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. <\/p>
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.<\/p>
Veterans should look into joining Veterans Advantage<\/a>, a national program that partners with corporations to make discounts available to vets, and USAA<\/a>, 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. <\/p> 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.<\/p> Restaurants of all kinds are glad to support veterans by providing discounted dining. Sit-down chains including Texas Roadhouse<\/a>, Applebee’s<\/a>, IHOP<\/a>, Carrabba’s Italian Grill<\/a> and Buffalo Wild Wings<\/a> 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:<\/p> 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<\/a> offers a free meal from a special Veterans Day menu.<\/p> Love your morning cup of joe? At many Dunkin’ Donuts<\/a> locations, military members can save 10% and get a free donut on Veterans Day. Dunkin’ even has a special form on their site<\/a> to submit the name of a deployed member of the U.S. armed forces to surprise them with a case of coffee.<\/p> Starbucks<\/a> 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.<\/p> Next time you need a little retail therapy, visit one of many stores that offer special rewards and discounts for veterans, including:<\/p> Bed, Bath & Beyond<\/a> offers a special rewards program for veterans that includes free shipping and the ability to earn points on purchases. And Costco<\/a> offers special memberships for veterans and active-duty military that includes exclusive perks.<\/p> Lowe’s<\/a> and Home Depot<\/a> 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<\/a> and Sherwin-Williams<\/a>.<\/p> Talk to your local car dealer. Many major car companies help veterans to save big. Ford<\/a> and Lincoln<\/a> both offer VetRewards card members exclusive pricing on their “X-Plan.”<\/p> After you purchase that new car, save on required oil changes and tune ups at Advance Auto Parts<\/a>. They give vets 10% off full-priced items. Additionally, O’Reilly Auto Parts<\/a> offers veterans 10% off the retail price of many in-store items.<\/p> Transportation is a large cost when it comes to planning a trip. Save on the train, plane or bus fare. Greyhound<\/a> and AmTrak<\/a> each offer a 10% military discount, and the following airlines offer between 5% and 10% ticket discounts, plus other perks:<\/p> Car rentals are also cheaper for Veterans Advantage members at Avis<\/a>, Hertz<\/a> and Budget<\/a>, with up to 35% off.<\/p> As for travel websites, Priceline<\/a> offers discounted rates to certain destinations — kind of like coupons that can be used up until a certain date.<\/p> Lay your head to rest in the comfort of a lavish hotel at a fraction of the usual price. Wyndham<\/a>, Marriott<\/a> and Hilton<\/a> 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<\/a> resort in Las Vegas.<\/p> 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<\/a> (up to 40%), Cinemark<\/a> (up to 20%) and Regal<\/a> (varies by location). Additionally, sign up for streaming service, like Disney Plus<\/a>, which offers 25% off an annual subscription for veterans.<\/p> Each November, the NFL runs its “Salute to Service<\/a>” 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>, a nonprofit that allows people to donate event tickets, gift certificates and cash to be used by vets across the country.<\/p> If it’s time to book your next getaway, think about a luxury cruise for less. Check out Carnival<\/a>, Royal Caribbean<\/a> and Celebrity Cruises<\/a> before setting sail. USAA offers discounted resort stays<\/a> with qualifying cruise purchases.<\/p> Aquariums, zoos and museums often provide military and veterans with discounted admission. Here are some popular attractions nationwide that offer discounts for veterans:<\/p> Check with your local museums, zoos, aquariums and more to see what kind of discounts they offer.<\/p> 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:<\/p> Nonprofit programs and organizations — even gyms — offer discounted memberships. These provide not only money-saving resources, but also support. IAVA<\/a>, 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.<\/p> H&R Block<\/a> and TurboTax<\/a> 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.<\/p> 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<\/a>, 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. <\/p> 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.<\/p> Manufacturers such as Apple<\/a>, Microsoft<\/a> and Dell<\/a> offer discounts to active military and veterans and have military and\/or government employee purchase plans.<\/p> Work with your cell phone service provider to apply a military discount to your account. Verizon<\/a>, AT&T<\/a> and T-Mobile<\/a> 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<\/a> offers up to 30% off products. Meanwhile, U.S. Cellular<\/a> offers 15% off all mobile phone plans for veterans.<\/p> Some insurance companies offer military members more reasonably priced premiums. For example, Geico<\/a> offers up to 15% off your total insurance premium. USAA<\/a> says its members can also save on property and auto insurance.<\/p>Key takeaways<\/h3>
1. Restaurants with discounts for veterans<\/h2>
2. Coffee shops with veteran discounts<\/h2>
3. Retail veteran discounts<\/h2>
4. Home improvement<\/h2>
5. Veteran discounts on cars<\/h2>
6. Car services<\/h2>
7. Travel discounts<\/h2>
8. Hotels discounts<\/h2>
9. Entertainment discounts<\/h2>
10. Sporting events and concerts<\/h2>
11. Discounts on cruises<\/h2>
12. Leisure<\/h2>
13. Amusement parks<\/h2>
14. Membership discounts<\/h2>
15. Financial services<\/h2>
16. Educational discounts for veterans<\/h2>
17. Computers<\/h2>
18. Wireless discounts for veterans<\/h2>
19. Insurance discounts for veterans<\/h2>
20. USO<\/h2>