What qualifies as a “senior” varies from place to place, but if you’re at least 55 years old, you should always ask about a senior discount. Stretch those retirement dollars by finding senior discounts on websites like Brad’s Deals and The Senior List or apps like Senior Discounts. Senior benefits organizations like AARP offer members benefits that apply to travel, insurance, entertainment, and more. A word to the wise: Have your ID on you in case you need to prove your age and always read the fine print. Read on for more discounts and free things for seniors and start taking advantage of your age.
Train travel
Amtrak passengers 62 years old and up are eligible for a 15 percent discount on the lowest available rail fare on most Amtrak trains.
Walgreens
Walgreens Balance(r) Rewards card members age 55 and older and all AARP members can get 20% off on non-prescription purchases during Walgreen’s monthly Senior Savings Day. Read the fine print though, the discount isn’t valid on alcohol, dairy, tobacco, stamps, hone/prepaid/gift cards, newspapers, magazines, money orders/transfers, lottery tickets, clinic services, and more and can’t be combined with other offers, such as “Buy One, Get One Free”.
Prime membership
Medicaid cardholders can get an Amazon Prime membership at a rate of $5.99 a month, as opposed to the full price of $12.99 per month. Prime members enjoy free two-day shipping on Amazon Prime products, access to Amazon’s video and music streaming services, and unlimited access to over a thousand top Kindle books.
National Park entry
America the Beautiful National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands offers a Senior Pass for those 62 and up. The annual pass is $20 (plus a $10 handling fee), while the lifetime pass only costs $80. Passes can be obtained in person at a federal recreation site, online, or through the mail using the application form. Passes provide entry for you and anyone else in the car to over 2,000 federal recreation sites across the nation, including National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, and many National Forest areas and other federal recreation lands.
Concert tickets
AARP offers discounts on everything from cruises to UPS shipping services, but did you know AARP members enjoy special offers on Ticketmaster tickets? Get discounts on shows like the Blue Man Group in Las Vegas and Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas Spectacular Starring The Radio City Rockettes.
Cell phone plans
Not only does AT&T offer cellphones for seniors, but they also offer the AT&T Senior Nation plan, starting at $29.99/month for those 65 and older. The plan includes 200 Anytime Minutes, Unlimited Mobile to Mobile Minutes, and 500 Nights and Weekends minutes, without roaming and long-distance charges. The catch? It’s only for basic phones, not smartphones or tablets.
AARP members save 10% on the monthly service charge of qualified AT&T wireless plans, 15% on select accessories, and up to $45 on activation and upgrade fees.
Pancakes
All sorts of restaurants offer senior discounts, but IHOP has a dedicated discounted menu for the 55 and up club.
Craft supplies
Did you know that people 55 and over can get 10% off your entire purchase every day at Michael’s? Yes, that includes sale items! To get your discount on home decor, crafting supplies, and more, just show the cashier your ID. This discount is only offered in-store. The website mentions that exclusions apply, but doesn’t say what exclusions, so we suggest confirming before say, getting something framed.
Flights
Lots of airlines offer senior discounts. United offers senior fares to selected travel destinations for customers who are 65 and older. Ask about the senior fares when making a reservation over the phone. When you book on United.com, instead of selecting “1 Adult” under “Travelers,” select the Seniors (65+) category.
Movie tickets
Located throughout the country, AMC Theaters says “you must be at least 60 years young to purchase a Senior Discount ticket”. Use the theatre locator to find your local theatre and check for pricing.
Cruises
Carnival and Royal Caribbean both offer savings on cruises for seniors age 55 and older. AARP offers its members onboard credits and discounts on tours and river cruises.
Hotel rooms
Choice Hotels has special rates and amenities designed to make travel more cost-effective and convenient for seniors 60 and up and AARP members. Save up to 10% with advance reservations by selecting “Senior/AARP” from the special rate dropdown menu, or request the Senior Rate when you call 800-4CHOICE.
Best Western offers up to 15% off for guests 55 and older at its over 4,200 locations around the world. Bonus? You still rack up reward points.
Free stuff
Free phone for hearing-impaired
CaptionCall provides free phones to those with medically recognized hearing loss. The phone displays the words that the caller is saying so hearing-impaired individuals can read it.
Education
Many higher education institutions in the US offer cheap, if not free college classes for seniors.
Details vary state-to-state, but for example, all public colleges and universities in the state of Louisiana provide free tuition to students age 55 and older, with half-off books from the campus bookstore!
Tax assistance
The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program provides free tax assistance for qualified individuals age 60 and up. IRS-certified volunteers can help with basic income tax return preparation and electronic filing at community locations across the nation.