A flotilla of rafts and inner tubes has been collecting dust in the former Portland Outfitter for six years. The river adventurers they were intended for start their trips in Poconos resorts upstream of this sleepy Delaware River borough. Instead, the kayakers and canoeists come ashore here only long enough to dry off before heading back.It's frustrating to see an economic opportunity float by just out of reach, said Mayor Lance Prator, the borough's most vocal [...]
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الأحد، 20 مارس 2016
Deeds Done
Hamilton TownshipGlenn M. Price and Tina T. Burley to Eureka Stone Quarry Inc., Property Old Mill Road, $260,000Gilcon Investments LLC to 6792 Route 209 LLC, Land Monroe-Carbon Trail, containing 2.786 acres, $299,000Middle Smithfield TownshipRomec Inc. to Leslie and Sandra Roberts, Lot 23, [...]
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Buyer Beware: How Does an Annuity Work?
“How does an annuity work?”
“How do annuities differ from other investments?”
“Is an annuity really right for me?”
These are some common questions people have when it comes to annuities.
Why is there so much confusion surrounding this financial product? It’s because there are several different types of annuities, many financial advisors (or insurance agents) don’t tell the whole truth about annuities or they explain them poorly, and there are sometimes add-ons (called “riders”) that complicate annuities.
There are really two ways to react when you hear about annuities: throw your hands up and give up on figuring them out or consider them as an investment option that might be right for you. I encourage the latter.
But remember, that doesn’t mean that annuities are right for you. They’re right for some people, but not all.
Let’s take a dive into the world of annuities. We’ll start by seeking to answer the question: “How does an annuity work?”
Annuities could be right for some people, but not at all. #buyerbeware
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How Does an Annuity Work?
An annuity is a fixed amount of money that is paid to someone every year. Boom, we can all go home. Ha, not quite.
Annuities typically seek to lower the risk an investor takes on by making one thing certain: regular income. While that benefit might give you peace of mind, it’s not necessarily the best benefit if the benefit you’re receiving ends up being less than what you could get from other, albeit riskier, investments.
So really, there are two factors to understand about annuities. First, they have the potential to lower your risk when chosen over, say, stocks in the market. Second, they have the potential to lower how much money you make when chosen over, say, stocks in the stock market!
To understand how a particular annuity works, make sure to read the annuity contract.
This is really important. I’ve seen people scammed into buying ridiculous annuities that have outrageous fees.
Don’t believe me? Read how one woman paid over $3,500 in variable annuity fees and didn’t even know it.
Be careful.
Types of Annuities
To better understand how annuities work, let’s look at some types of annuities and their main features.
Fixed Annuities
These are very similar to bank CDs. And, like CDs, fixed annuities are similar to a savings account. You put in an amount of money, and that money creates some interest. This interest is then added to the account which in turn helps the account grow.
Pretty straightforward, right?
They are insured by insurance company, not the FDIC. So, like CDs, fixed annuities are insured, but remember that insurance companies are certainly not as stable as the FDIC. It’s possible that an insurance company that sold fixed annuities to you could go under, and if that happens, you might lose your money. The chances of this happening are probably very low, but it’s worth mentioning.
Ratings are very important for this reason. There are several rating agencies that test the financial strength of companies that issue annuities. A simple search online will reveal the ratings of these companies so you can choose companies that are the least likely to go under. I recommend you do so.
Also, big differences between fixed annuities and CDs include:
- If you surrender prematurely you may have to pay a surrender charge on principal vs. just losing your interest in a CD.
- If you surrender prematurely you may also be subject to an early withdrawal penalty as annuities are subject to retirement account rules since the interest is tax-deferred.
Annuities are supposed to lower the amount of risk you take on in your investing strategy. And, while they may do that in certain regards, fixed annuities do carry some risks.
Let’s talk about the first downside a bit. Having to pay a surrender charge on principal could certainly be seen as a risk. Even if you don’t intend on surrendering, life’s circumstances may prompt you to do so resulting in a loss. When you are considering purchasing a fixed annuity, it’s important to factor this risk into the equation.
The second risk comes from having to pay an early withdrawal penalty associated with having to surrender the annuity associated with a retirement account. Here again, if life’s circumstances force you to withdraw money, you’re out of luck. That’s why this is another risk you must factor into the equation before you buy a fixed annuity.
While those are some negatives about fixed annuities, there’s one positive that’s especially worth mentioning: the rates are usually higher with fixed annuities than with CDs.
