Senior Discounts Are Evolving, but an Expert Says There Are Still Good Ways to Save

Senior discounts have not disappeared, but they do look different than they used to. Many retailers still offer savings for older shoppers, yet the deals are often harder to spot and may not be as broad as before.

In the past, some restaurants, movie theaters and grocery stores offered simple across-the-board savings, such as a set percentage off for shoppers 55 and older on a certain day each week. Those kinds of offers have become less common, which can be especially challenging for people living on a fixed income.

Senior Savings Are Taking New Forms

There are still plenty of opportunities for seniors to save money, but they may require more effort to find and a willingness to use different tools.

“The senior discount is not really going away, it is just changing,” said Achim von Bodman, certified financial planner (CFP) and senior tax manager at Watter CPA. “Now retailers are using programs on their apps and changing prices all the time.”

He noted that some grocery stores now rely on digital coupons instead of dedicated senior-discount days. In other cases, restaurants limit discounts to AARP members, and some movie theaters restrict senior pricing to certain times.

That shift creates two problems for older shoppers, he said.

“They do not get the discount because of their age anymore and they are also the people who are least likely to be using the apps that give the discounts,” he said. “So the people who are good with technology are the ones who get the discounts now.”

He suggested checking with local retailers directly, since senior discounts can vary widely from one business to another.

How to Maximize Senior Discounts

Von Bodman said joining AARP is one of the most effective ways to access senior savings. Membership can provide automatic access to a wide range of discounts.

He pointed to examples such as 15% off dine-in and pickup orders at Denny’s, up to 35% off base rental car rates and other benefits at Avis and Budget, and 15% off oil changes at Valvoline.

He also advised downloading the apps for stores and restaurants you use most often, since many savings opportunities are now offered there. At checkout, he said it is also worth asking about senior discounts because they are not always clearly advertised.

“It is better to focus on the discounts you use all the time than trying to use every single program,” he said. “If you can get 5% off your groceries every week that is better than getting 15% off something you only buy twice a year.”

For people living on a fixed income, he said, the most valuable savings are the ones that come consistently.