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THANK YOU for downloading the first edition of the Military
Spouse Seasonal Savings Guide. You can expect one of these to
premiere every season. We’re here to save your family money – and
we’re kicking things off with summer! In the following pages you will
find over 28 unique deals for clothing, food, your kids, yourself, and
even your pets! You’ll also get 2 awesome bonus resources at your
fingertips - 7 Things to Know to Survive Your Next Summer PCS and 10
Ways to Cut Wedding Costs (The 1st OR 2nd Time!)
Keep reading and discover your summer adventure today.
page 3
Nike
Nike has got it going on – If you have a body, you are an
athlete! Nike’s Team USA Summer Collection is here just in
time for you to go all out and support AMERICA this
summer. Save here.
Fabletics
Gotta love Kate Hudson! Kate’s line of fashion-forward
athletic wear is all the rage right now. Sign up today and get
your first outfit for $19! It’s exactly the style you’ll want to
look your best this summer. Save here.
Outdoor Tech
This is the perfect combination of sophisticated technology
and the rugged outdoors. These gadgets are high-tech and
just as tough as you are. Save here.
Eddie Bauer
From Father’s Day, to birthdays, to anniversaries, get your
man exactly what he wants – Eddie Bauer’s signature gifts
are available for under $50. Save here.
Michael Kors
No introduction needed, Michael Kors is luxury waiting for
you. Save 10% off your next purchase online! Save here.
Go Ruck
Go Ruck is as ALL-American as they come. Built in the USA
and made to last a lifetime, Go Ruck apparel is made to
withstand any war. Save here.
Think Pink
This popular Etsy Shop has exactly what your little girl needs
this summer. Among many homemade goods, Think Pink has
precious hair bows for ages ranging from newborn to eight
years old. Save here.
Everyday Happy
To make your everyday this happy, invest in safe, natural
ingredients for your kids. Everyday Happy has diapers, bath
goods, vitamins, and more! Sign up today and get a free trial
membership for daily health care goods delivered to you.
Save here.
Wicked Good Cupcakes
It can be hard to find good desserts, especially if you’re
gluten free. Wicked Good Cupcakes delivers cupcakes-in-a-
jar right to your door with no need for refrigeration.
Save here.
Gathered Table
Make life easier with Gathered Table. Gathered Table
provides a complete, customized meal plan just for you,
based on your diet, food avoidances, and time constraints.
Try it for free and cancel anytime! Save here.
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7 Things to Know to Survive Your Next Summer PCS By Kiera Durfee
The term “PCS” is just shy of being a "four-letter word" to a military family. You learn quickly
to expect the unexpected. When you hear that it is PCS time for your family, there is nothing
that induces fear faster, except maybe a deployment…Or maybe not even that.
Whether you have moved a dozen times (in which case you have earned our never-ending respect), or are anxiously anticipating your
first move (in which case, we feel for you and are here if you need anything see this PCS Move article for help in deciding what to
pack!), PCSing is one moment everyone can agree comes with mixed emotions. Now I’ve been excited to leave a duty station, but that
isn’t the same as being thrilled to move all my (precious) belongings across an ocean, two states and multiple cattle guards. Because
when it comes to moving with the military, only one thing can be counted on for sure: expect the unexpected. Below are seven of the
“unexpected” moments you can count on during your PCS experience. Don’t say we didn’t warn you…
1. The movers will be late (or really, really early… if they come at all.) Again we say, expect the unexpected. You are a professional by now. You’ve got a binder filled with dates, labeled tabs
highlighting every rest stop along your trip, a packing list that would make Princess Kate’s assistants jealous, and still, you can’t
make movers show up on time. They don’t know you have pizza, soda, and air conditioning in 29 Palms in the dead of summer or
they’d be there...right?! Wrong. Without a doubt, but with a million excuses, the movers will not be on the same timetable as you
are. Plan to let go of your plan a little when it comes to this. And don’t order the pizza until they show up.
