7 discounts most people forget to ask for at checkout

7 discounts most people forget to ask for at checkout

Most discounts after 50 aren't advertised. You have to ask. Here are seven that show up at chains you already shop at, plus the exact phrase that triggers them.

Walk into a Kohl's on a Wednesday and there's a 15 percent discount waiting for anyone who asks. They don't post it. The cashier won't volunteer it. You have to know it exists and say the words. That's how most of these work.

Here are seven discounts most people qualify for and most people miss. Use them. The savings on a year of normal spending easily clears $300 for two people.

1. Kohl's Senior Wednesdays: 15 percent off

Every Wednesday, Kohl's takes 15 percent off the entire purchase for anyone 60 and up. You just have to ask. It stacks with most coupons and Kohl's Cash. The cashier needs to apply it manually so don't assume the system catches it. Say: "I'd like the senior discount today."

2. IHOP: 10 percent off, all ages over 55

IHOP has a quiet 10 percent discount for customers 55 and up. It works at most franchise locations but not all, so confirm before you tip. Same deal at Denny's, Friendly's, and most Perkins locations. Some of these stack with the senior menu on top of the discount, but you have to mention both.

3. Goodwill: 10 to 25 percent off, varies by store

Independent thrift stores in the Goodwill network set their own senior pricing. Most offer 10 to 25 percent off on a designated day of the week. Tuesday is the most common one. The discount applies to the whole purchase, including furniture. Ask at the register.

4. Amtrak: 10 percent off most fares at 65

Amtrak gives anyone 65 or older a 10 percent discount on most regular fares, including the Acela. You apply it at booking by selecting "Senior" under passenger type. International travelers get 15 percent on Amtrak via the rail passes, but that's a separate program. The discount doesn't apply to peak holiday travel or the lowest-tier saver fares.

5. AT&T's Senior Nation Plan: $30 a month

AT&T's Senior Nation plan is $30 a month for unlimited talk and text, plus 200 MB of data. It's only available to customers 65 and up. It's not the cheapest plan in their lineup but it's competitive once you factor in unlimited calling to all U.S. numbers. Verizon and T-Mobile have comparable plans you have to ask for. They're not on the main website.

6. National parks: lifetime pass for $80

This is the single best deal on the list. Anyone 62 or older can buy a lifetime America the Beautiful Senior Pass for $80. One time. Forever. It gets you and everyone in your vehicle into all 423 national park sites and 2,000-plus federal recreation areas. Camping fees, boat launch fees, and amenity fees often get discounted by half on top of the free entry.

Buy it in person at any national park visitor center, by mail through the USGS, or online at the official store. There's also an annual version for $20 if you don't want to commit to the lifetime.

7. Restaurants and theaters: ask, every time

This isn't a single discount, it's a habit. Roughly one in three sit-down restaurants offers some form of senior discount, usually 10 percent off the bill or a discounted menu. They almost never advertise it. Movie theaters do the same: AMC, Regal, and Cinemark all offer reduced senior ticket prices, usually starting at 60 or 62.

The magic words: "Do you offer a senior discount?" Asked politely, asked early, before you've ordered or bought. Worst case they say no. Best case you save 10 to 15 percent.

Why this article isn't longer

The internet is full of lists that pad to 25 or 50 discounts. Half of those are AARP-only and require the membership. Half of the rest are dead programs or apply to such a narrow product that they're not worth listing. The seven above are real, they work right now, and they don't require any membership beyond walking in and asking.

Two more worth knowing about: most major pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid) offer a senior rewards day once a month with 20 percent off store-brand purchases. And Michaels craft stores have a 10 percent senior discount on Tuesdays. Add both to your list if you shop those.

The AARP question

AARP membership is $16 a year. The discounts are real, mostly travel and insurance. Whether it's worth it depends entirely on whether you travel enough to use the hotel and car rental discounts. If you take one trip a year, the savings on the hotel alone usually clears the membership cost. If you don't travel, it's not really worth it just for the magazine.

What to do next

Pick two stores you shop at every month. Google "[store name] senior discount" before your next trip. Write the day and the percentage on a sticky note on the back of your phone. Ask at the register. Repeat for the next two stores.

Most of these discounts have been on the books for a decade. You can start using them tomorrow.

Sources

1. National Park Service, America the Beautiful Senior Pass. nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm

2. Amtrak, Discounts and Special Fares. amtrak.com/discounts

3. Kohl's Corporation, In-Store Discount Programs. corporate.kohls.com

4. AT&T Senior Nation Plan, current pricing. att.com/wireless/seniors