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... 

[SereneSeagull]

lol!  Don’t think I can stay in the house, but that was my favorite laugh for the day, thank you!  😃

[GAKKIEZ]

I keep the old fashion spiral notebook for my budget. It's quick to update and I can easily see the history of billings and payments. (Actually purchase spiral notebooks at clearance sales of back-to-school supplies. I use them for many things in different sizes.)

I always list myself FIRST on the list of bills to pay! I have to admit that I'm realistic about the amount but it's a commitment for at least a minimum amount to save monthly.  (I started my first savings account years ago after a divorce with 2 children to support. My commitment then was only $1.00 every 2 weeks. It was a start! Now, it's a continuing habit.)

[GAKKIEZ]

Love my local library. So many activities that are FREE!  Regular scheduled classes where materials are provided FREE! Variety of activities and many are at times that are not just in AM or evening hours.

[SereneSeagull]

Always something free to do when you look.

[ju1359]

Free Museum Visits - Many local libraries offer free or discounted passes. The first weekend of the month you can get into many museums by using your Bank of America ATM card. I recently visited the wonderful Marie Selby Gardens which is considered an outdoor museum.

Limit Paper Towel Use - I cut back on buying paper towels. I use reuseable rags and microfiber cloths to clean which is better for the environment. I grab a few extra paper nakpkins for the car when dining out. 

Cutback on Coffee Shops - I joined the Panera Sip Club. For the price of 1-2 Starbucks I can enjoy coffee all month at Panera or a lemonade, ice tea, etc. Tip: don’t be tempted too often by their food menu as it will gobble up your savings!

Discounted Gift Cards at AARP - I plan ahead and buy 2 Petsmart gift cards to pay for my dog’s grooming. I brush and trim her fur to extend time between visits. When I lived in another state I would buy the grocery gift cards. I knew that I would use them. An easy way to save 4% or more on purchases. 

Refillable coffee K-cups - I use a refillable K-cup container with my favorite ground coffee. Much cheaper than buying K-cups and better for the environment. Tip: Buy disposable paper liners to make it easier to clean the K-cup container. 

[AARPME51]

BUDGET 

Budgets are scary, but I use an excel worksheet.  I enter income, expenses and savings for 12 months. I have peace of mind knowing I'm not going to overspend, and every bill will be paid with no problem.  If adjustments need to be made, I can see the changes across the entire year.

 SHOPPING:

My shopping routine is to make a shopping list on my phone so that I get exactly what is needed.  Of course, as normal, I sometimes add items not on the list but at least I leave with what is essentially needed.  Having my list allows me to get in and out of the store a whole lot quicker.

[wl9889]

Every time I get a $5 bill I put it aside. Once I get $100 I deposit it in a separate savings account.  It's amazing how much it adds up to after a while. The savings are used for a 'fun day out' or a vacation.

[DavidaA496795]

Take a deep dive into your current credit cards or memberships to see what other benefits are available to you.  For instance, credit cards often include roadside assistance or extends product warranties; Amazon Prime offers one to two free book reads monthly.

[AdamG202524]

Sign up for Microsoft rewards immediately. It is free to do and I suggest you create a new outlook account email tied directly to your Microsoft account (if you don't already have one). Then simply log into Bing daily, download the Microsoft Bing app and Microsoft Edge app on your phone. You can earn hundreds of Microsoft Reward points daily which can be used to purchase awesome gift cards (like $75 gift card on Delta Airlines) or to redeem for Microsoft Sweepstakes. I won a brand new Microsoft Surface Pro 12 by redeeming 200 Microsoft reward points on a sweepstakes. It takes around the same amount of time to max out your daily points on Microsoft rewards as it does for AARP, so if you have the time do both. Good luck and I hope this helps some of my fellow AARP members get additional rewards. 

[NatalieE479999]

Happy Easter one and all. I have always been frugal but still find it difficult to stay within my budget when everything is just so expensive. I'm saving for retirement but doing some travel while I'm still active, so Im using the AARP Travel tips and members benefits when I'm planning trips. 

