The Best Places To Use Your Military Discount

Military service members nationwide play a vital role in the economic well-being of the country, all while delivering on a promise of stalwart national defense. Americans are stationed all over the nation and the world, serving in combat and support roles everywhere they go. There are well north of 1 million Americans serving as active military personnel and over 2 million in total when counting reserve forces and others. There are also almost 800,000 civilian employees working for the Department of Defense as of 2023

These individuals form a huge economic bloc in American life. Paid by the federal government to support the nation's most pressing missions, those in the military spend their hard earned dollars in a wide network of hometown marketplaces. They also gain a unique financial advantage. Service members are gifted with a fringe benefit that extends beyond their time in uniform. Both active duty men and women, and those who've retired from service (roughly 16 million Americans in total) are able to utilize plenty of great military discount offers. These are some of the best discounts around to help make your budget stretch just a little farther while allowing others to thank you for your commitment, both past and present.

Subscription packages like Apple TV+ and ESPN+ feature prominently in the home viewing experience of many Americans nowadays. Rather than buying a cable TV package, viewing has moved to more of an a la carte system of streaming platforms. This is great for those who know what suits them, but potentially far more expensive for fickle viewers who support a varied television diet or want to see what's out there on other platforms frequently. Many still opt for standard cable or satellite TV services, too.

Military discounts extend to the entertainment space in a big way, making a potentially significant dent in this area of your budgeting. Some of the most intriguing offers include Paramount+ for $4 per month, Disney+ at 25% off ($120 per year), and Peacock Premium for $2.99 per month for the first year. These markdowns are more than enough to get you started on the right track as you seek to reduce expenses and improve cash flow.

Military veterans and those currently serving are often people who take their physical fitness seriously. Wherever you find yourself in the military hierarchy, and no matter the job you perform, it's likely that strength, stamina, and general physical wellbeing play a role in your daily life. Plenty of veterans who leave the service maintain this high standard of personal fitness. But staying healthy isn't always cheap. For one thing, you'll need to eat well and perhaps pay for a gym membership (more on that later), but you'll also need to dress yourself in appropriate workout gear to get the best results from each session.

Fortunately, military discounts include coverage for some of the most important brands and outlets in this arena. Champs Sports offers a 10% discount on most online and in store purchases, verifying your military ID through its verification partner SheerID. This is limited to a max discount of $100 per transaction and users can take advantage of the offer four times in a rolling 30 day period (so you can essentially use it once per week if so inclined). Other retailers like Reebok (offering 50% off), Adidas (at 30% off in store and online purchases, and 15% off factory outlet shops), and Under Armor (usually 20% off both types of purchases, but now boosted to 40% as of April 2024) also form a core of great savings.

In addition to basic workout needs, footwear providers and other wellness brands also feature in the long list of solid military discount offers available to active duty personnel and retirees — as well as their dependents and spouses, in many instances. Footwear stalwarts like ASICS and New Balance are clear windfalls for those in the military and retirees who want to keep up their running schedules or general fitness standards.

Active Duty military members (along with first responders, government employees, and those in teaching and medical professions) can get 15% off full price purchases at New Balance's website (once every 30 days). ASICS offers a 25% discount on footwear and a 30% discount on clothing and other purchases both in store and online, covering full priced gear. Utilizing this discount requires you to verify your identification through SheerID to receive a discount code, or QR code for in store purchases. Nike is another brand that provides a solid discount for military members, veterans, and their families (dependents and spouses of active duty service members): 10% off in store and online spending. Puma customers also get 20% off their purchases made online.

A utility service that everyone in modern America relies upon, military service members can enjoy solid discount offers on their phone bill from all three of the nation's most visible cell phone service options. Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T combine to gobble up roughly 99% of the U.S. cell service market share. Essentially, this means that no matter where you live in the United States, or where you call home while you're deployed abroad on duty, there's a good chance you use one of these three providers for your phone service.

AT&T offers 25% off select unlimited wireless plans for active service members as well as veterans and qualifies spouses, Verizon offers a range of discounts for those in the military, including on their Fios internet service, and so does T-Mobile. Depending on the plan you select, you can receive 40% off your family line service from T-Mobile, and plans frequently include access to Apple TV+, Netflix Standard, and additional perks like in-flight WiFi connections included in the package.

Using your military discount can also net you savings directly with manufacturers of the devices you use. Samsung (up to 30% off) and Apple (10%) both offer discounts, as do Dell (10%), Lenovo (5%), Motorola (up to 10%), and HP (up to 40%). This means that all kinds of mobile devices as well as the wireless services that power them can be discounted using your service ID, saving you money on larger expenses as well as some of the smaller purchases you make in this arena.

Plenty of travel industry players offer military discounts — a nice change of pace from the usual attempts to get you to spend more. Everyone who has flown before will likely be familiar with the early call for active duty service members to board the plane. However, the perks of flying and engaging in other travel as a military man or woman, or as a veteran or family member of someone who has served go far beyond this common refrain at the boarding gates.

