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... 

[montk]

Stick to my budget by making a list before shopping and only buying the items on the list.  I only buy what I need.

[elklerm]

For everything that isn't an absolute need, consider how important it really is. Wait a few days. Are you still thinking about it? How much do you will you use it? Is it worth the energy (petroleum)  to be made, packaged & transported?.

[DonnaL248109]

See if your town has an "Everything is Free" Facebook group. It's free to join and a great way to both get useful items and perhaps more importantly give away useful items. If your town doesn't have such a group, you could always start one 🙂

[Silliman]

Facebook groups that I know about are called BuyNothing and the neighborhood name.

[kp0518]

 I love doing the AARP quizzes and videos to earn points for gift cards. I also have a couple of apps on my phone that record steps to get points. The points can be redeemed for gift cards. My favorite one is to get Starbucks gift cards so that when I'm with grandchildren, I don't feel like I'm spending money for those high-priced drinks! My walking gets most of them for free!!

[MonicaH851906]

I live in Florida in a condo that has an under the building garage. When I know a thunderstorm is approaching, I move my car to a visitor space outside and wait for a nice shower to “wash” my car for free. When the rain has subsided, the car gets parked inside and dried off with a chamois cloth. Great way to save money plus the environment as no wasted water used. 

[sk47016185]

  I always fill up by gas tank when it is half empty. It reduces the stirring up of sediment at the bottom of the gas tank. It reduces many car repair problems. I also use a bookkeeping software to track my income and expenses which allows easier budgeting and tax preparation.

[Sukied5619]

 I track my expenses - everything is entered on a monthly spreadsheet in every category (food at home, food out, car expenses, clothing medical, media, donations, personal care, office, and miscellaneous). I enter the recurring expenses at the beginning of every month. I also track income, savings, and interest on a separate section of the spreadsheet, so I always know where I stand financially. 

 I'm old enough to have accumulated enough stuff to last me the rest of my life! Being aware of what I already have is a money saver in itself, because I don't let myself buy on impulse. If there's something I think I may want, I'll put it on a wishlist and decide in a month or two whether I really want or need it. Turns out that most of the time I don't remember why I wanted the item in the first place. 🙂

[ws8083]

We have a smart thermostat in our home that automatically adjusts the heating and cooling temperature settings. This smart thermostat establishes a schedule that automatically adjusts to energy-saving temperatures when we are asleep or away. In addition to saving money on heating and cooling, we receive an annual rebate from our local energy company for using the smart thermostat.

[RichardB435531]

I follow the gas saving tips from the first gas shortage in 1973. Drive less, walk, bicycle, carpool, combine trips, or bus if possible, accelerate slowly, coast to a stop, slow down on the highway, and keep tires inflated. 

[JoyT34086]

I pay off my credit cards every month and pay online to save on mailing cost. If I don't have that much money in my bank account, I don't buy the item. Also, stop buying the little things that you probably don't need. $3 here and $1 or $2 there adds up faster than you think.

[l293623w]

I use Discover card for all items $5 or more; I always pay bill in full each month. If I can’t afford it I do not purchase it. I get credit card dollar rewards that I turn into gift cards and buy them at 15% discount thru discover monthly. This provides birthday or Xmas giving funds at great savings.

[SusanS485762]

I learned to save money early in life. I received a modest allowance each week and whatever I wanted to buy (i.e. lipstick, snacks, 45 records) or do (roller skating, movies, etc.) had to come from that amount. It's a great life lesson to share with our grandkids. Today I have a limit of how much I want to spend on specific items. The list is in my head. For example $4 for a pound of butter, $25 for a pair of shoes, $6 for a fast food meal and so on. If an item is overpriced I usually pass it up. Occasionally I allow myself to splurge on something special. I often buy clothes at thrift shops for my bohemian wardrobe because the colors and styles appeal to me. I also shop at discount grocery stores instead of the standard super markets which give me sticker shock. I save gas by doing most of my errands the same day and plan my route logically. I hope my ideas will prove helpful for anyone else who is battling inflation. 

[RLIcoupon]

Consider buying or at least trying store brands for grocery items as they are often just as good as the highly advertised brands and usually significantly cheaper.

[SereneSeagull]

Aldi’s has good Peanut Butter, and Ketchup.  Been a Peter Pan and Heinz buyer all of my life because when I’ve tried store brands they just are noticeably different.  That is, until Aldi’s.  Really good.  

