From 10% off your cell phone bill, to waived parking fees, to supermarket coupons that keep your weekly grocery bill low—there are all kinds of unexpected discounts that can help you save money. You just need to know where to look! Here are a few ideas to get you started.
1) Become an AARP Member
If you’re fifty years or older and you haven’t yet become an AARP member, consider signing up. AARP—which stands for the American Association of Retired Persons—advocates for seniors in America and helps them access useful services and solutions. The standard fee to become an AARP member is $16 per year, which quickly pays for itself. With an AARP membership, you get instant access to hundreds of discounts including 10% off at many Hilton, Wyndham and Best Western hotels; up to 30% off select car rentals; half off some prescription glasses; and lots more. Hop online for a full look at the unexpected discounts available to AARP members!
2) Use Your Employee Benefits
Many people don’t take full advantage of their employee benefits. They might not even be aware what perks are available! Be sure to read all those HR emails and check in with your manager about what’s on offer at your office. Besides health insurance, you may be entitled to additional wellness benefits, shopping discount programs, and other financial perks. At Harvard, for example, the Employee Assistance Program offered via KGA gives employees free access to skilled professionals who can offer free career support, counseling, legal assistance, nutrition consultations and more.
3) Join a Credit Union
Belonging to a credit union is not only a great way to manage your money: it can get you additional rewards and discounts. Check out Love My Credit Union, which is a free online resource that helps credit union members access savings and cash rewards on phone plans, tax software and so on. HUECU members can also take advantage of 20% off Harvard Student Agencies tutoring services, as well as 15% off Cleaners & Dorm Essentials and the Harvard Shop. In addition, HUECU members with an active HUECU Checking Account may be eligible for a 50% discount on Gentreo’s digital estate planning service, thanks to a partnership with the Credit Union.
4) Sign Up for AAA
While AAA is best known for roadside assistance, AAA members are also eligible for a number of discounts, rewards and exclusive rates. A few examples include fuel rewards savings via Shell; a free two-month trial on Audible including two free audiobooks; free parking reservations; up to 30% off at the UPS store, and plenty more. AAA even offers discounted tickets to sporting events, amusement parks, concerts, movies and plays, via the AAA Tickets program—an awesome choice for budget-friendly family fun. Hop online to see the full list of discounts available to AAA members.
5) Install an Online Shopping Plugin
Many credit cards offer their customers free access to a shopping plugin, which means coupons and discounts are automatically applied while shopping online. Some of these web browser extensions also provide alerts when an item goes on sale, or offer additional price comparison tools. The next time you check your credit card account online, see if your card offers any such plugins. On the other hand, you can also download an independent browser extension like Honey which automatically tests coupon codes during online checkouts, to apply savings without you needing to search for a specific discount.