I remember I once had a client who wanted a guaranteed return but CDs weren’t paying anything. I found him a 5-year fixed annuity paying 3%. That’s much better than the measly returns CDs were paying.
But, remember, fixed annuities aren’t right for everyone. When I was young, my mom wanted to set me up with an investment. What did she choose? You guessed it: a fixed annuity.
At the time I really didn’t know there were much better investment options out there for me. You know, ones where I could take more risk because I had practically my whole life ahead of me.
But I appreciated what my mom did for me. I found out later that my mom’s financial advisor was purely an insurance agent (insurance agents like this don’t always think about what’s best for their clients).
Make sure you know what you’re signing up for before you sign on the dotted line. Look for a professional you can trust who will take the entirety of your financial situation into consideration.
Fixed-Indexed Annuities
When you put money into a fixed-indexed annuity (also known as a “hybrid annuity“), you’re guaranteed that you can’t lose the money. That’s a benefit that’s not seen in the stock market.
But of course, there’s a downside. Many fixed-indexed annuities have caps that hinder you from riding a portion of the upside of the stock market. Even if investment index rises in the double digits, you might be capped at a single digit, for example. This isn’t true of all fixed-indexed annuities, though. Make sure you completely understand what you’re buying.
Fixed-indexed annuities also offer living benefits which can pay out an income stream for your life or a spousal benefit. The biggest confusion I see with these types of annuities – and also variable annuities – in regards to these benefits is how they are sold by shady advisors.
If an advisor pitches you a product that “guarantees you a 6% return without any risk to your principal,” this advisor doesn’t care about you and all they are doing is trying to do is make a sale.
Do these annuities offer a 6% return (I’m using 6% just as an example)? Well, kind of. And that’s where it gets tricky.
When most investors think of a fixed return they think of bonds or CDs. This is nothing like that.
The 6% return in this example is credited to the income benefit that the contract owner can take at a later time.
It’s not interest earned on your principal. Said another way, this is not added to your cash-out, walk-away value. Instead, this is added to your future income benefit that you can take at a later time.
It’s very similar to delaying Social Security benefits and each year your benefit increases. Same deal here. So as long as you don’t touch your money, the annuity company will give you an increase in the amount you can take out each year.
It can be fairly simple to understand how fixed-indexed annuities work as long as you’re working with an advisor that has your back and isn’t only interested in earning a commission.
Immediate Annuities
What are immediate annuities? Immediate annuities allow investors to receive payments immediately from the time the annuity is started.
These kinds of annuities are great for people who need money immediately upon investing (like near-retirees or retirees). Additionally, the payments that are received can be fixed or variable.
The biggest drawback to immediate annuities is that you may have to fork over a lump payment to the annuity company – and after you get past the 30-day “free look” period, there’s no turning back.
Compare that to fixed-indexed annuities and variable annuities where you still have access to the principal – although you might be subject to a surrender charge if you withdraw before the contract period is up.
Variable Annuities
I’m going to tell you right now: I don’t like variable annuities. Variable annuities are quite complicated, and while they may contain a lot of “features” or “benefits” that sound inviting, you have to be careful.
Variable annuities contain mutual funds (called “sub-accounts”) that are typically selected from a pool of 80 to 300 funds. While that might seem like a lot, keep in mind that were you to shop the market on your own, you would find thousands and thousands of options to choose from.
Variable annuities, unlike fixed or fixed-indexed annuities do not guarantee your principal. Remember: You’re basically investing into mutual funds. If the mutual funds take a hit due to a bad market, you could be out of luck.
When you hear about “guaranteed death benefits” (a benefit for beneficiaries should the annuitant die before payments begin) and “income guarantees” or “guaranteed withdrawal benefits,” remember to read the fine print to see how they work.
Specifically look for the costs you don’t initially see. Costs typically start with a mortality expense (called M&E). On top of that you’ll have the costs of the riders (the guaranteed death benefit or income guarantees mentioned above). Just when you think it couldn’t cost anymore you almost forgot cost of the sub-accounts (mutual funds), too.
All in investors could be paying close to 4% of total fees inside their variable annuities.
If you own a variable annuity, and want to know you much you’re really paying, request your free Annuity Stress Test at AnnuityTested.com.
Deferred Income Annuities
Deferred income annuities are very much what they sound like: you would receive payments at some later date. This later date is typically a year or later from the time you start the deferred income annuity.
Here again, like immediate annuities there can be either fixed or variable payments made – it depends on the specific deferred annuity.
For those payments, you’re going to find that deferred income annuities offer guaranteed lifetime income but at a later date than some annuities.
