More Great Savings For Seniors

Thank you, Linda, for this fabulous list of senior discounts.  Except for Ross, I don't know any place that asks you if you qualify for a senior discount.  I have not checked out this list, but I plan to try some very soon.  I never heard about Subway, but I intend to find out. We'll take any discount we can.  I just checked with the corporate office of Subway and was told that discounts are available on a store by store basis.  It's up to each individual franchise to decide if they want to offer a discount or not.  Many Subway's do offer a senior discount.  I think the best thing to do is to sign up for e-mail alerts from places you frequent.  Some discounts are last minute or short lived.  For example, today Southwest had a 30% off sale on future flights.  I quickly took advantage of this and bought a $244 ticket for $174.  That's a nice savings, but the sale was only for one day.  It's hard to keep up on all this, but think about signing up for e-mail alerts on your favorites. 

Anyone else who has senior discounts that aren't mentioned here, please let me know. 


YOUmustASKfor your discount!

RESTAURANTS:Applebee's: 15% off with Golden Apple Card (60+)
Arby's: 10% off (55+)
Ben & Jerry's: 10% off (60+)
Bennigan's: discount varies by location (60+)
Bob's Big Boy: discount varies by location (60+)
Boston Market: 10% off (65+)
Burger King: 10% off (60+)
Chick-Fil-A: 10% off or free small drink or coffee (55+)
Chili's: 10% off (55+)
CiCi's Pizza: 10% off (60+)
Denny's: 10% off, 20% off for AARP members (55+)
Dunkin' Donuts: 10% off or free coffee (55+)
Einstein's Bagels: 10% off baker's dozen of bagels (60+)
Fuddrucker's: 10% off any senior platter (55+)
Gatti's Pizza: 10% off (60+)
Golden Corral: 10% off (60+)
Hardee's: $0.33 beverages everyday (65+)
IHOP: 10% off (55+)
Jack in the Box: up to 20% off (55+)
KFC: free small drink with any meal (55+)
Krispy Kreme: 10% off (50+)
Long John Silver's: various discounts at locations (55+)
McDonald's: discounts on coffee everyday (55+) thought they used to give it free to seniors!!!! Guess too many hang out there in the a.m. :)
Mrs. Fields: 10% off at participating locations (60+)
Shoney's: 10% off Sonic: 10% off or free beverage (60+)
Steak 'n Shake: 10% off every Monday & Tuesday (50+)
Subway: 10% off (60+) Did not know this - here in Cook County - that's the tax!

