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... 

[Townsend211]

I log in daily to make sure I am doing all I can to save  in every way. AARP is definitely  a wonderful source to find savings.  Rewards are an exciting way to help enhance life. Every aspect it seems is touched upon in making life better. Saving us!

[r893854m]

i  I always check AARP daily to make sure i am up on all the savings and always to be informed of any scams that are occuring

[tj7958]

Purchase "gift cards" through AARP at a discount to use to pay at your favorite retailer/dining establishment, etc. It's like always getting it on sale or as my husband says, like not having to pay taxes on something.

[tj7958]

Look for No Penalty CDs that earn higher interest rates than money market accounts. Money there is accessible quickly and there is no penalty for early withdrawal. Ordinarily all monies have to be deposited at once and withdrawal of entire amount at once is usually required.

[arterse2000]

I LIKE TO SHOP AT DOLLAR TREE. YOU CAN FIND REPUTABLE ITEMS AT 1.25, IN WHICH IT USE TO BE 1.00 A FEW YEARS AGO. THE 99 CENT STORE WAS MY FAVORITE, BUT THAY HAVE SINCE THEN WENT OUT OF BUSINESS IN TEXAS.

[adjustedplatypus]

I buy staple pantry items like canned goods and some frozen foods I use regularly on the first Wednesday of the month at Frys to save an additional 10% 

I also utilize the cash benefits from my health insurance company for basic health supplies 

[si5590]

Save brown bananas in a plastic bag in the freezer.  When you have enough to make banana bread, thaw out for 1-2 hours, cut off one end, and just squeeze out the contents. 

[la61892508]

I love he squeeze trick! You can also make smoothies with frozen bananas.

[SereneSeagull]

I made banana bread muffins today actually with some overripe ones I had on the counter.  But I also do the bananas in the freezer for it as well.  It’s a wonderful way to keep them for when you need them.

[EagleLake8]

To save money, I shop the supermarkets sale flyer. I make meals based on what is on sale. If an item I use regularly is on sale at a really good price,  I will buy extra and stock my pantry or freezer. 

[yc1296]

So many great ideas; many of which I also utilize. I especially like depositing any change received into a bucket to save as "cruise money." 

[MarkJ703873]

I started cutting my husband's hair a few years ago and save around $80/month.  We use AARP feul rewards app for gas. 

[DonnaS619104]

I am a new member and have enjoyed reading the entries of others.  My most useful money saving advise is to cook at home at least 5 days a week.  I also use the left-overs to make other meals such as soups or other things.  If they can't be used for the the next meal, then I freeze them for future quick meals.  

[SereneSeagull]

I enjoy reading these as well @DonnaS619104 .  Kind of like “Hints from Heloise”!

[cc11339653]

 I save money by using points and coupons from CVS pharmacy to buy makeup items.

[SereneSeagull]

They have those super long ones too!

[kc59133004]

There are several saving strategies that I use. It helps me funnel extra money into my retirement account.

1.For my weekly food bill , I make sure I go to my stores app. For a lot of their deals, you still need to "clip' a coupon, you just need to do it electronically, otherwise you wont be getting that sale price you're seeing.

2.For personal care, if I'm looking for a new dentist or eye doctor, I will go into the office, show them my insurance card and ask if they can give me prices on basic procedures or  glasses/contacts  and compare the prices. In my experience, the pricing varies a lot.

3.For online shopping, if I find something I want, I will put the items exact name into the search bar to see where I can get it for the lowest price.

4.I use a credit card that pays me back with cash and use it for nearly everything, but pay off my balance every month.

[jkf3500]

I use my phone number on lots of stores apps and save tons of money by buying only those items on the list every week

[AndreaG111]

Use the grocery store app! 

• You can also use the grocery store "app" on your laptop or tablet (not only on your cell phone). 
• You can then print out the shopping list! Most people don't realize you can do that. 😯
• Look for the personalized digital discounts on the app as well as other "deals."
• Use the app in all grocery stores you frequent.
• Your app has a scanner; some stores have "QR" codes next to digital sale items that you can easily scan to quickly "clip" the digital coupon instead of searching in the app for it.
• Ask the front desk to help you set up the app on your phone (then do the same thing on your computer) if you need help. The laptop and cell phone apps will sync together. (NOTE: you need to have a free account with the store before you set up the app.)

