Military discounts save military spouses and service members money. Who doesn’t want to save money? Everyone. We are all looking for a deal or a discount as a way to spend a little less when dining or shopping off base.
But let’s say that you recently moved to a new location. When you find yourself living in a new city, you are often unaware of which businesses offer military discounts.
What is a savvy money-saving military spouse to do?
Here are 4 tips for finding military discounts at your new location, wherever that may be.
Are you wondering which local restaurants offer a military discount?
Download military discounts apps on your smartphone.
Downloading a military discount app on your smartphone is the easiest way to find the local restaurants and stores that offer military discounts. There are several different apps available for military families.
I use the SCOUT military discount app. This app, which is free on both Google Play and iOS, is a comprehensive app for identifying military discounts near me. When using the app, I can easily see which businesses offer a discount through the map view.
For example, if I’m shopping at the outlet mall, I can see the red flags on the map and know which retail stores offer a military discount. (Thank you Express!) I can also see how much the discount is.
I like that I can easily add a military discount to the SCOUT military discount app. It takes less than 5 minutes and I feel like I’m helping out other military spouses when I add in my military discount tip. They really need to know about the local coffee shop that offers free coffee for military service members in uniform on Tuesdays. Don’t you agree?
Ask about military discounts in your local spouses Facebook group.
When you’re new to a city, you have a lot of questions. You are looking for the best Chinese take-out place and most affordable hairdresser who will get your color just right.
Where do you turn to for these answers? It’s your local spouses Facebook group.
Every military installation has an “unofficial” spouses Facebook group where you can post your questions and other military spouses will answer it. When you’re asking for recommendations for a vet for your pet or best romantic restaurant to celebrate your anniversary, don’t forget to ask if those businesses offer military discounts.
Follow websites that showcase military discounts.
Information about military discounts is always within your fingertips. Websites, like MilitaryShoppers, are dedicated to sharing military discounts with you. The information is out there, so take advantage of it. Sign up for the MilitaryShoppers newsletter or like us on Facebook so that you know everything there is to know about military discounts. Click here to sign up for the MilitaryShoppers newsletter today!
Ask for a military discount at your favorite restaurants and stores.
For years I simply forgot to ask for a military discount. Don’t be like me.
Whenever you are paying, make it a habit to sweetly ask “do you offer a military discount?” and have your military ID card ready to show the cashier. It never hurts to ask.
