Added on September 1st, 2018
There are so many discounts available to seniors. Retirees often receive specials at restaurants, parks, retailers, and more! And, while the majority of people are aware of obvious ones like discounts on your favorite meals, many people are unaware or don’t ask for discounts they should.
Take advantage of all these options and you’ll soon see a significant dip in your spending and increase in your savings. Who says you can’t save for retirement during retirement?
Here are the top senior discounts of 2018.
With the cost of living rising and the cost of food getting pricey, discounts for seniors on food can help lighten the monthly loads. Depending on where you’re located, your favorite grocery store or market will offer a discount for seniors who are either 55+ or 65+.
The following are just a few examples of what’s out there:
A clean driving record always helps, but saving on car insurance is one of those golden boons that seniors get to look forward to. Many insurance companies will reward years of good driving with over 55 discounts. Make sure to do your due diligence and shop around to find the best deal for you.
Since retirement is the time to relax and enjoy life, the last thing you want to do is worry about crushing debt. That’s a young person’s game.
If you have debt, there are several options. You can get free debt help from the NCOA’s Economic CheckUp, which helps seniors reduce debt, find work, cut spending and learn about using their home equity.
For seniors, the NCOA also offers Benefits CheckUp, meant for limited-income seniors to find out which of the 2,000+ public and private benefits programs they may be eligible for.
And, finally, seniors can benefit from interacting with volunteer specialists with the Senior Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Available in person or over the phone, as part of a federal program, seniors can work with SHIP staff to get health insurance benefits and help with medical bills, and learn about vouchers for prescriptions.
It’s not just a creature comfort — it could save your life. While getting a walk-in tub sounds like a luxury, when you’re over 65, you’ll know it feels like a necessity! Every year:
Older adult falls are especially unforgiving because they can ‘spell the end of independence,’ says the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention).
So what if, besides the recommended advice from the CDC, your fall prevention routine could include mitigating potential falls at a common but dangerous source: the bathtub?
Walk-in tub manufacturers recognize this need and typically offer considerable discounts to help seniors take care of their health long into their old age.
Did you know that students and the elderly are the most vulnerable victims when it comes to residential burglaries? Consider this, along with the fact that a home without a security system is three times more likely to be broken into than a home with one.
Installing a home alarm system has multiple benefits. Not only could you, as a senior, save money on discounts, you could also benefit by lowering your homeowners’ insurance as a direct result of a burglar alarm installation.
With the rise of streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime, does anyone watch cable TV anymore? Hunkering down with a good flick is great, but what about when you need to catch the local news, weather, and shows? There’s no substitute for cable TV and, until there is, consider a power indoor TV antenna. Unlike satellites, it doesn’t require installation. Many options support 1080p HDTV and have up to 30 miles of range.
It’s classic technology for the modern age.
This is a deal maker that seniors have always known about. But do you know the sheer extent to which you can enjoy eating out? There are more restaurants than you realize that offer senior discounts. While this is by no means an exhaustive list, here are a few of your favorite restaurants with senior discounts:
There are plenty of well-known department stores that offer discounts for seniors.
Besides these, reported discounts also include:
Whether you’re hitting an aerobics class or heading to the gym to improve your mobility, there are plenty of gym memberships and fitness centers that will offer discounts for seniors. Bally Total Fitness, for example, offers up to $100 off on memberships for seniors who are 62 and older.
Meanwhile, every year at Planet Fitness, seniors over the age of 60 can work out for free from Sunday, August 21 to Wednesday, August 31. And, if you sign up during this time, you can join for a special pre-paid rate of $99 for the year.
If you’re a travel bug, you’ll love knowing that seniors enjoy major discounts on hotel rooms, flights, and rental cars. Make the whole trip a chance to gain new experiences while saving money with these offerings:
When you were younger, did you wonder why there were so many senior couples on the deck of a cruise liner?
There’s a reason: Many cruise liners offer significant savings for seniors. Well-known companies like Carnival Cruises and Royal Caribbean Cruises are just a couple examples of cruise lines that offer steep discounts for seniors. Keep in mind, however, that discounts go by operator, not route — that means you’ll need to find a cruise operator that offers discounts under the company. Not all routes come with a discount for seniors.
Catch up on all the movies you’ve been wanting to see with a night at the talkies! Well, that’s what they used to call them in the old days, anyway.
All jokes and references aside, though, seniors can enjoy discounts at major national theaters such as:
It’s called the “Senior Pass,” and it’s offered by the government to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. With it in hand, seniors who are 62+ can take advantage of free access to 2,000 recreation sites. This includes national parks. Out of the 417 national parks, only 118 currently have entrance fees.
These passes also allow traveling companions with the senior to enter free. Many recreation sites also allow those carrying the Senior Pass a discount on “Expanded Amenities,” including camping, swimming, boat launching, and guided tours.
Senior passes currently cost $80 and are considered “lifetime passes.” Seniors on a fixed income can buy an annual pass for $20 and then trade 4 of these annual passes for a lifetime pass.
You’ve probably seen those magazines that offer guidance to high school graduates, helping them make the best choice of an undergraduate degree and post-secondary school.
But what about a senior’s guide to college? You might want to grab one of those because seniors get to enjoy free tuition across many states and schools in the country. Known as “fee waivers” or “waivers of tuition,” seniors can enroll in classes without paying the exorbitant sums college-aged kids do. Now, bear in mind that schools vary: While some allow seniors to only audit the course, for a registration fee, others offer completely free tuition and ask you to pay an administration/registration fee. Also, you’ll be responsible for your own textbooks.
We saved the best for last: The AARP is the American Association of Retired Persons. For $16 a year, seniors can enjoy comprehensive discounts and bundles available to those who are AARP members. This means not only do seniors benefit from their regularly available discounts, but the AARP actually negotiates with an increasing number of for-profit businesses to avail their members — seniors — more deals and discounts.
No wonder they call them the golden years!