Cruise Attire

I had a lot of time to myself this past weekend.  I would have typically spent Memorial Day with the soldier, but because he's overseas, I thought I would spoil myself a bit.  I needed formal attire for the two formal dinner nights on our cruise.  Sadly, I don't have anything that would fit the bill, unless I refer to old prom dresses.  So, I needed to get something that would work...and for cheap!  Evening wear can get pricey!  After shopping around in store and online, I found a couple of outfits that I'm believe are formal enough.

My steal of a deal happened with my amazing Rachel Roy dress from Macy's!  It was originally priced at $119 - and I paid only $47.60 - not bad for a designer dress.  I saved more than $70 on the retail cost  because of all the sales and the "Got Your Six" coupon I got for donating to the charity!  Now, I bought this dress "just because!"

:-)

I'm looking forward to actually wearing all my new stuff in a month or so!  I might actually wear my Rachel Roy dress sometime soon though...it's too cute!

Memorial Day Deals/Discounts

Tomorrow, I'll be thinking about those men and women that have sacrificed their lives for the benefit of our country.  It's nice that we get a national holiday to reflect and to also spend the day with our friends and family to celebrate life (or on our own).

So far, I've spent this weekend by myself.  I met up with a friend to go to Zumba, but besides that, I pretty much walked around the city shopping.  I thought because I have this time to myself, I would check out some stores to get ready for my upcoming cruise.  I need to get a couple of evening dresses - and just some other summer-y stuff that I could wear on the ship.

I found out that Forever 21 is offering 15% off to military members - really anyone that has a military ID issued to them.  I actually bought a whole bunch of stuff at the store yesterday and when I went online, I saw a note at the top left that mentioned the discount.  Nobody told me about the sale at the store, so I called and asked if I could get it applied to my purchase.  Forever 21 doesn't offer any money back - only store credit.  I took it anyway because I shop at the store all the time.   I actually used the store credit today and got another cute top.  The sale ends tomorrow!

Also, Macy's is having lots of amazing sales.  If you are feeling adventurous, check out the store for some awesome deals.  When I went in to shop, I found out about the Macy's + Got You 6 program. 

From the website: "To honor & empower American veterans, Macy’s has teamed up with Got Your 6 in the hopes of raising up to $3 million for veterans and military families throughout the American Icons campaign. Got Your 6 will be present in almost every Macy’s store across the nation, as well as online and in their mail catalogs, spreading the Got Your 6 message and changing the conversation."

I thought it was pretty cool, so I donated!

I'm sure there are a whole bunch more sales/discounts going on this weekend!  How are you spending Memorial Day?

Guest Post: Top 10 Reasons to Vote Troop ID as the Most Veteran Friendly Business in America

Hi everyone!  I wanted to share a great guest post from the Troop ID folks.  Vote now for this fabulous organization that helps find deals and discounts for military members and their families!

The search is on for the most Veteran Friendly small business in America. U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Hiring our Heroes program is hosting a Small Business Tournament of Champions, a battle royale to bring awareness to companies dedicated to employing veterans and helping the military community. After a tough round of competition, Troop ID has made it to the Final Four! They are just one step away from named the most Veteran-friendly small business in America!

In a nod to our democratic system, the Chamber of Commerce is awarding the title based on votes: whichever company has the most votes by May 30th takes it all. You can vote up to once a day until May 30th, and it only takes a moment to cast your ballot.

Troop ID is in it to win it: Here are the top 10 reasons why Troop ID deserves YOUR vote: 

1) Troop ID is Veteran Owned: Founded by two former Army Rangers, Blake Hall and Matt Thompson, Troop ID has a unique understanding of the military community because its leaders have worn the uniform and faced the same stuggles as many men and women of the Armed Forces. 

2) They Don't Believe in Chairs: At the Troop ID headquarters in McLean, VA, chairs are quarantined to the conference room and reserved for sit-down meetings with guests. At their desks, Troop ID and TroopSwap employees stand tall or balance skillfully on exercise balls. If you can stand, why sit? That's just lazy talk!

3) Troop ID is Committed to Hiring Veterans: Hiring veterans is not only the right thing to do, it's also the smart thing to do from a business perspective. Veterans make great employees. And Troop ID should know: more than 35% of the employees at Troop ID today are Veterans.

4) Troop ID is Committed to Hiring Military Spouses: With frequent moves and a demanding lifestyle, military spouses are true homefront heroes. Troop ID hires these Household 6 specialists because they're great at multi-tasking, cool under pressure, and are on the front lines of what military families want and need. In fact, the entire Troop ID/TroopSwap local sales team is composed of Military Spouses, and headed by a Military Spouse!

