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... 

[DavidJ493628]

Also I buy when the item i want is on sale 

[br3087]

At the grocery store:

1.I check if there is a percent off discounted gift card at the beginning of the month on the AARP rewards web site.

2. I plan the meals for the week, planning to use what's in my pantry and freezer so that I am only buying what I need.   I plan for some meatless meals.

3.  My menu plans include in-season season fruits and vegetables, which are usually less expensive.  I make a list from the menu plan.

4. I take the paper coupons that my store sends me as part of their loyalty program

5.  I use the grocery store's digital app to clip e-coupons

6.   When I get to the store, if I find marked-down items on the shelves that are on my list, I check their expiration dates to make sure I can use them in time.  

7.  I buy store-brand instead of manufacturer's brand items.

8.   I make sure to use my loyalty card points to buy gas at a discount price

9.   I take a customer satisfaction survey as frequently as possible to earn extra points

10.   I use apps like fetch and Ibotta to earn gift cards

11.  If something in the store is higher-priced than I expected, I substitute another meal or item, in other words, I adapt.

12. I get my prescriptions filled at the pharmacy in the grocery store to eliminate extra trips and opportunities for impulse purchases

13.  I bring my own reusable bags, some stores charge to provide bags

14.  I compare cost per unit, not just the price, to make sure I am buying the most economical size that I can use before it expires

15.   I avoid buying sugar-filled drinks and commercially processed foods, which are empty calories.  

16. I pay with a cash-back credit card

[SherryG1965]

I’m trying to learn how to live in a two hundred a month budget for groceries I wonder if it’s possible?? I’ll take any info I can get. Thank you

[GeorgetteS939694]

I live alone but when cooking I will make casseroles, chili or meats and I freeze them in glass jars as they don't get freezer burn. I find I don't have as much waste.

[SereneSeagull]

Hi @GeorgetteS939694 , what glass do you use?  I’d be afraid the glass wouldn’t be freezer safe.  Thanks.

[bt17987255]

I'm not @GeorgetteS939694, but I would use pyrex or PYREX.  

[AnnetteW907070]

I use credit cards that offer cash back for purchases. My savings are nearly $2,000 each year just on the cash back & does not include my saving in other ways. Most gas stations have an app that will save you 5-10 cents a gallon & stack that onto a credit card that offers cash back on gas to save even more. I never pay full price for gas. I shop my local grocery store that offers points towards gas too, but I’m a savvy shopper & only buy what’s on sale & what I need. I quit buying new clothes. I’ve found great “like new” clothes at thrift stores saving me hundreds of dollars. With all these savings I’ve been able to live an affordable life style & still tuck my extra money away into a high yield CD each year. 

[ck92871212]

I still use the grocery flier to buy and plan the week. We are a smaller household so buying in a larger quantity is really not always useful, but when meat or vegetables can be frozen it works. My husband likes to garden so we have planted San Marzano tomato plants. And last year we jarred about 25 quarts of sauce. It was amazing... and a big $$ saver as these great tomato sauces are higher priced. Keep you fingers crossed we can do as well this year. 

[SereneSeagull]

That’s great about your tomatoes!

[ElaineB932405]

We always buy larger purchases, i.e. appliances, on credit with 12, 18, 24 months same-as-cash!  I take the total amount & divide it by the # of months credit we have. That is the monthly payment I make. That way, when your promotional period ends, you have paid off your entire purchase, interest-free!!! YAY!!! Do not be fooled by the credit card company who tells you that your minimum payment is $25!! When the balance comes due, if you cannot pay it off, you are charged interest from the inception of the promotion!!

[taam05]

I take advantage of new stores especially gas stations that are opening in my area. Sometimes they offer ten or 20 cents off a gallon of gas or  5 free drinks for a month. With the price of gas, instead of running errands on Saturday, I pick one night a week after my work day to get gas, few groceries, go to dollar store etc. I have even gotten my college age daughter interested and using apps for rewards and discounts. 

[Estoley1]

This may sound crazy but carry cash when eating out.  Many small businesses, especially eateries, give a discount for paying cash.  Better for them as they don’t have to pay the credit card company. Usually the bonus is greater than a “cash back” offer from the credit card company (really just sharing their fee to the vendor).  Better for the small business, better for me.  The large businesses that don’t offer that discount, gets a charge on a cashback card every time.  I pay my monthly bill in full every time so I don’t get any interest fees.  But beware of other perks from the cards, like limited warranties, travel insurance and such plus when needed, better protection from fraud. 

[GAKKIEZ]

Review statements regularly on all recurring payments (electric, water, insurance, etc.) even if you have automatic payment set-up.  Monthly statements may alert you to a increase in usage (water leak?) or payment/fee increase or contract change (due date, payment address).  I know several people that have paid bills that rarely review the statements and then discovered a water leak in their lawn sprinkler system.  I also note on my electric statement (Budget Billing) when a seasonal change to payment is occurring and can plan for the change in my own budget.

[bibckarate]

When u take your daily walk pick up the change the young people don't want to carry.  This also allows you to stretch and bend and young people don't take the change from train station vending machines or just throw it away.  By fast food restaurants also young people drop change there are still coin stars and u can put change in them and not be charged if u donate it to a cause.

