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Rewarding Moments: How I Decide

Forum|Forum|6 months ago
March 13, 2026
28 replies
6341 views

What goes through your mind when choosing what to redeem?

Share your personal method for grabbing those redemptions!

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rewarding moments

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PegB873008

Contributor ⭐

I have just joined the rewards program. Some of the comments have made me wonder if this is worth the effort.

SereneSeagull

Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐

@PegB873008 Hi. Depends on what you’re looking for and will use. I don’t use the retail, (except Walmart and Amazon), and mainly want restaurants. My use of just doing this with reward points only, has more than paid several times over for membership. You will hear people say it used to be better before, but it’s that like that with everything, I feel.

Would it be nice if there were more multiples of some particular cards, yes. Do I think there needs to be more variety, yes. But I’m getting money for playing games, answering quizzes, and watching videos. Better than not getting anything, I think.

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NicoleB145775

Contributor ⭐

I I agree with some of the comments below, we deserve a better points reward system, something like Fetch, Receipt Hog very easy to earn points and get rewarded. AARP The points are fun and easy to earn, I shouldn’t have to use my points and pay for a merchant or restaurant gift card. Let’s do better AARP, let’s do better please.☹️

SereneSeagull

Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐

I will only use points for gift cards. Agree. Never pay

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RebeccaM927656

Contributor ⭐

Haven't been able to redeem points for anything since joining in Nov 2025. I think you should just drop the program instead of false advertising it's benefits. Not a good look for AARP

SereneSeagull

Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐

I’ve given suggestions on other threads when I’ve seen this. I’m sorry this has happened @RebeccaM927656

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communityname5678

Contributor ⭐

$5 doesn't even buy a cup of coffee anymore. Sweepstakes and instant wins are nothing more than trash cans to throw your points in. AARP thinks so little of its members.

SereneSeagull

Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐

@communityname5678 , although I’d love it if they were more than $5, I just stacked three $5 cards at Chili’s and had $15 taken off of my bill and was quite happy and grateful.

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PatriciaB879172

Contributor ⭐

Do I have a friend would like to join the program and earn rewards?

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kitjaskiewicz

Contributor ⭐

The redeeming sites or the reward bonus aren't enough to spend a lot of brain power on but when I need something I use them

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JeanB251016

Contributor ⭐

Would it be possible to add charities to receive our rewards - so that places like our community library in Kutztown PA could benefit?

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robynt73

Contributor ⭐

I redeem rewards in sweepstakes for stores I shop frequently. If there aren't many of those in a given month I select sweepstakes for stores I would be a "treat" for me.

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BertyBGone

Contributor ⭐⭐

I find that many of the gift cards are for stores I've never heard of, or for restaurants that have no locations anywhere near me. I prefer using points for big name online sites like Amazon, Walmart, etc. I'm also nervous about having a gift card for a restaurant that might unexpectedly close its doors, so I'll try for a $5 Burger King gift card for an occasional treat. And then there's the Kroger or Albertsons gift cards, which are always my 1st choice using points, but they rarely show up. I don't like to use points for sweepstakes ~ those points seem to just disappear into a big black hole! lol I prefer the instant gratification of Instant Wins or outright buying a gift card with points.

tarstarkas27

Contributor ⭐

Have to agree with you. I have 98450 points, and they are practically useless. If you want to redeem points, only a vast majority of options are useless, such as pages of E-Greeting cards and sweepstakes that are a total crapshoot. Anything worthwhile is sold out immediately and is never restocked. I redeem points with many different programs, and Amazon gift cards are always available. For an organization that caters to older people you must think we are con tent with $5 off on a $50 purchase where if you are the lucky the $5 will cover the shipping costs. Offer something of value for my 98,450 points and not sentimental crap!

SereneSeagull

Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐

@tarstarkas27 Hi,🙂

I just used three $5 gift cards at a restaurant and got $15 taken off of my bill. If you were given $15 as a gift would you decline that? It adds up, those as you say, “practically useless” cards. While I agree not much variety and quantities seem limited…it’s free money.

If you don’t have anything near you that is offered when you go to redeem, I get that. Maybe they can work on getting a better choice of cards. I agree with you on that, since some of these places are regionally located. The Walmart ones almost always get listed at the end of the month. There seems to be patterns on card listings if you watch. I hope you have better luck, and get some that are near you that you’re interested in.👍🙂

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k878905c

Contributor ⭐

Rewards. I think about travel and what will benefit my 2 grandchildren

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