There are many special discounts that are available to seniors. Retirees are offered discounts at most retailers, restaurants, parks, on public transport and at hotels. But you won’t get these discounts unless YOU ASK for them.
Simply ask the question, “Do you offer a senior discount?” and see how much you can save. You’ll be able to save money every time you find yourself reaching for your wallet or purse. Here is a list of 19 discounts seniors get only if they know to ask about them in 2018. Not only can you read about them here, you can click the links provided if you want to take advantage of these special discounts.
1. Negotiate A Better Mortgage Rate With HARP
If you’re a homeowner born before 1985 and you want to save yourself thousands of dollars this year, there’s a government program that you might be able to take advantage of called HARP. The Home Affordable Refinance Plan (HARP) could help hundreds of thousands of Americans reduce their monthly payments by as much as $3,500 in their first year. The program was set to expire in 2017 but has been extended to 2018 for the time being. In order to qualify for HARP you’ll need good or excellent credit, so if you don’t have a very good credit rating then this probably isn’t for you. To check if you qualify visit HARP Approvals, and fill out the short quiz (take 2 minutes). If lowering your payments, paying off your mortgage faster, and having an extra $290 a month in HARP savings would help you, then this could be the easiest money savings tip you take.
2. Install A Home Alarm System
This money saving idea is also for senior homeowners, so if you’re a renter you can skip this one. Did you know that homes without security systems are far more likely to be targeted by burglars and intruders? But installing a home alarm system isn’t just to stop burglars and intruders, it can also save you big money year after year. A house alarm will save you money on your homeowners insurance policy (which is generally mandatory if you own a home). In fact, on average installing a home alarm system will give homeowners a 10-20% discount on their insurance by having a high functioning home alarm system installed. The good news is that these home alarm companies are pretty desperate for customers at the moment so you can get a good deal. For instance, one of the best alarm system companies – ADT is currently offering over $850 in savings plus a $100 Visa gift card with installation and purchase of their monitoring service.
It’s also really important seniors have a high functioning alarm system installed so that they can get medical aid in the case of a life threatening emergency, especially for those who live alone.
3. Cruise Deals
Carnival Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Costa Cruises, Cruise Direct, there are hundreds of amazing cruises at great prices to be found online.
Is there any better way to celebrate life than to venture out at sea? Cruises are wonderful with their all-inclusive travel options where you get to sit back, have a drink or two for free, soak up the midday sun and enjoy some high-class cuisine along with various live music performances.
Cruise lines offer a huge variety of discounts for senior citizens, and this includes some of the most well-known companies like Carnival Cruises and Royal Caribbean, offering exclusive deals to citizens over the age of 55. You will be able to get a cruise deal anywhere in the world, be it the Caribbean or even the icy Alaska. Keep in mind that not all cruises have discounts, so it is best to check with the specific cruise company.
4. Get a Lower Auto Insurance Rate
You might think you’re already paying a low auto insurance rate, but you could be paying far less a month for car insurance. If you’re currently paying more than $50 per month, and have had no accidents or tickets in the past two years, you can probably secure a much lower car insurance rate. The best way to do that is to compare quotes from multiple insurers – let them compete for your business. In fact, there’s a new website that allows you to do just that – it’s called Best Quotes Auto Insurance. Once you fill out the form on their website they’ll provide you with multiple quotes you can choose from. If you’re still not satisfied, you can always call up the major car insurance companies and let them know you’re looking for better offers and that you’re a senior citizen.
5. Save on Medical Costs
Healthcare is an essential part of human life, and the costs of doctors and the right treatments add up more and more as we age. Most retirees need to take some type of medication, so it’s only right that you should be getting the most out of your medical insurance.
By working with the best insurance company for your needs you can be sure to have the best coverage for the cheapest prices.
Some insurers will send seniors a discount card that you can show when paying for prescriptions. Just remember to check with your local pharmacy to see what discounts are available to you, because discounts might change depending on location.
Many seniors may be able to get extra benefits and don’t even know they’re available. You can also check if you are eligible to get vision, dental, hearing or prescription drug coverage included in your plan.
6. Get Paid To Take Online Surveys
Let’s face it, a lot of us have a bit of extra time on our hands after we retire. What if you could get paid a little bit of extra pocket money just for taking a few online surveys? Would you do it? There’s a new website called Survey Junkie that allows you to do just that. You provide them with a bit of information about yourself and they’ll match you up with to surveys that you can complete for big brands. You then earn rewards and virtual points that you can redeem for Paypal or e-Giftcards. 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.
7. Save on Life Insurance
Unfortunately, as our age increases so do our premiums for life insurance. In fact, typically the premium amount rises significantly as you get older. For senior citizens, rising life insurance policy costs can add up significantly. Many senior citizens also have a hard time qualifying for a new policy once they reach a certain age. The best way to get the cheapest life insurance policy possible is to compare quotes from multiple carriers in much the same way you would do with car insurance, or cell phone plans. Luckily, there’s a new website called LifeInsurance.net that will automatically use your information to find you the best life insurance policy for your needs at much lower prices.
8. Go Shopping
Banana Republic, Kohl’s, Marshall’s and Stein Mart
You might be surprised to learn that a lot of trendy shops give a senior citizens discount. At Banana Republic, if you over 50-years old you can get a 10% discount at stores, simply by asking for it.
At Kohl’s on Wednesdays, over 60s can get 15% off. And on Tuesdays, outlet stores Marshall’s, Ross will offer up a 10% discount for seniors – though the exact age is determined by each store.
Walgreens hold a “Seniors Day” once a month too – which varies by location. Discounts of 20% are available for Rewards card members that are over 55 years old in store, and if you’re shopping online you can get a 10% price reduction.
If you are 62 or older, you can get a 10% discount every Tuesday and Wednesday at Dress Barn. And that’s not all, Stein Mart are treating over 55s with their clearance offer. On the first Monday of each month, you can get an extra 20% discount on clearance items. Goodwill gives 10%-20% discounts varying by store.
Just remember to check with the specific store in your area, as discounts might vary and change without notice.
9. Tour National Parks
Yosemite, Yellowstone, The Grand Canyon, Zion, The Everglades & More
With this amazing perk, over 62s can use their age advantage to score a serious discount at America’s National Parks.
It’s time to tour Yellowstone, senior citizens, you 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, including National Forests and grasslands. You’ll be able to visit all of America’s parks through-out your retirement.
The cost of the pass covers your entrance-fee, camping, usage fees for a driver and all passengers. You can take the grandkids camping for free whenever you like. Enjoy wildlife, gorgeous scenery and some well-earned peace and quiet.
10. 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. In fact, most broadcast stations offer additional regional programming, absolutely free. The SkyWire antenna simply attaches to your current TV’s antenna jack (all TV’s have them), and then you get to enjoy Free Broadcast TV. It supports 1080p HDTV and has up to 30 miles of range, so it’s nothing like the “rabbit ears” you used in the past. 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.