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but the gift stores at the VA hospitals are also tax free. They have catalogs for things that aren't carried in the store. Like TV/game stations/tires <--- pretty popular/etc.
Just offering suggestion since there's a bit more VAs than commissaries around
edit: just from browsing, Dell has a 43% off deal for them. Not too bad, just comparing prices, it's slightly cheaper than the deal they are running for the public. But someone still needs to be in the market for a computer... no reason to spend money just because it is on sale
When I was on active duty (many years ago) I was always afraid of going down an aisle in the wrong direction at the commissary on the sub base in Connecticut. Serious, they were one-way with arrows on the floor.
It was definitely woe betide the sailor who went the wrong way!
That fear of public humiliation always clouded my shopping experience
As an aside, I have a vague memory of horse meat being available ................ is that a faulty memory?
Family, education and employment were the priorities when I retired. The nearest commissary is an hour and a half away. I go up that way every few years and buy a few hundred bucks of things we consume each month. The anticiapted 15-20% savings pays for gas.
I would suspect that commissaries are second only to medical facilities as reasons retirees choose to live near a military base.
I'd agree - for retirees who make a point to live near an installation, medical and commissary likely factor highly.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Quiettimect
That fear of public humiliation always clouded my shopping experience
As an aside, I have a vague memory of horse meat being available ................ is that a faulty memory?
I work on and live near an installation. Was just talking to my friend about the commissary - for whatever reason, I feel self conscious and uncomfortable there. It's not like that at all for me at other grocery stores.
Horse meat - that'd be unlikely in Connecticut from years ago.
Commissary tends to have excellent prices for meat and dairy - little else, in my experience. Surprised no one mentioned the baggers yet.
PX I find to be overpriced on most items. Rarely go in there.
When I was living in Arizona I rarely used the commissary. No tax on food in AZ, and the place we went off-base had triple coupons up to $1.00 or face value, whichever was higher; my wife is a couponer. So the higher prices charged by the local, regional and national supermarkets were generally equal to the savings at the commissary, without (1) that commissary surcharge, (2) the baggers' tips, and (3) the annoyance of standing in line for 45 minutes to check out at the Davis-Monthan and Luke AFB commissaries because 50 retirees are ahead. (1) and (2) can add $10-15 to a commissary bill. (3) happened once at each base.
Now that I am retired, I use the Fort Sill commissary about 5-6 times a year, great meat, produce and frozen bulk prices. And dog food, but don't have one anymore.
Commissaries have become consistently less and less of a great deal.
It really depends on where you live. If your base is near a large metro area, where there are big box stores and lots of competition between grocers, that might be true. However, many bases, including mine, are in small towns where off-base food prices are high, and may be taxed. I save WELL over 25% by shopping at the commissary, plus it is a great place for socializing, as more and more base facilities are being consolidated and/or closed due to budgetary or other issues.
It really depends on where you live. If your base is near a large metro area, where there are big box stores and lots of competition between grocers, that might be true. However, many bases, including mine, are in small towns where off-base food prices are high, and may be taxed. I save WELL over 25% by shopping at the commissary, plus it is a great place for socializing, as more and more base facilities are being consolidated and/or closed due to budgetary or other issues.
This is a great point Okie. We last lived on Camp Pendleton so that one was HUGE! There were always great deals to be had. When we moved to Minnesota it was sticker shock so to speak to start shopping at normal grocery outlits AND there is not tax on food in MN. Sighhhhh,,,,still missing those great deals
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