AARP Rewards Online Community Smart Saver Contest

[AARPTeri]

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... 

[AndreaV685216]

I like to use apps like fetch and ibotta to earn points and cash back on my grocery purchases 

[Amberried]

Sign up for all rewards programs that give you points/money off your next purchase at places you always shop. Between my pharmacy, gas station and grocery store. I have saved hundreds of dollars and all them only require entering my phone number (after signing up). Bonus: get household family member(s) to enter your number and points add up even faster.

[JohnC529790]

I opened up a Barclays Savings Account through AARP (link below) and earn a whopping 4% APY. I used $30,000 of my emergency fund to receive an additional $200 bonus for keeping a minimum of $30,000 in the account for 120 days. Using my emergency fund to open new bank accounts earns me around $1,000 per year (in addition to the $1,200 in interest I get from my Barclays Savings Account). Banks run new account promotions all the time. You just have to be sure to meet the requirements. (I use my calendar to track the required activity and remember to close the accounts once the requirements are met.)

[Amberried]

Love this. You know, I thought published rates were an absolute all this time. I had a CD mature this week and went to cash it out since the rates were lower at my bank. They gave me 4.10% APY on a new CD just for asking for a better rate. I'm sure not all will do this, but I will always ask from now on! 

[s578505w]

With gas prices so high, it's a great time to take public transportation.  I've got a year Transit card, and now am more diligent than ever to take a bus, train, or grab a community bicycle to get where I'm going. 

[cocoakitty]

   I save dollar bills with the letters D,

& L all year and at Christmas I have the money for presents for my daughter and her husband. I don't really miss the dollar when I get them and they do add up. I also know of friends that start saving dollars with their child's initial at birth for college

[k996524w]

 I borrow books, ebooks and magazines from my library (Libby app). I also keep a envelope with cash that I contribute to with a set dollar amount each month. If I need cash, I "borrow" from myself, but have a "fee" that I have to pay back in addition to the money I "borrow", When the envelope hits a certain amount, like $500, it goes into the safe for vacation for a fun purchase.

[Gramb227]

As a senior, I try to utilize every discount offered by stores. Not all of them advertise this as an option, so be sure to ask. BOGO sales are another great way to stock up on essentials. Publix Supermarkets usually rotates these items every 6-8 weeks, so I buy enough to last until the next time it is on sale. And, of course, I enter every contest that offers a chance to win gift cards!

#AARP Rewards #Smart Saver Contest

[kitjaskiewicz]

My strategy is to Automate my savings. It assures I get paid first so that I always have a cushion in case of emergency

[DPLittlefield]

I look die "specials" and buy accordingly!

[DPLittlefield]

I look for "specials" and buy accordinglyi.

[crowman]

Instead of giving your books you have already read away or putting them in recycling, keep putting them in a box as you read them and sell them. You can sell them to sell.worldofbooks.com. They even give you a price quote for each one after you enter the ISBN number or scan the code on your book. They also pay the shipping. 

[MicahH]

Couple quickies. 1- buy frozen veggies. they are usually cheaper that fresh produce, flash frozen so last longer and retains nutrients, and convenient when needing something for a soup/stew/side.

2- if you are buying on credit cards, make sure you are reviewing and maximizing savings with each. ex: I use Amazon Visa to get 5% cash back on purchases through Amazon, and HEB grocery store visa which give me 5% on HEB name brand product, then 1.5% on everything else. I let the cashback accumulate until December and then use it for 'free' Christmas present purchases.

[CatherineR456038]

I frequently participate in the rewards program offered through my local drug store. I allow my points to build up and when I travel, I use my points to purchase snacks and drinks for the road trip. I'll also shop with points when I stay at hotels and purchase microwave meals or soup to save on eating out. 

I also collect discarded pop cans when I take my neighborhood walk.  Not only am I getting exercise, but I'm also helping to keep the neighborhood free from litter.  Once I get a big sack or two of cans collected - I'll take them in to the local recycling center and turn the trash into cash. I have a special "can jar" that I save the funds for a rainy day. It may seem silly to some - but it's amazing how much money you can accumulate by developing a consistent routine.

[Amberried]

Me too! Not silly at all. 

[lilywannabe]

I have a large garden in the summer and can and freeze a lot before winter.  We also raise our own pigs and have chickens.  Not only does it save us money, but we know what is in the food we are eating.  I am well-known in my family for my frugality and I am greatly enjoying the other posts here.  Keep saving!

