Sometimes I feel guilty calling myself a military wife because our experience hasn't really been typical. It's different being the spouse of a Reservist rather than Active Duty. There are so many things I've never had to worry about: deployments, packing up a home every few years, enrolling in new schools, finding new doctors and dentists, finding a new job with every move and surviving on military pay.

Military life can be challenging. There are often sacrifices made by the spouses and children as well as the enlisted. It's a lifestyle that most people can't really understand unless they know someone living it. 

Most service members feel they're just like everyone else; they're only doing their jobs. But their jobs are unlike the average persons' for so many reasons. The military has high rates of depression, PTSD, divorce and we're starting to see the longterm impact repeated deployments can have on their physical health.

There are so many organizations that support active duty, retired, spouses and children. As we approach the holidays, charitable giving becomes top of mind for many people. Please consider putting your resources, be it time or money, toward groups, non-profits and businesses that support our military. 

"On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a nation, let it be our pledge that when they return home, we leave no veteran behind." ~ Dan Lipinski 

Free or Discounted Food Offers:
Denny's - Free Build Your Own Grand Slam 5am - Noon

Applebee's - Choose one meal from seven available entrees on a select menu

California Pizza Kitchen - Choose either an entree, pizza or salad from select menu

ClaimJumper - Free entree from select menu on Monday, November 9th only

Olive Garden - Free entree from select menu

On the Border - Free Choose 2 or Choose 3 Create Your Own Combo (up to $10.79)

Red Lobster - Free appetizer or dessert from select menu

IHOP - Free Red, White and Blue pancakes

Menchie's - Free 6 ounce frozen yogurt (seen on the Menchies Facebook page)

White Castle - Free Breakfast Slider and coffee

Little Caesars - Free Hot N Ready lunch combo

UNO Chicago Grill - Free B1G1 entree of personal pizza (through November 12th)

Wienerschnitzel - Free Chili Dog and Pepsi

Hooters - Free entree

Other offers:

Great Clips - Free haircut

Knott's Berry Farm - Military Tribute Days; one free admission and up to 6 discounted tickets from 11/1 - 12/20/2015

National Parks Service - Free entrance to parks

Sports Clips - Free haircut

Meineke - Free basic oil change

Offers.com is a great site to check year-round for military specific deals and offers.

Vettix - This company often has free tickets to concerts, sporting events, zoos, museums and a lot more. You have to be in the military to register and some of the high profile items (Disneyland tickets) are done via a lottery. We've scored some great tickets to Anaheim Ducks hockey games.  


When I put together this list of free and discounted offers for Veterans Day, I try to choose restaurants and businesses that have locations nationwide. For each business, I've linked to the most direct source of information I could find (usually the press release). If you see any errors here please let me know.

**Always check with each location to ensure they are participating and to get any conditions of the offer (specific hours, need to be in uniform, need to show ID, dine-in only, beverage not included, gratuity not included, etc). For more offers (especially for restaurants not in California), visit these sites: Military.com, MilitaryBenefits.info, The Military Wallet and the Veterans Day offers page at Freebies.About.com. Referral link used for Vettix.

Photo credit: U.S. Embassy Montevideo in Uruguay on Flickr

Veterans Day 2014 Free Offers and Discounts {Starbucks, Applebee's, Knott's Berry Farm and more}

Next week we celebrate Veterans Day. If you see a soldier, please thank them for their service. If you see a soldiers' family, please thank them, too. If you're looking for a way to give back beyond this one day per year, consider searching for volunteer opportunities on sites like VolunteerMatch, The Wounded Warrior Project, your local USO, or Feeding America (which often host a military food pantry).

"True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost." ~ Arthur Ashe


Free Veterans Day meal or discount available from these restaurants and businesses:

Meals
Applebee's (specific menu items)
California Pizza Kitchen (specific menu items)
Build your own Grand Slam from 5am - Noon at Denny's 
Olive Garden (specific menu items, link goes to their Facebook page) 
Create your own combo at On the Border (link goes to their Facebook page)
Free doughnut and coffee from Krispy Kreme (link goes to their Facebook page)
Free select appetizer from Red Lobster (through 11/13/14)  
Red Robin is offering a Tavern burger and fries 
Famous Dave's is offering a One Meat Salute from 11am - 4:30
Free meal with beverage purchase from Hooters
Free appetizer from Ruby Tuesday
Starbucks is offering a "free tall (12 fl. oz.) brewed coffee to veterans, active duty service members AND military spouses"
Claimjumper is offering their free meal on Monday, 11/10
Free entree or pizza from Uno's Chicago Grill 
Military Appreciation Monday at Golden Corral is Monday, 11/17

Discounts
Military Tribute Days at Knott's Berry Farm from 11/2 - 11/21/14 
Free haircut at Great Clips
Free admission to all US National Parks 
Extra 20% off at JC Penney
"Receive 15 percent off eligible store items and 20 percent off Walgreens, Nice! and W brand products at any Walgreens or Duane Reade drugstore nationwide"


**Always check with each location to ensure they are participating and to get any conditions of the offer (specific hours, need to be in uniform, need to show ID, dine-in only, beverage not included, etc). For more offers (especially for restaurants not in California ), visit Kiplinger's Veterans Day 2014, Military.com, MilitaryBenefits.info, The Military Wallet and the Veterans Day offers page at Freebies.About.com.

Photo credit: Kathy Zinn on Flickr using Creative Commons (text and overlay by me)

12 Free Meal Offers for Veterans Day 2013

On Monday, November 11 we celebrate Veterans Day. It's a chance for us to recognize and thank our nation's men and women in uniform and their families for their service, commitment and dedication to our country. As a military spouse, I appreciate when a business or company provides a 'no strings* attached' offer that Phil can take advantage of. One of his co-workers is Army and they have a good time planning their lunch breaks each year. Below are just a few of the offers available tomorrow. 

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…" ~ Woodrow Wilson


2013 Veterans Day Freebies

Applebees
California Pizza Kitchen
Chili's Bar and Grill
Denny's 
Einstein Brothers Bagels
Famous Dave's 
Krispy Kreme
Olive Garden
On the Border
Outback Steakhouse
Red Robin
TGI Fridays

Bonus: free haircuts at SportsClips

*Always check with your local chain to ensure they are participating and to ask about possible restrictions and exclusions like alcohol and gratuities. For more Veterans Day freebie offers visit Veterans Advantage and Restaurant News and Military Spouse Magazine. 

Image from freedigitalphotos.net and Flexico, Inc. 

IHop, Chik fil A, Coffee Bean | Frugal Friday March Freebies

photo © 2010 Ginny | more info (via: Wylio)

Make a note on your calendars. There are some great freebies happening in the first few days of March. 

March 1: IHOP is hosting its fourth National Pancake Day  from 7am-10pm. While the pancakes are free, the event is raising money for Children's Miracle Network. 

March 1: If you have a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf near you, stop into their spring open house from 4pm-7pm for free samples of either the Spring Peach Tea Latte, Spring Peach Iced Latte or Peach FruTea.

March 4: I love Chik fil A. They've hosted special military days in the past. Plus I appreciate that they are closed on Sundays. On Free FryDay, ask to try the new Heinz ketchup packet and get a free order of waffle fries. 

So much yumminess! And so much jiggly-ness if I take advantage of all of them! Do you know of any other freebies coming up? Leave them in the comments and I'll update the post.

*Always check with a location before you go.