Reaching the age of eligibility for senior discounts feels like a rite of passage. A 10% or 20% discount just for showing your ID can feel like a win.
But in today’s world, the senior discount is often a marketing trap. Retailers know that if they offer a flat percentage off to older adults, those shoppers are less likely to hunt for better deals.
The reality is that loyalty apps, digital coupons and advance purchase rates often eclipse the savings offered on senior day.
Here are common senior discounts that are rarely the best deal available — and how you can save more by ignoring them.
1. Your savings may be limited
At Kohl’s, if you’re 60 or older, you can claim a 15% discount on in-store purchases every Wednesday.
But Kohl’s coupon policy prevents you from stacking percentage-off discounts. You can’t use the 15% senior discount on top of another percent-off coupon. If you have a Kohl’s charge card or sign up for their emails, you likely receive coupons for 20%, 30% or sometimes even 40% off regularly.
If you walk in on a Wednesday and ask for the senior discount, you’re capping your savings at 15%. Before you do that, you’re better off checking to see if you can find better savings.
2. You can do better at the pharmacy
Walgreens offers Seniors Day the first Tuesday of the month (and online for a week), offering 20% off eligible regular-priced merchandise for shoppers 55 and older.
Sounds good, but in drugstores, regular prices are often significantly inflated compared to big-box retailers. So that 20% off may not be the discount you think it is.
It doesn’t apply to a slew of items, including dairy, stamps, gift cards, newspapers, magazines, pharmacy services, prescriptions or pharmacy items.
You also can’t stack this discount with other promotions like Buy One, Get One 50% Off. So, if you buy something at Walgreens at full price with your 20% senior discount, you’re likely paying more than someone who simply waited for a BOGO sale or used a digital coupon from the Walgreens app.
3. Rethink that hotel senior rate
Many travel brands advertise special rates for seniors. Marriott, for instance, offers a senior discount to guests 62 and older. Nearly 100 hotels have similar programs.
However, these senior rates are typically calculated off the best available rate — the standard, flexible price. Because senior rates are usually refundable/flexible, they cost more than the advance purchase or pay-now rates available to the general public.
If you’re certain of your travel dates, booking a non-refundable advance purchase rate can save you 15% to 20%, whereas the senior discount might only shave off 5% to 10%. Always compare the senior rate against the prepaid rate and AAA rates before booking.
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4. Grocery store senior days often miss the real savings
Many grocery chains, such as Harris Teeter and Fred Meyer, offer senior discounts (usually 5% or 10%) on specific days of the month.
While 5% is better than nothing, it pales in comparison to the digital coupons now pushed by these same chains. Grocers like Kroger (which owns many regional brands) have shifted their best offers to their apps, where you can find digital coupons for better savings.
These senior discount days sometimes exclude you from earning fuel points or don’t stack with other offers. By fixating on the 5% senior day, you might be missing out on double fuel point weekends or digital deals that could save you hundreds of dollars a year on your grocery bill.
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