5) They're Not Too Proud for Pushups: Everyone makes mistakes sometimes, and on the rare occasions when Troop ID employees run late for a meeting, miss a typo, or forget a co-workers birthday, they're ready to hit the deck and give 'em 20!

6) Troop ID Exists to Help Veterans Everyday: Troop ID was created with Veterans in mind. Unlike active duty service members, many Veterans don't have an ID card that proves their military affiliation. Moreover, no Veterans have an online credential that proves their service to businesses or organizations that want offer benefits as a Thank You. Troop ID was created to solve this problem! Troop ID is an online ID card for the military that allows members to easily get great deals and military discounts online, access employment and educational opportunities just for veterans and service members, tap into VA benefits, and get assistance with financial resources. Your Troop ID allows businesses to recognize your service, and grant you access to exclusive perks.

7) Troop ID is About Helping the Entire Military Community: Some purveyors of military discounts acknowledge active duty service members, but not the military spouses who support them and soldier on in their absence. Some don't recognize veterans or military dependents. But Troop ID is not just for Veterans: we are on a mission to help the entire military community. So Veterans, retirees, active duty, military spouses, and family members can all benefit from signing up for a Troop ID.

8) Troop ID Supports Wounded Warriors: Troop ID and TroopSwap are proud to host events like last weekend's Jumping for a Purpose that not only raised funds for Wounded Warriors, but also raised awareness of the sacrifices these brave men and women have made for our country.

9) Troop ID Gives Back with Mentoring: Troop ID employees serve as mentors to both veterans and military spouses, doling out advice on everything from how to create a lean start-up, to how to best prepare a family for the struggles of deployment through MilSpouse and Veteran eMentor Programs. In addition to these year-round efforts, the executive team serves as volunteer mentors at the annual TechStars Patriot Boot Camp, helping military entrepreneurs make their dreams a reality.

10) Troop ID is Always Free for Members of the Military Community: Paying a fee to access military discounts seems backwards: you've already earned the reward, why should you have to pay to access it? Troop ID and TroopSwap membership is always free for members of the military community.

TroopSwap Guest Blog Post: Smart Ways to Utilize Your Tax Refund

If you've got a refund coming your way, April is looking mighty fine despite this lingering winter weather. But with today's economy, being smart about that check is more important than ever. At TroopSwap and Troop ID, our sales force is composed of proud military spouses and veterans sourcing military discounts all around the country. We asked proud Navy Spouse, financial whiz, and TroopSwap's National Sales manager Caitlin Horn to share the best ways to use your refund to lasting effect.

First, we've got to ask, is a refund really a good thing? In a word, no. That fat check from Uncle Sam may seem like free money, but it's really your money that you've over-paid to the government during the past year. If you received more than $1,000 back, it may be a good time to revisit your W4 to see if you can adjust your withholding. While it's nice to get a check in April, what you're really doing is giving the government an interest-free loan all year long. A bank or government agency wouldn't give you an interest-free loan, so why should you extend that generous act to the IRS?

But let's say that this year, you do have a big tax refund coming your way. How should you spend the cash? Here are 5 smart ways to utilize your refund:

1. If You Have Debt, Pay it Down!

Paying down debt may not be the most exciting way to use your tax refund, but if you've got high-interest loans it's the smartest. With today's incredibly low return rates on investments, the most financially savvy thing you can do is to get debt-free—especially when it comes to credit cards, which often carry APRs as high as 15%. If you don't have credit card debt, look to your mortgage loan. Making an extra mortgage payment can help shorten your payback time and save you both principal and interest. By making just one additional payment on a 30 year mortgage each year, you can have the mortgage paid off in about 17 years and save thousands of dollars in interest over that time.

2. If You Don't Have Debt, Check Out Savings Plans 

Members of the military have some great options for saving for retirement. Contribute your refund Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), a traditional 401(k), or IRA/Roth IRA. Make sure to check if to see if your employer provides 401 (k) matching for these kinds of accounts to boost your retirement funds. If you qualify for the Savers Credit, you can make a $2,000 IRA contribution (if filing jointly), get a $1,000 additional tax refund and save an additional $300 or so on your 2013 taxes. By contributing $2,000 to an IRA, you could receive $1,300 in tax refunds! Dollar-for-dollar, this is the most valuable financial move for those who qualify.