The question at hand is, “Why should someone sign up for a deferred income annuity?” The benefit from a deferred income annuity upon the year that you’re actually paid is likely to be higher than that of an immediate annuity. Why? There are two reasons . . . .
First, the insurance company knows that the longer you live, the less time you have on the planet. This reduces the amount of time they may have to make payments to you. And, with a deferred income annuity, because you will be taking payments at a later date (say, 15 or 20 years down the road), this fact would be true in your situation. Additionally, they don’t have to pay you for a number of years. Therefore, insurance companies are able to offer better payouts because the timeframe in which they will pay is reduced.
Second, deferred income annuities reduce the amount of risk you might incur from the markets. This might be advantageous as part of a retirement plan, as you could purchase a deferred income annuity 10 or 15 years (for example) before retirement and rest assured that you will have some money at retirement. If reducing your risk is important to you, the deferred income annuity can certainly make sense as an option to consider. Here again, the deferred income annuity may pay more than an immediate annuity.
This second benefit might not just lower your risk compared to traditional investing, it might give you a tremendous amount of peace of mind. Those beginning their investment plan a decade before retirement may find themselves worried about a stock market crash – and reasonably so. Remember the stock market drop after 9/11? How about after the housing crisis? Many retirees found themselves with severe losses in their portfolios after these events. Purchasing a deferred income annuity alleviates much of this concern.
To sum up, deferred income annuities might be relevant to those who are nearing retirement or who are starting retirement and would like to have some “longevity insurance.”
These policies are pretty popular, and they’re worth your consideration. Talk with a comprehensive financial planner to explore this option.
Also please keep in mind that there are other types of annuities, but these are some of the most common types. Also remember, that while these are some of the highlights of these types of annuities, some of the benefits and features may exist in other types of annuities as well.
A Simple Annuity Example
To better understand annuities, picture this. Say you have a wealthy uncle who is great at investing in the stock and bond market. He is financially secure and you’re unsure about investing in the stock market because you don’t want to lose money.
So, you make a deal with your uncle. You’ll send him payments over time (or perhaps a lump sum), he’ll go ahead and use his experience and his high tolerance for risk to invest the money, and he’ll send you payments every year that may include a portion of what he has made in the markets.
Now, your uncle wants to teach you responsibility and doesn’t want to provide this service free of charge (or maybe he’s a bit hungry for some more dough), so he’s going to charge you some fees. The fees differ depending on how you set up the deal.
You’re happy because (1) you want your principal protected, (2) you want guaranteed returns, and (3) you like the idea of predictable income. Your uncle is happy because he’s able to use his financial security to make some more money through the deal.
That, in a nutshell, is how an annuity works.
While this is a simple example, remember that annuity contracts aren’t so simple. Again, read them!
How Do Annuities Differ from Other Investments?
I’ve already answered this question somewhat earlier in the article, but let’s dive into a little more detail.
Many investors think of the stock and bond markets when considering where to put their money. So, that’s what we’ll focus on here.
When you buy shares of a stock, you’re buying ownership in a company. The price per share will fluctuate and it is up to the investor to buy low and sell high (to make a profit). However, this isn’t always easy – especially if the investor is buying over short periods of time.
A stock index is a measure of how well a group of stocks are doing as a whole. Perhaps you’ve heard of an “index fund.” Index funds track an index to provide similar returns as you would see from the index.
Bond index funds operate in a similar fashion. However, at the core, bonds are basically debts that are owed to you, the investor.
Now, what does all this have to do with annuities? Well, fixed-indexed annuities track an index (most commonly the S&P 500) but remember, they have constraints on them many times. While you won’t lose the money you put into a fixed-indexed annuity, your potential for index fund-like gains might be limited by caps.
What this means is that you are lowering your risk by going with a fixed-indexed annuity. I like fixed indexed annuities, but they still aren’t for everyone.
Another way annuities differ from other investments has to do with liquidity. With mutual funds, ETFs, or managed portfolios, if you need the money, it’s relatively easy to get to. Annuities are a different story.
Variable, fixed, and fixed-indexed annuities typically have a contract period that will range from 3 to 12 years – this is why you read the contract before you sign! While most allow an annual free withdrawal (10% per year of the principal plus interest earned is common) any amount above that is subject to a surrender charge. I’ve seen surrender charges has high as 9% before so this could be a huge blow if you were in need of some quick cash.
That’s why I tell anyone who interested in the security of annuities to never put all of their money into annuities.
Is an Annuity Right for You?
Maybe.
Typically, I ask investors these questions to see if an annuity makes sense for them:
- “How important is protection of your principal?”
