Everyone loves a discount, especially those on a fixed budget or limited income. This includes students, recent grads, widows and widowers, and of course, seniors.
One of the difficulties with senior discounts is, well, you have to admit you’re a ‘senior’. Many of these discounts start for those who are 50 (think AARP) or 55. But most senior discounts are intended for those who are 65 and older.
Many restaurants, retailers, and grocery stores offer 10% or more off. But typically you have to ask if they offer a discount, admitting out loud that you are indeed, a senior. (At least they don’t call us “Senior Citizens” like they used to! 🙂 )
So let’s run down the list of discounts you could be asking for. Be sure to call in advance to verify the store or location does participate in the senior discount program. If you don’t see your favorite place listed, call them anyway. You might be pleasantly surprised.
Grocery Stores
Grocery stores are tough, ownership and policies change like the weather. Call your local store and ask before you shop.
Lira’s Supermarket – Rio Vista, CA have Senior Thursdays, which in this town makes them very crowded on Thursdays! (Thank’s to Dave Shoemaker for this tip!)
Albertsons offers 10% off on seniors day if you’re 55+. All the Alberson locations we searched are Safeway Stores in our area, so this might only work outside of East County.
Save Mart has had senior discounts on Tuesdays but you should ask first.
Piggly Wiggly offers senior discounts but you’re going to have to travel for this one. 😉 Which brings up the point, when you’re traveling, it never hurts to ask if there is a senior discount.
If you know of any local grocery stores or chains that offer special discounts to seniors, please let us know so we can update this list.
Restaurants
Acapulco Mexican Restaurant has a 10% discount for seniors 65+
Uno Pizzeria & Grill has the “Double Nickel Club” 25% off on Wednesday (55+)
IHOP (you hop, we all hop for a) 10% discount (55+) and a menu for people aged 55 and over at participating locations.
Applebee’s has a 15% discounts for seniors 60+ with Golden Apple Card.
Chili’s has a 10% discount for seniors 55+
Denny’s offers a 10% discount for seniors 55+ in California.
Next time you’re out to eat, ask your server if they offer a senior discount and what rules apply.
If you know of any local restaurants or chains that offer special discounts to seniors, please let us know so we can update this list.
Fast Food
KFC offers a free small drink with any meal depending on location (55+) (Colonel Sanders is rolling over in his grave…)
Burger King have it your way with a 10% discount on purchase depending on location (60+)
Arby’s has a 10% discount available for seniors age 55+ in California.
A&W All American Food has a senior discount available to those 55+
Jack in the Box has an up to 20% discount available for seniors 55+
Taco Bell has a 5% discount or a free beverage available for seniors 65+
And, oh so many more fast food places offer senior discounts, so always ask.
If you have a favorite fast food place that offers special discounts to seniors, please let us know so we can add them to this list.
Drugstores
Walgreens holds a “Seniors Day” once a month. Discounts of 20% are available for Rewards card members that are over 55+ years old in store, and if you’re shopping online you can get a 10% price break.
Rite Aid has the wellness65+ membership where you can get 20% off in-store and online on the first Wednesday of the month. Do I need to say, this is for seniors 65 and up?
Prescription Discounts – although these discounts are not strictly for seniors, they are well worth mentioning and can save you a huge amount of money. Try these even if you have good insurance, as they often beat the insurance price or other discount prices. This is where shopping around really pays off.
- AARP – for 50+ with an AARP membership
- GoodRX – available to any age
- CSAA – good for any age with your AAA membership
- Costco has the Member Prescription Program for you and your pets! Apply at the pharmacy with your Costco Membership card.
If you know of any local or chain pharmacies or drugstores that offer special discounts to seniors, please let us know so we can update this list.
Retail Stores
Banana Republic has a tasty discount for you if you’re 50 years+, you can get 10% off
Dress Barn has a 10% discount available for seniors 55+
Kohl’s has a 15% discount for seniors 60+
Michael’s has a 10% discount on Tuesdays for seniors 60+
Hallmark has a 10% discount available on certain days of the week for seniors
Nordstrom – sorry, they don’t offer discounts to seniors, but we can always dream… (also was seeing if you were really paying attention. :))
If you know of any local retailers or chains that offer special discounts to seniors, please let us know so we can update this list.
Movie Theaters
AMC Theaters offer a variety of discounts so it’s best to call your local theater for details.
Regal Entertainment offers tickets for seniors 60 and older.
The Delta Theater (Cinelux Delta Cinema Saver) offers seniors 55+ discount pricing daily after 6 pm.
Almost all cinemas offer discount prices for the senior set. Always ask!
