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Senior discounts: As you age, opportunities to save abound

Special to the Catholic Herald

Some discounts happen on a particular day of the week, or time of day. Combine a night out with a special or discount on food or drinks to stretch your budget. ADOBESTOCK.COM

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 As people reach or near their retirement years, getting the most
out of every dollar becomes more critical than ever. If they aren’t careful,
the savings that took decades to accumulate can quickly evaporate.

Fortunately, aging comes with at least one financial advantage —
senior discounts that give older Americans a break on prices for everything
from a haircut to a fast-food meal to a seat on an airplane.

“Taking advantage of these opportunities is a smart move for
seniors and their families looking to stretch their dollars,” said Chris
Orestis, president of LifeCare Xchange and a nationally recognized health care
expert and senior advocate.

Each year, Orestis publishes a list of discounts
that restaurants, grocery stores, retail stores, airlines, car rental
companies, hotels and other businesses offer to their older clientele.

“Plenty of opportunities exist out there to shave a little or a
lot off what you pay,” Orestis said. “Unfortunately, many people don’t take
advantage of these discounts as often as they should. In many cases that could
be because it just doesn’t occur to them to bring it up. In some cases, it may
be because they have a hard time thinking of themselves as seniors.”

In scouring for discounts, keep a few things in mind:

— Don’t assume you’re too young for a senior
discount. At what age do these discounts kick in? Is it 65? 60? 55?
“Every place is different, and in some cases, you may already be eligible for a
discount at a business you frequent, and you just don’t realize it,” Orestis said.
AARP membership starts at 50 and comes with numerous discounts built into the
membership. So, if you’re 49 those particular senior discounts are just one
year away. For others, you may have to wait. For example, Chili’s restaurants
offer a 10 percent senior discount to those 55 and older. At the other end of
the scale, Taco Bell will give you a free beverage, but not until you are at
least 65.

— When you go can make a difference.
Sometimes discounts happen on a particular day of the week. Just as an example,
some Captain D’s restaurants offer a “Happy Wednesday” discount where once a
week seniors can choose from among eight meals at a reduced price. “You might
not want to schedule your entire life around discounts, but for some individual
things — such as a night at the movies or dinner out or even a shopping trip to
a retail store — it’s worth knowing that going a day earlier or a day later can
make a difference,” Orestis said.

— Sometimes you don’t even have to be a
senior. Plenty of opportunities exist to save money whether you’re
advancing in years or not, Orestis said. Many stores offer store “memberships”
that come with a discount with each purchase. Also, the American Automobile
Association is another organization whose members enjoy a number of discounts
in much the same way AARP members do.

“Individually, some discounts might amount to just a dollar or
two,” Orestis said. “But as you take advantage of more of them, those savings
can grow. When you’re on a fixed income — or just want to get the most out of
every dollar you have — the difference can be significant.”

Find out more

For a list of discounts for seniors, go to bit.ly/sdiscounts.

 

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