Deals & Discounts for Seniors

Frugal Over Fifty: There are benefits to getting older, especially discounts for shopping, dining and traveling.

More than 100 retailers, supermarket chains, health and wellness chains, airlines, hotels, restaurants and movie theater chains nationwide offer discounts to seniors.

Few of these offers are widely promoted. Some don’t even appear on the company website.

The top money saving tip is to ask first, whether it is a restaurant, retailer or hotel chain, and be prepared to show a photo ID.

The definition of “senior” varies widely — the minimum age can be anywhere from 50 to 65, even 70.

Price and participation varies, especially at fast-food restaurant chains. If you’re not sure, call ahead or ask a manager before ordering.

At restaurants, senior discounts usually apply only to the qualifying customer, not to the entire bill or the entire group.

Many offers are limited to specific times of the day or day of the week, so double-check before making plans.

Senior discounts are not limited to national chains. Many locally owned businesses love older customers because of their loyalty. Stop by your favorite neighborhood spots and ask about deals.

Tips for Getting the Best Deals for Seniors

Know what you’re getting. Many restaurants offer a senior menu at a discounted price, but it also usually means smaller portions. So the true savings may be minimal or even non-existent.

Use your age to your family’s financial advantage. Consider tagging along with “the kids,” so they can use your discount, especially at stores that offer “Senior Days.”

Several deals require an AARP membership which costs $16 annually. The minimum age to join is 50, and the discounts alone are well-worth the price of membership, which includes the AARP Magazine, filled with additional money-saving tips, health and wellness tips and more, and members-only money-saving articles on the AARP website.

Look for other discounts, too. Don’t assume a “senior discount” is your only or best option. Often you can find better savings via coupons, promos and offers available to the general public, especially via customer loyalty rewards programs.

Join the e-club and/or loyalty program of businesses you frequent often, for exclusive coupons, promos and discounts, including free nights from hotels and free miles from airlines. Typically, members get better offers than just 10% off.  You can earn free nights at hotels, and free flights from airlines.

In addition to discounts for seniors, many businesses offer birthday freebies or discounts and discounts for active duty military and veterans.

Note that some senior discounts are for AARP members, and that many companies do not include senior discounts on their websites – so ask.

Here’s a list of current deals. If you know of any we’ve missed, please send them to evelyn@ecoxplorer.com.  We’ll check them out and add them when we can.

Disclaimer –

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter

is not responsible for discounts which have changed since our list was researched.

See Also

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Dining Deals for Seniors at National Chains

Applebees – 10-15% off (varies by location) MAY require Golden Apple Card (60+)

• Participating restaurants offer 10% off for active duty and veterans.

Arby’s – 10% off – Free drink (55+) varies by location

A&W – 10% Senior discount varies by location (no minimum age specified, so can be 55 or 60)

Ben & Jerry’s –  10% off (60+)

Boston Market – 10% off discount for those 65+.

Bonefish Grill – 10% off every day for AARP members.

Carrabba’s Italian Grill – 10% off every day for AARP members.

Chick-Fil-A — Free small drink or coffee, along with a 10% discount for those 55+ at select locations.

CiCi’s Pizza — 10% off any pizza order or buffet ticket for those 60+.

Del Taco — 10% discount or a free drink for those 55+.

Denny’s – 15% off every day for AARP members.

Dunkin’ Donuts – Free donut with the purchase of a L or XL beverage for AARP members.

Einstein Bros. Bagels – 10% discount if you ask for it.

Fazoli’s – Senior menu and discounts for Club 62 members.

Friendly’s – Guests over 65 get 10% off their entire order, announcing a new everyday senior discount from 4-6 pm at participating restaurants.

Golden Corral – Take advantage of the restaurant’s early bird senior discount. Specials vary by location, so check with your local spot for details.

IHOP – Customers 55 and older can order from an exclusive senior menu, which features smaller portions of classic dishes including create-your-own omelets, French toast and pancakes – at a low price.

McDonalds — Drink discount for those 55+.

Outback Steakhouse – 10% off every day for AARP members.

Steak ‘n Shake — 10% discount on Mondays and Tuesdays for those 50+.

Sweet Tomatoes – $7.99 Senior Special (beverage and coffee included) from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Thursday.

Village Inn Restaurant – 10% off any meal or drink for those 60+.

Wendy’s — Free drink (no purchase required).