[SereneSeagull]

@lilywannabe , I bet you all loved having easy access to eggs, when there was the crazy prices on eggs a while back! If you have hens 

[chrissim]

If I have to take funds from savings to make a large purchase, I pay myself back monthly. I usually pay back at least $100 monthly, so some purchases take only a few months to pay back, while others may take a few years.  I put funds into my credit union "Christmas Club" monthly and limit my Christmas spending to the balance of the funds in that account.  The account pays higher interest also.  I take advantage of high yield savings accounts at different banks and open CDs when I know I have funds that I can afford to stash away for a year or so.  But caution.....interest is income and can increase your overall income for taxes.  I charge purchases on my credit card and then write it in my checkbook. I pay the credit card bill when I have a full page in my checkbook.  That way I get the reward points on the credit card but do not have an outstanding balance. Years ago, I limited myself to two credit cards, one for gas and one for all other purchases.  Keep the limit low and avoid impulse buying. If you don't need it, don't buy it.  Always put funds away for a "rainy day" on a regular basis.  I use apps like Rakuten and Ibotta to get a little extra cash each month, which I stow away in savings and keep until I can open a CD.  I totally believe in saving whatever I can on a monthly basis.    

[la61892508]

I buy extra non-perishables at the grocery store when they are on sale. I write the month & year on the label on the jar. When January comes I go through and find the oldest jars and try to use them up in the first few months of the year.

[KerryO722609]

When I go out for an errand, I always plan at least two that I can do on the way to one another so I save gas by making say a loop instead of straight to one then home again - especially now with the gas crunch, it can be a huge savings! 

Also, I am disabled, and occasionally just need to order in food - whenever I do, I try to order a second or even third meal so that I have them leftover for another night I may be too tired to actually cook - this way the tip and delivery fees are spread across a few meals instead of one making them not as expensive as could be. If you receive any state or federal benefits look for programs that offer discounts for recipients!

[CindyM111219]

I am an avid reader and was spending a lot on books. I am now a book reader and reviewer and many publishing companies offer a program for book reviewers. I receive most books free from the publishers now. All I have to do is post my book reviews on Amazon and other book companies like Barnes and Noble. I also have a book account on Instagram @life_love_and_books. I enjoy the brainpower it takes to create reviews having conversations with others about books. So healthy and saves so much money! 🙂

[jmc615]

My wife is able to read a lot of books for free online using an app connected to our local library. Contact your local library to see if they have a similar app.

[l934490r]

I been saving 5$ bills. It seem to be the easiest. When I get gas instead of using all twenty dollars I would put in fifteen and put the 5$ away. I also save one dollar bills. I hold on to them until I get twenty five$ then  in an envelope it goes. I actually used these two methods and used the money saved for spending money on my vacation. It was more than enough, and I didn't have to use a credit card.

[tlt81]

We do the same thing.  We have a $5 jar and we are amazed at how quickly the money adds up.  When we go on vacation or a weekend trip, we raid the $5 jar for tip money.  It also serves as a great source of emergency cash.

[janhol123]

For years I have been saving every $5.00 bill that I get, and this has helped me to save up money to get my lawn cut in the summer and help pay my propane gas bill in the winter to heat my home. If you put the $5.00 bills away so you don't see them until you need them, they add up pretty fast. Every time I break a larger bill, and I get change that includes $5.00 I put it aside in my wallet until I get home, then I put it/them away. I have also been able to use them when I go on trips. Everyone should try this. It' easier than you think.

[Gwendee3]

I    I save all year for my vacations, holidays, birthdays, emergency and other events by having automatic deposits taken out of my checking account.  I also garden, participate in book clubs, local retired groups and church activities as a way to save on entertainment. 

[ocean7chic]

I chose one nearby place that I visit several times per week and made it a habit to always ride my bike there. It may only save a couple bucks in gas each trip but I go 3-5 times per week so it adds up to over 500 per year. Plus it's a good way to ensure that I get regular exercise.

[AndrewZ479660]

We entertain the grandkids with story time and other events at our local library, visits to playgrounds, and walks in the park or on the beach. They’re all free events that get us interacting with others and/or outside for some exercise. AARP rewards of gift cards also get us a free lunch or snack afterwards!

[CristenB163786]

New here! I save at Fry’s grocery store, Wednesday senior day is 15% off, plus the weekly deals. Gasoline deals. I use their app for all the weekly grocery savings, four-time points on Fridays for gasoline

[BrendaH793413]

I can and freeze vegetables from my garden each year and rarely have to buy from the grocery store. I buy meats bulk on sale and can or freeze. Thrifting is something I do with friends to save money. My husband and I do small projects around the house to avoid hiring someone.