Commissary prices

We haven't shopped at the commissary for a while - mostly due to the CV issues, and distance as we're not close anymore.

Has anyone noticed if the commissary prices have gone up as much as the civilian markets? Civilian markets here in Florida seem to have nearly doubled since a year or so ago.

We used to shop commissary about once a month, and stock up on most groceries. Am wondering if it's worth doing that again. Also wondering if retired can shop there again - I read somewhere that retired were not shopping and only AD allowed in commissary.

It's 90 miles one-way ... but we usually just drive, camp overnight, and shop and home next day.

It’s not the deal it used to be. Certain items in Florida will be taxed in a regular grocery store but not at the commissary or exchange. Not worth the drive to me.

wrote:

It’s not the deal it used to be. Certain items in Florida will be taxed in a regular grocery store but not at the commissary or exchange. Not worth the drive to me.

I agree, I don't use the commissary unless I'm already there. Not worth it to go out of my way. I will go out of my way for the Exchange, "if" I'm making a big purchase worth saving the tax.

Yeah, that's kinda what we're thinking ... not a purpose trip, but if it's near and fits, we'll do it.

We were at Dover AFB last month and the prices there were high. We live close to Norfolk NAS about an hour drive and prices there are high. Cheaper to go to Food Lion or Alides. Last year we would go to Hanscom AFB in MA when we lived in Maine and it was worth a 3hr trip. The difference between the cost of shopping in Maine vs Commissary saved over 300 bucks, so it worth the trip. I dont know what happened this year, but its expensive at any Commissary. I will use them if I am close in the area, other then that no way.

Hanscomb is a nice area - we've spent many camping days in that campground. As we understand it, Hanscomb has built a bunch of improvements to the CG ... haven't been there in years, but the commissaries everywhere seem to have raised prices and now compete with regular markets. Not such a savings anymore.