- “How important is having a predictable income stream in retirement?”
I encourage you to read 15 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Buy an Annuity – (And 5 Real Life Scenarios When You Should).
If you have an annuity and aren’t sure if you should continue with it (or how much you’re paying in fees), be sure to get your [currently free at the time of this writing] Annuity StressTest. Find out everything you don’t know about your annuity.
To truly determine if an annuity is a good fit for your retirement goals, you must have a thorough financial analysis. Buying an annuity just because it has nice features – “guarantee of principal” and “lifetime income benefits” – is not enough.
It’s imperative to reverse engineer your retirement income needs to see how an annuity could help with that amount. That’s why we encourage anyone interested in purchasing an annuity to go through our unique financial planning process, The Financial Success Blueprint™.
At the end of it you’ll have a good understanding if an annuity should have its place in your investment portfolio or if another strategy makes much more sense.
Don’t let annuities freak you out. For the best explanation of how an annuity works, you must look at the documentation to find out and seek a competent financial professional for more information.
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Is It Still Possible to Do Disney on a Budget?
Disney World and Disneyland are wishlist vacation destinations for plenty of kids — and kids at heart. But recent hikes in ticket pricing have made an already costly destination even more expensive. Many are left wondering whether visiting Mickey and friends is even plausible anymore for those of us on a budget.
New Seasonal Pricing
In an effort to cut down on overcrowding at its parks, Disney is now pricing one-day passes to its parks according to demand. Every day will be classified as “value,” “regular,” or “peak” according to expected attendance numbers. At Disney World in Orlando, Fla., one-day tickets will cost $105, $110, or $124 for value, regular, and peak days, respectively. At Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., tickets will cost $95, $105, and $119.
Unfortunately, value days are scarce at Disney World. For the rest of the year, you’ll only get value pricing if you choose to go during the 10 days at the end of August, or for most of September. At Disneyland, there are several value days available in April, May, August, September, October, and November.
Take heart, however: The ticket hikes are most likely to affect casual park visitors who live within driving distance. That’s because vacationers who spend multiple days at different parks are most likely to buy multi-day tickets that are unaffected by seasonal pricing.
Still, multi-day tickets aren’t exactly cheap. A three-day pass that lets you into one park per day at Disney World runs $290 for ages 10 and up; if you want the option to visit more than one park per day, you’ll pay $345. And those prices don’t include access to the water parks.
Disney on a Budget: Tips and Tricks
There’s just no way to argue that a trip to Disney can ever be “cheap.” At the prices above, a family of four will shell out nearly $1,200 for a three-day trip — and that’s not even including the cost of food, lodging, or getting there in the first place.
But if you (or your children) are determined to do Disney, there are still some smart ways to minimize the Mickey Mouse-shaped hole in your wallet.
1. Get tickets in advance (and not from Disney).
Sure, you want to go to the Disney website and see how much park tickets are running, but resist the temptation to buy before you look around. You can buy them from other places, possibly at a discount. Here are a few reputable places to check:
Military personnel can often score the best deals by purchasing tickets through base ticket offices.
Whatever you do, beware of scammers. Avoid purchasing tickets from individuals on sites such as eBay and Craigslist — there’s a big chance they’re fraudulent.
And don’t let anyone tell you that they can sell you the unused portions of their tickets for cheap. Tickets are tied to an individual’s fingerprints, and won’t work for anyone other than the original buyer.
Assuming you’re spending multiple days at the parks, you can save money by sticking to one park per day. Considering the sheer scale of Disney’s theme parks, this shouldn’t be a tall order for most casual visitors.
2. Don’t spend a mint on lodging.
Die-hard Disney aficionados wax poetic about the “Disney experience” in an attempt to justify staying at a high-priced Disney resort while visiting the parks. And there are many advantages to staying on property, including quick, free transportation to the parks, extended park hours, and complimentary airport shuttles.
Disney resorts, especially deluxe resort properties such as the Grand Floridian or Wilderness Lodge, are renowned for their themes and amenities. But these properties start around $300 a night. If you’re going to spend most of your waking hours at the park, that kind of price premium probably isn’t worth it.
In contrast, you can still stay on Disney property at a value resort such as the All-Stars properties or Art of Animation, starting around $100 a night. You can even nab a fully equipped campsite starting around $50 a night at Fort Wilderness. That’s how we stayed at Disney when I was a kid (and to this day I still remember that I’ve never seen cleaner campground bathrooms).
