A new school year is about to begin, but for military service members, veterans and their families, it doesn’t mean it has to be overly expensive. Check out these savings that you can use whether you’re a veteran going back to school or prepping your child for the first day of the school year.
Operation Homefront
Through this nonprofit organization, Operation Homefront hosts in-person events where children of military families can receive free backpacks, clothing and school supplies. To qualify for these events, you must create an account with Operation Homefront. Giveaway locations are available on their website, and the events have taken place every year for over a decade.
Tutoring
If you need homework assistance or tutoring this year, there are some great inexpensive options you can explore:
- com: Military service members and their dependent family members are eligible for free tutoring and homework help through tutor.com. They provide assistance for all grades from kindergarten through college, and the Department of Defense and the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance fund their services.
- com: Interactive online test prep for SAT/ACT/LSAT exams. Military families are eligible to pay anywhere between $20-$100 as opposed to the regular prices of $350-$1,000.
- Rosetta Stone: Rosetta Stone is known for its language learning programs, but they also have a homeschool program that can aid teaching for homeschool families. Military personnel receive 10% off of their services.
- Scholastic: Free printable exercises in writing, reading, math and science for children of all ages.
- CrashCourse: An online YouTube channel offering free educational videos in almost every subject. Videos are available for elementary to college-level students and are not exclusive to veterans.
School Supplies
Many stores offer discounted rates for all of your school supplies needs. Many of these offers may require a valid military and/or student ID in person or virtually through ID.me.
- com: Discounts for military service members with a free “Club O” account. Discounts can apply to backpacks, basic school supplies and dorm room essentials. You can also receive free shipping and reward perks.
- Apple: Military veterans and immediate family members can receive 10% off on iMac, iPad, MacBooks, iPhones, Apple TV, Apple Watches and Apple Music products. Apple also offers a general discount to students of about 5%, which can be applied to iMacs, iPads and MacBooks.
- Microsoft: Military members and their families get a 30% off discount for Microsoft Office when they buy through their local exchange center. The package includes all of the basic Microsoft programs, including Excel and PowerPoint, OneDrive and Skype.
- Michaels: 15% off the entire purchase, including discounted items.
- Office Depot and Office Max: 20% off qualifying purchases.
Clothing
If you’re looking for great deals on back-to-school clothes and shoes, several stores offer military discounts all year round. ID verification may be required. Military personnel can receive discounts on items at:
- Adidas: 30% off online purchases
- Carhartt: 10% off
- Champion: 10% off
- Eyemart Express: 20% off
- Foot Locker: 15% off
- Levi’s: 15% off online purchases
- Lululemon: 15% off
- Nike: 10% off
- Old Navy: 10% off
- Quicksilver and Roxy: 15% off
- Under Armour: 20% off
- Zappos: 10% off
Other stores may also offer military discounts upon request. You can also save on back-to-school shopping through “tax-free weekends”—a weekend-long event where certain states exempt tax rates near the beginning of the school year.
Other Ways to Save
The deals listed above are just a handful of the discounts available for military families. Remember, you can always ask retailers if they offer a military discount, utilize the price matching program at your local Exchange, and visit your local VA or on-base resources for any additional needs you may have.
Sources: College Recon, MyMilitaryBenefits, MilitaryDiscounts.shop, Dept. of VA