This summer I'm planning a trip to France, and I have been using the AARP Now app to check on benefits and to learn about travel safety and travel experiences. I try to complete a few of the AARP activities (they are really fun) each week and check in on the AARP Now app each day to build up my rewards points!

[BrookO964153]

Hello,

I am loving the opportunity to possibly some day win something from AARP. I pray it is a flight so I can see my daughter. I really appreciate this opportunity. 

Some budget tips I use is basically just don't go wandering in stores and have a good budget in mind and do not deter from it. It can be challenging these days, but it is important to realize that we must be grateful for what we have. 

Happy Easter  ya all.                                                              

[SuzeNo1]

 Be sure that you are using a preferred pharmacy for YOUR medical insurance instead of a standard pharmacy. I’m surprised that some people don’t know this.

[cmulinix]

  I save by using a pay as you go phone and using a $125 card for a year of service.  I also do not pay for any tv subscription.i own a hotspot that I can choose to buy data for WiFi or choose not to buy data.  I can check out books, dvds, and more from the local library.  The library is also a source of free garden seeds. I use my savings to pay my bills.  

[JennyC823993]

Mine Your Local "Digital Gold" (Library Subscriptions) With streaming services constantly raising prices, I’ve "canceled" the inflation by utilizing my local library’s digital power. (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/O2OASTf0TK0 Watch this MaBelleVie USA Youtube, 'Save & Sing: Your Local Library ) Platforms like Hoopla, Kanopy, and Libby offer premium movies, ebooks, and audiobooks for $0 (partially and collective funded by our tax dollar coffers). It’s a high-end entertainment experience without the monthly subscription drain.

[MaBelleVie]

Our local libraries has one of the best tools on money saving apps whether it's SPL, EPL, TPL or the KCLS and other library systems in the WA and others states. It's not totally free though, because almost everyone of us chip in via our taxes (property, sales, license and federal income taxes)

[WebWiseWoman]

Excellent Jenny! I posted years ago about Kanopy and reading via Kindle from library loans; impressed it's working!

[Nickb1935]

with my aarp gift cards that i redeem, i will sometimes purchase school supplies, mittens, laundry supplies for our local community center or church drives. It makes me feel like i am helping a bit without breaking my budget. 

[la61892508]

I buy toiletries on sale at pharmacies also using coupons and getting points and give the toiletries to homeless shelters. It keeps my mind thinking about how to save on other things I need.

[la61892508]

The homeless shelter in my town will let me put shampoo in prescription bottles, so they can give to people staying there. This saves them money from not having to buy small bottles of toiletries, as they is what they give people.

[MonicaT669919]

I use my AAA, AARP, NEA, 50+, Teacher Discounts whenever possible to save money. I also shop on Senior Discount days, use coupons and shop sales. I will use Apps that have rewards too of the places I like to shop and eat.  I am always open to learn new ways to saving. So threads like this are awesome.

[LaurieD875789]

I'm saving right now for my daughter's college admission. I do not know where she is accepting, even though it's just a little more than 3 weeks away, but it scares me because I am also trying to save for retirement.  My strategies include having money transferred directly from my paycheck into my savings account every month, taking on extra gig work, and trying to limit unnecessary purchases.

[CeciliaL649040]

I always create separate savings accounts for different goals. For instance, I have a savings account for home improvements, one for vacations, one for auto repairs/new cars, etc., with $ goals in mind. Once I reach one goal, I go to the next one, or put divide up my income into the different goals. It keeps me less stressed and helps me feel better about saving for different goals.