Grocery Discounts for Seniors

Albertson’s – 10% off first Wednesday of each month (55+)

American Discount Stores –  10% off every Monday (50+)

DeCicco Family Markets – 5% off every Wednesday (60+)

Food Lion – 6% off every Monday (60+)

Fry’s Supermarket –  10% off every Monday (55+), or 10% first Wednesday of every month with VIP Club Membership (free to join)

Great Valu Food Store – 5% off every Tuesday (60+)

Kroger – 10% off (date varies by location)

Publix – 5% off every Wednesday (60+; only valid outside FL)

Also be sure to check with local supermarkets.  For example – in New York City

• Morton Williams Supermarket – 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
• Gristedes Supermarket – 10% off every Tuesday (60+)
• Zabar’s – 10% discount every Tuesday (60+)

Shopping discounts for seniors

Banana Republic: 10% off (50+)

Bealls: 20% off first Tuesday of each month (50+)

Belk’s: 15% off first Tuesday of every month (55+)

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 — I15% discount every day and 25% off on Mondays (55+). Note: 50% off nearly everything every other Saturday for all shoppers.

Hallmark: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)

JoAnn — 20% off on select days, includes regular, sale-priced and clearance items.

Kohl’s — Discount of 15% off purchase for those 60+ every Wednesday.

Michaels – Show your AARP membership card to get crafty at 10% off.

Modell’s Sporting Goods: 10% off

Rite Aid: 10% off on Tuesdays & 10% off prescriptions. In addition to the 20% off wellness65+ members get the first Wednesday of every month

Ross Stores: 10% off every Tuesday (55+)

The Salvation Army Thrift Stores: up to 50% off (55+)

SilverSneakers – Many gyms and fitness centers have special classes for older members, including New York Sports Clubs. This perk is open to adults 65 or older who use certain Medicare or other health plans, such as United HealthCare, for free access to more than 12,000 fitness centers, gyms, YMCAs and Curves.

Stein Mart: 20% off red dot/clearance items first Monday of every month (55+)

Tanger Outlets – Save on already-good prices with a free coupon book, available on-site at Tanger offices. It includes 20% discount offers from many of the stores such as  Rockport, Eddie Bauer, Easy Spirit and Harry & David.

Walgreens: 20% off the first Tuesday of the month (55+ or AARP members) in store and 10% off online., Balance Rewards card required (free to join).

Entertainment discounts for seniors

New York Philharmonic – Many top performance events offer senior citizens discounted tickets, including “The Phil” at Lincoln Center. Attendees 62 and older can purchase $10 tickets on the day of select performances, excluding Friday matinees and Saturday-evening shows.

National Parks Senior Pass – (62+) good for life. Price rose from $10 to $80 August 2017, but it’s still a fab deal.

AMC Theater movies — $5.38 with STUBS card on Tuesdays for seniors.

Landmark Theatres — Regular movie ticket price reduced to $9.50 for age 62+.

Regal Cinemas — offers a senior admission, usually about $1 off regular ticket prices.

Bally Total Fitness: up to $100 off memberships (62+)

Busch Gardens Tampa: $3 off one-day tickets (50+)

Cinemark/Century Theaters: up to 35% off

SeaWorld Orlando: $3 off one-day tickets (50+)

Travel discounts for seniors

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 — AARP Members Save Minimum of 10%; similar savings for AAA members. Many Best Westerns offer “mature guests” (their words!) extras like early check-in, late checkout, a complimentary room upgrade or continental breakfast.

British Airways: AARP members get up to $400 off flights to Europe, Asia, Middle East or Africa on British Airways.

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+)

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+)

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)

If there’s anything not on this list where you do business — ask the store manager.

It’s likely you will be extended a discount if you ask.

This article is (C) Copyright by ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter, published originally on my other website, NYC on the Cheap, which was a victim of ransomware in Feb. 2022.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a native New Yorker who has written for the NY Times, NY Daily News, NY Post, New York Magazine, and is a former on-air consumer rights reporter for WCBS Newsradio 88 and WABC-TV Eyewitness News and the CBS Radio and ABC News networks.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter also is the author of several NYC and Hudson Valley guidebooks, including my latest, 100 Things to Do in NYC Before You Die.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter currently serves as President of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA), the largest professional organization of automotive journalists and manufacturers and is a member of the North American Travel Journalists Assn. (NATJA) and the North American Snowsports Journalists Assn. (NASJA).

email me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com