2. Your move dates will change. And change again. And one more time for good measure. It’s best not to get too worked up over this, because the military is known for being 100% mission ready all the time. It makes
sense that they expect families to comply to this too, but it certainly doesn’t make it any less frustrating. This is why they have the
liquor department in the PX, so you can really deal and expect the unexpected. So stock up on wine, invite some girlfriends over
for some pizza (soon to be a staple food group during your PCS Move), and complain together about how unfair a world is that
would take you from them and be fickle about it on top of everything else. No one gets it like your sisters that have been there too.
More than once, most likely…
3. Your spouse will get pulled for duty the week you are supposed to pack out. Yes, this happens. I’m still not sure if my husband requested to be out in the field in 110 degree heat for a week of rifle training on
purpose to avoid the boxing of his 942 military career books, paraphernalia, awards and uniforms, or if he was dreading the week
as much as I was. Either way, it seems to always happen right when we book the movers… Curious, huh? Either way, remind
those friends who offered to help of your address, bring out the pizza (you knew that was coming, right?), and start taping boxes. I
didn’t promise this list would be pleasant. Just accurate.
4. Some of your favorite, bubble-wrapped, safely-secured, couldn’t-break memorabilia will get broken. There’s no real way to prevent this, including packing, driving, storing it yourself, which families still try to do, despite all the
horror stories their friends tell them over wine about how this is a baaaaad idea. Which brings me to my next point…
5. You will regret that DIY move halfway across Iowa. When the kids are screaming, and there isn’t enough space in all of the cornfields to separate them, and your great-aunt Mildred’s
armoire is cracked from that darn cattle guard (who puts a cattle guard in the middle of freaking nowhere?!), and your husband got
called to duty early and flew to the next duty station via a first class free upgrade and your closest friends are nowhere near Iowa
because they know better and tried to warn you, and…. Trust me, no matter how bad it gets, you aren’t alone. We’ve all done it,
which is why we can all preach we will never do it again. Think how much wiser you’ll seem when you’re the one with a smug
look accompanying your Pinot as you warn a new spouse NOT to DIY it to California, especially if it looks like GPS will swing
them through Iowa…
6. Your PCS one state away just became an international move. With three weeks’ notice. If this happens to you (nay, WHEN this happens to you), think of me. Hugging you for strength, crying with you, and holding your
hand as you try not to scream at the post office lady for telling you the impossibility for getting back five passports in that amount
of time and wondering why you didn’t plan better. Civilians just don’t get it, and the sooner you realize that, the more you’ll save
your vocal cords and sanity. Delegate tasks, call on your sisters and family and distant relatives you haven’t seen in a decade, put
the kids in daycare, and rise above it. You’ve got this! Once you get there and get settled, invite the family out to visit your new
Italian digs, because you’re living an amazing life we’re all jealous of.
7. You WILL make friends like your old ones at the next duty station, I promise. We’re there, scattered across the world like beautiful seeds ready to blossom wherever we’re planted, so find us, seek us out, and
tell us your story. We’re missing our tribe back home too, but believe me, having an even bigger tribe is the coolest feeling in the
world. So get out there and make new friends. You won’t regret it, even when the three years flies by and before you know it, it’s
that dreaded season again… Who else do you think is going to help you move if not that new neighbor you just met but can
imagine becoming fast wine and pizza friends with? See, now you’re catching on… :)
page 5
bareMinerals
As we move into the summer season, that sunshine is full
blast on your skin and we need to protect it (while still
looking fresh!) Power your skin with bareMinerals’
innovative beauty products and get 10% off your first
purchase. Save here.
Burt’s Bees Baby
Give your baby the best this summer and put him or her in
100% organic cotton apparel. Get 30% all organic cotton baby
bundles! Save here.
My Protein
It’s swimsuit season…you know what that means! It’s time
to kick things up a notch and you need to make sure you
have the nutrients you need. My Protein has premium
supplements at unbeatable prices. You get 30% off your
first order with this code: NEWUS. Save here.
