15 Senior Discounts to Enjoy or Look Forward To

Few of us are thrilled about getting older -- though some note correctly that it's better than the alternative -- but there are some silver linings to aging. For example, there are senior discounts offered by many companies, some starting as early as age 50. Here's a look at many available discounts, some of which require an AARP membership (which generally costs $16 per year).

Understand that these discounts can change over time and are sometimes eliminated. So if you're counting on any major discount, you might want to confirm it first. Also, some of the discounts you'll soon read about may have some restrictions or limits that apply.

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You'll be happy to learn that there are gobs of stores offering discounts to seniors. For example, on Wednesdays, Kohl's offers 15% off for those aged 60 or older. Tanger Factory Outlet Centers offers AARP members a coupon book featuring discounts of up to 20% on certain brands. (Tanger boasts some 36 shopping centers in 20 U.S. states and Canada.) Craft specialist Michaels offers 10% off to those 55 or older. These are just some of many available discounts. Ask your favorite retailers whether they offer any senior specials.

Hotels are another spending category where you can save a bundle just because of your age. For example, those 55 or older can save up to 15% at Best Western. AARP members can get up to 10% off the best available rate at Hampton by Hilton, 10% off at LaQuinta by Wyndham, and 10% off at participating Radisson hotels. Other hotels and hotel chains also offer discounts, so be sure to ask. (Many offer discounts to AAA members as well.)

Phone service has gotten expensive, especially if you have a plan supporting more than one smartphone. The folks at T-Mobile US offer seniors multiple discounted plans, including one as low as $27.50 per month per line. Verizon Communications offers two lines for $80 per month to those 55 and older. AT&T offers similar rates. Check these and other wireless service providers to find the best rates for seniors that are most suitable for your needs.

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If you travel by air now and then, you'll want to check with any airline you're considering to see what discounts they offer to seniors. Some, like Southwest Airlines, don't offer a discount -- Southwest used to have one, but ended it in 2019. But many do. United Airlines offers discounted fares for those 65 and older that you can ask about when booking a flight -- or check senior fares when shopping online. Delta Air Lines offers limited discounts on certain flights, so just ask.

Our eyes age along with us, and optical expenses are among those faced by many seniors. Some optical product and service providers offer discounts to older customers. For example, Target's eye department offers special discounts to AARP members, such as $10 to $20 off or 10% off glasses and contacts. LensCrafters customers with AARP memberships can get even bigger discounts, up to 50% off.

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Sometimes you just need a quick snack or meal while you're on the go, and if you're a senior, you may get to enjoy a discount along with your food. Certain McDonald's locations offer discounts for seniors, most commonly for coffee and beverages, while many locations of Yum! Brands' Taco Bell reportedly offer 5% off and free beverages. Sit-down restaurants offer discounts, too, such as 10% off food and nonalcoholic beverages for AARP members at the Bloomin' Brands-owned Carrabba's Italian Grill. Many Waffle House locations also offer discounts, which vary by location. Check with your favorite eateries to see what they offer.

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Older people renting cars may enjoy discounts, too. At Hertz, for example, those 50 or older may receive discounts up to 20%, while Avis and Budget, both owned by Avis Budget Group, offer AARP members up to 30% and up to 35% off, respectively.

AARP membership can deliver savings with all kinds of insurance, too, as the organization has partnered with insurers such as New York Life, Delta Dental, Eye Med, Medico, and more. There are also AARP Medicare Advantage plans available, from UnitedHealth Group, and even pet insurance.

Amazon.com is such a dominant retailer that it arguably deserves a category of its own. It offers a discounted membership (from $13 to $6 monthly) to its Prime service, which features free fast shipping, access to free video streaming content, and much more. The discount isn't exactly for seniors, but many seniors will qualify, as it's for those enrolled in qualifying government assistance programs such as SNAP, Economic Impact Payment cards, Low Income Home Energy Assistance, the National School Lunch Program, and Supplemental Security Income, among others.

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Who doesn't like going to the movies? Most of us enjoy a trip to our local theater, but with ticket prices averaging more than $9 nationally, we may balk at the idea. Fortunately, many movie theater chains (and some independent theaters) offer breaks for senior citizens. For example, theaters in the AMC Entertainment and Regal Entertainment Group chains offer discounts to those 60 and older, while Showcase Cinemas does the same -- on Wednesdays (and they include discounted refreshments as well). Cinemark theaters offer Senior Day discount pricing, as well as lower prices for the first showing of the day -- a showing many retirees can take advantage of. Landmark theaters offer senior pricing -- plus an additional 20% off tickets and refreshments on Mondays for those 65 and older.

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Discounts at pharmacies can be very valuable to senior citizens, since most of us need more medications and healthcare products and services as we age. For starters, AARP offers a prescription discount card (through a partnership with Optum Rx) that's accepted at more than 65,000 pharmacies nationwide. In addition, Walgreens sports big discounts on Tuesdays for those 55 or older and/or those with AARP memberships, offering as much as 20% to 30% off. Rite Aid offers 20% off on the first Wednesday of each month to those in its "wellness 65+" program.

Most of us drop a lot of dollars at our local grocery stores, so it's worth taking advantage of senior discounts there, when possible. At Kroger-owned Fred Meyer stores, those 55 and older can get an additional 10% off certain items on the first Tuesday of every month. Another Kroger brand, Harris Teeter, offers 5% off on Thursdays for those 60 and older. And those 55 and older can get 10% off every Wednesday at Hy-Vee stores. Check your local supermarket to see if it offers any senior discounts.

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Retirement is a great time to travel, and Amtrak is ready for seniors, with a 10% discount on most fares for passengers who are 65 or older. You only have to be 60 or older for 10% discounts on cross-border services operated jointly by Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada.

If you've got ample gray hairs, you may be eligible for discounted ice cream. The Berkshire Hathaway-owned Dairy Queen, for example, offers 10% off for senior citizens at some of its locations, and at some others, older consumers qualify for a free drink. Ben & Jerry's, owned by U.K.-based conglomerate Unilever, reportedly gives those 60 and older 10% off, while Friendly's locations reportedly offer "10% off your meal with a free coffee during breakfast hours or a free small sundae during lunch and dinner hours."

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Finally, here's a great value for older people: a big discount to America's glorious national parks. Those 62 or older can pay just $20 for an annual park pass -- or, better still, only $80 for a lifetime park pass admitting them to more than 2,000 locations. (There's an additional $10 fee if you buy your pass online or through the mail.) Here's an additional helpful detail: "Four annual Senior Passes purchased in prior years can be traded in for a lifetime pass."

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Go ahead and grumble about how your back hurts or about how spots are appearing on your hands -- but take comfort in knowing that there's at least one upside to getting older, in the form of valuable senior discounts. If you take advantage of only some of the many discounts listed here, and you save just $20 per week, that's more than $1,000 per year!

John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Selena Maranjian owns AT&T, Amazon, and Berkshire Hathaway (B shares). The Motley Fool owns and recommends Amazon and Berkshire Hathaway (B shares). The Motley Fool recommends Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, T-Mobile US, Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Unilever, UnitedHealth Group, and Verizon Communications and recommends the following options: long January 2022 $1,920 calls on Amazon, long January 2023 $200 calls on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), short January 2022 $1,940 calls on Amazon, short January 2023 $200 puts on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), and short January 2023 $265 calls on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares). The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.