The bad news is that these are penny-pinching times for many people. The good news is that there are deals and discounts available, particularly if you're a senior.
Consider this information from Linda Bowman in the second edition of Free Stuff & Good Deals for Folks over 50, published this month by Santa Monica Press ($12.95, paperback): "Mature adults are the fastest growing segment of the population," with nearly 70-million Americans, or 25 percent of the U.S. population, over 50. As consumers, you and your purchasing power are a considerable force.
The best way to find discounts is to ask. They are available in most areas, from shopping, travel and education to entertainment, finance and health. Not all businesses advertise senior discounts, so get into the habit of asking, "Do you offer discounts for seniors?" You may be pleasantly surprised. Make sure you have identification in case you have to prove you're eligible. Before taking advantage of a discount, make sure it is the best discount available. Special, time-limited deals can sometimes be lower. A few minutes spent asking questions can save you in the long run.
There are also numerous advocacy groups and senior organizations and associations that take your welfare, and that of your wallet, to heart. A membership can often pay for itself many times over from the discounts it nets you.
The Internet is also a valuable resource. For those without access to a computer, libraries often have them available. Remember, many books are available with deals and freebies, but the information is free if you're prepared to dig a little.
The following list will help you track down those deals, discounts and freebies. It also offers a sample of the kinds of discounts and organizations available. Happy hunting.
Consumer Information Catalog, www.pueblo.gsa.gov toll-free 1-888-878-3256.
The catalog, published quarterly by the federal government's Federal Consumer Information Center, lists numerous free and low-cost publications on a variety of topics. One to check out is "66 Ways to Save Money."
AARP members age 50 and older can get discounts on car rentals, lodging, online services, cruises, etc., in addition to special offers and programs just for members, plus a subscription to AARP The Magazine, and the AARP Bulletin. The $12.50 annual membership includes your spouse.
These Internet sites are geared to seniors and offer online computer/Internet help and/or general information, as well as provide discussion boards and forums for hooking up with other other seniors online.
International Home Exchange Network, 118 Flamingo Ave., Daytona Beach, FL 32118; 386 238-3633.
The Internet-based home exchange agency offers members, at $29.95 a year, the opportunity to swap or rent homes with or from members around the country and abroad.
Golden Age Passport
Available to citizens or permanent residents of the United States who are 62 or older, the passport is a lifetime entrance pass to national parks, monuments, historic sites, recreation areas and national wildlife refuges that charge an entrance fee. It extends to any accompanying spouse and children where a per person entrance fee is charged, or to any passengers in a private vehicle if the park has a per vehicle entrance fee, and provides a 50 percent discount on federal use fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, parking, boat launching and tours. The $10 Golden Age Passport must be obtained in person at a federal area where an entrance fee is charged.
- Write to Nancy Paradis in care of Seniority, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.