Sweet Tomatoes: 10% off (62+)
Taco Bell: 5% off; free beverages for seniors (65+)
TCBY: 10% off (55+)
Tea Room Cafe: 10% off (50+)
Village Inn: 10% off (60+)
Waffle House: 10% off every Monday (60+)
Wendy's: 10% off (55+)
White Castle: 10% off (62+)
RETAIL & APPAREL:Banana Republic: 10% off (50+)
Bealls: 20% off first Tuesday of each month (50+)
Belk's: 15% off first Tuesday of every month (55+)
Big Lots: 10% off
Bon-Ton Department Stores: 15% off on senior discount days (55+)
C.J. Banks: 10% off every Wednesday (60+)
Clarks: 10% off (62+)
Dress Barn: 10% off (55+)
Goodwill: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Hallmark: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Kmart: 20% off (50+)Kohl's: 15% off (60+)Modell's Sporting Goods: 10% off
Rite Aid: 10% off on Tuesdays & 10% off prescriptions
Ross Stores: 10% off every Tuesday (55+)
The Salvation Army Thrift Stores: up to 50% off (55+)
Stein Mart: 20% off red dot/clearance items first Monday of every month (55+)
GROCERY:Albertson's: 10% off first Wednesday of each month (55+)
American Discount Stores: 10% off every Monday (50+)
Compare Foods Supermarket: 10% off every Wednesday (60+)
DeCicco Family Markets: 5% off every Wednesday (60+)
Food Lion: 6% off every Monday (60+)
Fry's Supermarket: free Fry's VIP Club Membership & 10% off every Monday (55+)
Great Valu Food Store: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
Gristedes Supermarket: 10% off every Tuesday (60+)
Harris Teeter: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
Hy-Vee: 5% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Kroger: 10% off (date varies by location)
Morton Williams Supermarket: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
The Plant Shed: 10% off every Tuesday (50+)
Publix: 5% off every Wednesday (55+)
Rogers Marketplace: 5% off every Thursday (60+)
Uncle Guiseppe's Marketplace: 5% off (62+)
TRAVEL:Airlines:Alaska Airlines: 10% off (65+)American Airlines: various discounts for 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
Continental Airlines: no initiation fee for Continental Presidents Club & special fares for select destinations
Southwest Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
United Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
U.S. Airways: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
Rail:Amtrak: 15% off (62+)
Bus:Greyhound: 5% off (62+)
Trailways Transportation System: various discounts for ages 50+
Car Rental:Alamo Car Rental: up to 25% off for AARP membersAvis: up to 25% off for AARP members Best Western: 10% off (55+)
Budget Rental Cars: 10% off; up to 20% off for AARP members (50+)
Dollar Rent-A-Car: 10% off (50+)
Enterprise Rent-A-Car: 5% off for AARP members
Hertz: up to 25% off for AARP members Holiday Inn: 10%-30% off depending on location (62+)
National Rent-A-Car: up to 30% off for AARP members
Over Night Accommodations:Cambria Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)
Clarion Motels: 20%-30% off (60+)
Comfort Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Comfort Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)
Econo Lodge: 20%-30% off (60+)Hampton Inns & Suites: 10% off when booked 72 hours in advance
Hyatt Hotels: 25%-50% off (62+)
InterContinental Hotels Group: various discounts at all hotels (65+)
Mainstay Suites: 10% off with Mature Traveler's Discount (50+); 20%-30% off (60+)
Marriott Hotels: 15% off (62+)
Motel 6: 10% off (60+)
Myrtle Beach Resort: 10% off (55+)
Quality Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Rodeway Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Sleep Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
ACTIVITIES & ENTERTAINMENT:
AMC Theaters: up to 30% off (55+)
Bally Total Fitness: up to $100 off memberships (62+)
Busch Gardens Tampa, FL: $3 off one-day tickets (50+)
Carmike Cinemas: 35% off (65+)
Cinemark/Century Theaters: up to 35% off
U.S. National Parks: $10 lifetime pass; 50% off additional services including camping (62+)
Regal Cinemas: 30% off Ripley's Believe it or Not: @ off one-day ticket (55+)
SeaWorld Orlando, FL: $3 off one-day tickets (50+)
CELLPHONEDISCOUNTS:
AT&T: Special Senior Nation 200 Plan $29.99/month (65+)
Jitterbug: $10/month cell phone service (50+)
Verizon Wireless: Verizon Nationwide 65 Plus Plan $29.99/month (65+).
MISCELLANEOUS:
Great Clips: $3 off hair cuts (60+)
Super Cuts: $2 off haircuts (60+)

NOW, go out there and claim your discounts - - - and remember --- YOU must ASK for your discount --- no ask, no discount.

Discounts Galore

If you're over 55, you're eligible for more discounts than you ever dreamed possible. This list was sent to me by Alan. I do not vouch for any of the discounts listed, so please check on your own to assure that the places listed do offer the discounts listed. I do frequent many of the listed establishments, and am aware of many of these discounts. Something good about getting old, discounts.