Beach Body t25
Stream more than 400 workouts for FREE for one month from
Beachbody! Choose from P90X®, INSANITY®, Brazil Butt
Lift®, Slim in 6®, Turbo Jam®, Hip Hop Abs®, and Power
90® among many others. Get one month free! Save here.
Spartan Race
Reebok Spartan Race is a global leader in Obstacle Racing,
inspired by seven ultra athletes and a Royal Marine. Get a
group of military spouses together and challenge yourself
this summer! Save here.
Seat Geek
Baseball season is in full swing. It’s the perfect family outing
or date night! Find the best seats for your home team at Seat
Geek. Save here.
Paint Nite
FUN summer date night or girls’ night out! With the
beloved BYOB, Paint Nite is an experience disrupting the
nightlife scene. Grab your favorite bottle of wine and
become the next Michelangelo in your town. Get 35% off
your first Paint Nite fun! Save here.
Birthday in a Box
We’re all busy and summer isn’t any less busy as a military
family! So, don’t let any more birthday planning consume you.
Get a complete birthday party shipped right to your door
overnight! This is really too good… Save here.
Coffee.Club
Do you love coffee as much as I do? Probably not…but we
both need to join the Coffee Club – have artisanal coffee
delivered to your door. It’s exactly what you’ve BEAN
craving! Save here.
Extended Stay America
With military rates always at or below per diem, Extended
Stay America is a great place to stay on the road during your
summer PCS. Save here.
page 6
10 Ways to Cut Wedding Costs (The 1st OR 2nd Time!) By Ashley Frisch
A wedding is one of the biggest days in your life, but it can also be the biggest expense of your
life as well. With all the stress that sometimes comes along with planning a military wedding
(the first OR the second time!) the last thing you need to be worrying about is budget... Here’s 10 ways to enjoy your wedding day without breaking the bank:
1. Sit down with your fiancé and discuss what three things
are most important to you for your wedding. Maybe you
both feel it’s not a great wedding without an awesome DJ,
but you don’t care that much about dessert. If you’re having
trouble picking your three most important factors, think back
to the last few weddings you’ve been to and what stood out
the most to you. Once you’ve both narrowed down the three
most important factors for your wedding, aim to allocate
most of your budget to those factors and find ways to budget
or lower the cost of the rest of the wedding.
2. Consider getting married on a weekday. A Saturday
wedding is classic but it’s also expensive. You can
sometimes literally save thousands of dollars by getting
married on a different day of the week. Ask potential venues
if they offer a discount for weekday weddings and consider
having your wedding on a Monday or Friday. Regardless of
what day of the week your wedding falls on, everyone who
wants to be there will come and it will still be one of the most
beautiful and memorable days of your lives.
3. Buy used decorations. You can often find great used
decorations or other wedding items on Craigslist or even
through discount stores like Habitat for Humanity’s Restores
or thrift shops. Always shop around before buying something
new.
4. Cut the guest list. This is the simplest and fastest way to cut
down significantly on the cost of your wedding. Far too many
couples are pressured by family to invite people to their
wedding that they don’t know or aren’t close to, so if you’re
inviting Great Aunt Sue whom you’ve never spoken to or met
just to appease your family, it may be time to cut the guest
list. A good rule of thumb is to only invite people you’ve
spoken to in the last five years or who know both you and
your fiancé.
5. Consider selling or trading your wedding
decorations. Some vendors collect certain types of wedding
decorations and may be interested in possibly buying your
decorations after your wedding. For example, my husband
and I bought about 10-15 lanterns, string lights and paper
lanterns to decorate our outside wedding. We asked our
florist if she would be interested in buying them from us and
we ended up saving hundreds of dollars off our bill by giving
her the decorations that we otherwise would have had no idea
what to do with after. You can also sell your decorations on
craigslist or list them on wedding sites.
