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AARPTeri
AARPTeri
Community Manager
March 19, 2026

AARP Rewards Online Community Smart Saver Contest

  • March 19, 2026
  • 728 replies
  • 96308 views

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-2026-Official/td-p/2661846 

    728 replies

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    la7654627
    Contributor ⭐
    April 1, 2026

    My local grocery store marks down meat when close to sale date by sometime 1/2 off, I buy and freeze for later use.  I rarely pay for meat at full price.

      J
      JamiM341038
      Contributor ⭐⭐
      April 1, 2026

      I use deals and coupons, but I save my change, roll it and store the cash. Great vacation fund or Christmas fund!

        B
        BetsyC33
        Contributor ⭐⭐
        April 1, 2026

        When I go grocery shopping, I bring a very large cooler bag and shop with it, rather than a cart. It encourages only buying necessities, rather than impulse purchases. When it's a heavy 2 gallons of milk day, it is also a good workout. 

          R
          RoxannD527016
          Contributor ⭐
          April 1, 2026

           I use credit unions for their high yield checking accounts. They have requirements like have at least one ACH transaction each month, e-statements, and make 10-20 debit card purchases each month. I earn between 5.0 - 6.75% interest. That adds up to about $250 interest per month to pay for groceries and incidentals.

            L
            lynnmartin11
            Contributor ⭐
            April 1, 2026

            If you have your groceries delivered you should order early for the best delivery rates and the freshest deli products 

              L
              lucrob
              Contributor ⭐
              April 1, 2026

              Join all the free rewards accounts you can to get coupons and deals sent to your phone or email in order to get savings .

                R
                ReginaldT760804
                Contributor ⭐
                April 1, 2026

                Pay attention at the grocery checkout when you are using coupons (especially digital coupons) to make sure you are getting the discount. Too many times I have had to get the clerks to change the original price to the discount price because the store system was not setup correctly or just did not have the programed discount in the system. People who do not pay attention are being overcharged...save you money! 

                 

                Reginald

                  M
                  MindyR638489
                  Contributor ⭐
                  April 2, 2026

                  At the end of each day, take all your change and put it into a jar/container.  When it's full, take it to a coin machine to redeem.  You will be amazed how much you will have saved!  And it's quite painless!

                   

                  Mindy

                    SereneSeagull
                    SereneSeagull
                    Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐
                    April 2, 2026

                    Yes @MindyR638489 It does add up quickly!  

                     

                    Those change machines charge fees.  Take it to one’s own bank if they take loose or rolled coins.  

                      K
                      KerryO722609
                      Contributor ⭐
                      April 2, 2026

                      I have a Credit Union (highly recommend - no fees!) and they have a coin machine and as long as you deposit it (which you can immediately withdraw), it’s free to use. No fuss with rolling, although they will also give you wrappers for free if you ask.

                        T
                        TammieD524471
                        Contributor ⭐
                        April 2, 2026

                        i have money taken out of my checking every 2 weeks when I get paid and move it to my savings.  It adds up and you can have a nice savings after a while with no effort.  

                          T
                          TTangoLima
                          Contributor ⭐⭐
                          April 2, 2026

                          Nearly everything I wear and every piece of furniture in my home comes from a second hand store or the "used" section on ebay and other websites. 

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