Staying off site can certainly save money, too, as the sheer number of hotel rooms means properties have to keep their prices competitive. Bidding on a site such as Priceline can help save you even more if you aren’t picky. I spent a few days at Disney World with my husband and children in December, and we stayed at a very nice off-site property with way better amenities than what we would have gotten for our money on Disney property. The hotel also had a shuttle that made a continuous loop between all of the theme parks.
This can be a particularly good strategy for families who are planning on one park per day, which minimizes parking costs and time bouncing between parks. However, for those who want to bounce between parks and perhaps come back to their hotel in the middle of the day, the proximity and convenience of a Disney value resort may offer the best blend of convenience and value. If I had a do-over, since I have young children, I’d probably stay on the property to minimize travel time.
Photo: Jason Ramos
3. Bring your own food.
Believe it or not, Disney World now allows visitors to bring in food and drinks. Anyone who’s seen food prices lately at the parks’ on-site restaurants — you’ll pay more than $10 for a hot dog, fries, and a drink — knows what a huge savings this can be. If you’re willing to forgo the luxury of a hot meal for a little PB&J, this could save your family hundreds of dollars.
Just be careful with anything that’s perishable, especially if you’re visiting Disney World during the sweltering Florida summer. Note that you won’t be able to bring in large, hard-sided coolers or any sort of alcohol. Also be aware that Disneyland still prohibits outside food, though many visitors say this rule is only sporadically enforced.
Again, Disney fans will try to sell you on park meal plans (these are available to resort guests who purchase certain package deals) but these are probably only worth it if (1) you’re going specifically to eat your way through the parks or (2) you have a healthy enough appetite to justify the healthy price.
4. Avoid the souvenir shops.
I cannot overstate this: If you’re watching your pennies, do not go into the stores, especially if you have little kids. I didn’t particularly enjoy paying big bucks for R2-D2 mouse ears just to avoid a tantrum from my 4-year-old, who was only in the shop in the first place so his dad could see the latest “Star Wars” merchandise (groan).
Assuming you’re lucky enough to be traveling with adults who can resist the lure of souvenir shops, here’s an easy way to keep your kids’ expectations in check. Buy a few souvenir-like items such as glow necklaces or Disney figures on the cheap at a big-box store before you leave. Stash them in your bag and save them for the inevitable time when your child starts lusting after the trinkets that “allllllll the other kids” seem to have.
Use the same strategy for anything else that you’d be tempted to buy in park. Bring your own sunscreen. And ask Disney workers to use your camera to take your picture with characters instead of buying them.
5. Skip peak times.
As I discussed above, one-day tickets now cost more during peak attendance times. However, even if you buy a multi-day pass and avoid seasonal pricing, going at peak time still packs more of a budget punch. Flights and hotels will be more expensive, and Disney will even raise food prices at many of its restaurants.
Even if you can swing the extra cost, don’t underestimate how long lines can be during peak times. I was at Magic Kingdom four days before Christmas, and I had the distinct privilege of waiting 45 minutes to ride the Astro Orbiter in Tomorrowland — a ride that lasts for all of 90 seconds. The wait to get on Space Mountain was two and a half hours. It wasn’t very magical for anyone, trust me.
In general, the experts at MouseSavers.com recommend avoiding Disney around Christmas and other major holidays, early spring, and mid-summer.
Is It Worth Going ‘Cheap’ at Disney?
As I said above, it’s laughable to think of Disney as a budget destination. If you’re like me and would be happy enough to skip it in favor of another place with a little less sensory overload, that’s probably your best bet to keep costs down.
But if you’re among those who MUST do Disney for one reason or another, you’ll want to carefully weigh whether skimping on costs will impact your experience.
For some people, vacations are worth the splurge because of the lifelong memories you’ll create. If bringing in a picnic lunch or staying at a cheap motel far off-site means you won’t enjoy the trip as much, the better strategy might be to wait a bit and start a Disney savings fund — so you can take your dream vacation guilt-free. Our personal savings calculator can help you meet your goal.
For more on vacationing on the cheap, here are some related Simple Dollar articles:
- Using Credit Card Rewards for a Disney Vacation
- Why I’ll Never Feel Bad About My Vacation Spending
- Five Cheap Vacations to Take This Summer
The post Is It Still Possible to Do Disney on a Budget? appeared first on The Simple Dollar.
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100 Awesome Senior Discounts: Save on Travel, Entertainment and More
I don’t know (yet), but I’ve been told there’s lots of good stuff about getting old.
Or, well, older.