I've saved an enormous amount of money by shopping on the app before I go to the grocery store and also in the store. I have spoken to many fellow seniors (usually in the produce section) to show them how much they could save by using the app. Some people resist because it's "scary" technology or they feel it's unfair to have to click digital coupons to get a deal. It is what it is. Why not play the game and save?

I show them some of my savings on my phone (such as the .99-cents cilantro is .59 cents for me right now in one store if I click the digital coupon) so they can see how it works in real time. That's a huge savings just for one little thing! You will walk out of the store feeling like more like this: 😃 instead of like this: ☹️

I think I've made many "converts!" By using the app, sometimes I save not just cents but sometimes DOLLARS on just one item! Play the game and give it a try; it's worth the effort.

[MadonnaM141634]

I use different apps like the AARP rewards program to help save money and achieve my goals. I also make a point to use any loyalty rewards I acquire from different places to help reduce the overall costs on any purchases for our household. I also comparison shop for items before I decide to purchase. Taking the time to research and sometimes just waiting for the right seasonal sale, helps me to save money on products that we use the most. I find trying to practice small financial goals like that and budget dieting with coupon usage and just saying no to some things helps, greatly.

[BarbH53861]

I I try to cut down on paper towel use. Cloth reuseable napkins, if use paper napkins, save those that are still mostly clean for wiping up spills etc. I also save the cheap paper napkins that come with most any fast food order or eating out etc. I also only buy the paper towel that lets your tear off a small size, even then I often tear off a smaller piece. It all adds up to saved money and helps to save trees!

[skimmerscott]

We tear our paper towels in half, even the "pick your size" when you just need a piece.  So many people waste a ton of paper towels, I always wipe the floor up once before tossing it too, just to get that final last use.  Oh and I also compost napkins and all my food scraps and leaves in a compost bin and use that dirt for the yard or in my garden beds. 

[kr9084]

Progress in my genealogy hobby by taking trips to local cemeteries for photos of markers, to help others by being their eyes and legs, and having other precipitate the gesture in kind.  Reduces expense of long distant trips for the same information.

[CarolL60911]

I use reward apps and buy only things I normally want. We signed up for the rewards program at our grocery store. I use discounted AARP gift cards when I remember to purchase in advance of a trip or making a reservation. I try to make the most of the rewards on my credit cards for groceries, gas and utilities. Subscriptions are tricky and I need to evaluate those I have to make sure it’s worth the savings and the timing.

[Niceladyamerica]

Smart Saver Contest

I save money so I can afford to take vacations.

1. My healthcare provider is a senior practice that doesn't charge a copay for visits. 

2. My insurer offers benefits when I meet certain health milestones: mammogram, annual visit, volunteering, colonoscopy, etc. I accumulate credits and use them to buy gift cards for gas, restaurants & more.

3. I use a rebate app where I buy sponsored products, photograph my receipts, and earn cash back and bonuses. It's nickels and dimes at a time, but over the past 7 years I've cashed out $1,500.

4. I maximize coupons. I removed my grocer's shopping app, so they started sending me paper coupons based on products I actually buy. In the store I still go online to access other digital coupons.

5. I use AARP Rewards to buy and sometimes win gift cards.

6. I have used AARP travel for hotel discounts.

7. I save gas by not driving unless I have to. If I need to go downtown, I take a bus. I can use the same transit app in Vegas and other cities to save money while on vacation. 

8. I give my grandchildren cash instead of shopping for gifts. It saves time, gas, shipping costs, and other fees. They also prefer cash because they can buy what they really want.

[Rosemarysss]

 I track all my expenses including small purchases, and record them on a monthly budget sheet.  This allows me to monitor to see how much I spend, and to cut costs when necessary.  This is one way it helps me toward achieving my goal in life, and cuts down on stress.

[BrendaT330883]

Saved 30.00 on Electric bill a month

If you use dishwasher after  9.

Also disconnect charges plug in wall and not being used

[minethatbird50]

So i discovered hostels a few yrs back. Incredible savings. You can share a room or not. You can meet  people  from all other or not. Great  culture  experience and helped break the alone feeling  traveling  solo. 

[skimmerscott]

Great idea!  I have friends doing the Camino Trail in Portugal right now and they are staying hostels, and loved it!!  Some were even private rooms, with a washer and dryer to use free! 

[LindaT249960]

I signed up for the energy saving Flex program and participate in energy events to earn money.