10 Back-to-School Deals for Military Families

Children from the Magnolia Village housing area on Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, board the school bus Aug 7, 2017, on their way to school. (U.S. Air Force photo/Savannah G Stephens)




1. Operation Homefront's Back-to-School Brigade

Operation Homefront partners with Dollar Tree to collect school supplies for military children as part of their Back-to-School Brigade. Volunteers distribute the supplies at events throughout the country during the back-to-school season. Visit the Operation Homefront website for more information and to find events in your area.

2. Tax-Free Shopping Days

For a few days each year, some states offer a "sales tax holiday" right around back-to-school time when shoppers can buy specified items tax-free. This is a great way to save on back-to-school necessities like clothes, shoes, and other school supplies. Click here for a list of participating states and dates.

3. Clothing and Accessories

By the time summer is over, the kids have either outgrown all their school clothes or worn them ragged from vacation and camp. Update their wardrobe with new clothes and accessories using military discounts at stores like Old NavyWranglerTommy Hilfiger and Columbia. If you're mall shopping, be sure to ask for a military discount in every store you stop in. Some malls, like the MacArthur Center in Norfolk, Virginia, offer military discounts in many of their stores.

4. Shoes

No back-to-school wardrobe is complete without new shoes. So take advantage of the military discounts offered by Rack Room Shoes, Foot LockerNew BalanceNike, Merrell and Zappos.com.

5. Classroom Supplies


6. Backpacks and Lunch Bags


7. Tutoring and Test Prep


Do you have older kids getting ready for college testing? eKnowledge donates their SAT and ACT College Test Preparation Programs to service members and their families. You pay only a small fee between $19.99 and $39.99 to offset some of the streaming and support expenses. 

8. Computers


9. Wireless Communication

Most cell phone providers, like Verizon, offer military discounts, so if you’re in the market for new cell phone plans to keep in touch with your active student, contact your provider to ask what they offer for military families. (Some offer military discounts on devices and accessories as well.)

10. Exchange Price Match Policy


Keep up with all military discounts


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