Restaurants
* Applebee's: 15% off with Golden Apple Card (60+)
* Arby's: 10% off (55+)
* Ben & Jerry's: 10% off (60+)
* Bennigan's: discount varies by location
* Bob's Big Boy: discount varies by location (60+)
* Boston Market: 10% off (65+)
* Burger King: 10% off (60+)
* Captain D's Seafood: discount varies on location (62+)
* Chick-Fil-A: 10% off or free small drink or coffee (55+)
* Chili's: 10% off (55+)
* CiCi's Pizza: 10% off (60+)
* Culver's: 10% off (60+)
* Denny's: 10% off, 20% off for AARP members (55+)
* Dunkin' Donuts: 10% off or free coffee (55+)
* Einstein's Bagels: 10% off baker's dozen of bagels (60+)
* Fuddrucker's: 10% off any senior platter (55+)
* Gatti's Pizza: 10% off (60+)
* Golden Corral: 10% off (60+)
* Hardee's: $0.33 beverages everyday (65+)
* IHOP: 10% off (55+)
* Jack in the Box: up to 20% off (55+)
* KFC: free small drink with any meal (55+)
* Krispy Kreme: 10% off (50+)
* Long John Silver's: various discounts at participating locations (55+)
* McDonald's: discounts on coffee everyday (55+)
* Mrs. Fields: 10% off at participating locations (60+)
* Shoney's: 10% off
* Sonic: 10% off or free beverage (60+)
* Steak 'n Shake: 10% off every Monday & Tuesday (50+)
* Subway: 10% off (60+)
* Sweet Tomatoes 10% off (62+)
* Taco Bell: 5% off; free beverages for seniors (65+)
* TCBY: 10% off (55+)
* Tea Room Cafe: 10% off (50+)
* Village Inn: 10% off (60+)
* Waffle House: 10% off every Monday (60+)
* Wendy's: 10% off (55+)
* White Castle: 10% off (62+)

Retail and Apparel
* Banana Republic: 10% off (50+)
* Bealls: 20% off first Tuesday of each month (50+)
* Belk's: 15% off first Tuesday of every month (55+)
* Big Lots: 10% off
* Bon-Ton Department Stores: 15% off on senior discount days (55+)
* C.J. Banks: 10% off every Wednesday (60+)
* Clarks: 10% off (62+)
* Dress Barn: 10% off (55+)
* Goodwill: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
* Hallmark: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
* Kmart: 20% off (50+)
* Kohl's: 15% off (60+)
* Modell's Sporting Goods: 10% off
* Rite Aid: 10% off on Tuesdays & 10% off prescriptions
* Ross Stores: 10% off every Tuesday (55+)
* The Salvation Army Thrift Stores: up to 50% off (55+)
* Stein Mart: 20% off red dot/clearance items first Monday of every month (55+)

Grocery
* Albertson's: 10% off first Wednesday of each month (55+)
* American Discount Stores: 10% off every Monday (50+)
* Compare Foods Supermarket: 10% off every Wednesday (60+)
* DeCicco Family Markets: 5% off every Wednesday (60+)
* Food Lion: 6% off every Monday (60+)
* Fry's Supermarket: free Fry's VIP Club Membership & 10% off every Monday (55+)
* Great Valu Food Store: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
* Gristedes Supermarket: 10% off every Tuesday (60+)
* Harris Teeter: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
* Hy-Vee: 5% off one day a week (date varies by location)
* Kroger: 10% off (date varies by location)
* Morton Williams Supermarket: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
* The Plant Shed: 10% off every Tuesday (50+)
* Publix: 5% off every Wednesday (55+)
* Rogers Marketplace: 5% off every Thursday (60+)
* Uncle Guiseppe's Marketplace: 5% off (62+)

