AARP Rewards Online Community Smart Saver Contest

I follow a 24-hour rule before making any non-essential purchases—I give myself a full day to think it through.  Recently, I considered buying a smart TV even though my current one was perfectly fine. After waiting the 24 hours, I still wanted it, so I went ahead with the purchase.  To my surprise, it was on sale at Walmart for $50 off.  On top of that, I had $40 in AARP gift cards I’d collected through their rewards program over time.  In the end, a $200 Samsung smart TV only cost me $110!

Right after the Christmas holiday, i snag a few bags of red and green holiday M&M's.  I sort them into glass jars and use the red ones at Valentine's Day and the green ones at St. Patrick's day. They are on sale and you avoid paying the higher cost in Feb/Mar for those holiday bags.

Negotiate! If you have satellite TV, call them and ask for their Loyalty Department. Tell them how long you've been a customer, how you want to stay with them, but in these tough times your budget can only go so far. Chances are they'll give you a discount on your bill, most times for 12 months. Sometimes they'll throw in a free movie channel for a few months too. Do the same with your internet or mobile phone carrier. If you're buying a big-ticket item, like a TV or appliance, ask if they give a discount for a full, up-front payment. You won't know what they're willing to do if you don't ask. And don't forget to ask restaurants and stores if they give senior discounts. Lots of places have senior discounts, but they don't automatically give it to you anymore - you have to ask! 

Search out the clearance items at your favorite grocery or retail store. There might not be an obvious sign for it and they may be mixed in with regular grocery items. My local grocery store has a shelving unit with clearance items 50-75% off that seems a bit hidden in a corner, there's one spot in the dairy area where refrigerated clearance items are placed, and another in the freezer aisle. While some may be products nearing expiration, a lot are items where the packaging has changed, seasonal items, and some I have no idea why they are there. I love finding surprise deals there on all kinds of name brand items. Of course, just because it's cheap doesn't mean you should buy it if you don't need it. Happy bargain hunting!

get a can of whole chickpeas or bigger whole beans.  Drain them.  Air or pat them dry so they will get crispy.  When they are dry, toss them with some olive oil and spices and herbs you like and roast them at 425°F for about 20-30 minutes. 

We have restricted our water pressure a bit to help us use less water, which is important as our aquifer is getting low on water! We also take 2 minute showers (water on, get hair and body wet, water off and use shampoo and soap on body, then water on to rinse off). We also try to minimize wash loads by letting our bath towels dry in between uses and using the shorter wash cycle with cold water when doing laundry. These things save on water as well as electricity.

I hoard cash and was saving for later - maybe should have spent more for fun earlier 😜

Dave dogs

Using AARP Rewards is an easy way I save extra money by replacing everyday spending with discounted options. For example, I send free e-cards instead of buying expensive greeting cards which can run in excess of $5.00. I also stretch my budget further by purchasing discounted gift cards before dining. I'm not reducing expenses directly, but it is the same as earning money. I like to think of it as a micro earning system. It adds up! I also use cash savings tips I learn by watching AARP videos!

I hang my clothes to dry, outdoors in summer and indoors in my garage in cooler months. I throw them in the dryer for a few minutes to fluff them. I'm extending the life of my clothes and my dryer as well as saving on electricity. I buy nice second-hand clothes from Thredup and always check thrift stores before buying new. I also use AARP for discounted gift cards on Petsmart and IHOP.