Military discounts are available just about everywhere you look, from travel to clothing and apparel to arts and recreation. Most of those discounts include a certain percentage off a purchase, but some military discounts include products or services you can get for free.
The following are 9 freebies available for service members and their families:
1. Holiday Freebies
Many businesses honor service members on specific holidays, particularly Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day. Make sure you come back when those holidays roll around to see what freebies are available.
2. Blue Star Theatres
Blue Star Theatres is a collaboration between Theatre Communications Group and Blue Star Families. Through this initiative, more than 150 theatres and playhouses around the country offer free or discounted admission to the military, their families and veterans.
3. Build a Sign
Homecomings are a big part of military life. And one of the best ways to welcome a service member home is with a sign. Buildasign.com offers free, 100% customizable banners for families celebrating the homecoming of a deployed loved one. Since 2008, BuildASign.com has given away more than 337,000 Welcome Home banners and signs to military families.
4. National Parks
When you and your family are looking for something to do, consider spending a weekend at a national park. The majority of national parks don’t have an entrance fee, but for those that do, fees are waived on designated free entrance days.
Active-duty military members and their dependents are also eligible for the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Pass for free, a pass that’s normally $80. The pass allows free admission for a year at sites that charge entrance or standard amenity fees.
5. Tutor.com
Do you have a student in your family who needs a little extra help? Get homework and studying help from a professional tutor any time you need it. Students in military families are eligible for free access to the online tutoring program funded by the U.S. Department of Defense and Coast Guard Mutual Assistance.
6. FICO Scores
An important part of managing your finances is maintaining good credit. SaveAndInvest.org provides active duty service members free access to your FICO credit score through installation military financial educators and counselors in the military Personal Financial Management Program.
7. Museums
Like amusement parks, lots of museums nationwide offer military discounts. And some, like the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York and the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas, offer free admission to service members.
8. Seasonal Freebies
Seasonal discounts range from free tickets to sporting events like professional baseball and football games, free summer camps and free lift tickets at ski resorts. Check back with us frequently to take advantage of freebies throughout the year.
9. Amusement Parks
While there are many amusement parks throughout the country that offer significant discounts to military families, Busch Gardens, Sea World and Sesame Place offer military members one free admission per year.
