3 Ways AARP Can Save You Money

As life gets more and more expensive, everyone is looking for ways to save. It might seem counterintuitive to dip into your checking account to pay for an organization membership in your quest to spend less, but what if paying an annual membership fee unlocked more than enough opportunities to save to make it worthwhile?

AARP has been in my own consciousness since I was a young child. Back then, it was known as the American Association of Retired Persons, and I only knew about it because my grandparents were members and received the AARP magazine (which was a great read even when I was single-digits old!). But while you need to be a certain age to benefit from some of AARP's insurance products, any adult can join AARP and take advantage of savings.

Let's take a look at a few broad (and fun!) categories for AARP discounts!

1. AARP can save you money on travel costs

If you like to travel, you should absolutely consider an AARP membership. There's an entire section on the AARP website devoted to travel information and deals. The cost of renting a car can add quite a bit to your credit card balance, but you can save up to 30% on car rentals from Budget and Avis. If you need a car for your everyday life occasionally, AARP will save you $20 on an annual Zipcar membership (which will run you $90 otherwise).

Need a place to stay when you arrive at your destination? AARP has partnership deals with several dozen hotel chains and you can save at least 5% off the best available rates when you book. In addition, some hotels offer other sweet deals for AARP members. I'm a Hilton Honors member, and as an example, an AARP membership would give me 10% off the best available rate at a Hampton Inn, plus the tantalizing possibility of a late checkout. If you're part of a hotel chain's loyalty program and it partners with AARP (or you've got a hotel credit card), you could conceivably stack deals and save quite a bit while earning points towards future stays and higher membership tiers.

2. AARP can save you money on entertainment costs

Chances are, entertainment spending makes up some part of your monthly budget, and AARP can help your dollars go further. Among AARP's less-lauded perks, the website has a section devoted to online games, and there are opportunities to see free live performances and watch streaming movies. You can even get 30% off a one-year Ancestry World Explorer or All-Access membership if you dig genealogy.

But if you head down the AARP rabbit hole, and are willing to provide your ZIP code, you'll dredge up coupons galore. For an example of a fun savings opportunity, AARP members can score up to 44% off tickets to Hersheypark in Pennsylvania.

3. AARP can save you money on food

We all need to eat to live, and if you're willing to whip out an AARP membership card, you could save quite a bit in a few different food categories. Plug your local ZIP code into the AARP website and you'll find dozens of deals on restaurant meals. You can take $5 off a purchase of $25 or more at Buffalo Wild Wings or 15% off a regular-priced dinner at Texas de Brazil (a great place, I recommend).

Want to save on meals you can cook yourself at home or have delivered already made? There are savings opportunities for that too. Both Landry's Kitchen and Schwan's Home Delivery have deals for AARP members.

How much does it cost to join AARP?

All this sounds pretty good, right? If you want to join AARP, a one-year membership can be yours for just $12 if you agree to auto-renewal (which will save you $4 off the regular cost of one year). You can also save if you opt for a multi-year membership; you can get three years for $43 and five for $63.

As life keeps going up in price, it's a good idea to seek out as many opportunities to save as you can. I barely scratched the surface of the savings available to you as an AARP member, so if what I've discussed here sounds worthwhile to you, I recommend giving AARP a closer look, especially if you never realized that you could join before you turn 50.