Life Lessons of a Military Wife (overseas in Europe!)

My goal here is to make your life easier, especially those who are in the unique situation of being a military spouse. Yes...I've been around...but in a good way...and hopefully can share those tips, tricks and shortcuts with you too. I've been on this military bus for over 40 years now. My goals in life are to have a well-run home, few money worries, well adjusted children, money socked away and whatever happiness I can scoop out of life.

: Name: ****Veteran Military Wife at Life Lessons of a Military Wife****; Location: United States

After life as an Army brat, being in the Army myself and marrying a soldier, I can honestly say I have a bucket full of life lessons I can share to help you make your everyday life easier and enlightening. Don't waste your time making unnecessary mistakes and benefit from others who have come before you on your journey through life.

View my complete profile

Monday, August 27, 2007

Military Discounts Anyone?

There is one really nice perk about being affiliated with the military and having a husband who is currently serving...the freebies and discounts! I've gone ahead and scoured the internet as well as my own circle of friends, to share some of the discounts we've been privileged to get. Take a look...

Before we get started, not all stores will carry the same discounts across the board. For the most part, national retail chains will honor these discounts, but I have come across some independently owned stores, where they will not honor them, and there are a variety of reasons why they may not be playing....Regardless, follow these tips:

I make it a point of asking in every new store or restaurant I go to, even if it is a local "mom and pop" store. You just never know, and I've been pleasantly surprised MANY times.
If it's a store you've never shopped in before, check the customer service desk first. I've made the mistake of loading up a cart and then asking at check-out and being denied. That's embarrassing!
Ask "Do you have a military discount?" and make sure you have your dependent ID card with you. They may or may not ask to see it at checkout.
After they ring you up, check your receipt to make sure you got it (sometimes the clerks can get distracted) and always thank them and smile
Sometimes, stores change whether they will offer a discount or not (case in point, Home Depot and Lowe's). So even if they don't do it one year, they may the next!

10% Discount

Best Buy
Circuit City
Marriot Hotels
Home Depot
Lowe's
some movie theaters

20% Discount

Footlocker
Sears Portrait Studio
Franklin Covey

30% Discount

Daytimer military discount use code "182868"

50% Discount

Johnny Rockets Restaurant

Free to Military

San Diego Zoo (active duty free; dependents 10% off)

http://www.herosalute.com/ free entrance to Seaworld/Busch Gardens/Adventure Island/Water Country USA and Sesame Place (1x annually for service member and up to 3 direct dependents)

"Beach Homes for the Brave" complimentary stay and amenities in Palm Island, Florida beach houses for wounded servicemembers

Other Options and Discounts

Always ask for the goverment military rate at any hotel and compare that price with the other prices being offered

Some places that have varying discounts include Alltel, Bass Pro Shops and Hampton Inn

AT&T/Cingular 19% w/2 year contract in military member's name

Websites and Programs to Check Out

militaryavenue.com

OperationOpenArms.com in South Florida

Military.com's List

4 Military Families

Military Spot.com's Discounts

Free Stuff for Military Families

Have you been able to find some good discounts?

Labels: Military

19 Comments:

JJ_West said...: Hi there. We also got a discount (I think 20%) at Verizon Wireless. Not sure if they are still offering, but it's worth a shot for those interested. :D Thanks so much for your list.; August 28, 2007 at 3:54 AM
Anonymous said...: Johnny Rockets is great! However, I know most of their socal locations only give 10% Off. It's still a great deal for the burgers and awesome waiters who dance to Johnny B. Good and other fun songs.
Go Johnny Go!; August 29, 2007 at 12:59 AM
****Veteran Military Wife at Life Lessons of a Military Wife**** said...: Perhaps they only gave this discount for a short time or only at a few locations...either way, be sure to always ask when you go!; August 29, 2007 at 1:13 PM
Anonymous said...: Home Depot and Lowes don't always offer military discounts, but they usually do around holidays like Veterans' Day, Memorial Day, and the Fourth of July.

But it never hurts to ask!; September 4, 2007 at 4:38 AM
****Veteran Military Wife at Life Lessons of a Military Wife**** said...: I believe the managers of the individual stores must decide this. I have lived in places where they ALWAYS give a discount. One year, the Home Depot in Colorado Springs did not offer it and the next year the Lowe's didn't. But they both resumed the discounts the next year...so go figure! You really have to ask and ask often!; September 4, 2007 at 2:01 PM
Anonymous said...: We just left SoCal, but there is a philly cheesesteak place in Aliso Viejo, CA called Philly's Best which gave 50% off all meals. We lived on the northern end of Camp P, so it was relatively close. We'd go on weekends.; November 6, 2007 at 3:03 PM
Anonymous said...: Dear Webmaster ~

Johnny Rockets is proud of our armed service volunteers. Locally, we look for ways to get involved with the communities in which we reside. There are a variety of sponsorship activities and fundraisers that may be available at a restaurant near you. On a national level, we are unable to provide a blanket 50% discount to all members of the military, although some of our locations do offer a military discount. Discount amount (%) and participating locations vary. Guests can contact their local Johnny Rockets for more information. Location information is available at johnnyrockets.com. We politely ask that you remove any reference or link to Johnny Rockets from your website.

