We shop at the commissary. It says right on the sign when you enter the door, more than 30 percent saved by shoppers here than at civilian grocery stores.

More than 30 percent! We don't need to bother clipping coupons and tracking sales. Or do we?

A lot of military spouses we know don't bother receiving the Sunday paper to get those coupons. They are not home enough or move too often to deal with the hassle of ordering and canceling the service.

So, where to get coupons?

The easiest place would be at our favorite website of the month: www.militarysavings.com

This site is bright. It is flashy. There are buttons everywhere and each one leads to a new savings.

There are food coupons that are not only accepted in the commissary but are coupons for stuff you would actually buy. Lately the Sunday coupon flyer seems to have a lot of random ingredients that we just don't use. Or, the coupons require you to buy three of the same items to save 25 cents.

Nope. Not happening.

The coupons on this site are, for example, 50 cents off one box of Rice Krispies, 75 cents off one jar of Smucker jelly, and $1 off one bottle of Listerine.

You can search coupons by brand or item type.

Need discounts on travel? The site lists the latest military discounts offered by the giants of the travel industry such as Disney, Best Western, Norwegian Cruise Lines and American Airlines.

There is even a section for contests that brands sponsor specifically for military commissary shoppers. In June you can enter to win a year's supply of food from Purina ProPlan.

So, before you head to the commissary, browse www.mymilitarysavings.com  You just might save more than 30 percent this time.

A few years ago, when my husband re-enlisted, I was told that I was to attend the ceremony and be awarded some certificate, simply for being married to him.

You see, in the Navy, when a sailor re-enlists, his wife also gets recognized for her contribution and sacrifice.

Which seems nice, unless, you’re eight weeks pregnant, with a 1-year-old, in July, at an outdoor pavilion where the temperature seemed to be about 135 degrees.  Standing outside in my first trimester during the heat made me sway.  Then puke as my knees buckled. 

It wasn’t pretty.

But I went.  I mustered up the courage and a dress and a surreptitious barf bag and made it there, miserable though I was.

Because it was expected of me. 

While I don’t normally care about some such silly tradition, I knew it was important to my husband and his command.  It was my “duty” as a milspouse, so I fulfilled it.  Though not without a little groaning and moaning and promises of husbandly foot rubs when we finally got home.

I’d forgotten about that hot, pregnant day in July, mostly.

Until I saw Princess Kate of Great Britain standing in front of the world in a white and yellow dress, bra, heels, and some kind of magical undergarment that stifles the ever-lovely natural laws of post-partum bleeding, presenting a baby she had pushed out of her nether regions mere hours before.

Why? Because as the princess, that’s her job.  It’s what’s expected.

Now, expectations aside, I wasn’t wearing pants after a watermelon came barreling out of my body.  And, if it was white and within a 10-foot radius of me, I bled on it. 

And a bra? Please.  No way.

So I have to give the girl some credit. She looked better than I looked on my wedding day.

But then I caught the sidelong glances at Prince William and the classy albeit a little tired smile.  And I realized it.

She hates this.

She’s up there because she has to be, not because she wants to be.

Heck, no woman would want to do that the same day she had a child.

But just like me all those years ago in the July heat, she did what she did because she married a man, and with that marriage came certain expectations.

Now, expectations aside, I clearly wasn’t cut out to be royalty.  I couldn’t even walk straight after my 9-pound baby bruised my tailbone during delivery.  I would have likely told the royal family to take their expectations and shove it, posted a photo of the new baby on Facebook and took a nap.

But still, I get it.  She knew this was part of the gig, just like I knew that galas with a dress code, where I am expected to stand when pinning promotions on my husband also matters. You do what’s expected, and then you go back to being you.

And for Princess Kate’s sake, I really hope that the real her is resting somewhere in a big T-shirt and no pants. She deserves it.                                                         

 

It's not about you.

It's not about barbecue or days off of work or sales in the linen aisle.

Every year Memorial Day seems to stir up some confusion.

For families who have never served or been touched by the hell of war, the three-day weekend is a time to picnic, celebrate and vacation.