[CherylJ749554]

When shopping online I always google the stores name and ask if there are coupons  and many times there are.  Retail Me Not is an excellent site for the coupons,

[MaryH590093]

For the last 40 years, when I’ve needed to replace a large household appliance (washing machine, dishwasher, etc.) I’ve purchased from the same small independent repair company because the owner/operator knows his products & provides good service.  Each time I purchase a new appliance I ask, “Is there anything I can do to make this appliance last as long as possible?”  I follow whatever advice he gives.  

[SharonC795012]

Grow food from food. Some vegetables, such as onions, garlic, green onions, celery, carrots, are easy to trim and put in soil. This gives you free food and you know how it was grown, instead of guessing about chemicals. Some grains can also be grown at home from packaged products you've bought. Flax seeds and buckwheat groats are a couple to use this way. Bonus: flax plants have pretty blue flowers that brighten up your garden.

[bc5378100]

Saving for a vacation or a weekend getaway is easy with the “VaCa Jar” and a dedicated “VaCa” Money Market account. We keep a decorative jar handy to drop loose change or money from cash sales into.  Any time we receive “unexpected” money (rebate checks, sale of personal items, tax refunds, etc.), it goes into the jar or the VaCa account.  We also deposit or transfer funds to the account to round off the total at least monthly.  When we need a break, the VaCa account is there and ready to support!

[MaryP778424]

When I first started working, my manager told me, don’t forget to pay yourself for retirement. I joined the companies 401K at 1% of my paycheck and it was automatically withdrawn from my check, so I didn’t miss the pay. I slowly increased the withdrawal and at the end of my career, 35 years later, I was at 27% of my paycheck and ready to make the plunge. 

[leesa1960]

I go to the grocery store the night before the previous ad ends, they usually drastically reduce the left over items if they over purchased or undersold. I have saved 50% or more on meat because they don't have enough space for the new sale items.

[bobbonnie222]

Every year starting January I put money in a shoebox. I start with $1.00 and every week I add to it . the second week $2.00 .the third week $3.00 and so on . In December we complete it with $52.00 We accumulate approximately $1378.00. With the money we treat ourselves to a special vacation,

[WallanceK577767]

This might be too early for Christmas but once you start, it is never too early! I stock up “ possible” Christmas gifts all year long. The reason behind it is I found out Christmas sale is not necessarily the cheapest you can get, in fact, after some years of observation, Christmas season may not save much money at all. When it comes to November, I already have gifting items ready for wrapping up, well, only if you decide to gift food items then freshly purchase is the best😁 With this, I do not need to rush to any Black Friday sales, do not panic during the holiday season, and I have items to gift away in case of some early gathering arrangements. 

[YvetteR940350]

I have been eating food we already have in our pantry. We only buy dairy, fruit and vegetables. 

[SereneSeagull]

No meat?

[TeaLady72]

I go online, select digital coupons, select compare products on websites. Buy recurring Costco items like toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, cleaning wipes. I find some good deals at dollar stores. Basically shop around at garage sales and thrift stores for clothes because nobody cares if I'm fashion-forward. I get a lot of compliments because I wear clothes that fit well with good colors & fabric, no shame about vintage wear. 

[JayG47761]

I shop at Aldi to buy my healthy foods. They offer great deals on bread, cereal, produce, and pantry staples. The items are healthier and they taste better than their brand name counterparts. 

[Bazynga]

 Time for new phones so called my Verizon agent. Got 2 new 5G Pixel Pro 10's for same old monthly rate. Plus, subscribed to their Internet service with higher bandwidth for $25.00 per month locked in for the next 3 years. Cancelled my Cable company WiFi. Net savings = $75+ per month, even higher bandwidth and no buffering. Check it out, T-Mobile and AT&T have similar deals. 

[DLipka]

I stock up on items when they are on sale.  When it’s meat, I use my food vacuum sealer to keep fresh longer. I always make the bags extra long so that I can wash and use again and again. I also buy lots of “Crazy Deals” at Ocean State Job Lot. I get the items I want/need for free since they give me a gift card for the amount I paid (sometimes a little less). If you don’t have one near you, maybe another store does something similar. We got free flooring and lots of other stuff , plus for some reason we d not have to pay sales tax on these items. I also try not to buy new clothing instead going to thrift store$. That way I save money and help the environment.  We only travel occasionally, but when we do I get the airline/ hotel credit card when they offer lots of benefits.  I got free bags, lounge passes, and reimbursement for TSA Precheck. I just have to remember to cancel before they charge a yearly fee(that was waived for the first year.)

[joankas]

I shop the weekly sales, compare prices between stores, and use coupons/discounts whenever available.