Veterans deserve to be praised for their years of service to our country — a selfless, admirable feat that should never go unnoticed — and not only on Veterans Day and Memorial Day.
Businesses know this, and countless companies offer military and veteran discounts. Military families, too, can benefit and reap the rewards for their own sacrifices. Check individual stores, visit websites and call ahead, as discounts vary by date and location. You also may need to show different forms of ID, depending on the store.
Veterans should look into joining Veterans Advantage, a national program that partners with corporations to make discounts available to vets, and USAA, a member-owned company that offers vets and military members banking/insurance/investment services, to take advantage of the many discounts offered to members of these organizations.
No matter where you are, it doesn’t hurt to ask if a veteran discount is offered. Whether official protocol or not, employees love to give veterans a break. Check out this list of discounts for veterans.
1. Restaurants with discounts for veterans
Restaurants of all kinds are glad to support veterans by providing discounted dining. Sit-down chains including Texas Roadhouse, Applebee’s, IHOP, Carrabba’s Italian Grill and Buffalo Wild Wings are among the hundreds of restaurants that offer military and veteran discounts, some up to 20%. Fast-food restaurants, including the following, also provides discounts for veterans:
- Wendy’s.
- Golden Corral.
- Arby’s.
- KFC.
- Popeye’s Chicken.
- Taco Bell.
- Burger King.
- Freddy’s Burgers and Fries.
- Chick-fil-A.
On Veterans Day, many restaurants will comp meals for service members. For example, Applebee’s gives a free meal to veterans and active-duty military members, and Chili’s offers a free meal from a special Veterans Day menu.
2. Coffee shops with Veteran discounts
Love your morning cup of joe? At many Dunkin’ Donuts locations, military members can save 10% and get a free donut on Veterans Day. Dunkin’ even has a special form on their site to submit the name of a deployed member of the U.S. armed forces to surprise them with a case of coffee.
Starbucks offers a free drink to veterans on Veterans Day. Check local coffee shops as well. Many smaller businesses offer discounts to veterans and first responders daily.
3. Retail Veteran discounts
Next time you need a little retail therapy, visit one of many stores that offer special rewards and discounts for veterans, including:
Bed, Bath & Beyond offers a special rewards program for veterans that includes free shipping and the ability to earn points on purchases. And Costco offers special memberships for veterans and active-duty military that includes exclusive perks.
4. Home improvement
Lowe’s and Home Depot make home improvement easier and more affordable for vets with 10% off at checkout. And don’t forget about special veteran discounts from major home brands like Whirlpool and Sherwin-Williams.
5. Veteran discounts on cars
Talk to your local car dealer. Many major car companies help veterans to save big. Ford and Lincoln both offer VetRewards card members exclusive pricing on their “X-Plan.”
6. Car services
After you purchase that new car, save on required oil changes and tune ups at Advance Auto Parts. They give vets 10% off full-priced items. Additionally, O’Reilly Auto Parts offers veterans 10% off the retail price of many in-store items.
7. Travel discounts
Transportation is a large cost when it comes to planning a trip. Save on the train, plane or bus fare. Greyhound and AmTrak each offer a 10% military discount, and the following airlines offer between 5% and 10% ticket discounts, plus other perks:
Car rentals are also cheaper for Veterans Advantage members at Avis, Hertz and Budget, with up to 35% off.
As for travel websites, Priceline offers discounted rates to certain destinations — kind of like coupons that can be used up until a certain date.
8. Hotels discounts
Lay your head to rest in the comfort of a lavish hotel at a fraction of the usual price. Wyndham, Marriott and Hilton hotels are among the major chains that provide savings for the military and their families — between 10% and 25%, depending on location. Additionally, veterans can get discounted rates at Caesar’s resort in Las Vegas.
9. Entertainment discounts
Don’t let a strict budget stop you from venturing out on the weekend to have a little fun. Visit a movie theater that honors veterans, like AMC (20%), Cinemark (10%) and Regal (varies by location). Additionally, sign up for streaming service, like Disney Plus, which offers 25% off an annual subscription for veterans.
10. Sporting events and concerts
Each November, the NFL runs its “Salute to Service” campaign and teams donate hundreds of tickets to be given to military members and veterans. Also, be sure to take a look at Vet Tix, a nonprofit that allows people to donate event tickets, gift certificates and cash to be used by vets across the country.
11. Discounts on cruises
If it’s time to book your next getaway, think about a luxury cruise for less. Check out Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises before setting sail. USAA offers discounted resort stays with qualifying cruise purchases.
12. Leisure
Aquariums, zoos and museums often provide military and veterans with discounted admission. Here are some popular attractions nationwide that offer discounts for veterans:
- Long Island Aquarium.
- New York’s Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.
- Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.
- The Dallas Zoo.
- The Kennedy Space Center.
- 9/11 Memorial and Museum.
- Carnegie Science Center.
Check with your local museums, zoos, aquariums and more to see what kind of discounts they offer.
13. Amusement parks
In addition to museums and aquariums, most local amusement parks offer discounts for veterans, as well — some as much as 50% off a ticket! This has the power to save you a bundle on large family trips and long-awaited reunions. Look for discounts for veterans at the the following amusement parks and destinations:
14. Membership discounts
Nonprofit programs and organizations — even gyms — offer discounted memberships. These provide not only money-saving resources, but also support. IAVA, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, is a popular organization. Membership is free in this group, which hopes to empower the newest generation of veterans and improve the lives of vets and their families.
15. Financial services
H&R Block and TurboTax both offer discounts to vets, like free filing and discounts on software. Redeem a discount on the reputable software, or have your taxes done at an on-base H&R Block to take advantage of the chain’s discounts.
16. Educational discounts for veterans
The number of schools offering military discounts on tuition is growing, particularly for online classes. Recent changes in legislation will affect fees, so do your research. Under the updated G.I. Bill, post 9/11, those serving in the military receive money toward their education and housing after completion of their service. The bill covers up to 36 months of school aid. All individuals must have an honorable discharge.
Money aside, being a veteran has its perks in other ways. A number of states, including West Virginia and Colorado, award school credit for time spent in action. Also, skip the lines when enrolling because schools in states like California and Tennessee grant priority enrollment for veterans.
17. Computers
Manufacturers such as Apple, Microsoft and Dell offer discounts to active military and veterans and have military and/or government employee purchase plans.
18. Wireless discounts for veterans
Work with your cell phone service provider to apply a military discount to your account. Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile are just a few of the providers that offer them. Verizon offers a discount of up to $25 a month on certain calling plans and discounts on accessories, AT&T offers up to a 25% discount and Samsung offers 40% off products. Meanwhile, U.S. Cellular offers 15% off all mobile phone plans for veterans.
19. Insurance discounts for veterans
Some insurance companies offer military members more reasonably priced premiums. For example, Geico offers up to 15% off your total insurance premium. USAA says its members can also save on property and auto insurance.
20. USO
The USO isn’t just the group that sends celebrities to bases worldwide to keep service members entertained. It does so much more. From hosting events to support families and service members after deployment and providing free Girl Scout cookies to troops if they stop by at the airport, the USO does it all. Too few service members take time to stop by the USO, but there you can find free Wi-Fi, snacks and helpful connections.
This is just a sampling of what’s available. Conduct online searches, make phone calls and create an ongoing list of establishments who will honor veterans with discounts.
Original article written by Kelly Johnston.
