Showing posts with label AARP benefits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AARP benefits. Show all posts

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Why You Should Join AARP




Long before my husband and I quit working, while we were still in our 50s, some friends suggested to us that we join AARP.  This is the American Association of Retired People. We thought they were crazy. We were still years from retirement, and could not imagine why we would need to join a retirement organization.

However, like millions of other Baby Boomers, as well as people who are older than us, we have discovered that there are many benefits to belonging to AARP. Their money saving discounts have more than covered the modest amount of their annual dues.

As a result, one of the first money saving tips I want to pass on to other Baby Boomers is that they should sign up for AARP as soon as they are eligible. AARP has negotiated discounts at hotels and tourist attractions. They also make it possible for you to use your AARP card to get discounts at Walgreens.

AARP will also send you emails and magazines with information about financial planning, fitness for seniors, heath facts, and more.

You can find out more about the member benefits that are available at AARP.org.  However, below is a list of some of the major discounts that you can expect to use when you sign up.

Examples of AARP Discounts for Members

Walgreens
1-800-FLOWERS
Kindle e-readers and e-books from Amazon
Denny's Restaurants
Ticket Masters
Papa John's
Regal Movie Tickets purchased online
Best Western Hotels
Budget Rent-a-Car
ADT Home Security

Other AARP Benefits

Of course, there are many other benefits that you will receive with your AARP membership.  Some of these are:

Medicare Supplement plan
Identity Protection Plan
Debt Consolidation Calculator
Rent vs. Buy Calculator
Mortgage Payoff Calculator
Roadside Assistance Plan

Whenever my husband and I purchase tickets to a tourist attraction, make hotel reservations, rent a car or do many other things, we always ask if there is an AARP discount.  Without a doubt, the discounts alone make our membership dues well worth it!

If you are looking for more retirement information, use the tabs or the pull down menu at the top of this article for links to hundreds of additional articles on where to retire, health information, financial planning and more.

You are reading from http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Thursday, September 15, 2011

When Should You Join AARP?



Like many other Baby Boomers, my husband and I do not think of ourselves as senior citizens. As far as we are concerned, other people may be old, but not us! We still believe we are in the prime of our lives. As a result, when we were in our 50's and some friends suggested we sign up for AARP, we were surprised. AARP stands for the American Association of Retired People. As we saw things, we weren't retired at the time and we aren't old, so why would we need this organization?

Take Advantage of AARP Discounts

As we discovered, however, AARP has a reat deal to offer people in their 50s and older. For example, they have negotiated discounts at hotels and motels nationwide. Those discounts alone have more than covered the cost of our annual AARP membership. In addition, members can use their AARP card to get discounts at Walgreens. You can also use it for discounts at tourist attractions, Michaels Stores (on Tuesdays), Chart House Restaurants, cruises, and more. In fact, we never travel anymore without asking if there is an AARP discount, and we are often surprised by how often the answer is "Yes."  For a membership that costs less than $20 a year, the discounts are wonderful!

Stay Up-to-Date with AARP Mailings

AARP will also send you emails and magazines with a wide variety of helpful tips on retirement planning, travel, maintaining your health, and related information.  Frequently, the articles I read in an AARP magazine will spur me to write a post on that topic.

AARP Offers Insurance Programs for Senior Citizens

In addition, they offer several insurance programs for seniors. I want to point out, however, that my husband and I have never used their insurance programs, so I do not know if they are good deals. I only know that they have some special insurance products that are designed for our age group.  At the very least, you can use their insurance products as a baseline for comparison shopping.

AARP is the Major Washington Lobbyist that Represents Retirees

AARP also represents the interests of senior citizens when they lobby Congress over numerous issues which will affect us now and in the future. This service is somewhat controversial, though, since not all seniors think alike. However, I personally believe that AARP does try to do what they can to protect us ... even if I have not always agreed with a few of the positions they have taken.

Advantages of Joining AARP in Your 50's

In general, I am glad that we joined, even though I originally felt silly applying for membership with the American Association of Retired People when I was in my 50s and still working. It has saved me a great deal of money, and provided me with so much information, that it seems like a smart decision now. This is one money saving idea that I am happy to pass on, because I think all senior citizens should take advantage of it!

If you are looking for more information about retirement planning, financial planning, where to retire, health issues that could come up, changing family relationships, Social Security, Medicare and more, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of this page for links to hundreds of additional articles.

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo credit:  Morguefile.com