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.

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:

STORES:

• Banana Republic – 10% discount at participating locations [Age 50+]
• Bealls – 15% discount every Tuesday [Age 50+]
• CJ Banks – 10% discount on Wednesdays [Age 55+]
• Michael’s – 10% off entire purchase every day (in-store and online) [Age 55+]
• Ross Dress for Less – 10% off every Tuesday [Age 55+]
• Goodwill – 15% to 25% off purchases one day a week (typically Tuesday or Wednesday [Age 55+]
• JOANN Fabric & Crafts – 20% off on a designated day of the month [Age 55+]
• Pep Boys – 10% off any in-store purchase [Age 55+]
• Walgreens – 20% discount on the first Tuesday of each month [Age 55+]

RESTAURANTS:

• Arby’s – 10% discount [Age 55+]
• Chickfila – 10% discount [Age 55+]
• Hardee’s – 10% off and/or discounted beverages [Age 55+]
• IHOP – They have a “55+” menu with smaller portions and lower prices [Age 55+]
• Krispy Kreme – 10% discount [Age 50+]
• Luby’s – Most locations offer senior specials every day during a certain time [Age 55+]
• McDonald’s – Some locations offer senior discounts on small-sized drinks [Age 55+]
• Steak ‘n Shake – 10% discount [Age 50+]
• White Castle – free soft drinks to customers 55+; 10% discount to those over age 61 [Age 55+]

GROCERIES:

• Albertson’s – 10% discount on a certain day of the week [Age 55+]
• Blue Apron – 40% off the first 4 weeks of meal delivery service [Age 55+]
• Fred Meyer – 15% off many brands and items on the first Tuesday of every month [Age 55+]
• Pathmark – 5% discount on a certain day of the week for shopping orders over $30 [Age 50+]
• Peebles – Every Tuesday is Club 50 Plus discount day where Club members get an extra 20% off [Age 50+]

TRAVEL:

• Accor Hotels – Discounted hotel rooms including Claremont and Fairmont hotels [Age 55+]
• Best Western Hotels – Discounted rates [Age 55+]
• Budget – Up to 25% off base rates for car rentals and up to 15% off truck rentals for members of the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC). Also, up to 30% off base rates when you present an AARP card, and 10% off with an AAA membership card [Age 50+]
• Busch Gardens – Tampa offers specially priced annual passes for seniors 55 and older; Williamsburg offers a $5 discount on single-day tickets for adults 50 and older [Age 50+]
• Car Rental Savers – Discounted rates on rental cars from Dollar, Fox, Hertz, and Thrifty [Age 50+]
• Extended Stay America – Senior discount and extended perks [Age 55+]
• Red Roof Inn — 10% off hotel rooms [Age 59+]
• TMobile – Save 45% on Senior Unlimited phone plans [Age 55+]
• Verizon – Discounted Senior Unlimited phone plans for Florida residents [Age 55+]

Additional Businesses Offering Senior Discounts At 60+

These don’t fit into my “take advantage of them now” discounts for youngish seniors like me — but I’d be ready to pounce when you turn 60 to get these awesome senior discounts:

• Amtrak – 10% off [Age 60+]
• Applebee’s – 10% off with Golden Apple Card [Age 60+]
• Ben & Jerry’s – 10% off [Age 60+]
• Choice Hotels – 10% discount on hotel rooms including Clarion, Comfort Inn, Econo Lodge, MainStay, Quality Inn, Radisson, Rodeway Inn, Sleep Inn, and other Choice hotels [Age 60+]
• Great Clips – discount on hair cuts [Age 65+]
• Greyhound – discounted tickets for seniors [Age 62+]
• Harris Teeter – 5% discount on Thursdays [Age 60+]
• Hilton Hotels – up to 10% discount on hotel rooms including Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Hampton, Hilton, Homewood Suites, and other Hilton hotels [Age 65+]
• IHG Hotels – discounted hotel rooms including Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Candlewood Suites, and other IHG hotels [Age 62+]
• Kohl’s – 15% discount on Kohl’s only brands every Wednesday [Age 60+]
• Marriott Hotels – 10% discount on hotel rooms including Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield, Gaylord, Marriott, Sheraton, Springhill Suites, Westin, and other Marriott brands [Age 62+]
• National Park Service – Discounted Annual Pass of only $20, or get a Lifetime Pass for $80. While Golden Age Passports are no longer sold, they’re still honored if you have one. [62+]
• Pet Smart – 10% discount on your pet’s grooming on Tuesdays, and 10% discount on an overnight stay at their PetsHotel [Age 65+]
• Publix – 5% discount every Wednesday at select locations in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee [Age 60+]
• Rite Aid – earn 5x the points on eligible purchases on the first Wednesday of each month
• Sea World – $3 off a single day park admission ticket [Age 65+]
• Wyndham Hotels – Up to 25% discount on hotel rooms including LaQuinta, Baymont, Days Inn, Howard Johnson, Microtel, Ramada, Super 8, TraveLodge, Wingate, and other Wyndham hotels [Age 60+]

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:

• Ancestry.com – 30% off a 1-year subscription
• Auntie Anne’s – 10%
• Best Western Hotels – 5%
• Bonefish Grill – 10%
• Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. – 10%
• Carrabba’s – 10%
• Choice Hotels – 10%
• Cinnabon – 10%
• Comfort Inn Hotels – 10%
• Days Inn by Wyndham Hotels – 10%
• Disneyland – $35 off tickets
• Disney World – $60 off tickets
• Denny’s – 15%
• DoorDash – 25%
• Econo Lodge Hotels – 10%
• Flowers by FTD – 25%
• Hampton Inn by Hilton Hotels – 10%
• Jamba – 10%
• Joe’s Crab Shack – 10%
• Kohl’s – 15%
• La Quinta – 10%
• Landry’s Restaurants – 10%
• Motel 6 – 10%
• McAlister’s Deli – 10%
• Moe’s Southwest Grill – 10%
• Outback – 10%
• Papa Johns – 20%
• Paramount+ – 10%
• Park, Ride, Fly – 12%
• Pei Wei Asian Kitchen – $5 off $25
• Quality Inn Hotels– 10%
• Rainforest Cafe – 10%
• Ramada Hotels – 10%
• Schlotzky’s – 10%
• Sunglass Hut – 15%
• Super 8 Hotels – 10%
• Universal Studios – 10% off tickets
• UPS Store – 5% off shipping and 15% off other services
• Valvoline Oil Change – 15%
• Walmart – $20 off an annual Walmart+ membership to receive free delivery from store, free shipping with no order minimum, video streaming with Paramount+, and gas savings

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!

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.