We thank you for your service to our Country.; March 18, 2008 at 3:58 PM
Anonymous said...: Hi,

My boyfriend is active duty army and on leave before deployment we went to circuit city in Illinois to purchace a laptop assuming we would have a 10% discount. While at Ft. Benning, GA we went to a circuit city and he recieved his discount so we naturally assumed we would recieve it in Illinois. Once we got there Circuit City was awful to us!

We found this awesome computer for a realy reasonable price, I asked the sales representative about a military discount and he said that he had never honored one. I asked to please speak to a store manager and he replied "I'm sorry but she will tell you the same thing." Rude. My boyfriend decided he still wanted to buy the computer even though it was an extra 10% he wasn't expecting. After the purchase I again asked to speak to a manager and the sales representative denied my request. I called my boyfriends mom who is quite outspoken and they let me talk to a manager.

The manager then was extremely rude to me and told me that in her 7 years at circuit city she had never honored a military discount and regardless of his military status or if he was preparing to deploy or not was none of her concern but she was not going to honor the military discount.

I called the corporate number and they told me that Circuit City has never valued a military discount so they were not sure what I was talking about.

I found circuit city to be very, very rude but I guess I'm wondering where circut city DOES honor the discounts!; May 27, 2008 at 2:25 AM
****Veteran Military Wife at Life Lessons of a Military Wife**** said...: Very sorry to hear about that! How awful! I've heard that many times the local managers of the chain stores have the authority to honor such discounts. The closer the store is to a military post or base, the more likely it is to give a military discount...it is not always a given and should not always be expected...but, with that being said, I do always ask!; May 27, 2008 at 2:30 AM
Anonymous said...: I come from a big military family and have been in for ten years myself. I would like to help some people's understanding of the military discount. First it is completely up to a business whether or not they want to give a discount. You should never go into a business expecting a discount, even if one is offered in lets say a Circuit City at Ft. Benning. A discount may not be offered at a Circuit City in Ill. It is completely inappropriate to get disgruntled when a business does not offer a discount. When a business says they do not offer a discount and you complain to try to get one, it goes against the Armed Forces ethics to try to receive.
Serving your country does come with sacrifices, one which may be lower pay then you might receive in a job/carrier in the civilian sector. The military has enough problems without people getting disgruntled for not receiving a discount.
Their is nothing wrong with asking if a business offers a discount, but if a business does not offer one, leave it at that it is their choice.; August 25, 2008 at 4:02 AM
****Veteran Military Wife at Life Lessons of a Military Wife**** said...: That is correct, which I thought I made clear above. It is not just the owner who makes the decision on whether to give a discount, but also in many instances, the managers are given this leeway as well.; August 25, 2008 at 9:21 AM
Dave said...: I know Apple, Dell, and HP offer Federal Employee Purchase Programs with discounts similar to academic/student discounts on computers. It works for active duty as well, but will also work for civilians and in some cases contractors. Many times they even let them purchase computers at a discount for family and friends as well. Try googling the company name and "military discount" or "federal employee discount"; April 27, 2009 at 1:06 AM
Anonymous said...: Anonymous from Aug 24, 2008, thank you for making that post...I respect your opinion and fully agree! To be honest, I was disappointed that some Lowes do not honor the military discount but after reading your post, I now will view it in a different light.; May 22, 2009 at 5:10 AM
Anonymous said...: Best buy does not honor military discounts. We are in San Diego ( big military town) and I have called every best buy within a 20 mile radius of us and all said " we do not have any military discounts" Figured I would call several because some say they do some dont. but appearntly they dont period.
As for Lowes.... My mom is a a manager at one up in Wa st and she said they do offer military discount year round they just dont advertise it all year. Just show your military ID card and as for the military discount and they will give it to you.; March 11, 2010 at 9:11 AM
Anonymous said...: Home Depot and Lowe's are very competitive, if they say they are not currently offering 10% off just say the competitor is offering the discount (hinting you might go there instead) and they will give it to you lol; October 23, 2010 at 10:25 AM
Anonymous said...: Does anyone knows where I can find a military discount for a canon 60D ?...i've been trying to buy one for the longest time; January 12, 2011 at 6:05 PM
****Veteran Military Wife at Life Lessons of a Military Wife**** said...: I've previously seen the best deal on newegg.com. How about calling them and asking if they'll give a military discount? That's what I would do. also post on the "Deal finder" forum on gottadeal.com. Good luck!; January 12, 2011 at 7:58 PM
Aaron B said...: Just an FYI for everyone, Home Depot was founded by a Veteran and (as one store informed me) should ALWAYS be offering a 10% discount! If the cashier tells you otherwise, get a manager, or the customer service manager, or the store manager if necessary. If you still have no luck, make sure to send an email to corporate when you get home and you will eventually get your 10%.; May 25, 2011 at 10:11 PM
Danielle said...: Denver natural science museum is free for military; June 16, 2011 at 6:40 PM

This Page

Life Lessons of a Military Wife (overseas in Europe!)

About Me

Monday, August 27, 2007

Military Discounts Anyone?

19 Comments: