Best Ways For Senior Citizens To Save Money With Discounts

Older men and women often struggle to survive financially. Retirement isn’t always enough to live off of in today’s world. Therefore, it is important for senior citizens to take advantage of discounts they are eligible for. It is not unusual for stores, restaurants, and other businesses to offer a senior discount. The age considered to be senior varies from one business to the next. Some will provide a discount for those 50 years and older.  Here are specific discounts seniors are eligible for.

1. Discounts At Grocery Stores

Many U.S. grocery stores extend discounts to seniors. The most common type of promotion is a specific day of the week. The average age for a refund is 55 years old. In general, grocery stores give a 5% to 10% discount to eligible customers. Here are some examples of a typical grocery store’s senior discount.

• Fry’s Food –  Seniors should shop here on the first Wednesday of any month. They get a 10% discount on their groceries that day
• Farm Fresh – Tuesdays and Thursdays are the days for seniors to shop here. They get a 5% discount applied to their purchases

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• Fred Meyer – The first Tuesday of any month, seniors should shop at Fred Meyer. They will get a 10% discount every time
• Bi-Lo – On Wednesdays,  customers 60 years and older get a 5% discount on their groceries
• Compare Foods Supermarket – On Wednesdays customers at least 60 years old get 10% off
• Gristede’s Supermarket – Shoppers 65 and older get a 10% discount on Tuesdays
• Harris Teeter – On Thursdays, customers 60 and older get a 5% discount

2. Discounts at Restaurants

Chain restaurants throughout the U.S. often offer senior citizen discounts. Here is a list of restaurants that do.

• Applebees – Select locations offer a senior discount of 10-15% to those 60 or older. Patrons may have to present a Golden Apple Card to get the discount
• Arby’s – Selection locations offer those 55 and older 10% off their purchase as well as drinks for free
• Ben & Jerry’s – Select locations offer a 10% discount to those 60 and older

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• Burger King – All locations give a 10% discount to those 60 or older. Soft drinks and coffee may be subject to an additional discount for eligible customers
• Bubba Gump Shrimp Company – AARP members receive 10% off their orders
• Chili’s – All locations offer customers 55 and older a 10% discount
• Denny’s – Select locations offer a 15% discount to members of AARP
• McCormick & Schmik’s –  AARP members 50 and older get a 10% discount on meals and non-alcoholic beverages
• Outback Steakhouse – AARP members receive a 10% meal discount

3. Discounts on Travel Expenses

Though senior citizens often have time to travel, they can’t always afford it. Here is a list of companies that offer them travel discounts.

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• United Airlines – A variety of services and amenities are offered to seniors at a discount. Those 65 and older can call the airline to inquire about details
• U.S. Airways/American Airlines – Those 65 and older can call the merged airlines and request a discount
• British Airlines – Verified members of AARP might save as much as $200 on the cost of airfare
• Southwest Airlines – Anyone who is 65 or older can purchase a ticket at the Senior Fare. All it requires is proof of age before boarding the flight

4. Car Rental Services

While the cost of renting a car can vary widely, this is certainly one part of your trip where you can save big. Below are three ways you can drive away for less.

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• Payless car rental service – Anyone registered with AARP can get a 5% discount on rates for both weekends and weekdays
• Alamo Car Rental – AARP members are eligible for a refund of as much as 25%
• Hertz – There are special car rental deals only offered to those 50 years and older
• Dollar Rent-a-Car – Anyone 50 years or more former gets a 10% discount

5. Save Thousands on Hotels

If you want to settle down for the night someplace away from home, you can be sure to get a discount at Marriott, Comfort Inn, Motel 6 and more.

Keep in mind that discounts may vary and change without notice.

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• Clarion/Choice – Anyone belonging to AARP gets a 10% discount when they reserve a room. This is offered to everyone who is 60 years or older
• Hyatt – Those age 62 or older can get a discount of as much as 50%
• Marriot – Those age 62 or older get a 15 discount on their room

6. Discounts on Prescriptions

Paying for medication can be a burden on senior citizens. It is important to know where they can go to get a discount on their prescriptions. Here is a list of places that offer one.

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Costco Member Prescription Program – Anyone who is a Costco member and does not have insurance can get a discount on their prescriptions. Members pay up to 80% less for their medication than they would without the program

Narcup –  Originally only available to credit union members, anyone at least 50 years old can now use this program. Discounts can go as high as 50%.

7. Discounts From National Retailers

When shopping for clothes and other items, it helps to know where senior discounts are offered. Here is a list of retailers that participate in this.

Banana Republic – Everyday, those 50 and older get a 10% discount on their purchases

Christopher/ C.J. Banks – On Wednesdays anyone 60 or older will get a 10% discount

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Kohl’s – Those 60 years of age and older get a 15% discount every Wednesday

Modell’s Sporting Goods – At any time, those 65 and older get a 10% discount on their purchases

Ross Dress For Less – On Tuesdays, those 65 years and older get a 10% discount

8. Discounts At Movie Theaters

The cost of a movie ticket is often too steep for senior citizens. The good news is that some movie theater chains will offer them a discount.

AMC – In most cases, seniors can get as much as a 30% discount on their movie tickets

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Regal Cinemas – This chain also offers up to a 30% discount to seniors

Cinemark – Seeing a movie early in the day can get senior citizens a discount of as much as 35%

9. Discounts on Mobile Phone Services

Mobile phone service can become expensive for senior citizens. They have to know where to look to save money. One of the biggest mobile providers that offer senior discounts is Verizon.

Verizon Wireless 65 Plus – Customers 65 years and older can get a basic mobile phone from Verizon for $30 per month. The service is limited to 200 minutes per month. However, seniors can choose if they want a data and text messaging plan.

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Verizon Wireless 55 Plus – Customers 55 years and older can purchase this plan. With two lines, customers get a $50 monthly discount on their service.

These are just a few of how senior citizens can receive discounts. There are many ways that seniors can save money on the items and services that they need the most. Doing their homework is an excellent way for seniors to take advantage of various discounts.

 10. Get Paid To Take Online Surveys

What if you could get paid a little bit of extra pocket money just for taking a few online surveys? You could be making up to $1,000  a year instead, of taking online surveys and testing free products.

You won’t make a ton of money doing this, but it could help pay for a few things every month, and it’s easy to do. Be careful! Many aren’t legit and never pay out

11. Cut The Cord on Cable Forever

Millions of Senior Citizens are completely cutting the cord on their monthly cable costs, allowing them to save $100+ per month in unnecessary fees. Many of them are switching to Netflix or Amazon Prime Video subscriptions, but there are also other ways you can get cable channels without needing to pay a monthly fee. All your local news, weather, sitcoms, cooking shows, kid’s shows, sports and thousands of movies are available for free with an antenna.

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Most broadcast stations offer additional regional programming, absolutely free.  If you find you’re not watching as much television as you used to, this could be the perfect solution for you and can save you a lot of money every month.

12. Tour National Parks

Exploring national parks can be a great way to stay active during the golden years. The good news for seniors is that they can get discounted passes to these parks. Anyone 62 years of age or older is eligible for a discount. While not every national park charges an entry fee many of them do (America’s National Parks: Yosemite, Yellowstone, The Grand Canyon, Zion, The Everglades & More)

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Senior citizens can get an annual pass for just $20 and a lifetime pass for $80. This pass gives seniors access to all 2,000 federal recreation sites. You’ll be able to visit all of America’s parks through-out your retirement. Seniors can save money on admission by purchasing an annual pass or even a lifetime pass at a discounted rate.

13. Haircuts

When it comes to personal care, expenses can start to add up over time. One great way for senior citizens to get around this is to go to Great Clips for their haircuts. In locations across the U.S. and Canada, those 60 and older get a $3 discount on each haircut they get from this business. For those who have access to Fantastic Stan, a fellow hair cuttery, the senior discount day brings with it a 15% reduction in the cost of a haircut.

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Another great way for seniors to save money on a haircut is to go to a local cosmetology program, often run by community colleges. In many cases, senior citizens can get a haircut at a discounted price. It is not unheard-of for cosmetology schools to offer free haircuts either.

14. Air Travel

To travel at a discounted rate, senior citizens can’t go wrong with Southwest Airlines. With a government-issued ID, passengers 65 and older not only get a discount on airfare, but they also get early check-in privileges for each flight they take with the airline.

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The discount can be applied to both international and domestic flights, and unlike for other passengers, senior citizen airfare is refundable.

Hearing Aids

During the senior years, one’s senses tend to dull. This often includes the sense of hearing. When insurance doesn’t cover the cost of a hearing aid, seniors can turn to The Hearing Loss Association of America.

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In many places around the country, the association helps seniors obtain their hearing aids at a reduced cost, through Medicare or other programs.

Auto Repair Services

Keeping a vehicle in working order can become quite expensive. But seniors are in luck because many auto body shops offer them discounts on their services. This includes Valvoline, Midas, and Jiffy

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. Seniors can generally take advantage of a 10% discount, which does not apply to the purchase of auto parts, but can still help save money in the long run. Seniors can also save money on new tires. Companies such as STS Tire and Auto Center also offer replacement tires at a discounted rate.

Fitness

16. Staying fit and healthy is important at any age. Older men and women can keep in shape without breaking the bank. An organization called Silver Sneakers, which operates nationwide, helps qualifying senior citizens 65 years and older find exercise programs/classes and gyms for free.

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There are 16,000 locations around the country where seniors can work out for free. The organization even provides qualified instructors to lead exercise classes and sessions. And they don’t just take place in gyms and fitness centers. Many Silver Sneakers exercise classes are held at rec centers, parks, and other similar attractions.

Flowers

At any age, one may have a reason to order flowers. Anytime seniors order them from 1-800 Flowers, they get the discount applied.

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Anyone who is enrolled in AARP is subject to a 20% discount. This discount can be used for flower arrangements. Bouquets of a specific price are also discounted.

Ancestry.com

As one gets older, he or she may be interested in finding out more about their family tree. AARP members can take advantage of the discount offered by Ancestry.com.

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If they sign up for a membership with the site, they can get a rate that is discounted by 30%. On average, with a yearly membership, seniors can save as much as $120 on these services.

Banking

Having a bank account can incur expenses at times. Those at least 65 years of age can obtain a checking account from US Bank. The accounts pay monthly interest, and the regular maintenance fee other bank members pay is waived for seniors.

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Money orders and personal checks are always free to senior account holders. Seniors are even permitted to have someone younger on their account, as long as the senior is the owner of the account.

U.S. College Tuition: Alabama

It’s never too late for one to further his or her education. In fact, many colleges across the U.S. offer discounted tuition to senior citizens.

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For example, all of Alabama’s two-year schools, mostly made up of community colleges, offer a wavier on tuition to any student who is at least 60 years old. Another example is the University of Alaska. The school offers free tuition to those who are on Social Security, or at least eligible for it. When there is space available in a class a senior citizen can sign a waiver to take the class tuition-free. However, they still have to pay any fees associated with the class they want to take.

U.S. College Tuition: Arizona

Some Arizona colleges also offer a senior citizen discount on classes. At Cochise College, students who are at least 60 years old, that live in the state of Arizona, get a 50% discount on their tuition.

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The same discount is offered at Maricopa Community College. The only things to take into consideration are that senior citizen students must be interested in taking classes for credits, and the community college only offers the discount to those who are at least 65 years old.

U.S. College Tuition: Arkansas

The University of Arkansas has many campuses. Each of them offers tuition-free classes to students at least 60 years of age, who enroll to earn credits. Senior citizen students at the university can study for an undergraduate or graduate degree.

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They also have the option of instead attending Rich Mountain Community College. The school even offers an academic program tailored for students who are at least 60 years old.

U.S. College Tuition: California

Universities throughout California also offer discounted tuition. At San Francisco State University, students who are at least 55 years of age can enroll in the Elder College Program. This program lets students enroll in the classes younger students are taking, but senior citizens only have to pay $55 for every semester.

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Alternately, students who are at least 60 years old can attend California State University for only $2 per class.

U.S. College Tuition: Colorado

There are also several opportunities in Colorado for senior citizens to take college classes. The University of Northern Colorado allows students at least 65 years old to audit classes free of charge.

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Students older than 60 can audit certain classes at the Metropolitan State University of Denver through the Metro Meritus Program. At Colorado State University, if a student 55 or older has permission from the professor, they can audit any class.

U.S. College Tuition: Connecticut

All campuses of the University of Connecticut allow students 62 years or older, that live in the state, to study for free. Eligible students can audit classes or take them for full credit. Seniors in Delaware can attend the state university for free if they are at least 60 years old. They can take classes to earn a Bachelors’s or Masters’s Degree.

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In Georgia, students who are at least 62 years old can attend any of the state’s 26 schools tuition-free. Seniors who want to visit Georgia Tech can only take certain graduate school classes without paying. The free tuition does not apply to law, medical, or dental courses.

The best way to find out if a business offers a senior discount is to ask. Not all companies will advertise this, and some people may miss out as a result.

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Both brick-and-mortar and online businesses are known to offer discounts to seniors. Certain government programs will even offer senior citizen discounts online.