News for Service Connected Vets

I'm looking forward to "checking out" some of the campgrounds. I'm not planning on using them like some full timers do. Rather as stops on my way to or from a destination. Now if there is one close to the destination I may sign up for a week or so but I notice some have a 30 day stay limit. I'd never be there that long. As for the exchanges, like many businesses they are moving to all online stuff. It can keep inventories low. Food items are a different story. Even 40 years ago when I was active the commissary was often more expensive than outside even considering you weren't paying sales tax. About the only things less expensive were smokes and booze. I don't smoke and as I age I'm less interested in booze.

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Between the VCS and Shopmyexchange, there really isn't any reason to walk into the exchange to buy hard goods when you can select from a larger section online and have it shipped to your door. Even commissary prices are not always competitive especially when you factor in the travel to the base.

I do think if there is a targeted item that you researched pricing and the exchange is priced right, it may be a nice outing, but otherwise the total overall selection from lower end to higher end is ever more abundant outside the exchange often with comparable pricing.

As for camping, as mentioned, it's already tight in some areas and I think there will be a run on reservations as many new users "try out" these new campgrounds available to them just because they can use it now. Hopefully in a couple years, things will level out.

We gave up on those overpriced exchange/commissary privileges long ago. I remember nearly half of each commissary trip was spent at the coupon counter where the wife did her best hunting. Dunno if that part even exists anymore.

I read the article and what jumped out at me was "enrolled in VA's Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers program" Does 80% get me in?

Been following this bill since it was proposed. Can't wait for January to check things out. Since the nearest exchange is an hour away I may check it out once to see but it may not become a regular. As for the campgrounds, I have stayed in one and rented a cabin at another. Both were great and less expensive than public campgrounds.

Some bugs to be worked out as far as how to get on base and with what ID card. For now those with VA ID cards are supposed to just use them. Then I heard something about Real ID cards like you will need to get on an airplane. My DL is a RealID so I'm fine there and I do have a VA ID card as well.

PX has always been that you had to shop. 1968 bought an electric razor on base. Went to local shopping center a few days later and found it for a few dollars cheaper. Cigarettes and electronics were always cheaper.

Here is the best deal i fell into.

Case lot 10 High straight KY Bourbon out the door for right at 9 bucks a 1.75. :B

Now you put that stuff in a Beam bottle and who knows. ;)

enblethen wrote:
Military campgrounds are over loaded, getting hard to get in.
Exchanges and commisaries are getting to be over priced.
Sounds like someone is trying to get more people into the exchanges, commisaries and other facitlities to increase funds that are being used for other administration projects.

Base exchanges have suffered the same fate as Sears, Kmart and most other retail, the HelMart Supercenters have hit them hard, they tend now to be competing for the dollars from folks who live on base, in barracks and for a small savings in name brand products compared to high end retailers.
This could also be affected by sales taxes, high sales tax ststes tend to have more locals use the BX.

Military campgrounds are over loaded, getting hard to get in.
Exchanges and commisaries are getting to be over priced.
Sounds like someone is trying to get more people into the exchanges, commisaries and other facitlities to increase funds that are being used for other administration projects.