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... 

[pb6271]

Retired now, so I grow vegetables and eat them to supplement my income.

[felinette]

I keep my thermostat at a constant 77 year round whether heat or A/C.  My electric bill remains rather consistent year round.

[SereneSeagull]

That seems like it would be hot in the summer and hot in the winter!

[DavidL94404]

Years ago my husband and I started not spending change, but putting it into a special bank.  We emptied the bank once a year before our vacation.  The average amount saved was over $300. Since my husband died, I have tended to use cash back credit cards for most purchases - savings over $400/year.  I I still do not spend change, but save it and still end up with my bank filling up, a little slower now.  I haven't emptied it recently, but when I do it will be for something special.

[ls5559]

If I get a $5 bill for change when I pay cash I keep it and then see how many I have at the end of year. They really add up.

[mccoywsp]

We deposit money through electronic transfer to a money market account at our credit union, but to withdraw money, our rule is, we need to physically go to the credit union. This means we will have to really want to spend the money for the effort it will take to get the funds.

[MikeR434927]

Using coupons when available and comparing prices at various stores always seems to help.

[GAKKIEZ]

I save money with grocery shopping with my sister that lives nearby. We take advantage of sales that require multiple item purchase or coupons that can be used for multiple items by sharing a purchase. One of us will make the purchase on the specifics and they we 'settle up' after the purchase. Most times we break even between us.  This also saves us gas by only taking one car to the grocery and then we also have help when unloading the car at home. It also gives us time to catch-up with conversations and actually see each other and how they move as a 'wellfare check-up'. Sometimes it's even a venting session for issues with a spouse or other family member.

[LauraH712920]

Make a grocery list, in the order in which you'll find things in the store, and ONLY buy things on the list.  This helps to avoid going back and around in the store being tempted by something that "looks fun" and also helps prevent impulse purchases.  I've practice this for years and find it especially now that food cost are going sky-high.

[Sev206279]

The AARP Rewards program is a great source of what I consider to be "free money" when it comes to giftcards. Redeeming points for gift cards is truly a free option (aside from the time spent accumulating the points). But you can also get some great deals (up to 20%) off of gift cards for purchase. The key I have learned is only to buy (discounted) gift cards for places you already shop (and will be spending money anyway). Otherwise, you may be chasing a good deal and actually spending money you wouldn't otherwise be spending.

[KathleenA362539]

 I use discount coupons at grocery store, wait for discount coupons from LL Bean, and decide it is not the right time yet to go into debt for a new vehicle as mine is still usable. 

[pudajay00]

Every Sunday, I empty all the spare change and $1 bills from my purse into a box. At the end of the month, I count whatever has accumulated—whether it's a little or a lot—and deposit it directly into my savings.

[dm2121765]

Be wary of overconfidence bias. Unless you posses a high investment talent, avoid investing in individual stocks and instead focus on a broad market index.  With individual stocks, you must be able to withstand greater volatility and know when to get out - something not necessary when investing in broad indexes!

[susanb307382]

Remember to ASK for Senior Discounts as they are available only upon request at several Retailers including restaurants and travel. There are hundreds of them that offer discounts that vary by age limits and discount offers. Some offer free drinks like coffee. Be sure to ask next time you go out!

[VictoriaH807312]

strategy for saving money is to "PAY YOURSELF FIRST"

Automate transfers from your checking account to a high-yield savings account.

Reduce temptation by moving the money before you have a chance to spend it.

[MaryC413441]

Keep an eye out for stores that offer a health incentive.  Often you can connect your fitness tracker, set goals, and complete challenges to earn rewards.  Rewards can be a discounted item or free products.  It's a win - win!  

[ratrace]

Use coupons when shopping; save you lose changeable and small bills, for big ticket items shop around

[DougM405780]

Thinking about a car, look at used electric vehicles, they are quite inexpensive now.

[DougM405780]

Thining about a car, look at used electric vehicles. They are very inexpensive now. 

Maintenance is cheaper. 

If you have a regular outlet you can use at home that is likely to cover all your driiving. It is like having a gas station at home.

[blondman]

clipping digital coupons for my grocery store saved me over $2000 last year. Easy and simple to do. 

[AndreaR434492]

Tip:  If you are still working regardless of how low or high your salary is, put a % of it in a 403B or 401K.  Now that I am almost retired I have more of a safety net.  

[jameseshay]

Follow up with your county real estate assessors office. Make sure you are enrolled in all real estate exemptions that you are allowed to.. I.e. homeowners exemption/ senior Freeze exemption etc. And note some of these need to be applied for annually!

[cl4480]

1. I belong to the community farm coop near me. Saves me great deal of money on fresh produce all summer AND helps me connect with other gardening enthusiasts 
2. Composting helps me save on soil amendments 
3. I refuse to purchase new when I am able to “reduce/reuse/recycle” 😊

[WendyW458886]

We do errands the farthest out then work our way to home so it saves time ⏲️ and gas ⛽️. 

[WendyW458886]

We save by shutting lights off in rooms we aren't in and put nightlight in hallways to keep blaring lights off there as well.  The nightlight shut off with the sun automatically to save electricity 💡. 

[JaneM405379]

Compare appliance prices online before going into an appliance store to make a purchase.  They will often match the online price.  When trading in your car, get a Carvana estimate first.  The dealer will often match their price!

[WendyW458886]

We use coupons that come in the mail or through that companies app.

[re96482138]

  I use the Purina app on my phone to take pictures of my cat food purchases that are Purina.  You get points for each purchase and then you can buy rewards. The rewards I use mostly are the coupons. You can get pretty decent ones. I buy a lot of cat food and cat litter, so this really is a good deal for me. 

[Tigers1984]

We combine shopping trips AND our local Kroger store regulary has 4x fuel points for Friday shopping (and other events too).  We always have enough points to get $1.00 off per gallon of fuel at least once a month.  We also combine other errands, and we buy fresh produce and meat on sale for meals.  Then the leftovers are used within a day or so.  We don't buy "prepared" food items very often, since they cost more and have added salt and sugar.

[jeffroehl]

  I save on gas & gym costs by walking various routes starting and ending at my home, this also saves on healthcare by staying more fit.  I also use dumbells in and other excercises in my living room.  I'll stop at the grocer on some of my walks to pick up things we're getting low on, always checking the discount shelves in the grocery store, this saves gas on shopping trips as well as grocery costs.

 I save gas by combining errand runs with other driving trips, rather than making a special trip immediately whenever I need something.  I always turn off lights when I leave a room and shut down my computer when not using it for more than 2-3 hours to save electric costs.  During heating season, if I'm leaving home for more than 4 hours I'll turn the thermostat down by 5 degrees.  When I return and turn it back up, the furnace starts running and the hous feels warmer when the furnace is running so I don't really notice the cooler temperature during the time the house is warming back up.