Is an AARP membership worth it?

[teller80]

All I'd probably use it for would be the discounts, as I don't need health insurance at this point. It's cheap, only $16 a year, but who's used the discounts and are they worth it? Thanks!

 

[Soulsearching]

Would love to know the answer to the question also.

 

[hearts8701]

I have saved more than $16 in rental cars fees and hotels in a year heres a list of available discounts

http://www.aarp.org/content/aarp/en...s_discounts_list.html?intcmp=MBCHLPTABViewAll

 

[Gigi22]

I belong to CARP (the Canadian version of AARP), and I find it well worthwhile. AARP and CARP frequently offer discounted hotel rates, and discounts on train travel. DH and I are using our 10% discount on return train travel in Canada in a couple of months, and a discounted rate off travel on Amtrak in the spring. You have to evaluate the discount programs to which you belong to decide if AARP has value for you.

 

[agie65]

Belonging to an organization who is dealing with a specific groups needs is always a good idea. You may not get enough discounts all the time to cover membership fee etc but they will keep informing you through out the year with changes happening, certain deadline and what you should look for.

I am not in retirement age but I would recommend it.

 

[Sadie22]

It costs less per year to buy a five-year membership, and I think they may be offering a lifetime membership now. The publications they send (I think they're available online as well) provide some good information. We use our membership for discounts for lodging and restaurants when traveling. We were able to get senior discounts through AARP membership before reaching the age where most chains give senior discounts. There's a deal for half-price popcorn at the local movie theater that we use sometimes.

 

[hearts8701]

I am not in retirement age but I would recommend it.
Age requirement for AARP is 50

 

[murt22]

You can get it when you are 50. I know we didn't pay very much for it originally and don't remember ever having to pay more to renew. Staying one or two nights in a hotel with the discount will more than pay for it. I have car rental discounts set up for our trip to Hawaii and it was much cheaper (but this is not always the case).

 

[eliza61]

lol, I whip that card out at a drop of a hat!!

heck, I save the fee in movie discounts alone. I also save on car inspection fees

 

[wvjules]

My DBF works for AARP and they are really trying to get away from the "retirement" mindset. The don't even use Retired Persons in their name anymore. It's Real Possibilities. And PPs are correct in that you only need to be 50 and retirment isn't a factor anymore.

For $16, I would absoutely do it. It's a lot cheaper than the AAA we have that's for sure.

 

[Sadie22]

Some organizations even offer a free one-year membership to AARP.

 

[MomToOne]

I find I get many of the same discounts with my AAA membership, so if you have that, you might want to look carefully to see if joining AARP actually gets you anything additional you will use.

But if you don't have AAA, then I think it's a no-brainer to join AARP if you travel even once a year.

 

[yoopermom]

If you're married, only one of you has to be 50. I got DH one the minute he turned 50 (I was 46), and we've used it constantly since.

If you frequent Walgreens, they have a "senior" day one wednesday a month. You can go into your walgreens account, link it to your aarp number, and get the discount (even if you're nowhere close to a senior, like me ).

Outback Steakhouse is a restaurant that we use it at frequently.

Hotels (usually the same as AAA, as mentioned).

Love it!

Terri

 

[eatatmidnight]

My reservation with AARP is the amount of junk mail and phone calls I'd get if I joined. How many solicitations do you get?

 

[powellrj]

I belong to AARP, and I don't think I have ever gotten a phone call from them. There is a fair amount of mail, but I am a bad judge because I also get my parents mail so it's double the amount. The discounts and magazines are worth the $16 membership.

 

[wvjules]

If you're married, only one of you has to be 50. I got DS one the minute he turned 50 (I was 46), and we've used it constantly since.

If you frequent Walgreens, they have a "senior" day one wednesday a month. You can go into your walgreens account, link it to your aarp number, and get the discount (even if you're nowhere close to a senior, like me ).

Outback Steakhouse is a restaurant that we use it at frequently.

Hotels (usually the same as AAA, as mentioned).

Love it!

Terri

You married your DS?

 

[DVC-Don]

I used to belong, but dropped my membership over the politics they support.

 

[teller80]

You married your DS?

Senior moment!

 

[SuzanneSLO]

You married your DS?

I believe in this context DS stands for Dearest Sweetheart. -- Suzanne

 

[tar heel]

Keep in mind that you do not need an AARP card for most senior discounts.