Although it’s easy to dwell on the drawbacks of aging, we sometimes overlook the fact that senior citizens tend to have more of a lot of things — more confidence, more money (since they’ve already spent a long time working), and way, way more access to great discounts.
And, the minimum age for some of these senior discounts is sometimes as low as 50!
From food to movies to eye exams, we’ve gathered 100 of the best senior discounts from across the web so you don’t have to spend any time digging for them.
Helpful Hints
Your mileage may vary on some of these discounts, depending on your location.
That said, it’s always worth asking if there’s a senior discount, no matter what you’re buying! The worst thing that can happen is they’ll say no.
Some retailers, even grocery stores, offer senior discounts on specific days of the week, which vary by location. Call your local store to find out the best time to shop!
Also, a lot of these discounts require an AARP membership — which looks like it can easily be totally worth the $16 per year.
Food
Food is good. Discounted food is way better.
Check out the following options for discounts on your next meal!
1. You’ll save 15% when you dine at Bonefish Grill if you flash your AARP card.
2. Bubba Gump Shrimp will knock 10% off your check with your AARP card.
3. AARP members, have it your way at Burger King — especially if “your way” involves a free cup of coffee.
4. Get 15% off your check at Carrabba’s Italian Grill with your AARP card. Excludes alcohol, tax and gratuity.
5. AARP members get 10% off their scrumptious meal at Chart House.
6. If you’re a fan of Cici’s Pizza, you’re in luck — many locations offer various senior discounts. Give your local restaurant a call to find out.
7. Claim Jumper restaurants offer AARP members 10% off their check. And just look at that chocolate cake! Yes, please.
8. Get 10% off your purchase or a free drink at your local Dairy Queen — varies by location, so call ahead!
9. Denny’s has an exclusive 55+ menu with low-cost items, but flash your AARP card and you’ll save 15% no matter what you order.
10. Dunkin Donuts gives AARP card holders a free donut with the purchase of a large coffee, and there are some rumors about free coffee and other discounts for seniors who ask… although these decisions are apparently up to the individual franchise owner.
11. Fuddrucker’s offers seniors 55 and older 10% off their dinner platters.
12. IHOP offers diners over age 55 a menu of appropriately sized and priced options — available anytime!
13. Get a free small drink from KFC with the purchase of an entree if you’re 55 or older.
14. Landry’s Seafood offers AARP members 10% off their orders.
15. Most McDonald’s locations provide seniors discounted coffee and beverages, but since they’re individually owned, check with your favorite location.
16. Mrs. Field’s Cookies offers seniors 60 and over 10% off the price of their entire purchase.
17. The Oceanaire Seafood Room offers AARP members 10% off their orders.
18. Old Country Buffet runs a Senior Club for guests ages 60 and up. Join for access to exclusive discounts and freebies.
19. Outback Steakhouse offers AARP members 15% off their check excluding alcohol, gratuity and taxes on dinners Monday through Thursday and for weekend lunches.
20. Ponderosa Steakhouse offers an exclusive, discounted senior menu.
21. Get 10% off your exciting dining experience at Rainforest Cafe.
22. Saltgrass Steakhouse offers AARP members 10% off their scratch-made meals.
23. Don’t want to bother with the grocery store, and sick of eating out? Silver Cuisine will send delicious, nutritious frozen meals to your home weekly, and you’ll score a 10% discount with your AARP membership.
24. Sweetfrog frozen yogurt offers AARP members a 15% in-store discount — and online, if you’re a big enough froyo fan to buy a T-shirt.
25. TCBY offers those aged 55 and over 10% off their entire purchase price. That’s a sweet treat!
26. Village Inn offers seniors 10% off their checks, and some locations may feature a separate, discounted senior menu.
27. Wendy’s offers 10% off your order or a discounted drink at most locations. Call your local store for participation details.
28. Whataburger offers seniors a free 8-ounce coffee or a small drink with the purchase of a meal.
Travel
The kids are away at college, and you’re done (or nearly done!) with work.
What better time to see the world?
Turns out becoming a senior citizen comes with fantastic perks for those bitten by the travel bug.
All-in-One Packages and Travel Services
Take the travail out of travel and with these one-stop shops.
29. Collette Guided Travel offers all kinds of discounted packages to AARP members — you can keep up with the latest offerings here.
30. Grand European Vacations gives AARP members $100 off per person on guided vacation tours and river cruises, and lots of other discounts.
31. Vacations by Rail offers AARP members 5% off select railway excursions.
32. Expedia promises AARP members the best price on travel, guaranteed.
33. Book your flight through OneTravel to save $10 instantly and $15 on fees with promo code FLYSENIOR.
Transportation
No matter where you’re going, you’ve gotta get there!
