While most service members know about basic military discounts, the real money-saving deals often fly under the radar. The surprising part? Most of these deals can stack with regular sales, leading to massive savings if you time it right.
The Tech Deals No One Talks About
The savings in electronics alone could cover your holiday shopping. Apple runs a military-exclusive store where MacBooks cost $200 less than retail, and iPads drop by over $100. Their military program even covers AppleCare+ and accessories, with deeper discounts during special events. Samsung goes even bigger, with 30% off phones and tablets, plus free Galaxy Buds with military-only bundles. Their program includes early access to new models and exclusive colours you won’t find anywhere else, plus military-only trade-in bonuses.
Best Buy’s military discount is a hidden gem – that 10% off works on almost everything, including sales. Gaming consoles, TVs, laptops – it all qualifies. Their Geek Squad services take the discount too, and they offer exclusive military financing options. Microsoft’s military program isn’t just about Windows. They’ll knock 10% off Surface devices, and halve Xbox Game Pass to $60 yearly.
Dell tops them all with up to 40% off laptops, while Lenovo offers similar savings plus exclusive military-only models. HP’s military store features 35% off premium laptops and desktops, with extra savings during appreciation months. Gaming brands like Razer and Logitech offer military discounts through ID.me, often 15-20% off their entire catalogs.
Food & Restaurant Savings You Can’t Miss
Restaurant chains serve up some serious military savings, and they’re not just for Veterans Day. Buffalo Wild Wings offers a year-round 10% discount, plus they bump it to 15% on Military Mondays. What’s better? The discount applies to your entire party, not just your portion. Texas Roadhouse takes 20% off the entire bill for military families, including drinks and desserts.
Outback Steakhouse’s military discount hits differently – they give you 10% off, plus a free Bloomin’ Onion with any purchase. Their sister restaurants like Carrabba’s and Bonefish Grill match this offer with their own signature appetizers. Red Robin keeps it simple with 15% off your entire check, and no restrictions on menu items or party size. Chili’s matches this with their own 15% discount and throws in priority seating during busy hours.
Fast food steps up too. Wendy’s gives military members 10% off at most locations, while McDonald’s offers free drinks with any purchase. Burger King takes 10% off your entire order, and some locations double that during Military Appreciation Month. KFC and Popeyes both offer military deals on family meals – usually 15% off orders over $20.
Coffee lovers, listen up. Starbucks gives military members and spouses 10% off year-round, but here’s the insider tip: during military appreciation events, they often bump it to 20% and include free-size upgrades. Dunkin’ offers a flat 10% military discount and frequently runs special promotions like free donuts or $1 coffees for service members.
Commissary access is just the start for grocery savings. Many civilian grocery chains have stepped up too. Food Lion offers 10% off every Monday with a military ID. Shop ‘n Save gives 10% off on Veterans Day and Military Appreciation Day each month. At Harris Teeter, show your military ID every Thursday for 10% off your entire purchase. Even specialty stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s offer military discounts at many locations – just ask customer service.
Meal delivery services want military business too. Blue Apron offers 25% off for military families, while HelloFresh gives a 15% lifetime discount. Home Chef matches with 15% off plus free shipping on first orders. Factor Meals offers military members 20% off their prepared meal subscriptions – perfect for busy service members.
These discounts stack especially well with store loyalty programs. Sign up for restaurant rewards programs while using your military discount, and you’ll often earn points faster than civilian customers. Some chains even offer military-exclusive reward tiers with better benefits.
Travel Savings That Add Up Fast
Airlines and hotels offer some of the biggest military perks. Delta’s free checked bags save you $60+ per flight, plus they offer military lounge access and special duty travel rates. American Airlines matches these benefits and adds exclusive military vacation packages. Southwest’s unpublished military rates often beat their lowest prices, while United offers 5% off base fares plus exclusive deals. Alaska Airlines extends military benefits to family members and offers free flight changes, plus bonus miles for service members.
Hotel chains compete fiercely for military business. Marriott gives 20% off standard rates and late checkout at all properties, including luxury brands like Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis. They also offer military-specific packages that include dining credits and spa discounts. Hilton’s 25% military discount works across all brands, from Hampton Inn to Waldorf Astoria, often with room upgrades and extra points. IHG’s military discount covers their entire portfolio, with special rates at InterContinental and Kimpton hotels. Choice Hotels and Wyndham both offer 15-20% off, plus bonus points and flexible cancellation for military members.
Theme parks slash prices dramatically – Disney halves park passes, saving $250+ on 4-day tickets, and offers special resort rates. Universal Studios gives 40% off annual passes plus exclusive hotel deals. Six Flags, SeaWorld, and Busch Gardens provide year-round military discounts and special event access. Legoland offers free tickets during military appreciation months and discounted annual passes for families.
Big-Ticket Items: Cars and Homes
Car dealerships offer substantial military savings. Ford’s Military Appreciation Program gives factory invoice pricing minus $1,000, plus special financing rates. Toyota matches with the below-invoice pricing on custom orders and adds two years of free maintenance. GM, Chrysler, and Hyundai all offer supplier pricing plus military bonuses, often $500-1000 extra off. Nissan and Kia provide special financing rates and rebates for service members, while Volkswagen and Subaru offer military-specific lease terms.
For maintenance, Jiffy Lube cuts 25% off all services. Firestone offers military pricing on tires and lifetime rotation. Midas, Pep Boys, and AutoZone give military discounts on parts and labor. GEICO, USAA, and Progressive provide special military car insurance rates with extra deployment benefits. NTB, Discount Tire, and Goodyear all offer military pricing on tires and services, plus free rotation and balancing.
Home improvement brings substantial savings. Lowe’s and Home Depot give 10% off daily purchases plus exclusive appliance pricing and free delivery. Ace Hardware matches at 10%, while Menards and True Value offer similar discounts plus military-only sales events. Sherwin-Williams gives 15% off paints and supplies, and Benjamin Moore dealers often match this discount. Floor & Decor offers military pricing on installation services, while Lumber Liquidators gives 10% off materials and labor.
Phone Plans and Entertainment That Don’t Break the Bank
Cell carriers fight hard for military customers. T-Mobile’s Magenta Military saves families $600 yearly and includes free international data. Verizon offers $25 off monthly unlimited plans plus military-exclusive phones. AT&T gives 25% off, including 5G services and free HBO Max. Cricket and Metro by T-Mobile provide military family plans with extra data allowances.
Streaming services offer deep discounts too. Spotify bundles with Hulu and Showtime for $4.99 monthly – a $27 value. Amazon Prime costs military members $6.99 instead of $14.99, including all Prime benefits. Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max offer military rates through base exchanges, often 20-30% off regular pricing. YouTube Premium and Apple TV+ provide military discounts, while Peacock offers free Premium memberships to active duty members.
Gaming services join in too. PlayStation Now and EA Play offer military discounts through ID.me, while Steam runs military appreciation sales. Nintendo’s military program includes exclusive bundles and early access to new releases.
Making the Most of Your Benefits
Register with ID.me or SheerID for automatic military savings at hundreds of stores. These verification services unlock extra discounts at major retailers like Target (10% off), Columbia (15% off), and Under Armour (20% off). The biggest deals come during Military Appreciation Month and Veterans Day when many stores double their usual military discounts. Share these benefits with your military family – they deserve every penny of savings.