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... 

[ReginaL660855]

We have a local coffee shop that offers members rewards that I take advantage of frequently. First, during special holidays, they offer to buy 3 gift cards and get one free. So if I buy $100 gift card its $75. They don’t charge any extra fees for putting it on your credit card, so I get 1.5% back on my card. Second, every time you make a purchase using your phone number for rewards you get one point per dollar spent. At 50 points, you get $5.00 off your next purchase. Also, they give you a coupon with every purchase to “Buy One Get One Free” on a Tuesday. Basically, when you add it all up, as a loyal customer I receive my coffee’s for almost half off. It is also a great meeting place for myself and my friends. Also, I created a seperate email address for loyalty rewards programs so that my regular email account for business and personal is not inundated with offers. It also makes that separate email account easy to see my rewards without it beinging intertwined with my important accounts. I also use Roku TV with a large outdoor atenna saving on cable's outrageous pricing and love my local dollar store for wrapping paper and birthday cards! It takes a little effort, but worth so much!

R. LeBlanc

[LorraineP388784]

my trusty sparklets bottle gets fed nightly a variation of my spare change and occasional unused bill. I also snap pics of my/friends' receipts by Christmas every year I have usually accumulated 200$ for gift cards for grandkids presents great idea for those of us on fixed incomes

[islandtr]

When shopping for groceries I always get rain checks for sale items that are out of stock. On other items if you see price cheaper after purchase check to see if store will offer a price adjustment. Usually it would have to happen within 2 weeks. Never hurts to ask.

[BetsyC33]

Whenever I have the need for broth and won't use the whole carton, I pour the remainder in ice cube trays and then pop them out and label in a freezer baggie. This has also worked well for big jars of pesto, herbs, and other items that would not be used in time. I feed 15 rescue cats and 3 rescue dogs, along with other outdoor cats and creatures, so saving where I can helps.

[ShannonB190357]

My biggest go to for saving money is: look at the per unit, { ounce, square foot, etc} price on items that I use a lot of.  As an example toilet paper in the large pack of mega rolls tends to often, {but not always} be less expensive.  I usually buy store brand, but on occasion the name brand will have a sale on one or more sized packages that makes that item less expensive than the store brand. 

A second tip is to "stack" savings: purchase a discounted gift card from AARP- some are as much as 20% off, I use a cash back rewards card to make the purchase giving me an additional % cash back. I look for sales, and purchase when item is at it's lowest price in the window that I need it.  For example, a $25 Panera card for $20, paid for with 2% cash back, - save another 40 cents, wait for a deal in App (often, $5 off on a whole sandwich). puts me at $14.60 for a $25 meal. Which almost makes it worth while !

[SereneSeagull]

     I buy all of my Gift cards for the holiday season at my local AAA, where members get a certain percentage of their purchase ( I think its 3-5%) of the total gift cards purchased, into reward bucks. This then can be applied to the membership fees.  I’ve saved $25-30 this way per year, on my AAA bill.

If I’m going to need gift cards that I purchase anyway, I might as well have it go towards that I figured.

[SamanthaW178070]

To save money on groceries, I always review the weekly ad for the best deals and search for any coupons. I compile a list of the best options needed for my family and budget and then go shopping. Sometimes you have to shop at multiple stores to get the best bang for your buck.

[JeanB251016]

It's rewarding to see your percent savings on receipts! 

[jd1317]

The AARP gift cards really add up.  Add to them knowlege of store-specific "in-store tag codes" which indicate = clearances, manager specials or better yet... final mark-downs, and it's a definite win situation. Loyalty club points even better, since points accrue even when using AARP gift cards as payment. Those points provide even more purchase power and lots of SAVINGS!

[SereneSeagull]

Totally agree @jd1317 .  Had a coupon for a free appetizer at a restaurant, and stacked the reward gift cards with that.  Made for happy evening!

[JoH497596]

I downloaded the Upside app which gives you saving on gas, groceries and restaurants. When you reach an amount you want to redeem follow the Upside steps to get your reward! Easy . Peasy!

[BetsyC33]

Whenever I am online shopping I look for coupon or discount codes to save additional money. If there aren't any, I usually leave my cart and wait at least 24-hours. Many retailers note that you have not completed purchase and will email you a discount code to complete purchase.

[SereneSeagull]

Yes I’ve learned that by accident myself!  Rather big brother-ish, but was a fun surprise .  Now I do it purposely.  Fun little hack for getting discounts for sure!  Thanks @BetsyC33, that’s a good one for people to know!

[ipotter]

One tip I always stick with is always shop with a list. I will use grocery store websites to build multiple lists, clip digital coupons, then pick the one which is least expensive and purchase there. I also use low mileage car insurance (Lemonade) which is cheaper than many other options. It requires an app on my phone and transponder but will keep my car insurance very inexpensive. I am a big fan of my local library and borrow physical & digital books.My cell phone service is by the gig since I really don't need unlimited data and under $30/mo.  Credit cards are all reward cards from 2-5% cashback. I also prefer interest bearing no fee checking. AARP gift cards and discounts help me to stay on budget and sometimes have a little extra like the AMC Theatre gift cards and the rental car discount I used on vacation last year.