For some young service members, they seem to think the weekend is in honor of their service.

The retail industry sees it as a weekend for huge discounts and large sales.

It is none of these.

It is the most somber of American holidays.

This weekend is when we as a nation have chosen to stop what we are doing and pay homage to the our soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen who have fallen in battle. It is our time to thank these men and women for our freedom.

They died so that we may live.

And in honor of that, modern Americans have skipped heading to the cemeteries with flowers and thanks in hand and instead hit the beaches, shopping malls and liquor stores.

I get it. A three-day weekend is a big deal. After a winter with record snows people are at their breaking point and ready for a long weekend of sun and fun.

But please, if nothing else, before you dig into that grilled smorgasbord, call for a moment of silence and ask your party-goers to take a moment and say thank you to the men and women in uniform who gave their lives on the field of battle so that you could gather and party today.

Or, suggest to your crowd that before you feast, you gather at the cemetery across town and make a small gesture of thanks. Thousands of veterans' graves go unmarked, unrecognized every year. They are easy to find and even easier to stop at, and simply place a small flag. 

I will be at our local veterans' cemetery bright and early with my five children in tow. We will be placing flags on the graves of men and women who fell in the Revolution and every war after. My children will salute each one.

And I will remind them of one of my favorite quotes, spoken by General George Patton, "It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived."

Absolutely.

We were getting ready for dinner when my 2-year-old stopped me.

“Mama!” she cried.  “Mama! Where’s Daddy’s food?”

I stopped, puzzled.  My husband has been deployed for months and months.  He hasn’t eaten a meal here in even longer.  I hadn’t set a place for him in ages, let alone made him up a plate of food like the rest of the family.

But my toddler kept on going.

“Mama!  Daddy’s food! What Daddy eatin’?”

She was pleading with me for an answer.

We did a few more rounds of asking about where her father’s food was located before I realized she was asking me if and when her father was eating.

If he sat down and had breakfast and lunch and dinner, even though he was far, far away and under the water in a submarine.

I assured her that Daddy had food on the boat, and he ate it down there when he wasn’t working.

She was happy enough with this answer and sat down to her own spaghetti and meatballs.

But of course I couldn’t let it go.

After telling my husband in an e-mail about the hilarious but taxing convo I had with our current youngest, I really thought some more.

My kids have always accepted that Daddy works on a boat.  And that quite often, that boat goes away, underwater like the little toy submarine they have in their bathtub.  He works on the boat to make sure we have a house and food and toys, and his job helps keep us and everyone else around us safe.

That’s their little world.  That they get.

But due to security clearances and very specific rules involving Ohio-class submarines, my kids’ reality is still only theoretical for them.

They have never seen where Daddy works.  Not even in pictures.  They never will. 

Even when they are old enough to tour the submarine, they won’t be allowed where he does his specific job.  It could be Neverland, for all they know.

They’ve never seen where he eats, showers or sleeps.

They know he does these things on the boat.  Just ask my 4-year-old.  Both my girls could say “Daddy’s on his boat” long before they could string together other words.

But what does it mean for them?

When they say it, what do they picture?

I honestly have no idea.

I hope they imagine their father in some boat festooned like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  I hope they envision him chowing down on cupcakes and pizza and all their favorite things.  I hope they think he takes pink-soap bubble baths and sleeps in a Princess Elsa sleeping bag.

In other words, I hope the unknown doesn’t scare them.

Because truth be told, sometimes that very same unknown is exactly what scares me.

PCSing? Need a new job at the new duty station?

One of the first items on your ‘to do’ list then should be to attend a job fair.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation hosts job fairs specifically for military spouses and retiring military members. These events are held across the nation, all year long.

Employers there know the value of employees who have military experience, both as soldiers and spouses, and are there to hire military family members.

So dust off that resume, make lots of copies and dress to impress. Your new job is out there waiting for you.

Don’t forget to click on the link for the job fair you want to attend and register asap. Slots fill up early and you won’t necessarily get in if you show up that day without registering.

