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... 

[ConnieT244109]

Use empty toilet paper rolls as cord holder on hair dryers/curling iron etc

[SereneSeagull]

Love that idea!

[LynnD277287]

• Save the waxed paper from Cereal and use in place of other paper to pound meat
• Use eggshells to as seed starting pots, then plant the whole thing
• AARP rewards, always interesting topics
• use only half of the hair dye to touch up roots, equal parts of both solutions
• LED lights EVERYWHERE
• Timers on outside lights instead of dusk to dawn fixtures
• Turn down hot water heater when away for a few days
• Always cold water in the washing machine
• turn down thermostat at night and when away for a few days
• keep curtains and blinds closed in summer on the sunniest side of the house. In winter oupen them on sunny days
• Open the oven door after baking in winter to capture the remaining heat as it cools down
•  

[GloriaG649247]

As a mother of 5 sons, I tend to shop for them when I have coupons. I sign up to receive discounts and earn points for additional money off my purchases. I take advantage of back to school sales when coupons are available. I use credit cards that earn cash back as well and I make sure to use the cards that have a lower interest rate so it’s easier to pay off. 

[SereneSeagull]

That’s great @GloriaG649247 !

To make sure you get the lowest APR, you can call them every so often and ask for a lower rate.  Sometimes you need to go up the ladder to ask for a supervisor, but every so often call to ask for a lower rate.  With the rates high and staying that way, sometimes they won’t budge it, but asking every 4-6 months is a great way to keep it low.

[PiccolaB947131]

I take advantage of free programs at my local library and senior center and also watch the exercise videos on AARP to exercise when it's convenient for me. Lots of great programs at all 3 and free!!

[JeanneH751766]

Use online streaming services that bundle with something else - like Walmart+ gives you Paramount Plus, and join Walmart plus they AARP to save $40 a year on the Walmart +.  That gives you the Paramount + for free and you save .10 a gallon on gas.  Especially now - cheaper gas is preferred.  Also Amazon Prime gives you the Prime streaming service - nice bundle there especially if you do a lot of online shopping.

[MichelleK905520]

Walmart-sponsored gas stations save you more $.  I use Gas Buddy to plan refills in my tank when farther from home or traveling. My local grocery store offers points which can reduce my gas costs.

[MarylouK640957]

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.

[MaBelleVie]

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.

[JennyC823993]

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!

[KellyW539338]

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

[MichelleK905520]

I reuse the color catcher, running it through the wash a few times.  Carbona has a coupon on the lid.  Rip it off and use it when checking out!

[LynnP481450]

Buy Panera bagels on Tuesday. They have a special..13 bagels for $11.99. I freeze them in individual bags. I buy Chinese lunches for my supper. I order as late as I can. I get Wal-Mart orders delivered. I divide everything into individual packages, meat, for example. I freeze as much as I can so I have a reserve. I also check prices in Dollar Tree. They sometimes have good deals, better than food stores. 

[SereneSeagull]

I’ve also used liquid fabric softener on old sheets and toss in the dryer as well.  Or washcloths.

[MaBelleVie]

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.

[SereneSeagull]

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

[thos69]

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]

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)

[GracieaW464704]

I clip coupons, wait for store sale for my item, use my gift card I was awarded from AARP Games, and sometimes I get a store percentage off.  When I go to the cashier, I have saved nearly 75% off receipt.  I'm able to do this about 3 times a year.

[bunny57]

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.

[susans56]

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

[JeffP518835]

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

[KarenC111223]

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!

[DeborahT569911]

making weekly menus around the sale items at the grocery store

[irenaolga1]

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.

[NancyB432856]

I buy as many store brands as possible since they are usually

 made by the name brand companies and thus are the same quality.

[jamitipton]

I really like to drink wine when I am out, but I've been trying to save money so I order a seltzer or sparkling water in a wine glass.   It gives me the illusion I am drinking a glass of wine, while saving money and being a bit healthier.  I immediately take the $7-$10 that I would have spent on a glass of wine and put it in a separate pocket of my purse.  Then I transfer it to my savings envelope when I get home.

[ChristineS953257]

I I make my own bone broth, bake my own sourdough bread, am growing my own produce and bake and cook from scratch.  I shop mainly at Aldi, but also keep an eye out for sales.  Since being laid off in January, I’ve been also going through my pantry and using up things that have been sitting there for a while.  We haven’t been eating out or getting take out.  We are also only buying things we need, not want.  

[bc303]

  Use BOGO buy one get one free at the supermarket.