The membership card can come in handy for senior discounts when they don't require a specific age. But that has changed in a lot of places as AARP has added more and more 50+ (still working) demo to their rolls.

I've found over the years that many more places DO post age requirements and not just AARP membership (often 65+) because they want the discounts to go to those who are statistically truly retired and are probably no longer in the work force and need the discount.

Anonymous wrote:I've not been impressed with the discounts. Typically they are minuscule, occasionally they are a scam. I signed on to the website recently to book a car at the "discounted" rate, but after taxes and fees were added at the end of the booking it was higher than booking on Kayak (which discloses the full price up front). Total waste of time.

Same. I signed up one year for AARP because the travel discounts seemed good. Found that Triple A were much better all the way around. I check every few years to see if I think the discounts are worth it. I haven’t yet seen one yet that I couldn’t match or beat elsewhere.

I've not been impressed with the discounts. Typically they are minuscule, occasionally they are a scam. I signed on to the website recently to book a car at the "discounted" rate, but after taxes and fees were added at the end of the booking it was higher than booking on Kayak (which discloses the full price up front). Total waste of time.

AARP starts sending out membership info once you turn 50, so you may not have as long to wait as you think!

55+ for disvounts on Arlington County classes.

Yay! I'm about to be eligible for AARP, but what do I do in those few years beforehand? I recently heard from someone in the waiting room at the pt my son goes to that there are some older folks discounts that start right at age 50! What are they? I live in the DMV and realize this is a very, very broad question, but I'm mainly looking for things like travel discounts, museum membership discounts, etc.

I can't wait until I can hit senior Tuesdays at the diner, but alas, that's still a few years way....

Thanks in advance