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AARPTeri
AARPTeri
Community Manager
March 19, 2026

AARP Rewards Online Community Smart Saver Contest

  • March 19, 2026
  • 728 replies
  • 96605 views

Share your best savings strategies—and what you’re saving for!

 

Join the AARP Rewards Community Smart Saver Contest here in the AARP Rewards Connect forum and inspire others with your favorite money-smart tips. Whether it’s a clever budgeting trick, a savvy shopping habit, or a small daily habit that adds up over time, we want to hear about it.

 

If you’re using the AARP Rewards program to help you save and achieve your savings goals, please share that in your post too!

 

By sharing your savings strategy in this thread, you’ll be entered for a chance to win one of six $100 gift cards.

 

How to Enter

Reply to this post and share one or more of your best money-saving tips, stories, or strategies during the Contest Entry Period of March 23, 2026, through April 19, 2026, by 11:59 PM ET on April 19, 2026. See link to Official Rules below.

 

Let’s help each other save smarter. Post your tip and join the conversation!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 or older. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited. Official Rules: https://community.aarp.org/t5/AARP-Rewards-Connect/AARP-Rewards-Online-Community-Smart-Saver-Contest-2026-Official/td-p/2661846 

    728 replies

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    I
    irenaolga1
    Contributor ⭐
    April 14, 2026

    pay off your lowest balance credit card first and put the card away. then go to your next card and focus on paying that one off. you will feel empowered to continue to pump up your financial health.

      D
      DeborahT569911
      Contributor ⭐
      April 14, 2026

      making weekly menus around the sale items at the grocery store

        K
        KarenC111223
        Contributor ⭐
        April 14, 2026

        Buying groceries on Fridays at my local grocery store that offers 4x the Fuel Points on Fridays. and don't forget to clip the online coupons before you go!

          J
          JeffP518835
          Contributor ⭐
          April 14, 2026

          Use a no annual fee credit card that offers cash back on your purchases.

            S
            susans56
            Contributor ⭐
            April 14, 2026

            Ask your grocery store, drug store and other stores at which you shop if they offer senior discount shopping days.  

             

              B
              bunny57
              Contributor ⭐
              April 14, 2026

              My husband and I check out our local grocery store for discounted items.  They take items that are close to the expiration or best buy date and mark them half price.  We are most likely to find dairy items at half price like milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, various dips, eggs.  Sometimes we might find a loaf of bread or garlic bread, rotisserie chicken and produce.  Quite a savings at half price.

                T
                thos69
                Contributor ⭐
                April 14, 2026

                Like many others being on a fixed income, each week I will review all the local grocery stores advertisements for the week, so I can take advantage of the sales of the items I wish to purchase.  I also check out each week, the sales at the local department stores, to see if these stores may have on sale, items that I wish to obtain.  With the prices of just about everything increasing, it is advantages for everyone to shop wisely.

                  MaBelleVie
                  MaBelleVie
                  Contributor ⭐⭐
                  April 15, 2026

                  Some grocery stores do have a day for 4x fuel points (usually on Fridays) and 10% discount for seniors over 55 on first Tuesdays as in the case for Fred Meyer. That's an efficient way to rack up fuel points, such as if you earn 1000 points/ month, that is $1.00 off your gas price per gallon, plus if you have a Fred Meyer credit card, you get an extra 0.05 (used to be 0.25)

                  Life is Beautiful. Share it. ~ MaBelleVie
                  K
                  KellyW539338
                  Contributor ⭐
                  April 15, 2026

                  I cut my dryer sheets and washing machine color catchers in half.  Getting twice as many loads for my money. 

                    MaBelleVie
                    MaBelleVie
                    Contributor ⭐⭐
                    April 15, 2026

                    AARP also suggest using clean sponges and soak with those static, non-toxic fabric softener solutions and toss in the dryer, which is a more economic option.  When the sponges are well used, use them for the bottom of pots for plant to retain water.

                    Life is Beautiful. Share it. ~ MaBelleVie
                      SereneSeagull
                      SereneSeagull
                      Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐
                      April 15, 2026

                      I read that as well.  I’d be worried about the cellulose or polyurethane in the sponge while in the dryer.  

                      MaBelleVie
                      MaBelleVie
                      Contributor ⭐⭐
                      April 15, 2026

                      As gas prices surged since the Iran war, hypermiling is more important than ever. It's always been my way of driving, taught by my late father while I was using stick shift where he taught me to put on neutral (not a good idea in automatic shift and only on quiet road). One of the hypermiling tips is all about maximizing your fuel efficiency through smarter driving techniques. Watch this video 'Save & Sing video short on Hypermiling'.  It is all about anticipatory coasting to the traffic light and if it turns green, then you don't even need to stop.

                      Life is Beautiful. Share it. ~ MaBelleVie
                        J
                        JennyC823993
                        Contributor ⭐
                        April 16, 2026

                        If you drive a minivan, try taking out the middle seats when you're not using them. You’ll save on fuel, plus you get some bonus furniture for the garage or den!

                        M
                        MarylouK640957
                        Contributor ⭐
                        April 15, 2026

                        Build up fuel points rewards through your grocery store shopping to help decrease your gas costs.  Plan to make multiple errand stops in one car trip rather than separate car trips for each.  

                        Shop quality consignment shops for your clothes.  You can save up to 50 % on well-known quality brands of gently-used clothes.

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