[SereneSeagull]

     Most young people, @bibckarate , use debit cards or cashless ways to pay now-a-days.  I don’t know any young person who hangs out at train stations, but if there are still vending machines taking cash, most people, young or old, wait for their change.  I need to find these places  of which you speak!

[ScottS429508]

The grocery I shop has a digital cash back program. My Medicare plan gives me a quarterly allowance and benefits.  I use my allowance to purchase allowable items that have a cash back and then use the cash to reduce my out of pocket grocery expense along with coupons and sale promotions.

[JohnRotella]

1. Make a list of groceries you need before you leave for the store and 2. don't shop on an empty stomach 3. Don't buy groceries that are on sale unless you enjoy the product, it's not a deal if you don't like it that much. 

[Pollyfranna26]

i get too many drinks at sonic, but when there's a discount i pay myself back: ex. when the discount is given i get my drink for less, and the ticket shows -$1.60. i put that $1.60 with any other similar receipts and pay myself back by transferring that from my checking account to a special (small) savings account at the same credit union.  it adds up QUICKLY if you drink a lot of soda - and reminds me that i need to be healthier that day...sometimes i get "heavy ice" so i drink water throughout the day as the ice melts.  that part is healthy!  : )

[tchatten]

I have different credit cards that give cash back. I put everything I buy on these cards, I pay off the entire balance each month so I never pay interest nor fees, and I save the cash back. When I have enough I invest in a higher paying CD.

[EllenH559710]

I buy gift cards when the grocery store has 4x points.  Then I use the gift cards for gifts or going to stores that I shop at and I use the extra points at the gas pump.  I dry my clothes on clothes lines outside weather permitting and drying racks in my house when I can't dry them outside.  I buy reduced fruit at the store to put out for the birds.

[GavinL708538]

keep all the condiments that come with your food orders and purchases and use them to season your grocery purchased meats. this helps your brand purchases of grocery seasonings last longer. 

[SereneSeagull]

Until someone finds an old ketchup packet in a coat pocket, and then it’s not found until the winter clothes come out!   Gross, and it happened at our home.  We check pockets thoroughly since then!

[dcmat57]

#1 is just don't buy what you don't need.

[RicktheSolarGuy]

Coffee: You can buy slightly expired whole coffee beans on Ebay for cheap which are just fine once they're ground up. Bring your cost down to pennies per cup vs almost a dollar per cup if you're using K-Pods

Also, use a thermal coffee pot brewing machine, not a glass pot version which uses lots of electricity keeping that pot hot.

Study and utilize credit card rebates making sure you pay off all balances each month. You can net almost 5% on groceries (Amex), 5% on gas (Penfed) 5% on variable categories each quarter (Disc), 3% all on-line purchases BofA) and there's a variety of 2% cards out there for everything else. I make thousands of $ per year by managing cards. You can have a ton of them and build up excellent credit in the process. Beware of 'mileage' and 'points' cards as redemption values are often vague and arbitrary. Reward cash in hand (or as a statement credit) is clear and easy.

Lottery tickets? Obviously a huge waste of money. Use AARP rewards instead to motivate you for extra exercise and then use them for entries to win cash rewards / credits for categories you value. We all like to think we'll get lucky and win sometime. Why not use free and motivationally created points to scratch that itch!

[lizl468636]

 If you are disciplined in using credit cards and pay them in full monthly, I earn several hundred dollars a year by using 4 different cards according to the rebates they give.  5 to 6% for Amazon purchases on that card, and amounts ranging from 1 1/2 to 3% on the other cards, depending on where I’m shopping.  It adds up fast!

[KellyE721161]

Use your AARP membership for discounts and purchase gift cards to places you frequently shop through the AARP website at a discount. 

[annking126]

For all the years that my husband and I worked, we put $10.00 from each paycheck into our savings account.  Do you know how much money you can save in 40 years?  It is a lot, and you never miss that $10.00 each week.  We put the money into Retirement Annuities when we were old enough and even got a tax deduction for it.  Between the interest and the deductions, we have enough money for a nice retirement.

[SeanH171169]

Make a point of buying the things you use on a regular basis when you see sales &/or coupons.  Don't wait until you need them and then are forced to pay whatever the price is.

[jr63209365]

So many great tips and strategies have been shared! I’d add cutting the cord on all cable and paid streaming services, and using indoor (super easy) or an old fashioned antenna in an attic or outdoors,  as well as using a smart TV and downloading FREE streaming services. Just see if you really miss anything on which you cut the cord. I did it years ago saving well over $100 per month back then! I thought I would miss cable and a particular streaming service and would go back, but I got used to commercials like in the old days and now I like having them…great time to do something quick like grab a coffee, etc. I get my local stations and there’s a ton of entertaining free stuff to steam. I don’t mind waiting for the latest and greatest series/movies to come out for free down the road, so this works great for me!

[TessiaB82405]

If I really want to go shopping for clothes, I go to a thrift store that has extra discounts on certain days.   I can find a nice blazer, pants, and a shirt for less than the cost of even one item on sale at a department store, with little to no wear on the material.  Take home and wash, and you don't know the difference.  There is no reason to shop new for clothing when there is an abundance of gently used items available, you are saving money, and you helping the environment by keeping clothing out of landfills.