps you are a “Pinterest parent” and are planning on making the birthday party decorations. That can add up quickly, not only with your time but also with your budget.

I attempted to be a Pinterest mom for my son’s birthday last year just 2 weeks after having our daughter. It was probably a crazy idea to do so much at that point but I’m glad I did. I’m also glad that so many of the craft stores offer military discounts to make it more affordable to be creative.

Michaels has a 15% military discount that you can combine with their coupons. There is almost always a 40% off one regular priced item coupon and if not, they accept competitors’ coupons.

AC Moore also has a military discount. Their discount is also 15%. I shop here often as their prices tend to be lower and you can combine the military discount with other coupons and also gain points toward rewards certificates. You will find plenty of birthday party supplies and craft items at AC Moore.

Jo-Ann is another place you can try if you don’t find what you’re looking for at the other two places. They tend to have higher prices and offer a 10% military discount but if you want fabric, Jo-Ann is the place to go.

Birthday Party Locations

Making birthday party decorations or even buying them to host a party might not be your idea of a fun birthday party. In that case, try having your child’s birthday party at a fun location.

Chuck E. Cheese is always a popular option. They have military discount packages such as the Alpha package and Beta package. These include pizza, drinks and tokens. The best part of having your child’s birthday party here is that you don’t have to entertain kids and you don’t have to clean up.

Other locations that you might want to consider include: the zoo or aquarium, a gym or sports complex, a bounce house or trampoline world or perhaps a fun zone or sky zone. All of these in the D.C. area that I contacted offer military discounts so some in your city may offer a discount for your child’s birthday party as well.

Theme Parks

A popular birthday party idea is to take a few close friends to a theme park. Pretty much all of them offer a military discount. Great Wolf Lodge for example offers up to a 30% discount and is an extremely popular place for young children to have fun.

Busch Gardens, which is also connected to Sea World and Water Country USA, offers free entry and discounted packages to military families. By going on your free pass day, paying for birthday party guests will be more affordable.

Check with your ITT office for discounted tickets to other theme parks such as Six Flags. If you want to think a little outside the box, Medieval Times is something completely different. They have special packages that are available at MWR/ITT offices as well.

There are so many great places that offer military discounts that you can use for your child’s next birthday party. All you have to do is ask.

What are your favorite military discounts for your child’s birthday party? Tell us in the comments section.

More Commissary Brand Items Available to Shoppers

02/26/2018 By Meg Flanagan

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

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

Private Label Price Perks

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

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

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

3 Brands for All Commissary Products

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

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

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

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

Quality and Price

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

Each product features a money back guarantee on their label.

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

Product Roll-Out

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

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

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

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

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

We Really Wish These Retailers Offered a Military Discount

12/20/2017 By Kimber Green

One perk of being part of the military community is getting a military discount. Sure it’s a small thing, but it goes a long way.

How many times have you asked for a military discount when you’ve been checking out at a retailer?

I love a great discount and I’m thankful that many establishments offer it. I don’t expect it and quite often I’m surprised by how many places do offer a military discount.

Michael’s use to only offer a military discount on Mondays, but in recent years this retailer has moved to offering it every day. Old Navy is now the same, offering a military discount every day of the week instead of just one. I would always end up there on the wrong day, so I am so glad they expanded the program.

We Really Wish These 20 Retailers Offered a Military Discount

Getting a military discount is wonderful, no matter where it is at.

There are plenty of retailers that offer a military discount, but there are many more that do not.

Here are 20 stores that we wish offered a military discount.

I did a bit of crowdsourcing and found that many military spouses said grocery stores. Everyone doesn’t live near a commissary so they don’t have the opportunity to save money that way. The closest commissary to me is 35 minutes away, which doesn’t seem far. It is however when you need to pop out for 1 or 2 things.

It would be nice if places such as Wegmans, Publix, Giant, Food Lion, Aldi and Winn-Dixie offered a military discount.

After grocery stores, the next most popular establishments military spouses wished offered a military discount were big box retailers such as Walmart and Target. Most of us spend plenty of time in these stores and spend countless dollars, whether on frivolous things or necessities. Imagine how much money we would save over the long run if a military discount was offered.

Along the same lines, many military families would benefit from a military discount at stores such as Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s. Now that’s where most of us leave our money behind. It would be nice if we left with more than just jumbo sized products. Having a military discount would allow us to go home with more money in our pockets too.

We would probably spend it on coffee though. You laugh, but it’s true. So many people stated that they wished Starbucks offered a military discount. I vote for that too.

I don’t want to know how much money I’ve spent on coffee. It was worth every penny though. Every move, every deployment, every time I’ve made friends with new military spouses coffee has been involved. It’s basically a lifeline.

Speaking of lifelines, Amazon is a real savior. How many times have you bought something on Amazon? Having Prime membership is worth the price, but it would be so much better with a military discount.

