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The Best Senior Discounts to Celebrate Grandparents Day

By U.S. News & World Report

You don’t have to depend on your grandkids to pamper you this Grandparents Day.

On Sept. 13 (and all year round), reward yourself for all the time you’ve spent raising your kids and spoiling your grandkids by taking advantage of senior discounts.

Go ahead, you’ve earned it.

Tempt Your Taste Buds

Treat yourself to delicious meals without paying top dollar for them.

Dine at breakfast staple IHOP, for instance, and order something off the 55-plus menu. This special menu offers some of the same items as the normal menu, but at lower prices. Denny’s also has a 55-plus menu.

Fast-food chains such as Arby’s, Taco Bell and McDonald’s have been known to offer special discounts for seniors, sometimes even giving away things for free. Offerings may vary by location, so you’ll want to check with your local franchise.

No matter where you eat, always inquire about any senior discounts or senior menus that the restaurant may offer, even if they aren’t clearly advertised.

Experience Entertainment

How about dinner and a movie? Seniors can follow up that discounted food with some discounted entertainment.

At AMC Theatres, moviegoers who are 60 and older can purchase a senior discount ticket. Prices vary by theater. For example, a senior ticket for a Sunday evening showing at an AMC location in Allentown, Pennsylvania, costs $8.79; a standard adult ticket costs $10.29.

At Cinemark, participating theaters host a Seniors Day when seniors can receive a discounted ticket to any movie at any show time. Visit the theater’s website for a list of participating locations.

If movies aren’t up your alley, you can usually find senior discounts on other popular activities, too, such as miniature golf and bowling.

Shop and Save

Forget clipping coupons; seniors can save money simply by shopping at some of their favorite retail stores.

At Kohl’s, shoppers age 55 and up can receive a special 15 percent discount every Wednesday in-store. Simply bring an ID to verify your age.

Savings can be found at Belk, too. The department store hosts an in-store Senior Day on the first Tuesday of every month for customers age 55 and older. Sign up for the retailer’s mailing list for advance notice about upcoming deals included in these senior promotions.

Beyond department stores, drugstore Rite Aid offers discounts for its senior members over age 65. Simply sign up for the free wellness65+ program to get 20 percent off every Wednesday at the store on qualifying purchases. A similar membership program — called Balance Rewards — is offered at Walgreens, and the retailer hosts a Senior Day for those over 55.

Take a Trip

At Choice Hotels, guests who are 60 years old and up or who are AARP members can save 10 percent with advance reservations. Be sure to request the senior rate when you call to book your room. Similarly, seniors age 55 or older who stay at Best Western can save a minimum of 10 percent on their room. Some participating locations also offer early check-in, late check-out and a complimentary breakfast.

You’ll be able to save on a plane ticket, too. Various deals are available through Southwest, Delta and Priceline. Call the company you’re booking with for specifics and availability. You’ll need to be prepared to verify your age.

Reorganize Your Responsibilities

Insurance companies reward students for good grades, but did you know they also reward older drivers for maintaining their safe driving skills? The DMV offers a Mature Driver Course for senior motorists. Pass the test and you may be able to qualify for a mature driver discount from your insurance company. Ask your insurance provider if it gives any senior-related discounts.

Cellphone companies offer senior discounts, as well. AT&T, for instance, offers customers age 65 and older a chance to join the AT&T Senior Nation Plan to enjoy 200 anytime minutes, unlimited nationwide calling to AT&T mobility customers and more for a monthly price starting at $29.99. Keep in mind this deal is offered for basic phones only, not smartphones.

Verizon Wireless has a similar deal with its Nationwide 65 Plus Plans. These plans offer a lower number of minutes for lower prices. You must be 65 or older to be eligible for one of these plans.

Finally, if you want to enjoy a host of additional discounts, consider signing up to be an AARP member. For $16 a year, members receive discounts on travel and everyday necessities. Before registering, consider if you’ll use the membership enough to benefit from it and offset the cost. You must be 50 years or older to qualify.

Word to the Wise

Before you jump on any special senior discount, sale, freebie, giveaway or other type of offer, be cautious. Scammers tend to prey on senior citizens, so if a discount sounds too good to be true, it likely is.

Prior to making any purchases (especially over the phone), the FBI recommends that seniors check an organization’s credibility with the Better Business Bureau and verify the business’s address and phone number to ensure its authenticity.

More from U.S. News

10 Restaurants With Senior Discounts

10 Ways to Make Extra Money in Retirement

8 Great Part-Time Jobs for Retirees

The Best Senior Discounts to Celebrate Grandparents Day originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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