[GaleL607967]

I love to read books, but often find audio books more convenient.  Instead of subscribing to a paid service like audible, etc. I use my public library's Libby.  It's great!  I've been using it for years now, reading about 3 books a month.  I've save thousands of dollars doing this.

[JohnM476741]

I buy discounted gift cards from AARP and other retailers like Target, Costco, and grocery stores like Fry’s in the amounts that work for gift giving and my own shopping.  Watch for sales at Xmas, Black Friday,Prime Day and Prime day competitor sales.  I buy smaller amounts for stocking stuffers and white elephant gift exchanges and larger amounts for bigger gifts like Xmas, graduation and other special accomplishments.  I also use them for my own shopping so that my savings are increased when I buy something at a discount or when I need something that isn’t on sale.  Keep in mind that the credit card gift cards will charge an annual fee if they aren’t used up or reloaded in a year.  But they are almost never discounted.  If you buy one it should be used soon or you’re no longer saving anything.

[minethatbird50]

Everyone is familiar with second hand stores. In our town as well as a few others often there will be a box of "free items' such as shampoos and clothing or dishes etc. Sometimes as others can attest for sure is that much is new or barely used. Still in package. Plus this is fun and enjoyabe. Sometimes  I ll even give away to others what they can use more.

[richiew]

 I download attachments like the AARP Member Benefits one which automatically search online for available sales/coupons when I visit retail websites. It's easy to compare prices when the results pop up on screen, & to activate available coupons or enter promo codes.    

[kathykoons]

 I don't buy anything online until I have checked Rakuten, RetailMeNot, Honey, and Capitol One Shopping to see if I can find a discount code and/or cash back. Likewise, if I am shopping at a store, I check ibotta for cash back and Shopkick for points toward a gift card. I also activate Rakuten, if I am at a restaurant that is on their cashback list.

[i799944w]

"I'm replying to this post and sharing that in grocery stores I unit-price but I combine that with checking the ingredients first to last to see if the cheaper generic is as high quality as the name brand.

[RcD316530]

we like to travel so we sign up for loyalty programs and the associated credit cards, especially for hotels.  We also choose value brands like Holiday Inn Express - decent rooms, good locations, breakfast is included.  But we still shop around - often, you're better off booking at the hotel brand website because you get better rates and amenities; but if closer to check in time, you can manage a non-refundable room it's sometimes cheaper at places like booking.com or hotels.com .... esp with hotels.com, there are a lot of discounted gift card opportunities .... and check if your credit card gives cashback on gift card purchases ! (for example, check to see if your credit card allows gift card purchases at staples to be considered as a Staples purchase)

[BonnieL26959]

  I CUT THE MIDDLE OF A TOOTHPASTE TUBE . YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED HOW MUCH TOOTHPASTE YOU GET. I SAVE BOTH ENDS AND PUT THEM IN A PLASTIC BAGGIE TIL THE TOOTHPASTE IS ALL GONE

[BohemianCheesehead]

I also do that plus lotion bottles. Am amazed at how much I used to throw out.

[MarciaJ659782]

Something else, you can do that works as a cleaning item is save your shampoo or conditioner bottles when they feal empty, and put water in them and shake them amd pour it in the back of the toilet or the bowl itself and let sit, and it helps it to smell fresh and helps clean too

[GSPOON]

Now that we’re empty nests when I make a soup stew meatloaf I make double and then freeze it in four person sizes. also when they have two or four person meals at Trader Joe’s for under six and seven dollars I try to stock up one will make two meals for my husband, and I and we don’t have to call DoorDash as often. I also try to keep homemade meal kits in the pantry, a box of tuna, helper, canna, tuna, and a side, vegetable canned also pasta, jar of Alfredo sauce, and a container of shelfstable, bacon bits. It’s our backup for when we can’t think of what to cook and don’t wanna go or call DoorDash

[TinaD737127]

I use a calendar to track all income and expenses and it helps with income tax time.  I also search for free events to attend; health fairs, craft festivals, etc Everything is marked on the same calendar.

[t94836s]

I asked the manager of my locally owned health food store for tips and tricks on eating healthy and discovered many ways to save on healthier options such as the day they begin to discount fresh produce.

[LaurelB197948]

Two tips.

Do all your errands on the same day to conserve on gas.

Also as much as possible buy generic.  Sometimes generic brands are actually made by name brands with generic labels.

[minethatbird50]

Cat litter waste bags. I don't buy. I not only save my own shopping bags  but i use some of the ones that are placed in recycle bins at certain grocery  outlets. 

[ChosaM436880]

Do not go out of the house. I noticed that when I stay home I save a lot of money. Plus I had to change how I look at money. I don’t have to always spend money.