If you know of any local movie theaters or chains that offer special discounts to seniors, please let us know so we can update this list.
Hotels/Motels
Marriott has a 15% discount (62+) book online or call and ask for the senior discount.
Red Roof Inn has the option of “senior rate” when you book online but you should call for details first.
Choice Hotels has a 10% discount if you book in advance (60+)
Hyatt Hotels get up to 50% off in participating locations. To qualify for this deal you have to make a reservation in advance and book for two people (60+)
La Quinta has varying offers at participating locations (65+). Book online or call and ask for senior discounts.
Omni Hotels have varying offers at participating locations (55+)
Motel 6 is leaving the light on for you with a 10% discount (60+). Call and book over the phone in order to get a discount.
Wyndham Hotels may have varying offers at participating locations (60+)
Hampton Inns & Suites can save you 10% when booked 72 hours in advance
Quality Inn has a 20-30% discount available for seniors 60+ in California
This is just the short list.
Most chain hotels and motels offer special pricing for seniors, so always ask when you book over the phone and check for discounts when you book online. Some locations may offer a discount when you book direct. Shopping around can save you big.
Travel
Auto Rentals
Alamo car rental has up to 25% discount available for AARP members.
Avis also offers up to 25% discount available for AARP members. Apparently, they do “Try Harder“.
Enterprise has a 5% discount for AARP members.
National Rent-A-Car has a discount for AARP members as well.
Hertz offers an unknown discount for AARP members. I guess they don’t try as hard as Avis. 🤔
Airlines
Southwest Airlines has a senior discount available for seniors 65+ in California
United Airlines has discounts available for seniors 65+
American Airlines has a 15% discount for seniors at least 65 and up in California
We imagine many other airlines also offer senior discounts, so be sure to ask when you are booking your flight.
Other Modes of Transportation
Greyhound has a 5% discount available for seniors 62+ in California
Amtrak has a 15% discount available for seniors 62+
Carnival Cruises offer exclusive savings for seniors, age 55 and older. Check out their website for details.
Royal Caribbean offers reduced senior prices only on selected “sailings” exclusively for guests who are 55 years of age and older.
Costa Cruises offers discounts to seniors 55+. Contact them directly or through your favorite travel agent. (They have those still, right?)
National Parks
This is one of the best senior discounts that you can get, as far as I’m concerned. The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass!
You can get a lifetime pass for just $80. You must be a US citizen or permanent resident 62 years or older to qualify for the Senior Pass. It’s good for entrance to all National Parks for the rest of your life. If that price is too steep for you, the yearly pass is just $20. And if you end up getting the yearly pass 4 times you can trade it in for the lifetime pass.
For a sense of the value, the one day pass to get into the Grand Canyon is $30. Well worth it, but not compared to the annual or lifetime pass, which are both bargains.
Additionally, your traveling companions can also enter free with you, up to 4 adults in total. Just one pass does it for a couple. 👫
Annual and lifetime Senior Passes provide access to more than 2,000 recreation sites managed by six federal agencies:
- National Park Service
- US Fish & Wildlife Service
- Bureau of Land Management
- Bureau of Reclamation
- US Forest Service
- US Army Corps of Engineers
The passes cover entrance and standard amenity (day-use) recreation fees and provide discounts on some expanded amenity recreation fees.
So get out there and see America!
Tips for Successful Discounts
You can often find discounts for seniors at amusements parks, barber shops, beauty shops, chain haircut places, car insurance, banks, thrift stores and just about any chain you can think of.
But before you leave the house, we suggest you do the following:
- Call and ask if they offer a senior discount
- Verify what ages qualify for the discount
- Find out what days of the week the discount is offered
- Ask if there is a time restriction
- Ask about the amount of the discount
- Find out if there are any exclusions
- Ask if you need an AARP membership or another membership card to get the discount
- Find out what kind of ID they need to verify your age
We hope you are able to claim your well earned senior discounts. We’d love to hear about your experiences and successes.
If there are any discounts or saving for seniors that you recommend or would like to see here in this post, please let us know by leaving a comment a comment below, or just give us a call at 925-628-2436
Can’t forget Lira’s in Rio Vista. They have Senior Thursdays, which in this town makes them very crowded on Thursdays!
That’s right Dave! Lira’s Supermarket in Rio Vista. Thanks for adding that! You are right about getting crowded. Early morning is the best time to go.
Great job LIBBY I like the list of discounts
Thank you for your time in doing this for all of us
Say hi to Ken
Ken here Helen. Libby asked me to respond that thank you for your very nice comment. We appreciate it very much!