You may be getting a little older, but it’s not all bad. With age comes wisdom, and some pretty amazing senior discounts. Retailers across the nation want your business and to draw you in, are offering steep discounts on their products and services. In this article, we’ll look at some of the best senior discounts available and show you how to take advantage of these incredible perks.
There are so many options for older adults to save money that we could never list them all. From restaurant and grocery savings to savings on travel and entertainment, there are options for every area of your life. We’ll focus on the absolute best senior discounts that will save you the most money and be easy to take advantage of.
Memberships
One fast-track way to securing the best senior citizen discounts is to join an exclusive, membership-only club. With your membership to one of these deluxe organizations, you can easily take advantage of discounts otherwise unavailable or difficult to find. You’ll also enjoy additional benefits depending on the club type.
AARP
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is an organization for people over the age of 50. With your membership, you gain access to over 200 benefits for just $15 per year. These include:
- Discounts at restaurants such as Outback Steakhouse and Bonefish Grill
- Access to the AARP Fraud Watch Network to help you spot and avoid scams
- Discounts on travel and lodging
- Discounts on a Walmart+ membership
- Free plays, concerts, and musicals through the AARP theater
- Ticketmaster Discounts
- Discounted car rentals
- Discounted printing services through the UPS Store
- Up to 69% off Norton device protection plans
- Affordable auto insurance and roadside assistance
- Free hearing testing
The benefits of having an AARP membership are vast. If you’re planning to travel and want to protect yourself with trip insurance, look for AARP-specific discounts. If you need to purchase a senior friendly cell phone, consider linking service with AT&T or Consumer Cellular, which offer discounts for members.
AMAC
Less well-known, but similar to AARP, the Association for Mature American Citizens (AMAC) is a membership-only organization for people aged 50 and over. The cost of joining is comparable to that of AARP, and many of the discounts are similar. These include:
- Exclusive retail and travel discounts
- Discounts on auto and home insurance
- Puretalk discounts
- Health and wellness tips and advice
- Advisory services for assistance with managing Medicare plans
- Book clubs
- Newsline
AMAC even offers a discount on Spot Pet Insurance, a benefit that will help you protect your pet without breaking the bank. Not sure if pet insurance is right for you? Check out our list of the Top Pet Insurance Companies and the benefits of using them.
Subscriptions
Whether you’re looking to ditch your cable bill or have already done so, taking advantage of discounts on subscriptions for senior citizens will save you even more.
Amazon Prime
As an older adult, you can enjoy all the benefits of an Amazon Prime service for less. If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid, or Government Food Assistance (EBT), you qualify for 50% off your membership. This equates to less than $10 per month for your membership! With that, you’ll receive:
- Free shipping on Amazon.com orders
- Unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows on Prime Video
- Amazon Music and podcasts
- Access to Prime Gaming
- Free e-books through Prime Reading
- Photo storage through Amazon Photos
- Free GrubHub+ membership
- Discounts on prescriptions through Amazon Pharmacy
- 10% discount at Whole Foods Market
- Discounts on food through Amazon Fresh
- Discounts at Shutterfly
If you want to get the most bang for your buck, taking full advantage of your Amazon Prime Membership senior discount is the way to go! To apply the discount, contact Amazon directly. They will provide instructions for verifying your qualifications and apply your discount immediately.
Paramount+
To stream additional content, including classic favorites like The Andy Griffith Show and I Love Lucy, and new binge-worthy shows such as 1883 and Mayor of Kingstown, check out Paramount+ and receive 10% off using your AARP card. For less than $10 per month, you can enjoy tons of content and cancel whenever you’ve had your fill.
Angel Studios
While not exclusive to seniors, Angel Studios offers a fantastic price on its streaming service. The basic package, including limited ads, is available for only $1.99 monthly for 6 months. If you enjoy clean comedy and uplifting stories, an inexpensive Angel Studios subscription is perfect!
