Don’t Miss Out On This List Of Senior Discounts At 55 (Plus, A List Of The Best AARP Discounts!)

When I turned 50, I didn’t realize how many senior discounts were available to me — even at 50!

If you’re approaching 50, then you might not be aware of all of the senior discounts at 50 or 55 that you’re entitled to at restaurants, hotels, and other businesses.

So I’ve compiled a list for you — as well as some details of my experience taking advantage of the many AARP discounts that are available once you turn 50.

While you may be reluctant to divulge your age all the time, hopefully you’ll change your mind once you find out how much money you’re leaving on the table by keeping it a secret.

There are so many restaurants, hotels, movie theaters, entertainment centers, and other businesses that offer generous discounts to people over a certain age. 

While most places give senior discounts primarily to those over 60, more and more establishments are beginning to let people save money once they turn 50… or 55.

Did you know that even Amazon Prime is available at a discount to seniors? If you’re on one of several government assistance programs, (like Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, or WIC), you get all of the same Prime benefits at 50% off the cost of an Amazon Prime membership!

Below, are the best senior discounts that are available for those age 50 and above.

Always Ask For The Senior Discount

Some businesses advertise their senior discounts on menus or price boards. However, if you don’t see one listed and you qualify for discounts in other similar establishments — just ask. The worst thing they can do is say no.

Even if they don’t have an official senior discount policy, they might shave some money off your bill simply because you asked!

Remember when you used to have to show your I.D. to get into movies or purchase certain beverages Well, you might need to do that again to get your senior discount. It may have been a hassle when you were younger, but now you can laugh about it because you obviously don’t look old enough to be called a senior — or they wouldn’t ask, right?

Watch For Senior Day Specials

Pay attention to special senior discount day ads in your area.

Many supermarkets, restaurants, and department stores have specific days when seniors get anywhere from 10% to 50% off.

You might need to sign up for the store’s own reward card to get your discount, but it usually only requires filling out a short form.

Businesses Offering Senior Discounts At 50+

There are so many chains that offer senior discounts — either regionally or nationally. Exactly how much of a discount they offer changes quite frequently though. On rare occasion, it’s only 5%. Usually, the senior discount is between 10% and 20%.

No matter where you are, you should always ask if they have a senior discount — because chances are pretty good that they do these days.

And be sure to ask for the senior discount before you pay for something. Otherwise, they’ll have to ring up your order twice, to correct the non-discounted price they entered first.

Here are some of the businesses that offer generous senior discounts starting at 50:

AARP Discounts At 50 Are The Best

If you’re a member of AARP (I am), then you’re entitled to even more discounts!

The price for an AARP membership is minimal ($12), and you’ll recoup your membership fee quickly if you take advantage of their many benefits.

I believe there’s a 21% discount if you sign up for several years (instead of just 1 year). I signed us up for 5 years.

There are literally hundreds of AARP discounts available.

These are the ones that we personally like best and use the most:

I had to talk hubby into signing up for AARP at the age of 50 — because he didn’t want to be considered a senior.

But we travel a lot, and the hotel discounts alone are worth the price of membership for us. (We always ask for the lowest rate first, and then just so happen to mention that we have an AARP card — for an even lower rate.)

Plus, we use the 15% off every time we eat at Denny’s when we’re traveling!

TIP: Instead of carrying the AARP card with us when we travel, I took a picture of my AARP membership card and I just show that every time to get the AARP discounts.

Don’t let pride stand in the way of saving money. If you’re a senior, accept your discount and save every penny that’s available to you.

You’ve worked hard all your life… so you’ve definitely earned it!

And since 50 is the new 40, you’ll have plenty of years to rake in the savings.

READ NEXT: Are Extended Stay Hotels Worth It? Can You Pay Rent To Live In A Motel?