The last of the baby boomers turn 50 this year, and if they want to cry into their beer about getting older, at least they can now buy it at a discount.
That’s because the first of the so-called senior discounts kick in at age 50, generally along with an AARP card.
Sure, there are savings at some chain restaurants and movie theaters, but like everything else with this generation, the boomers have put their own mark on senior savings.
“Some of our discounts would not have existed 10 years ago,” said Lynn Mento, a spokeswoman for the Washington, D.C.-based AARP.
Today’s cardholders can buy three concert tickets at Live Nation and get a fourth for free; get 45 percent off a new membership at Angie’s List, which lets people review businesses; and qualify for 15 percent off on HP computers.
Plenty of discounts are available for those who aren’t among the AARP’s 37 million members, though those often don’t kick in until closer to retirement age. The National Park Service charges just $10 for a lifetime pass for Americans age 62 or older, and Southwest Airlines still offers a reduced fare for those 65 and older.
To find discounts, the simplest thing to do is ask, said Jim Miller, of Norman, Oklahoma, who writes the syndicated Savvy Senior column. He also recommends the website SeniorDiscounts.com, which lists thousands of offers and is searchable by location.
Don’t stop there, however, as senior discounts aren’t always the cheapest option. Sometimes, other discounts or promotions will offer greater savings. It pays to search the Internet and shop around.
While many of the senior perks are marketing moves by businesses, it’s a win-win as more than half of seniors really need to stretch their dollars.
There are about 76 million baby boomers in the United States — those born between 1946 and 1964. Of them, about 41 million, or 14 percent, are over 65.
Financially, a lot of them are in rough shape. More than 23 million Americans over age 60 are financially “insecure,” according to the National Council on Aging, based in Washington. That’s the term the private nonprofit uses to describe a single senior who make $28,725 or less per year, said Jean Van Ryzin, NCOA spokeswoman.
“A lot of times all it takes is one life event to push them down into poverty,” she said. “They fall and break their hip. They lose their job. They have to take in a family member.”
The agency offers a free tool on its website, Benefitscheckup.org, that helps those 55 and older find programs for which they might qualify, including assistance with food, health care and medications, said Van Ryzin.
“This is beyond discounts of just getting 10 percent off your meal,” she said.