Travel and Transportation
Living on a fixed income should never keep you from living out your traveling dreams. With some careful budgeting and planning, you can enjoy wonderful vacations, both domestically and abroad. We’ll check out some of the best senior discounts on travel and transportation here, but for a full look at how you can make your dreams a reality, check out our Top Travel Ideas for Seniors on a Budget article. If you’re concerned about accessibility as you travel, we have you covered with our guide to the Top Travel Ideas for Seniors with Limited Mobility.
Amtrak
If you want to travel the country by rail, check out Amtrak. They offer seniors the opportunity to travel by train at a 10% discount. Travelers aged 60 and over can enjoy rides throughout the United States and Canada with this discount.
Greyhound
If you’re 62 or older and love traveling by bus, Greyhound is the way to go. Simply ask for the senior discount and enjoy 5% off your tickets. Some unrestricted passenger fees are discounted by 20%, so don’t forget to inquire about additional rate decreases.
Marriott
Guests aged 62 and older receive a 10% discount on Marriott Hotel stays. You’ll be asked to present proof of age at check-in to receive your discount.
Adventure, Entertainment, and Leisure
Now that you’ve retired, it’s time to do all the things you never had time for. Fortunately, you can enjoy all the adventure, entertainment, and leisure activities you can handle using senior discounts!
Lifetime National Park Pass
If you love adventure and spending time in nature, a lifetime pass to our nation’s national parks is a great deal! U.S. citizens aged 62 and older can receive a lifetime pass for just $80. Alternatively, you can purchase an annual pass for $20 per year. The pass grants you access to hundreds of sites managed by the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, and more.
AMC Theaters
Movie buffs aged 60 and over can enjoy movies at a deep discount. Check out the film before 4 pm and receive 25% off. Don’t worry if you’re more of a night owl, because seniors can choose special pricing when purchasing tickets for any showtime.
Museums for All
This pass is not explicitly made for seniors, but is geared towards those on a fixed or low income. If you receive government food assistance, you can use your card to gain entrance to more than 1,400 museums across the United States. Even more exciting about Museums for All is that many facilities listed are more than just museums. For instance, Hershey Gardens is a beautiful location with sprawling gardens and a butterfly atrium experience that is a must-see.
Food and Dining
Inflation has caused the price of food to spike, and groceries and dining now take up a giant chunk of household budgets. Fortunately, even if you’re on a fixed income, you can enjoy fresh ingredients from grocery stores and farmers markets as well as delicious prepared food at the best restaurants. Check out these senior discounts on food and dining.
Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program
If you’re on a fixed income but love to shop for fresh, fragrant produce at farmers’ markets, consider applying for the Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program. This program provides you with a seasonal budget that you can spend at local roadside stands and markets on locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey, and herbs.
Grocery Store Discounts
Many grocery retailers offer senior discounts depending on the day you shop. Check out these grocery stores and confirm which day you’ll need to shop for the best deals.
| Grocery Store Senior Discount Days | |
|---|---|
| Albertsons | Varies |
| American Discount Stores | Monday |
| Bashas’ | First Wednesday of the Month |
| Bi-Lo | Wednesday |
| Brookshire’s Food & Pharmacy | Every Tuesday & Thursday |
| Concord Food Co-op | Tuesday and Sunday |
| Compare Foods Supermarket | Wednesday |
| DeCicco Family Markets | Varies |
| Discount Drug Mart | First Wednesday of the Month |
| Food Bazarr Supermarket | M-F 7 am-3 pm |
| Fred Meyer | First Tuesday of the Month |
| Fry’s Food Stores | First Wednesday of the Month |
| Giant Food Stores | Varies |
| Gristedes Supermarket | Tuesday |
| Harris Teeter | Thursday |
| Hy-Vee | Varies |
| Kroger | Varies |
| New Seasons | Wednesday |
| Piggly-Wiggly | Varies |
| ShopRite | Tuesday |
| Smart and Final | First Thursday of the Month |
| Super 1 Foods | Tuesday and Thursday |
| Tops Market | First Tuesday of the Month |
| Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace | Wednesdays |
| Weis Markets | Tuesdays |
Restaurant Discounts
You can also enjoy discounts on restaurant meals if you know where to look. Even when not advertised, always ask if a discount is available. The amount of the senior discount can vary, sometimes providing up to 15% or 20% off the cost of your meal.