June 3

Fort Bliss, Texas

http://www.uschamberfoundation.org/event/fort-bliss-hiring-fair

June 5

San Juan, Puerto Rico 

http://www.uschamberfoundation.org/event/san-juan-hiring-fair

June 8

Yokosuka, Japan

http://www.uschamberfoundation.org/event/virtual-job-fair-yokosuka-transition-summit

June 16

Columbia, SC

http://www.uschamberfoundation.org/event/columbia-hiring-fair

June 18

Buffalo, NY

http://www.uschamberfoundation.org/event/buffalo-hiring-fair

Nashville, TN

http://www.uschamberfoundation.org/event/nashville-hiring-fair

June 27

New York City

http://www.uschamberfoundation.org/event/greater-new-york-city-hiring-fair

July 10

Cleveland, Ohio

http://www.uschamberfoundation.org/event/cleveland-hiring-fair

By Mandy Rebmann

When I heard the voicemail left by my real estate agent, a chill ran through me.  We knew the VA appraisal had been completed, and were waiting to hear if there were any major issues.  Anyone who has been through the home-buying process knows the appraisal step can often go wrong.

Thankfully for us, the news was good.  The appraisal came in “at value,” meaning the appraiser concluded the value matched the purchase price, and only required one small repair.  I breathed a sigh of relief.  Having a background in mortgages while applying for one has to be a little like becoming sick when you’re a doctor.  You have so much more knowledge of what can go wrong.

A VA appraisal serves two major purposes- to ensure the house is worth what you’re buying it for (and what the bank is lending you), and to make sure the house is sound, safe and immediately livable.

When you enter into a contract to purchase a house, you and the seller are agreeing on how much the house is worth.  An appraisal makes sure that number is accurate.  There are generally two methods of determining a house’s value: a Sales Comparison and a Cost-Based Approach.  A Sales Comparison looks at the price similar houses in your home’s area have sold for within the last 12 months, and determines value based on their sales prices and features.  A Cost-Based Approach determines land value and how much it would cost to build your home from scratch.  A VA appraiser uses the former approach, and adds or subtracts value by taking a closer look at the differences between the nearby, comparable homes.

An appraisal will rarely deem the house more valuable than the sales price; however, an appraiser may value it lower.  This can be a major problem in the process and may even kill the deal.  Let’s say the purchase price of your home is $150,000 and the appraisal comes in at $140,000.  The bank will only lend based on and up to the appraised value.  This means either the seller would have to agree to lower the sales price, or you would have to come up with the extra $10,000.  Often, neither of these options can be agreed upon and the contract is voided. 

Our appraisal is requiring a handrail be installed on the main staircase; this was expected and minor.  Unlike an appraisal for a conventional loan, a VA appraisal may require certain repairs be made to the property prior to closing.  The appraiser ensures the overall safety and soundness of the property.  It’s why you’ll never see a home advertised as a “handyman’s special” able to get VA financing.  Rotting wood may have to be replaced, or older, peeling paint, possibly containing lead, may need to be scraped and repainted.  A heating system may need to be completely replaced.  Extensive repairs may also spell trouble for the deal.  A seller may not be willing to complete the expensive repairs, even if it means the house the house will go back on the market.  Another purchaser may be able to pay cash or use a different type of loan that may not have the same repair requirements.  This is one reason why it’s a good idea to work with a real estate agent familiar with VA loans; they may be able to steer you away from any properties that the VA would find issue with.

It’s important to remember, even though you pay for the appraisal, it actually belongs to the bank and the VA, and protects their interest in the transaction.  A home inspection, although not required, is strongly recommended for your own benefit.  The home inspection we ordered was much more detailed about the structure and systems of the house, reducing the risk something unexpected and costly will occur. 

Now that the appraisal is done, we’re one step and one PCS move closer to our first house!

It can be tough for spouses who are PCSing to be at a job interview in their new location before they have packed up at their current duty station. Especially if the two bases are across country, or even overseas.

Luckily, technology is making it easier for employers to conduct interviews with potential hires via internet and video cameras. No traveling. No sitting nervously in the lobby. The weather outside won’t touch that perfect hair and makeup after you’ve left the mirror. And, no heels to wear!

