THE BIG STORY

The 10 Best Discounts for Troops and Vets

From ski passes to laptops to boat sales, here are some of the best discounts you can find while serving or after you hang your uniform in the back of your closet.

Most people know military and veteran discounts like the free meal on Veterans Day. But there are a lot more discounts and offers out there. Applebee’s is famous for serving that free meal, but other restaurants have similar offers. And some surprisingly large companies honor the military with cheaper products and services — from software to travel, from home improvement to automobiles.  Here are some of the very best discounts that we’ve been able to verify.

10. Free meals 🍕 

A tie between Applebee’s, Bob Evans, California Pizza Kitchen, and Chili’s, all of which offer a free meal on Veterans Day. The best discount is a discount that brings the cost to “nothing.” Of course, it only happens one day a year…

9. I’m on a boat 

Fishing, sailing, or just relaxing on the water — some of the most impressive military discounts out there apply to boats. Active duty military qualify for $1,700 off a Lund Baron 2275 Aluminum Salmon Fishing boat, or 2.4% discount off the base model price of $70,499. Lund offers other flat-rate discounts for different boats, comparable to discounts on automobiles — $250-$1,500 off. But $1,700 is the single largest discount an individual can expect to get on the basis of service.

8. Free lifetime pass 

You finished your last ruck march, cleared CIF, got out of the military to raise a family and… headed to Yosemite. If you’re one of those people who love hiking and the outdoors, this is an incredible deal — a free lifetime pass to the country’s National Parks. 🌲 Annual passes can cost $80. While annual passes are free to military members and veterans, it’s something of a hassle to go through the process of renewing each year. Why not just get a free lifetime pass to the country’s parks? The pass is free if you get it in-person, or $10 if you order it online.

7. Garden and home improvement 

Home Depot has a 10% off discount for military members and veterans that caps out at $400 per year. The Lowe’s discount is 10% with no annual limit. If you’re a homeowner, these company discounts are almost certainly going to become important parts of your annual routine. From picking up tools, dirt, and mulch for the garden, to buying wood, cement, and tools for the house or other projects. If you have a big home improvement project or a building project, you might run through that $400 at Home Depot and need to head down to Lowe’s. The median home improvement project in 2023 was $22,000 — for the wealthiest Americans, that number ballooned to $140,000. 10% can add up!

6. Computers!

While 10% isn’t a lot as discounts go, when you’re applying it to a high-end item, it really adds up. That’s what makes Microsoft and Apple’s discounts so impressive — for a new laptop, military members and veterans are almost guaranteed to save at least $110 ($220 if it’s any kind of high-end Mac product). Microsoft’s discounts also apply to certain software, including the Office Suite.

5. Bass Pro Shops 

Bass Pro Shops offers 10% off most things, and 5% off two special types of item. “5% is not a great discount,” you wisely note, observing that many other companies offer discounts that are much higher. You’re right! But those companies aren’t offering discounts off ammunition and firearms. Yes, you can get discounts off ammo by joining a shooting club or a gun range — but that requires paying money upfront, and hoping you’re active enough during the year to make the investment back. Bass Pro requires a DD214.

4. “I’m going to Disneyland!”

Anyone who’s watched the Super Bowl knows that line. But you don’t have to play on an NFL team to afford this for your family… One of the most famous and powerful discounts for military members, retirees, and 100% service connected disabled veterans can be found with Disney. Discounts on tickets for veterans can exceed 50%, with 30-40% off resort rooms. If you’ve got kids and want a Disney vacation, active duty’s the time to make that happen.

3. Run, don’t walk, for this discount

Friends, Reebok promises military members and veterans a 50% discount off select products, with verification provided by ID.me. It checks out.

2. Cool shades 

Oakley is a trusted and well-known provider of athletic and military equipment — most popular for its eyewear. Quite simply, nobody has ever been cooler than an athlete in the late 1980s or early 1990s wearing Oakley Razors. It offers up to 50% off certain sunglasses and 60% off other products to military members and veterans. 😎

1. Climb to Glory 

Vail Resorts was founded by WWII veterans of the 10th Mountain Division. Returning to the U.S. after heavy fighting in Italy, veterans such as Pete Siebert and Earl Eaton used their experience to build entertaining and relaxing resorts for Americans to pursue winter sports such as hiking and skiing. The Epic Pass is a legacy of that effort, offering remarkable discounts of up to 68%. 2023/24’s Epic Pass clocked in at $552 — which isn’t bad when you consider it’s both an annual lift pass good at most Vail resorts, and a persistent 20% off food, lessons, and other amenities. One significant drawback: it isn’t available for the rest of the 23/24 season. 2024/25 skiers and mountaingoers take note: Vail limits the number of tickets issued per year. Sales for Epic Passes for 2023/24 ended December 3. Move fast to get yours for 2024 when sales open!

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