3. If You're Maxed Out on Saving, Invest...In Yourself!

Retirement accounts and TSP accounts have maximum amounts that you can contribute each year. So if you're all set with savings in 2013, turn your tax return into an investment in a sure-fire winner: you! Have you been wanting to take a class to expand your marketability? Now's the time to do it! Add to your education or job skills to take your career and earning potential to the next level. Sign up for a college or graduate class in your field. Attend an industry conference and get in some good networking. Even taking a non-work related class like painting or photography can expand your thinking and brighten your mood. Another way to invest in yourself is to focus on health. After all, your health is your greatest asset. Use your tax refund to invest in a gym or yoga studio membership, a personal trainer, or some great new workout gear from Under Armour (at a 10% discount with Troop ID!). Investing in yourself is sure to pay returns in happiness and well being, making 2013 your best year yet.

4. Invest in Your Kids

If you have children, help prepare for their future with a 529 college savings account. You’ll be able to use the money tax-free for college bills, and you could get a state income-tax deduction for your contribution.There are two types of 529 plans: pre-paid tuition plans and college savings plans. All fifty states and the District of Columbia sponsor at least one type of 529 plan. Pre-paid tuition plans allow college savers to purchase units or credits at participating colleges and universities for future tuition and, in some cases, room and board. Most prepaid tuition plans are sponsored by state governments and have residency requirements. College savings plans allow parents to establish an account for a student to cover eligible college expenses. An account holder may typically choose among several investment options, which the college savings plan invests on behalf of the account holder. Investment options often include stock mutual funds, bond mutual funds, and money market funds, as well as, age-based portfolios that automatically shift toward more conservative investments as the beneficiary gets closer to college age.

5. Plan a Splurge! 

OK, you've paid down your credit card bills, invested in your retirement, and now you want to treat yourself to something special. Opt for splurges that will create memories with friends and families, not just things. While a new purse is always welcome, the memories you'll carry with you from a great vacation are a lot longer lasting. Check out military discounts on getaways at TroopSwap for some ideas to get you started.

Caitlin Horn is a proud Navy Spouse who serves as the National Sales Manager for TroopSwap.com. Caitlin earned her B.S. in Accounting from the College of Charleston, and prior to joining TroopSwap, checked the books at Deloitte & Touche, LLP where she specialized in Audit and Enterprise Risk Services.

About TroopSwap and Troop ID: Founded by two Army Rangers, our team is dedicated to working with reputable, military-friendly businesses to bring special deals and everyday discounts to verified active service members, veterans, and their families. TroopSwap provides hand-selected daily deals and military discounts for businesses near you. Troop ID is the first technology platform that verifies military or veteran status online, enabling top brands to securely deliver benefits and discounts to the military community through e-commerce. Troop ID’s Single Sign On allows members of the military community to access discounts, veteran skill training vouchers, and government benefits safely and securely online.

 

TroopSwap - sign up for discounts and deals!

I recently shared with the MilPages community about a great website called TroopSwap.

I'm all about saving money - and this is site is unique to military members and their families.

If you go to my MilPages link, you'll read more about the service.  I actually used it to buy a $7 dollar Regal Cinema movie ticket.  It was awesome because retail price for a movie ticket is $13 dollars.  Using the portal is so easy too! 

Once I purchased the TroopSwap ticket, a voucher was emailed to me.  I just printed the voucher and brought with me to the movie theater.  It was easy as pie!  I'm definitely going to use it again when I see another movie.  There are lots more fabulous deals and discounts, so be sure to check it out!

Ebates: a fabulous way to earn money while shopping online!

Do you happen to shop online?  If you do, there is this fabulous website called Ebates that actually gives you money when you shop online!

Go to Ebates.com and sign-up for the service.  When you enroll, you even get a thank you gift card bonus!  I just got mine in the mail - a $10 dollar Target gift card!

The last couple months I purchased a new winter coat at L.L Bean, a couple of photo albums on Overstock.com and my "Save the Dates" on Vistaprint.com.  Depending on the retailer, you get a small percentage cash back if you go through the Ebates website to purchase.  So, after buying items that I already planned to purchase, I earned back $5 dollars!

You just have to be sure you login to the Ebates website and then get rerouted to the retailer's website.  My friend made out like a bandit with Ebates because she did a lot of her Christmas shopping online!  Only if I knew about the site before the Holidays!  Anyway, I'm always looking for ways to get rewarded for shopping - or terrific deals!

I'm looking forward to earning more on my online purchases with Ebates.  This website is just too good to pass up!