6. Get crafty. Enlist your wedding party and schedule fun
craft nights to put together your invitations and other
wedding décor items. Even if you’re not naturally crafty,
odds are you know someone who is that would be more than
willing to help you out. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
7. Look for seasonal or comparable alternatives for your
favorite flowers. Asking for out of season flowers to be in
your bouquets can double the cost of your florist bill, so ask
your florist if there are any flowers similar to the look
you’re going for that are in season or if there are more
budget friendly alternatives. If you’re obsessed with the ever
popular and expensive peonies for your wedding, there’s a
nifty trick you can do with roses to get the look without the
price. Take a rose and blow into the center of it and then
fold it out petal by petal. You end up with the gorgeous full
look of a peony at a much lower price tag.
8. Minimize bar costs. If you plan on having alcohol at your
wedding, it’s an expense that can add up quickly. Ask your
venue if you can supply your own drinks, and if they say
yes buy wine and beer in bulk at stores that have a flexible
return policy like Costco. If your venue doesn’t allow you to
bring in your own alcohol, narrow the bar to beer and wine
only. No one will miss the hard alcohol, especially your
wallet.
9. Don’t go crazy on favors. It’s easy to get caught up in the
importance of having the right favor at your wedding to
represent you and your new husband’s union, but honestly
they are often the most forgotten about and even left behind
item for your guests, so opt to keep them cheap and simple.
You can hand out matches with your names on them or do a
candy or cookie bar as a favor that doubles as dessert.
10. Get married in off season. Summer and fall are the most
popular times of year to have a wedding and venue prices
reflect it. Many venues offer off season discounts on their
prices at a third or even half the cost. Consider getting
married during the less popular winter months of December
through February. Bonus, since there’s less weddings during
that time of year, odds are more of your guests will be able
to make it.
Most importantly, don’t forget the true meaning of your
wedding. It’s easy to get caught up in the numbers and all the
little details, but ultimately the wedding day is about you
pledging to stand by the love of your life forever. If you focus
on each-other, a lot of the expensive add-ons will matter
much less.
page 7
Dog Is Good
No Dog Left Behind! This is a special offer from Dog Is
Good to support Dogs on Deployment – supporting
servicemen and women by finding temporary homes for pets
while their own owners are deployed. This adorable and
meaningful t-shirt is a unique way to help promote dog
rescue and foster care for pets in need. Save here.
Pet Fancy
Check out these unique gifts for your beloved pet! From
designer-inspired bowls, signature collars, and natural treats,
you can treat your dog or cat like the king or queen they are
this summer. Save here.
Sperry Top Sider
Celebrate summer style with these amazing, US-themed
espadrilles. The stars and strips canvas is incredibly perfect
for your summer vacation or Fourth of July parties. Look
your best and GO USA. Save here.
Topps
Topps has a special set of 9 5”x7” Star Wars trading cards
featuring the artwork from the movie. It’s the perfect gift for
the dedicated Jedi in your life this summer. Save here.
Men’s Wearhouse
Summer means weddings, weddings, weddings. Dress your
best with custom tailored tuxes and suits and save while
you’re doing it – up to 70% off clearance! Save here.
Francesca’s
For your unique style this summer, take a look at Francesca’s
eclectic mix of carefully-curated clothing. Designed to keep
you looking fresh, save up to 50% off sale items! Save here.
Oakley
Three cheers for USA! Oakley is a proud eyewear partner of
Team USA – get your eyes ready for this summer with the
Team USA collection sunglasses. Save here.
Uber
Travel smart and easy this summer – right from your
smartphone! As a new user, get your first ride of up to $20
free. Use code 20NEWRIDEUBER. Save here.
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We hope you LOVED this little guide to
Sizzling Summer Savings. Keep it around for
savings throughout your whole summer – and
stay tuned for the Fall edition.
Enjoy your summer adventure!
Love,
The Military Spouse Team
These are revenue partners, which means if you buy something, we may get some cash money. So thanks for that.