Here are great discounted travel options for seniors.
By Air
34. American Airlines states they might offer discounted fares in domestic markets to seniors 65 or over. Speak with the representative next time you book a flight for complete details.
35.AARP members save up to $400 on their British Airways fares, depending on which class they fly.
36. Southwest Airlines may offer discounted fares to travelers 65 years and older.
37. United offers senior discounts to travelers 65 and older — just ask when you make your next reservation.
38. Save 10% on airport parking with Park Ride Fly when you flash your AARP card.
By Automobile
39. Rent a car from Avis, flash your AARP card and save 10-25%. You’ll even get free unlimited miles with most rentals, as well as a waiver for a second-driver fee.
40. AARP members: Hit up Budget Car Rental to save up to 30% off base rates next time you rent a vehicle at a participating location.
41. Hertz has a “Baby Boomer” deal for those aged 50 or over. Just enter code CDP# 2007815 when you book to receive a discount.
42. If you’re taking your own car, make sure you’re all tuned up at your local Jiffy Lube — many of the franchise locations offer various senior discounts, but you’ll want to call ahead to double-check with your branch.
43. Taking the bus? Greyhound offers passengers ages 62 and over a 5% discount on their fares.
By Sea
44. Carnival Cruise Lines offers discounted senior rates to those ages 55 and over, though prices vary by itinerary and the deal is subject to some blackout dates.
45. Grab your next vacation at Norwegian Cruise Lines and get up to $100 off with your AARP membership.
46. Royal Caribbean International offers exclusive senior discounts to passengers ages 55 and over on certain cruises — ask your customer service rep when you book.
47. Windstar Cruises offers AARP members 5% off published cruise fares, no matter your destination.
By Rail
48. Amtrak offers seniors over age 62 a 15% discount off the lowest available fare.
49. Rail Europe offers discounted passes to seniors 60 and older.
Hotels
Once you arrive at your destination, you want to be comfortable.
Luckily, many reputable hotels offer discounts to seniors — and some of them are pretty steep!
50. Best Western offers AARP members or anyone over 55 at least 10% off their stays, as well as enviable bonus extras like late checkout.
51. Choice Hotels, including familiar names like Comfort Inn, Quality Inn and Econo Lodge, offers 10% off advanced reservations to AARP members and seniors ages 60 or older.
52. Days Inn offers additional discounts on their Best Available Rate rooms to those 60 or older.
53. Hilton offers AARP members up to 10% off their room charges.
54. Hyatt’s Senior Citizen Travel Rates could save you as much as 50% in the continental U.S. and Canada.
55. La Quinta offers seniors and AARP members discounts of up to 10%.
56. Marriott offers seniors 62 and older at least 15% off their stay.
57. Motel 6 offers AARP members a 10% discount on their standard rates… and late checkout. Heck yes!
58. Ramada offers seniors ages 60 and over a 10% discount on their stays.
59. Starwood Hotels, the chain boasting names like Westin and Sheraton, offers AARP members 5-15% off their best available rates.
The Wyndham Hotel Group offers seniors up to 10% off their stays.
Entertainment
What are you up to this weekend? This evening?
No need to be a homebody when entertainment’s available this cheap!
Movies
When’s the last time you sat in front of the silver screen?
Going to the movies isn’t as cheap as it used to be, but it’s still a magical way to experience cinema — and you can do it for much less than you could a few years ago!
60. Although ticket prices vary by location, patrons 60 or older can get discounted senior rates next time they visit an AMC theater.
61. Carmike Cinemas sells discounted senior tickets to patrons ages 55 and over.
62. Regal Cinemas sells discounted senior tickets to those 60 or over. A bonus for AARP members: Get $3 off your popcorn and soda combo at the concession stand!
63. Showcase Cinemas offer tickets to seniors 60 and older for just $6.50 every Wednesday — and you can grab a popcorn and drink for just $3.50.
Parks and Recreation
No matter where you are, adventure awaits.
And you don’t even have to spend much to get it.
64. If Shenandoah is calling your name, you’ll want to flash your AARP card to get 10% off your stay at its Big Meadow Lodge.
65. Want to have some fun in the Florida sun? Come visit The Penny Hoarder HQ down here in Florida. While you’re around, hit those coasters: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay offers discounted annual passes to seniors age 65 or older.
66. Huge bonus? That goes for Sea World, too!
67. That Florida trip wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the world-renowned Kennedy Space Center — AARP members save 10% off retail prices in its store or online.
