Rewarding Moments: How I Decide

[AARPTeri]

What goes through your mind when choosing what to redeem?

Share your personal method for grabbing those redemptions!

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[PegB873008]

I have just joined the rewards program. Some of the comments have made me wonder if this is worth the effort.

[SereneSeagull]

@PegB873008 Hi.  Depends on what you’re looking for and will use.  I don’t use the retail, (except Walmart and Amazon), and mainly want restaurants.  My use of just doing this with reward points only, has more than paid several times over for membership.  You will hear people say it used to be better before, but it’s that like that with everything, I feel.  

     Would it be nice if there were more multiples of some particular cards, yes.  Do I think there needs to be more variety, yes.  But I’m getting money for playing games, answering quizzes, and watching videos.  Better than not getting anything, I think.  

[NicoleB145775]

I I agree with some of the comments below, we deserve a better points reward system, something like Fetch, Receipt Hog very easy to earn points and get rewarded. AARP The points are fun and easy to earn, I shouldn’t have to use my points and pay for a merchant or restaurant gift card. Let’s do better AARP, let’s do better please.☹️

[SereneSeagull]

I will only use points for gift cards.  Agree. Never pay

[RebeccaM927656]

Haven't been able to redeem points for anything since joining in Nov 2025.  I think you should just drop the program instead of false advertising it's benefits.  Not a good look for AARP

[SereneSeagull]

I’ve given suggestions on other threads when I’ve seen this.  I’m sorry this has happened @RebeccaM927656

[communityname5678]

$5 doesn't even buy a cup of coffee anymore. Sweepstakes and instant wins are nothing more than trash cans to throw your points in.  AARP thinks so little of its members.  

[SereneSeagull]

@communityname5678 , although I’d love it if they were more than $5, I just stacked three $5 cards at Chili’s and had $15 taken off of my bill and was quite happy and grateful.

[PatriciaB879172]

Do I have a friend would like to join the program and earn rewards?

[kitjaskiewicz]

The redeeming sites or the reward bonus aren't enough to spend a lot of brain power on but when I need something I use them

[JeanB251016]

• Would it be possible to add charities to receive our rewards - so that places like our community library in Kutztown PA could benefit? 

[robynt73]

I redeem rewards in sweepstakes for stores I shop frequently. If there aren't many of those in a given month I select sweepstakes for stores I would be a "treat" for me.

[BertyBGone]

I find that many of the gift cards are for stores I've never heard of, or for restaurants that have no locations anywhere near me.  I prefer using points for big name online sites like Amazon, Walmart, etc.  I'm also nervous about having a gift card for a restaurant that might unexpectedly close its doors, so I'll try for a $5 Burger King gift card for an occasional treat.  And then there's the Kroger or Albertsons gift cards, which are always my 1st choice using points, but they rarely show up.  I don't like to use points for sweepstakes ~ those points seem to just disappear into a big black hole!  lol  I prefer the instant gratification of Instant Wins or outright buying a gift card with points.

[jamesagottlieb]

At one point, AARP Rewards offered Kroger gift cards for purchase using cash but not Rewards Points.  AARP discontinued in 2025 without any advance announcement.  After numerous calls to AARP Rewards customer service, I was informed that this was discontinued but that I should monitor the site because these Kroger gift cards might return.  Read that again, the script that the customer service agents read directed us to regularly monitor page after page of gift cards in perpetuity for a Kroger gift card.

IMHO, AARP Rewards management needs to do better by (a) announcing changes such as this that effect regular users in advance and (b) Stop placing the responsibility on AARP Members for working around AARP Rewards Management's indecision and failure to communicate with members through our effort.

[tarstarkas27]

Have to agree with you. I have 98450 points, and they are practically useless. If you want to redeem points, only a vast majority of options are useless, such as pages of E-Greeting cards and sweepstakes that are a total crapshoot. Anything worthwhile is sold out immediately and is never restocked. I redeem points with many different programs, and Amazon gift cards are always available. For an organization that caters to older people you must think we are con tent with $5 off on a $50 purchase where if you are the lucky the $5 will cover the shipping costs. Offer something of value for my 98,450 points and not  sentimental crap!

