Senior perks and discounts
By Metro Creative Connection
G
rowing older may come
with some added laugh
lines or a few extra aches
and pains, but many will
attest to the benefits and wisdom
earned from a life well-lived. And
if that’s not enough, the discounts
and other perks afforded seniors can
make reaching one’s golden years a
bit easier to embrace.
Every day the list of companies
offering special deals for people
of a certain age continues to grow.
Individuals willing to do the research
or simply ask retailers and other
businesses about their senior dis-
count policies can be well on their
way to saving serious money. Keep
in mind that the starting points for
age-based discounts vary, with some
offering deals to those age 50 and up,
and others kicking in at 55 or 60-plus.
The following is a list of some of
the discounts that may be available.
Confirm eligibility as companies
change their policies from time to
time. Also, the editors of Consumer
World say that the senior discount
might not always be the lowest price,
so comparison shopping is a must to
www.meridianstar.com
find out which discount or coupon is
the best deal.
• Amtrak: Travelers age 65 and
older can enjoy a 10 percent discount
on rail fares on most Amtrak trains.
For those who prefer ground travel
but want to leave the car at home,
this can be a great way to get around.
• Fast-food/sit-down restaurants:
Establishments like Wendy’s, Arby’s,
Burker King, Denny’s, Applebees,
Carrabba’s Italian Grill, and
Friendly’s offer various senior dis-
counts. Most are 10 to 15 percent off
the meal. Others offer free beverages
or an extra perk with purchase.
• Kohl’s: This popular department
store provides a 15 percent discount
every Wednesday to shoppers ages
60-plus. Other stores like Modell’s,
Belk, Bon-Ton, and SteinMart offer
similar discounts.
• Marriott: Travelers age 62 and
older are privy to a 15-percent dis-
count on room rates at Marriott
brand hotels, subject to availability.
• Roto-Rooter: Plumbing problems
can get expensive, but online sourc-
es cite a 10 to 15 percent discount
depending on location for this drain
cleaning service provider in North
America.
• National Parks: The U.S.
National Parks Service offers steep
discounts on the annual pass, which
provides entry to more than 2,000
federal recreation sites.
• Grocery store: Food shopping
gets a little easier with discounts at
Bi-Lo, Fred Meyer, Gristedes, Harris
Teeter, Piggly-Wiggly, and Publix. Be
sure to check with local supermarkets
about senior discounts, as they vary,
particularly as to what day of the
week and for what age they kick in.
• AARP membership: It is import-
ant to note that many companies
require enrollment in AARP for peo-
ple to get senior discounts. AARP
also has its own AARP Prescription
Discount Card so that members and
families can save around 61 percent
on FDA-approved drugs that pre-
scription insurance or Medicare Part
D plans fail to cover.
• T-Mobile: This carrier offers two
lines with unlimited talk, text and
LTE data for $35 with AutoPay for
seniors age 55-plus. Only the primary
account holder has to be 55.
With a little digging, seniors can
find scores of discounts to help them
save money while enjoying their
golden years.
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