Travel
* Alaska Airlines: 10% off (65+)
* Alamo: up to 25% off for AARP members
* American Airlines: various discounts for 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
* Amtrak: 15% off (62+)
* Avis: up to 25% off for AARP members
* Best Western: 10% off (55+)
* Budget Rental Cars: 10% off; up to 20% off for AARP members (50+)
* Cambria Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)
* Clarion: 20%-30% off (60+)
* Comfort Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
* Comfort Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)
* Continental: no initiation fee for Continental Presidents Club & special fares for select destinations
* Dollar Rent-A-Car: 10% off (50+)
* Econo Lodge: 20%-30% off (60+)
* Enterprise Rent-A-Car: 5% off for AARP members
* Greyhound: 5% off (62+)
* Hampton Inns & Suites: 10% off when booked 72 hours in advance
* Hertz: up t0 25% off for AARP members
* Holiday Inn: 10%-30% off depending on location (62+)
* Hyatt Hotels: 25%-50% off (62+)
* InterContinental Hotels Group: various discounts at all hotels (65+)
* Mainstay Suites: 10% off with Mature Traveler's Discount (50+); 20%-30% off (60+)
* Marriott Hotels: 15% off (62+)
* Motel 6: 10% off (60+)
* Myrtle Beach Resort: 10% off (55+)
* National Rent-A-Car: up to 30% off for AARP members
* Quality Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
* Rodeway Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
* Sleep Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
* Southwest Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
* Trailways Transportation System: various discounts for ages 50 and up
* United Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
* U.S. Airways: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount) Activities & Entertainment
* AMC Theaters: up to 30% off (55+)
* Bally Total Fitness: up to $100 off memberships (62+)
* Busch Gardens Tampa: $3 off one-day tickets (50+)
* Carmike Cinemas: 35% off (65+)
* Cinemark/Century Theaters: up to 35% off
* U.S. National Parks: $10 lifetime pass; 50% off additional services including camping (62+)
* Regal Cinemas: 30% off
* Ripley's Believe it or Not: @ off one-day ticket (55+)
* SeaWorld Orlando: $3 off one-day tickets (50+)

Grocery Shrink Ray

I never heard the term before I started to research the hidden cost of food inflation. Companies have tried to camouflage price increases by selling smaller and smaller packages of their product. This is a world wide phenomenon, and consumers are complaining not only about the high cost of groceries, but about the intentional deception of the manufacturers.

Raw materials are increasing every time we turn around. Wheat, sugar, cotton, cheese, milk, corn are all higher than they were last year, and are the main ingredient in so many products. To compensate for a product costing more to produce, the manufacturer is changing the packaging, that is reducing the size of the packaging.

Take canned vegetables for example. Several years ago a can of corn was 16 ounces. Then it became 15.5 ounces, then 14.5 ounces, and recently canned corn was in 13 ounce container. Has the price changed? No.

Chicken of the Sea tuna used to be packaged in a 6 ounce can. That is now a 5 ounce can, for the same price. So they have effectively raised the price of the tuna about 20%.

On a UK website I was reading about candy bars, and how Mars, Snickers, and Toblerone have all shrunk. All three of these candy bars have shrunk by over 7%, yet the cost has remained the same or gone up.

Other products I have noticed where packaging has shrunk include boxed cereal, dry pasta, yogurt, ice cream, ice cream bars, crackers, soups, frozen vegetables.

Often the manufacturer will try to trick you into believing that the packaging has changed to be "greener", or to ensure greater freshness, when in fact what they've done is shrunk the size of the package and hoped you wouldn't notice. Label readers like me cannot be fooled. Many consumers just grab boxes from the shelf without checking the size. It's not until they come home and find out that the box of cookies has several less cookies than it used to that they realize they've been tricked.

If you asked the manufacturer they would not say that they are trying to decieve the public, but we all know they are not changing the packing just to be greener. We weren't born yesterday. We know what's going on, and unfortunately there's not too much we can do about it. I would just appreciate a little more honesty, a little more transparency. I guess that's not going to happen. As long as a quart of milk is still a quart, it's easy to guage how prices are rising. Knudsen fat free milk is now $1.69 a quart at Ralph's. Not too long ago it was $1.29. That's quite an increase. So now I buy my milk at the 99cent store.