[SereneSeagull]

@tarstarkas27  Hi,🙂

I just used three $5 gift cards at a restaurant and got $15 taken off of my bill.  If you were given $15 as a gift would you decline that?  It adds up, those as you say, “practically useless” cards.  While I agree not much variety and quantities seem limited…it’s free money.  

If you don’t have anything near you that is offered when you go to redeem, I get that.  Maybe they can work on getting a better choice of cards.  I agree with you on that, since some of these places are regionally located.  The Walmart ones almost always get listed at the end of the month.  There seems to be patterns on card listings if you watch.  I hope you have better luck, and get some that are near you that you’re interested in.👍🙂

[tarstarkas27]

I understand your words and respect them. Your use of Walmart as an example points out why regional cards are useless, as I live in Brooklyn, NY, and there are no Walmart stores in any of the 5 boroughs of New York City, and I am not going to take a 40-mile round trip to go to the nearest one, which is on Long Island. Any redemption that is decent sells out before I wake up the day after it becomes available. Thank you for your good wishes.

[ShirleyH927865]

Question, does AARP physically send you these cards in the mail or do you have to download them on your phone

[SereneSeagull]

Hi, @ShirleyH927865 , the e-gift cards for points are delivered electronically. So to your email on record. The email will have a link that takes you to the gift card where you can print it out or save it to your phone wallet or notes app.  I print mine right away since the links to them sometimes expire and you have to have customer service resend the email.  

the e-gift cards will have a barcode or numbers, etc….  I used one at Walmart the other day and just brought in the paper, same with a restaurant one.  

[SereneSeagull]

Yeah @tarstarkas27 , That’s a perfect example.  Although the Walmart card can be used online as well.  But buy the time you check out online and pay delivery fees, that $5 gift card doesn’t make sense.  So I hear you there.

    Have you looked at the section of redemption where there are local places near you within a certain distance from you?  The section “Redeem Awards/Savings Near You”. ( screenshot below).  I have not used discounts from that section myself, but I check it out from time to time to see what’s there .  Usually for my area, there are Mom & Pop pizza places, or other small places in the neighborhood.  Maybe a buy one-get one or 10 to 25% off for a place.  But not anything of interest in my area for me at any rate.  

     I think more members mentioning that the cards offered are not in their area or are hard to get due to limited quantities, would be a helpful thing for AARP to hear.  There should be a more equitable method I think.  👍

[k878905c]

Rewards. I think about travel and what will benefit my 2 grandchildren 

[Kateaz]

I no longer try to earn rewards except for the few games I play that have rewards. There have been too many glitches in the AARP system and no one ever responds. I play the game I like now, and IF I get rewards for them (this does not ALWAYS happen), I use the points to redeem for instant wins and sweepstakes. I wasted far too much time watching the same videos over and over and doing the same quizzed every month.

[SereneSeagull]

@Kateaz , I think you’ve put that perfectly. 👍

[MariaK113398]

I like Home Depot, Walmart, Amazon, Home Goods, CVS, Best Buy and Kohls for points only. I try to buy the Daily Deal gift cards for CVS, Home Depot and Best Buy, but I'm not always quick enough!

I wish they would bring back Target gift cards!

[a170938b]

I choose for points only redemptions for retailers that I usually patronize. My preferences are Amazon, Walmart, and Petsmart, Then Panera Bread which has some nice bread, Walgreens and Barnes & Noble. When AARP Rewards had Target redemptions, they used to be my first choice.

Along the years I have found out that almost anything else will be a waste of points for me and will remain unused.

[SereneSeagull]

Restaurants and Amazon or Walmart for Points Only.  

[KristBelt]

I order the discounted gift certificates for Christmas gifts, print them out, and wrap them in boxes.

[bbibel]

I nevedr spend my own money on Amazon. I use the reward gift cards.