From furniture to flights: the best veteran discounts

As an American, one of the most heroic acts any U.S. citizen can complete is to join the armed forces. From Fort Benning to Afghanistan, and every base in between, when an American chooses to serve their country, they are selflessly giving back. Often times, veterans don’t get enough recognition for their dedication, so when companies offer deals and freebies to them, it is just a little token of gratitude for a much larger sacrifice. From discounts to coupons, here is a compilation of some of the absolute best offers our veterans should be taking advantage of. Almost everyone needs a car for their daily lives, so any of the largest automobile manufacturers offer $500 off toward your purchase or lease. Ford, Toyota, Honda, Scion and Hyundai each offer this discount; and General Motors and Harley Davidson have savings and perks that vary. Making your house a home is easier with home goods, and home renovation stores also give back to the military. Home Depot and Lowe’s each offer a 10 percent discount on all the products you need to make your home perfect, and Crate & Barrel has a 10 percent discount to help you decorate your home with everything you need from gorgeous furniture to comfortable bedding. In this day and age, home phones are nearly obsolete so cell phone bills for active military members can look a little trimmer with your savings. Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile and AT&T each have discounts of 15 percent off your monthly bill, in addition to other discounted rates for devices. Those are all phenomenal daily life savings, but what about fun? Family trips can be a daunting expense, but Disney is one of the friendliest companies to military families with their own special Disney Armed Forces Salute program. Hopper tickets that allow you to go between the different parks are half off for all military members from active duty to retired military, National Guard, Reserve and spouses. Disney hotels offer rooms at 30 to 40 percent off, additional hours to enjoy the parks when closed to the rest of the public, and even an affordable military-owned resort on Walt Disney World properties called Shades of Green. If golf is more your speed, Birdies for the Brave is a special program created by the PGA Tour to offer free and discounted tickets to events for veterans, retirees and members of active duty. Getting there won’t be a problem with Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Greyhound and Amtrak all offering a variety of discounts. And you’ll get a good night's sleep at most large hotel chains from Embassy Suites to the Hilton, Hampton Inn, Marriott, Radisson and Best Western each offering around 10 to 15 percent off your stay. From Fortune 500 companies to small online outposts, odds are a discount for the military is available. Anyone who served should check before hitting the daily grind or considering your next adventure; there’s most likely a ‘Thank You’ discount waiting for you!