68. Want to see the Grand Canyon — but not quite feeling the donkey ride? Grand Canyon Railway offers AARP members 15% off their scenic ride year-round.
69. U.S. citizens ages 62 or older can get outside with a heavily-discounted America the Beautiful pass to any of our beautiful National Parks. It’s just $20 and it’s valid for a lifetime!
70. Heading to one of the Ohio State Park Lodges? AARP members save up to 17%!
71. Once you have your pass, use your AARP membership to score a 10% retail discount inside parks like Yellowstone.
Events
What’s the haps?
Be front and center with the following events discounts for seniors.
72. Want to see Cirque du Soleil? Save up to 20% with your AARP membership.
73. Ticketmaster offers AARP members 25% or more off tickets purchased in lots of four.
74. Get 15% off your next tee time booked through PGA’s TeeOff.com with your AARP membership.
Health
Taking care of yourself is important, and it doesn’t have to be expensive!
As a senior, you’re entitled to some great discounted health benefits.
75. Target Optical has a fantastic deal for AARP members — save up to 60% on your exam, 30% on eyeglasses and 20% on contacts.
76. AARP members save up to 60% on exams and 30% off glasses from LensCrafters.
77. AARP’s discounted Hearing Care Program has a ton of great perks, like three years’ worth of free batteries.
Pharmacies
78. Rite Aid’s wellness65+ program members get 20% off at Rite-Aid on Wellness65+ Wednesdays.
79. Walgreens hosts a Senior Day about once a month, and seniors aged 55 and over (and AARP members of all ages) score hefty discounts and bonus Balance Rewards points.
Cell Phone Plans
Keep in touch — and keep your cash.
80. AT&T offers AARP members 10% off their monthly services charges and 15% off eligible accessories.
81. Consumer Cellular offers affordable no-contract cell phone plans. And you’ll get additional discounts with your AARP membership — like a 5% monthly usage discount and 30% accessory discount, too!
82. Save $20 on your Cricket Wireless device with with your AARP membership.
83. T-Mobile offers some discounted phone plans for low-income customers under the Lifeline Program.
Retail and Miscellaneous
The best part about senior discounts is you can get them almost everywhere.
Here are some fantastic opportunities to save on everyday purchases.
84. 1-800 Flowers gives AARP members an awesome deal: 20% off any order, or $20 off any order over $79.99.
85. Keep your home safe with an ADT security system — your AARP membership will save you 20% on installation and equipment.
86. AARP members: Save 10% on select print and audiobooks from Amazon. Selections change monthly, so you won’t get bored!
87. Curious about your Ancestry? The popular online family history resource offers AARP members 30% off a year-long World Explorer membership.
88. Save up to 50% on select Kindle ebooks with your AARP membership.
89. And don’t forget to get 10% off the Kindle e-Reader you need to access them!
90. Get exclusive access to an AARP cash-back credit card when you join. You’ll earn 3% at restaurants and gas stations… not bad!
Clothing
Stay fabulous in your golden years with these deals on clothing!
91. Banana Republic offers 10% off total purchases to seniors over 50.
92. Beall’s Outlet hosts a senior day, which will vary by location. Here in Florida, seniors 50 and older get 15% off their purchases on Tuesdays! Call your local outlet to find out when you can save.
93. Clarks offers seniors 62 and older a 10% discount on their shoes.
94. Take an extra 10% off your Dress Barn purchase if you’re 55 or older. Just keep in mind you can’t use it alongside your blushPerks rewards.
95. Goodwill hosts a Senior Day every Wednesday, so get your thrifting on midweek to score a 20% discount!
96. Kohl’s offers seniors aged 55 and over a 15% discount every Wednesday, as well.
97. Reebok Outlet Stores are the footwear vendor of choice for AARP members, who save 20% no matter when they shop! You can also stack this deal on top of their existing BOGO 50% off in-store sale options.
98. Your AARP membership gets you 20% off at Rockport Outlet, too… just in case you can’t stop shoe shopping.
99. AARP members can score a coupon book with over $1,000 in savings to Tanger Outlets — which includes popular stores like Ann Taylor, Brooks Brothers and Nine West.
100. Get 15% off general goods and services at The UPS Store with your AARP membership.
Your Turn: What awesome senior discounts do you take advantage of? Let us know in the comments!
Jamie Cattanach (@jamiecattanach) is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder. She also writes other stuff, like wine reviews and poems.
The post 100 Awesome Senior Discounts: Save on Travel, Entertainment and More appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.
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