[cmeberle]

I’ve become the biggest fan of REWARDS PROGRAMS for restaurants, airlines, credit cards, hotels and stores. I mean, why not? I'm already making a purchase and most rewards programs require very little effort to rack up those points. Points = Free goodies and discounts! Yay, me! 🙂 

[CaraK144723]

For all areas of life... "leave it cleaner than you found it..."  even if just a touch of intervention.  This hlps avoid procrastinating, improve all things / investments and be more at peace with your surroundings 🙂

[HeatherR976501]

I just realized I have been spending more than $5 weekly on dietetic juice - per my dietician friend the sweetener used isn’t good for me and reading the label it isn’t providing any nutritional benefits. Hence forth, will be drinking water!

[Nadja7]

I always admired Couponers. People buying multiples of items at their lowest prices and stockpiling them for future use. How in the world can they get so many items for an unbelievable price and sometimes free? I often pondered the idea of becoming a Couponer, and frankly, when I saw prices rising and my money dwindling, I began my mission of becoming a Couponer.

It didn’t happen overnight and I still make some mistakes, but the trick is consistency and repetition. There is a pattern of sales at the supermarkets and drug stores; soon you will notice the pattern and learn the best prices of the items you use. It’s a good idea to track these prices and buy in bulk when you see the lowest price possible. In order to use coupons today, you must download the stores app, because most coupons are now digital. Combining a coupon on a lowest-price sale item is the ultimate goal of couponing.

The internet is full of Couponers and their “brags”. The best way to start couponing, is imitating them. They are easy to find on Youtube, and after awhile, you will move from novice to expert.

Another thing you will need to do, is download rebate apps, like Fetch and Ibotta. They will give you rebates for your purchases, and after you for accumulate enough points, you can cash out for gift cards. The gift cards include stores you already shop at, like Walmart.

I know it sounds overwhelming at first, but it becomes second nature, it’s fun and you save so much money. I am a Couponer!

[WebWiseWoman]

Hi, Nadja!

Great post! I wanted to let you know you are exactly the person many of us were 10, 20, 30 years ago!

As Mom of 3 daughters, learned early on need to economize; found many "hidden" savings in every day things.

Now as g-Mom of 7, still need to economize 😉 so sharing this information with younger generations has become more important to me and others.

I previously posted an example re AARP Reward Points; my personal savings covered my Walmart+ membership (after AARP Discount) and if I wasn't a lifetime AARP member, that annual fee for at least 5 years.

Going forward, hopefully the partnerships will enhance membership; hopefully when my g-kids decide to leave the driving to others, as I have now, they'll find membership useful...

Again, Nadja, GREAT post! Reminder to us all, think forward!

[Samk]

1) most stores’s week starts Fri 12:01AM or Sun 12:01 AM

2) sign up for store card- speciial 6discounts

3) see if store has a seniors’ day - special discounts 

4) Check store website. & Circulat. FRi or SunAM

    listi items you must have and Circular specials.

5) Group items  by Produce, meat, Bakery , dairy. Etc. it will save a lot of time when 

you get to the store aisles.

6) Try not to impulse shop!               Sam

[clsnyc]

When traveling, or even when doing something new locally, take a moment to check about what discounts might be available. While some of these may not be large, these can certainly add up. The other day, I was at a bus terminal talking to a couple who reguarly come to visit my city. They were going on and on about how it was great to only spend $3 for a bus or train as they went all around the city. As I knew they would be coming back again, I asked them about the $3, and they told me that they just paid it by tapping whatever credit card they felt like when they went in. I then told them that there was a discounted rate of $1.50 for seniors and how to access it. They had been here for a week, taking 4-5 rides a day, so 60+ rides between them (which would have been  $90 savings, but it would have been even more as doing it the way would have triggered paying no more than $17.50 each weekly), would have on the surface saved them $90, but in reality their $180 expense would have been reduced to $35. What could they have done with the extra $145? This is just an example of what a few minutes of research can generate.

[AvaS523576]

I make a dinner menu for the entire month. This helps me to save in several ways. I make my grocery list using the menu which helps stop impulse buying. I do not eat out unless it is on the menu and which saves money and calories. And it avoids the whole “what’s for dinner”? I also use a crockpot