If you are an AARP member, you can receive discounts at exceptional restaurants such as:
- Denny’s
- Outback Steakhouse
- Bonefish Grill
- Carrabba’s Italian Grill
- McCormick & Schmick’s
- McAlister’s Deli
- Auntie Anne’s
- Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
- Chart House
- Cici’s Pizza
- Cinnabon
- And many more!
Additionally, seniors can enjoy meal discounts at countless restaurants even without an AARP membership. Some openly advertise their discounts, while others only provide a discount if you ask. In many instances, a discount is available by ordering from the “senior menu,” where portion sizes are somewhat smaller and the meal is heavily discounted. Since discounts at franchise restaurants often vary, confirm availability before dining. Some restaurants that provide senior discounts include:
- A&W
- Applebee’s
- Arby’s
- Ben and Jerry’s
- Bennigan’s
- Bonanza Steakhouse
- Boston Market
- Chili’s
- Dairy Queen
- Dunkin’
- Fuddruckers
- Golden Corral
- IHOP
- Jack in the Box
- KFC
- Papa John’s
- Sizzler
- Waffle House
Retail and Shopping
Whether you’re shopping for your monthly toiletries, a new dress, or gifts for your grandkids, shopping smart can lead to deep discounts. Let’s take a look at some retailers that offer discounts to seniors.
Walgreens
Walgreens is more than just a pharmacy. While they have all the health and wellness items you’d imagine, they also sell personal care items, snacks, toys, seasonal gifts, cards, magazines, books, toiletries, candy, and household items. You’ll even find occasional clothing items on their shelves. With all they have to offer, they should be a regular stop on your list as they offer customers 55 and over, who enroll in their MyWalgreens rewards program, a whopping 20% off their purchase on the first Tuesday of each month. You can even apply the discount online by using the code SENIOR20.
Kohl’s
Often situated on mall endcaps, Kohl’s is one of the few remaining retailers where you can go and enjoy a day of in-person shopping. They offer a wide selection of clothing and shoes, housewares, kitchen essentials, pet items, beauty needs, jewelry, toys, and more. If you’re looking to shop, customers aged 60 or over can enjoy a 15% discount every Wednesday on qualifying in-store purchases. Don’t forget to sign up for Kohl’s loyalty program to earn Kohl’s cash for your next visit.
Michaels
Do you love crafting? Do you find joy in decorating your home for the season? If so, you’ll love that Michael’s provides a 10% senior discount for shoppers aged 55 and over daily. This even includes sale items! To enjoy these deals, you must sign up for a free Michaels Rewards account.
Ross Dress for Less
Ross Dress for Less offers shoppers discounts on overstocked clothing items. These name-brand garbs are often sold for 20-60% less than in other stores, but are still brand-new and in style. Seniors aged 55 and over can enjoy even deeper savings with an additional 10% off on Tuesdays. Verify your age at the front desk before you shop to apply your discount.
Goodwill, Community Aid, and Other Thrift Stores
If you love the thrill of thumbing through thrift store shelves to find a treasure, you’ll also love that you can enjoy discounts on already affordable items. Goodwill, Community Aid, and many other thrift stores offer “senior days” and discounts. These discounts usually apply on a particular day of the week or to certain colored tags. Because discount details vary by location, call ahead and confirm.
With a bit of preparation, you can enjoy senior discounts on just about anything you need. Don’t forget: If it’s not advertised, ask! Also, always bring along identification, as many retailers require you to provide proof of age. Furthermore, if a company does not offer a senior discount, ask about other discount options such as veteran discounts and upcoming sales.