The bottom line is, pay attention (unless price doesn't matter to you). We've got to be smart shoppers today to stay even. It's hard, but by reading labels and shopping for specials, it's still possible to keep your food costs under control.

More Ways to Save Money

I haven't given you many money saving tips lately, but thanks to my mom, who's always thinking about me and about stories for my blog, I have the July-August copy of the AARP Bulletin. In it are 99 great ways to save. Many of them you've heard before but there are a few that bear repeating or are actually new to me. Here are the ones I found of interest.

1. Save water in an old toilet by putting a plastic bottle full of water, weighted with pebbles in your tank.
2. Save on printer ink by using the Century Gothic font. A recent study showed that this particular font consumes about a third less in than industry-standard Ariel. That will save about $20 a year for a home user printing 25 pages a week.
3. Ask your doctor for a discount. I did this last year and was pleasantly surprised. There was a time when I was uninsured for 8 months, which I explained to the doctor, and she graciously gave me a 30% discount. Go to healthcarebluebook.com before your appointment to find out what it pays area doctors for a similar consultation or test. Try to negotiate directly with the doctor, not the office personnel.
4. To save on groceries, check out mygrocerydeals.com. Here you can compare prices in your favorite supermarkes by product, category or store. You must register for this site but it is free. Trader Joe's is NOT one of the stores you can compare.
5. Buy gift cards for up to 30% off their face value at plasticjungle.com, giftcardrescue.com, and giftcardsagain.com, where cards are sold by gift-getters who don't want them. I haven't tried this one yet, but it sounds great.
6. Call 1800-GOOG-411. Give your location and speak a name or business category. You'll get a list of matches and the service will then dial your choice. The big advantage is that it's free.

Hope these tips will be of some use to you. I think the gift cards and the 411 tip are especially helpful. I will have another blog with more tips soon.

More Savings Tips From AARP

Last week I gave you some tips from the AARP magazine's article called "99 Great Ways to Save". Many of them don't apply to us, but I found a dozen or so that really made sense. Here are a few more for you to think about.

1. Book airline flights on line to save booking fees. Almost all airlines charge a booking fee if you book by phone or at a ticket counter. Once you get the hang of it, booking on line will also save you time.
2. Just 10 seconds of idling your car's engine uses as much gas as restarting it. Two minutes uses enough fuel to drive a mile. I never knew this. So turn off your engine when waiting more then a few seconds.
3. Are you owed money? You may be and not even know it. The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators is holding almost $33 billion of unclaimed stocks, bank accounts and other assets. Go to missingmoney.com or unclaimed.org to see if there's anything with your name on it.
4. Pay annually, rather than in installments and you could save as much as 8% by avoiding fees. This refers to things like auto insurance and home insurance that is typically paid quarterly. Check with your carrier.

The following tips were sent in by readers. Although some of them seemed silly to me, a few of them are worth mentioning.

1. Wait 24 hours before you buy anything that costs more than $100. If you still want it the next day, buy it. Chances are it was an impulse item and you will no longer want it. I remember when my son David was a teenager, he worked at a retirement home in Los Angeles. This was before he drove, so when I would pick him up we would walk past Bullocks Department Store and he would typically want to spend his earning on something he saw at Bullocks. I would always tell him to wait until the end of the week, and if he still wanted it, he should buy it. He rarely even remembered what it was by the end of the week.
2. Don't buy canned goods from the grocery store until your cupboards are half empty. With full cupboards you can't even see what's in the back, so use up the stuff in front and then you'll have lots of new products you didn't even know were there. A while ago I wrote a blog about not buying any canned goods for a month and using up what you have. If your kitchen is anything like mine, I don't need to buy anything for several months.
3. Turn off call waiting. This will save you $5 per month, or $60 a year. I figure anyone who wants to get in touch with me will leave a message or call back.

I hope these tips will be of value to you. Maybe you have never thought about some of these. I hope so. None of these tips will affect your quality of life at all. They will just put more money in your pocket for you to spend on yourself.