If students can get a discount and people on government assistance that have EBT cards can get a discount, then why can’t military families get one? It doesn’t seem like that should be out of the question. If they can extend a membership discount to certain groups, then they should consider extending it to the military community.

I suppose we can’t have it all, but we can dream. Some other retailers that were suggested to add a military discount include Best Buy, Walgreens, Hobby Lobby and Tractor Supply as well as many restaurants.

At some locations Best Buy offers a 10% military discount, but not all of the stores do. Walgreens is now a Tricare approved pharmacy so many military families will be visiting these stores. It would be great if they offered a military discount on products other than prescriptions.

While Best Buy and Walgreens are great, many families have taken to a more domestic approach to life, having chickens in particular, and would benefit from a discount at Tractor Supply. Tractor Supply offers a discount to farmers, but not to military families. They receive a lot of patronage from the military, so it would be nice to get something back.

It would also be fantastic if every restaurant offered a military discount. A lot of military spouses said they would really appreciate that. Restaurants such as Outback Steakhouse, Red Robin and some Hard Rock Cafes offer these discounts but it would be nice if all of them did.

Getting a military discount is wonderful, no matter where it is at. I never expect to get one and am always happy and surprised when one is offered. Some places only offer the discount to the active duty person so it’s really nice when it can be applied to all of us with a military ID card.

Did we miss your favorite retailer that you wished offered a military discount? Tell us in the comments section.

Spread Some Cheer with These Holiday Card Alternatives

11/24/2017 By Veronica Jorden

If desperation is the mother of invention, I’m pretty sure procrastination is a second cousin. And I’m suffering from both.

It’s already the end of November and I still haven’t made up my mind if I’m going to send holiday cards or not.

You know, with 3 teenagers vying for their gotta-have-it gifts and plans to travel out of town, our budget is already stretched a little thin. And can we talk about how few hours there seems to be in the day at this time of year?

To make this holiday card thing happen I’ll need to:

  1. Coordinate clothes and beg/threaten/bribe my better half and kiddos to smile for a photo.
  2. Spend hours selecting the perfect holiday greeting, font and layout.
  3. Compile a list of all those who must and should receive a holiday card.
  4. Get the right number of cards printed, plus extras, because I’ll always remember a handful of extra should-be-on-my-list-ers after I print my cards.
  5. Buy stamps.
  6. Sign and stuff ‘em.
  7. Drop them off at the post office and hope that I haven’t forgotten anyone, I got the postage right and that they all get there in time to express my sincere holiday sentiments.

I know it’s not a particularly hard list, but the cost and time alone just adds another layer of stress to an already strapped-for-time season. There has to be an easier way! This year, try spreading a little cheer that is both budget-conscious and time-friendly.

7 Holiday Cards and Creative Alternatives

Do you send holiday cards? Why or why not?

7 Holiday Cards and Creative Alternatives

Use a Mailing Service

Many online photo companies offer mailing services at a price that can save you both time and money.  This option doesn’t allow you to hand-sign or include a personal note, so if you chose this option, consider following up with a quick phone call during the holidays or after the first of the year.

Send Post Cards

If including a handwritten note is more your style, and you’ve got a lengthy list, consider sending post cards instead of the traditional holiday cards.

Postage for postcards is a full 15 cents cheaper than a holiday card sent first-class mail. Sites like Vistaprint offer 50 full-color glossy postcards for $10!

Make a Video

Instead of holiday cards, consider recording a video of your family wishing those you love a happy holiday season. Sing a favorite Christmas carol, read a story, tell jokes or just express your heart-felt sentiment. So much more personal than a card and fun to make too!

You could make one video and share it with everyone or create shorter personalized messages for your close family and friends.

Make a Donation

This time of year is a great time to give back to your community or pay it forward.

Instead of spending money on holiday cards and postage, consider making a donation to a good cause on behalf of each person on your list.

Some nonprofits will even send out a thank you to those for whom you have donated. But if you chose this option, consider following up with a quick email to let those on your list know how much they mean to you. Be sure to include a link to the cause.

Just Call Them!

I like getting things in the mail, but honestly, a phone call and the opportunity to catch up and laugh with those I love is so much better.

Skip the stamps and spend a few minutes being present and in the moment with each person on your list.

Wait Until After the New Year

Often we all find we have more time (and money) after the first of the year. And there is nothing that says a holiday card must come in December! Give yourself some time,  shop the great late-season sales for some beautiful winter cards and use your cards to extend your good wishes for the New Year!

Next Year…Start Early!

Some of the best sales on pre-made cards and online photo cards often come at the beginning of fall. Put a reminder in your phone or on your calendar to start earlier next year.

It won’t necessarily help us out this year, but it might make next year a little less stressful!

Do you send holiday cards? Why or why not?

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