Scoring Senior Discounts
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Nabbing senior discounts isn’t about being cheap — it’s being frugal. Who couldn’t use a little extra money these days? Besides, at your age, you’ve earned it. Try the following tips for snagging more senior discounts.
Do your research.
Before you head out for a day’s errands, dining and shopping, search online for the places you plan to go along with the keywords “senior discount.” You may be surprised at the number of businesses that offer a discount.
Beyond restaurants and stores, consider service providers that may offer an age-related discount. For example, Amtrak offers a discount for seniors. The Great New York State Fair has free admission for those 65 and older. Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnett Park in Syracuse also has a discount for those 62-plus. Most performing arts centers and other entertainment venues offer lower admission as well.
Ask.
Yes, just ask. You may be surprised at the number of businesses that provide a senior discount. Simply say, “I’m [your age] years old. Do you offer a senior discount?”
Know the details.
Some places of business have a special day of the week or month that offer special deals. For example, Valvoline offers a senior discount for the month of December.
As for local deals, Linda Lowen, author of “100 Things to Do in Syracuse Before You Die” (Reedy Press 2022) and “Secret Syracuse: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful,” and Absurd (Reedy Press 2023), added that Ocean State Job Lots in Syracuse offers a senior discount on food items at the rate of 20% from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Mondays. In addition, Thrifty Shopper (with locations throughout CNY) offers seniors 25% off on Tuesdays. She also noted that the Museum of Science and Technology provides free admission to seniors on Fridays — a great opportunity to take out the grandkids.
One way to get in the know is to sign up for their promotional emails or texts or download their app. That way you won’t forget to go on your special day. Before you spend, understand the rules. Some businesses start “senior” at age 60; others do at 65.
You may score an even better deal if you’re a veteran, so compare the deals. Sometimes, the veteran discount applies to the family as well, so if your spouse has served, you can cash in on the deals. You should also be prepared to show proof of age, like a driver’s license or proof of veteran status such as discharge papers or a military ID.
Try other discount programs.
If you’re not quite qualified to nab senior discounts yet, consider other means of generating deals, such as membership in AAA or AARP, which admits adults of any age. Some credit cards offer discounts regardless of age. Check your membership agreement.
The days of cutting paper coupons — and keeping track of them and remembering to present them at the checkout — are drawing to a close. Many store apps include digital coupons you can “clip” with just a click or tap, such as Walgreens and Dollar General. To tap into those savings, you simply enter your registered phone number at the checkout.
Don’t sweat it.
If for some reason the place of business will not offer you the senior discount you heard about or spotted online, let it go. Sometimes, a local franchise does not honor the policy of the company and there’s nothing the person at the point of sale can do about it. You can always contact the management later to let them know that their staff did not know about the discount.