But, before you get too excited about not having to get dressed and leave home, consider this scenario:

You sit down in front of your computer, thinking everything is in place to make your best impression. But, as soon as the interviewer asks the first question, you notice that your notecards are not within reach. Fortunately, the interviewer seems pretty laid back and she has no problem with your stepping away to grab them. Unfortunately, however, as soon as you hear her gasp, you realize that wearing your pajama bottoms with your suit jacket wasn't such a great idea after all.

Before you get embarrassed by a mishap you could have prevented, use these quick tips to nail your next online video job interview.

1. Get completely and appropriately dressed just as you would for an in-person interview. Wearing business attire will make you feel more professional and come across as more confident.

2. Keep hair and make up simple. Wear solid dark colors or shades of blue to look your best on camera. With the high-quality technology we have today, you don’t want to create visual distractions or look unflattering on screen.

3. Prior to the interview turn on your camera and record a few minutes of footage. Play it back to examine the surroundings your interviewer will see. Make sure your lighting isn’t causing glares or shadows. Remove clutter and items not related to work. Straighten crooked mirrors, photos and certificates on the wall.

4. Make sure everything you need is within reach and organized so you won’t have to search for your resume, cover letter, notecards, pen, etc. And keep the number of items to a minimum.

5. Eliminate audio distractions. This includes people (who may also photo bomb your session), pets, cell phones, house phones, computer notifications, televisions and radios.

6. Practice with a relative or friend and record the session so you will have feedback and see for yourself, how you really look and sound on camera. Take note:  you will look more natural by looking at the camera and not at the interviewer.

7. Set up the equipment a day or two in advance. Download any software you will need. Plug in your computer and fully charge your battery. Purchase a microphone instead of using your computer’s mic. Invite a tech-savvy friend to be on standby to help if you need it. This won’t look like you are not proficient in technology; it will show that you plan ahead for success.

8. Have a professional username and email address, preferably your first and last name. If your name appears on the screen during the interview, it will help the person remember your name during and after the session.

9. While waiting for the interview to begin, mute the sound and place a post-it note over the camera. Once the interview ends make sure all equipment is turned completely off. In both cases, you don't want comments or movements to be unintentionally heard or seen.

10. Be engaging. Smile and focus on the conversation. It's okay to nod a bit and move your hands slightly. You want to look natural, not as if you are flailing around and definitely not too stiff.

You are the producer, actor and director, so take charge of your video interview and create a masterpiece!

The summer panic is starting to set in.

For some families with a stay-at-home parent this means finding ways to entertain the kids for eight long weeks.

For others, like mine, it means finding affordable, fulltime day care, for eight long weeks. In our family that weekly dollar amount is multiplied by five. And the resulting number is twice what I actually make on the job for the week.

Uggggggh.

So, I’m playing a dangerous game of enrolling each kid in various camps throughout the eight weeks that require me to pick up during lunch, drop off during breaks and use perfectly timed personal days to fill in the gaps.

It’s expensive. It’s stressful. It’s exhausting. And I’m one of the lucky ones.

I have a job that pays me enough to afford at least some fulltime day care for the summer months. I work at a business where my boss not only understands the struggle but allows some wiggle room as myself and the other employees take turns leaving to drop and pick up our kids.

For many people, this is not the case. Nine to five means, nine to five. No breaks. No kid pickups. No bringing your child to work when the daycare provider is sick. For many, it is easier, and less expensive, to not work.

Local museums, art clubs and even school districts know there is a desperate need for summer childcare. They provide it. And sometimes, they charge an outrageous amount for it. Summer dance camp for my 4-year-old, for one week, 9 a.m. to noon, is $200. Art camp for the preteen is $250. Drama club camp is another, cool, $150 a week.

None of these camps last past noon, serve food or provide any extras. But these are the ones that are advertised on slick, glossy paper, sent home in our kids’ book bags that they beg us to attend.

No. Not happening.

If you live near a base, look there first. The military has also noticed a desperate need for summer childcare. And finally, they are responding. Many bases are now offering summer day camp. Many start as early as 7 a.m. and last until 6 at night.

