As many among military circles have grown accustomed to four day weekends and signs of gratitude in the form of “Thank you for your service” accolades, Veterans Day has also come to signify a day where veterans may be entitled to extra savings on anything ranging from free meals at local or national restaurant chains to retail, travel, and service deals and discounts. Here’s what to keep in mind this Veterans Day as you take advantage of this opportunity.
What To Buy For the Home In November
November just happens to be a month known for several key items to buy for your home and one of the best times of the year to do so. Whether it is the time that these items are most deeply discounted anyway or it is just a good time seasonally to buy them, be on the lookout for extra Veterans Day savings on the following:
- Tools and Hardware
- Winterizing Materials (such as insulation and caulking)
- Food Storage and Baking Items
- Televisions and Laptop Computers
According to sites like Forbes and Consumer Reports, many of these items are most deeply discounted in November. Things that are tempting to buy but should be avoided? Furniture, bedding, and linens. These items tend to be cheapest during the first of the year in January.
Where To Look
You may still receive a lot of paper mail with flyers and circulars as well as a deluge of email marketing announcing general Veterans Day sales and deals. However, it is wise to understand that many retailers use this holiday as a time to lure in buyers. As a veteran, you may be entitled to actual, extra discounts or deals expressly because of your military service.
One of the best ways to check to see which stores or retailers are offering special incentives to veterans is to go online to their store websites to read the details, particularly the fine print. In recent years, a lot of misinformation about deals has been spread via social media. Keep in mind if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
How To Verify
Most Veterans Day deals for the home (and beyond) are available to anyone with a valid military ID card. This includes retirees, disabled veterans, active duty members, and dependents. In some cases, retailers will only offer the discount to the actual service member, so again, be sure to check the fine print. In some cases, particularly when shopping online, sites may require authentication via the ID.me platform in order to securely and safely prove identification and eligibility. Additionally, sometimes local Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) offices have access to special Veterans Day discounts but must be obtained in person before use, such as exclusive coupons or tickets.
It Isn’t a Good Deal if You Don’t Need It
Finally, keep in mind that a good deal on Veterans Day isn’t necessarily a good deal if the item or service isn’t something you actually need. Holidays are often days when retailers pull out all the marketing stops to entice customers in to flex their purchasing power. Not only can stores become overcrowded on these “special sale days,” but also it is easy to fall prey to the urgency that this item must be purchased right now. Items like the ones mentioned above (tools, winterizing gear, food storage, and electronics) will be for sale the other 364 days per year too. Don’t put yourself or your family in financial limbo for the sake of a perceived good deal.
Every year, no matter what day of the week it falls on, November 11 is set aside and observed in commemoration of the end of each of the World Wars, one in 1918 and the other in 1945. Veterans’ Day a legal, federal holiday in the United States honors the veterans of the armed forces. This is not to be confused with Memorial Day, which annually falls on the last Monday of May which honors the fallen among the armed forces.