A wide range of airlines, cruise operators, rental car services, and hotels all offer discounted rates, fares, and additional perks to service members, veterans, and family members. Budget, for instance, provides active duty, veterans, reservists, family members, and those in the National Guard with a discount up to 25% off in coordination with a Veterans Advantage membership. Greyhound bus tickets are 10% off, as are purchases at stations, and Hilton, Hyatt, IHG Hotels, and others (Choice Hotels, Motel 6, Extended Stay America, etc.) all provide discounted rates for military members. These can vary based on location and timing, however, so it's always a good idea to call ahead to book your room with the best discount possible included. Carnival and Royal Caribbean both offer discounts, too, as do theme parks like SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Disney World and Disneyland, as well as Six Flags. Of course, flights are a big one, and nearly every major airline you might consider will provide a discount. Southwest, Delta, American Airlines, and United all offer discounted fares, alongside free checked bags and other perks. Once again, seasonality and other factors come into play here, so calling the airline to make a reservation is your best bet when utilizing a military discount.

Whether you're still in the military or have left the service, you're likely to need tools and other staples of home improvement. As a military-trained individual, you're likely someone who prides themselves on rolling up your sleeves and getting dug into a job all on your own. DIY enthusiasm is found all around the country, but it pairs up well with the self-sufficiency that many current and former military service members feel in their bones.

Fortunately, any kinds of home improvement project you may need to tackle can likely be underpinned by a solid military discount, too. Both Home Depot and Lowe's offer 10% off purchases for active duty military members and veterans, as well as their spouses. Other brands like Sherwin-Williams provide a 15% discount off paints and painting supplies, and other retailers like Michaels and Joann (both 15% off) can deliver important discounts on specialty craft supplies and consumables for the garage. Costco, BJ's Wholesale Club, and Sam's Club also offer discounted membership rates, giving you cheaper access to essential discounts throughout the wholesale retailer's entire catalog of goods.

Target is a huge retail name in America. At the end of the 2023 financial year there were nearly 2,000 Target locations in the United States, and this figure has grown steadily since 2006. Target provides such enormous variety to its customers that it has become something of a one-stop-shop for virtually every need imaginable. You can get children's toys here, power tools, clothing, food, automotive equipment, and so much more. Much like Walmart, Target offers itself as a location that supports a wild abundance of local purchasing needs.

But Target offers a unique benefit to those in the military, beyond the typical tricks that everyday citizens can deploy to save money at the retailer. Starting as a Veterans Day offer, Target provided service members, veterans, and their family members a 10% discount on purchases including high impact categories like electronics and groceries. The discount has been extended to offer 10% off as a year-round perk, however. The benefit has morphed into a consistent 10% markdown on all kinds of essentials that you might need around the house. Considering the breadth of goods available at Targets nationwide, this discount can go a long way to slashing the outflows in your budget across a variety of categories.

In addition to workout gear in the form of clothing, shoes, and accessories, many fitness brands that people rely on to stay in shape also offer discounts for military men and women and veterans who have left the service. Supplement brands like Bodybuilding.com offer 10% to 15% off for veterans, reservists, those on active duty, and their spouses. Atkins gives a 15% discount off bars and shakes to active duty and veteran military personnel. Contact lens providers and glasses manufacturers also offer solid discounts. LensCrafters provides 60% of lenses while ContactsDirect offers 15% off and free shipping for military members.

In terms of physical places that military members and veterans can get their sweat on, plenty of choice is available with a nice price markdown. Crunch Fitness, 24 Hour Fitness, and Gold's Gym all offer discounted rates (20% off at select Gold's Gym locations and activation fees are often waived by these providers). Home workout brands also get in on the action. Peloton offers up to $200 off accessories with the purchase of a Bike, Bike+, or Tread system.

Military service members are also in luck when they hit the market looking for a new car. Essentially every manufacturer you might be considering offers some kind of a markdown or perk to those in the military, and often extend these benefits to their spouses, too. At dealerships ranging from Audi to Volvo, you can expect to find at least $500 off your purchase price in the form of a direct markdown, rebate, or cashback offer. Brands like Jeep, Ford, GM, BMW, Toyota, Volkswagen, Subaru, and Hyundai feature in this lengthy list. Many manufacturers also offer discounts on leased vehicles, too, adding to the options you have at your disposal. Motorcycles from Harley-Davidson come with a discounted rate and a bit of free swag tossed in for good measure, in a show of appreciation and a nod to the brand's own history of close cooperation with the U.S. military.

Other automotive brands also give out great military discounts. You can expect to find oil changes and auto parts frequently discounted at all kinds of retailers and service providers. 10% of Advance Auto Parts on regularly priced items in store, up to 20% off at AutoAccessoriesGarage.com, and 15% off at select Jiffy Lube locations are just some of the additional perks found within the automotive space for military service members, veterans, and their families.

Finally, once you've finalized the deal on your new set of wheels you'll need to turn around and insure the vehicle. Fortunately, car insurance is also something that military veterans and active duty personnel can find great discounts on. Providers like Geico offer up to 15% off car insurance, and others like Liberty Mutual work with those in the military to deliver cut rates. People who have served, as well as their family members, are also eligible to qualify for discounted rates through USAA. The organization provides excellent service over a variety of insurance product needs. Given the massive rise in auto insurance rates over the last few years, a discount in this area is a welcome change of pace that can help you keep your budget on track. Car insurance is something that everyone who drives needs to invest in, so getting it at a discounted rate is a definitive and direct way to slash into some of the essential, but ticket items in your outgoing expense column. It can make a big difference, and leaving a discount on the table here should never be a part of your financial vocabulary.