The kids play, nap, run, do crafts and eat. They are safe, they are entertained and most importantly, the parents don’t have to run from camp to camp, wad of money in hand, to keep their children safe and taken care of for eight weeks.

The summer childcare struggle is just that, a struggle. And it is very real. Hang in there moms and dads. The first day of school will be here before you know it.

Dude. College is expensive. If you’re anything like me, you’re broke after buying books, pens, paper, binders, backpacks, software, ridiculously expensive calculators … oh yeah, and paying tuition.

I did a little math. Notice that I said “a little”, because I do not do big math. I added up my tuition for eight semesters at a community college: $19,488.96.

Yes, you read that correctly. It cost me just shy of $20k to get an associate’s degree. And that number is for in-state tuition, and after federal student aid (FAFSA) payments. A number this big might deter a lot of people from enrolling in secondary education. Not us, though. Not military spouses. We are strong, we are committed, and we are offered a huge amount of scholarship and grant opportunities.

(Insert record scratch sound here.) Wait, what? Free school money?

Yes! And I bet you’d like to know where that money is, too. Well, you know I love a good list, so here are a few (there are a ton more out there, too!):

• The most effective tool I’ve found (no joke) is Googling the phrase “scholarships for military spouses”. Give it a whirl, and you’re welcome in advance.
• Thanks USA Scholarship Program - Accessible to all dependent children, age 24 and under, and all spouses of Active-Duty U.S. military Service Members are eligible to apply for scholarships.

      www.thanksusa.org/scholarship-program.html

• Army Scholarship Foundation – Twelve, one-year (renewable) financial        scholarships awarded on the basis of academic record and participation in school and community activities.

      www.armyscholarshipfoundation.org/scholarships.html

• The Council of College and Military Educators (CCME) offers $1,000        scholarships each year to United States Service members (active duty/veterans) and spouses of Service members who are working towards the completion of higher education degrees.

      http://www.ccmeonline.org/scholarships

• Bryant & Stratton Salute to Spouses Scholarship – The school, which offers degree programs both online and on traditional campuses around the nation, offers $6,000 scholarships to military spouses.

http://online.bryantstratton.edu/salute/

Federal Programs

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - is the application used by       nearly all colleges and universities to determine eligibility for federal, state, and    college-sponsored financial aid, including grants, educational loans, and work-        study programs.

                  https://fafsa.ed.gov 

• Federal Pell Grant Program (U.S. Department of Education) - Provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain post-baccalaureate students to promote access to postsecondary education. Grants may be used at any one of approximately 5,400 participating postsecondary institutions, and is determined by review of your FAFSA.

      http://www2.ed.gov/programs/fpg/index.html

• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) –

      Provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate students to promote       access to postsecondary education. Students can receive these grants at any one of         approximately 4,000 participating postsecondary institutions.

      https://www2.ed.gov/programs/fseog/index.html

Like I mentioned previously, these are only a few of the available scholarship and grant opportunities available to military spouses. So crack your knuckles, grab your computer, and start finding some organizations that want to invest in your academic awesomeness!

May marks Military Appreciation Month across the nation.

Restaurants, theme parks, cruise lines, car dealerships and dozens of other businesses have posted discounts for military members (reserve, active duty and retired) on their websites.

There are several websites that do a great job of listing most of the deals that can be found at larger retailers. We've listed some of our favorites below.

Don't forget to look for discounts locally too, especially in areas located near large bases. Those businesses thrive because of the military population and they are often happy to offer that small discount that keeps the large crowds of military families coming back again and again.

Happy Military Appreciation Month! Thank you for your service!

http://www.military.com/military-appreciation-month/military-appreciation-month-discounts.html

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/armed-forces-vacation-club-honors-military-appreciation-month-and-armed-forces-day-with-299-week-long-resort-stays-300082124.html

http://www.military.com/discounts

http://www.bradsdeals.com/blog/military-discounts

http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2014/05/29/veteran-military-discounts/

http://www.militaryconnection.com/deals