Military shoppers who are on a mission to save money should check out their local commissary’s schedule for the back-to-school sidewalk sale, previously known as case lot sales.

Some of these sales are being held now — such as at the Air Force Academy’s commissary through Friday, and at Kingsville Naval Air Station, Texas, through Saturday. But the two-, three- or four-day events are scheduled, generally, at various times from mid-August through late October. Yuma Marine Corps Air Station, Arizona, for example, has scheduled its sale for Oct. 26-28.

Find your store’s schedule here.

A variety of different items will be available, focusing on healthy family breakfast items, school lunches and after-school snacks. There will be cases of breakfast cereals, bottled water, and other items. Information was unavailable about other categories of items, or percentage of savings over and above the normal commissary savings, that will be offered.

More savings opportunities:

  • In August, military shoppers can enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win $100 in commissary or exchange gift cards. 
  • The Army and Air Force Exchange Service has extended its layaway program to include computers and tablets needed for the classroom. Through Aug. 31, shoppers put these items on layaway. Normally they’re not eligible for the layaway program. A service fee of $3 and a deposit of 15 percent are required; items must be picked up by Aug. 31. The customer service departments at AAFES stores have complete details.
  • AAFES is also offering back-to-school sales tax holiday events. Exchange purchases are always tax free, so in 16 states where “sales tax holidays” are being held, during that time AAFES will match local sales tax discounts to offer an additional percentage off the purchase. The discount is equivalent to the local sales tax rate.

Karen has covered military families, quality of life and consumer issues for Military Times for more than 30 years, and is co-author of a chapter on media coverage of military families in the book "A Battle Plan for Supporting Military Families." She previously worked for newspapers in Guam, Norfolk, Jacksonville, Fla., and Athens, Ga.

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