Top Stories	UPDATED: Tuesday, January 23, 2007
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Start spending less to get more with senior discounts

Posted on Monday, January 15, 2007

By Bill Herrfeldt
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Older Americans control more resources than any other group, and will become even more important to the economy when their numbers explode further as baby boomers begin turning 65. It’s no wonder companies selling goods and services will offer even more inducements to attract mature adults than ever before.

Turn on the television or read the morning paper, and you’ll see senior discounts everywhere. For example, local liquor stores run promotions like “Senior Wednesday” when you can take 10% off all purchases. Movie theaters offer discounts on matinees, and membership in organizations like AARP can save you money on everything from music to motels.

If you do your homework, you’ll live more of your life for less money than you ever imagined.

Start on the Web
Since almost three-quarters of people 65-plus now access the Internet, it is no wonder why websites promoting discounts are springing up like weeds. In fact, if you go to Google.com and type in “senior citizen discounts, websites,” you’ll see almost three million websites listed.

At SeniorDiscounts. com, which was started five years ago, there are more than 125,000 local and national discounts, in 22 categories. And, as more retailers learn about the website, over 1,000 new discounts are added each month.

In 2005, SeniorDiscounts. com won the coveted Business and Aging Award from the American Society on Aging.

A little planning, a big saving
For travelers, especially good deals are available on everything from carriers, lodging, and car rentals, to sightseeing venues and restaurants. “If you are over 50, you never have to pay retail for a hotel again. You can always get a discount,” says Joan Rattner Heilman, author of Unbelievably Good Deals and Great Adventures That You Absolutely Can’t Get Unless You’re Over 50.

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Heilman says that, typically, hotel discounts for older travelers range from 10% to as much as 50%, depending on the hotel and the age of the guest. “Also, there is not a railroad, bus line, or public transportation system that doesn’t offer a senior discount of some sort,” she adds.

But, it is very important to secure your discount when you are booking a reservation, and not when you get to the ticket office or the hotel reception desk. By then it may be too late.

Heilman says there are even a few bright spots for older travelers in the airline industry. “Most have some sort of senior fare, but you aren’t going to see it advertised or on their websites. You have to call and ask.”

A word of caution—often, to spur business, retailers will offer temporary discounts that are better than those normally available. Make sure you know about all of the discounts available to you, so you can be certain of getting the best price.

Sometimes you just have to ask
Virtually millions of dollars in senior discounts go unclaimed each day because customers simply do not ask for them. Restaurants are notorious for hiding these discounts, but this problem exists with many other retailers.

Let’s say you decided to take the whole family out to dinner during the holidays. At the end of the meal, the bill for over $200 arrived. Had you asked the waiter what the restaurant offered in the way of a discount, you would have been shocked to learn that your bill could have been reduced by 15%. That means you would have saved over $30, just by asking.

The point here? Just ask. You’ll be surprised to learn that most retailers welcome your business, and are happy to offer you a discount for the privilege of serving you.

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Start spending less to get more with senior discounts

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