Gone are the days of AARP being open to just those 55+. Did you know ANYONE can join?
When I turned 30, I learned that I was eligible to join and start benefitting from AARP’s saving opportunities and discounts. Though not every discount is open to people my age, I still decided to leverage my membership by paying the $12 to join and enjoy their snappy travel bag thank you gift.
Saving Money With AARP
One of the biggest perks of an AARP membership is the discounts that come along with it.
In the past two years of being a member, I’ve saved money at various establishments — especially some of my favorite places I visit on a regular basis.
Here are some examples of my dynamite savings that justified my AARP membership in the first month alone:
| Date | Place | Purchase Amount | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 7, 2020 | Walgreens | $22.77 | $2.77 (10%) |
| January 13, 2020 | Breakfast at Landry’s | $33.32 | $3.32 (10%) |
| January 13, 2020 | Dinner at McCormick | $88.87 | $8.87 (10%) |
| February 8, 2020 | Breakfast at Denny’s | $92.46 | $13.87 (15%) |
The total savings add up to $28.83 which more than pays for the $12 annual membership. Check out this link illustrating the discounts currently available to AARP members.
Tip: Want to save a little more? Pair your AARP savings with a 2% cash back credit card!
Not really going out too much these days? Not a problem! I found another way an AARP membership can pay for itself.
Earning AARP Rewards
AARP puts out a series of minute-long video clips. They cover a wide range of topics such as healthy eating, exercise, places to travel, and a slew of caregiving advice. When you finish watching a clip, you get AARP reward points. These points are easy to earn, and there are often bonus point opportunities as well.
Don’t miss the many other fun ways to earn reward points! AARP’s website offers fun puzzles, ten-question quizzes, and extra credit deals that can help bump up that point balance.
In one year, I was able to earn more than 200,000 points. So how did I redeem my points?
| Store (Gift Card) | Dollar Amount |
|---|---|
| Starbucks | $5 |
| 1-800-Flowers | $45 |
| Panera | $60 |
| Home Goods/ Marshalls | $60 |
| Omaha Steaks | $15 |
| Macy's | $15 |
| Target | $15 |
That’s $215 total in gift cards!
You can also use your points to enter sweepstakes for larger items such as a $2,500 cash prize or a $500 Costco gift card. I chose to give back and donate $20,000 points to the AARP Foundation which helps seniors complete their taxes and offers several other helpful services.
Between the in-person discounts for the month of January and the many gift cards received, I saved more than $200 in my first year alone!
While the benefits are great, there are a few things that you can’t do with an AARP membership if you are under 55 years old. When it was time for my car insurance to be renewed, I thought I’d take advantage of AARP’s insurance from The Hartford. When I called and gave my information, I was told that I did not qualify because of my age. Despite being an AARP member, there are certain programs that may not be available to younger members.
But overall, if you love saving money as I do, you should consider becoming an AARP member. From travel discounts to restaurant savings, you can’t go wrong with having this card in either your wallet or digital wallet. Or both!
Are you an AARP member? Tell us your favorite ways to save in the comments below!
