Seniors can benefit from thousands of discounts, on products and services ranging from new cars to hotels, auto rentals, and insurance. As a senior, you have nothing to lose by asking those who sell you something if they offer senior discounts. 

The definition of "senior," of course, will vary from one merchant to the next. To belong to AARP and receive numerous related discounts, you need to be 50 or older (and pay $10 a year) while some other benefits and programs are available only if you're 65 or older. 

Your local public library may have one of several books in print that list and explain senior discounts and freebies. Among the titles you might check for: 

	Unbelievably Good Deals & Great Adventures That You Absolutely Can't Get Unless You're Over 50, by Joan Rattner Heilman.
	Free Stuff and Good Deals for Folks Over 50, by Linda Bowman.
	The Best Free Things for Seniors, by Bob and Linda Kalian.

To give you an idea of the types of purchase for which seniors may receive discounts, you might check the list compiled by Walter Engel and accessed through the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) web site. Engel focuses on discounts in the Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia area, but he also includes many senior discounts available nationally. If you're not already a discount seeker, Engel's long list might get you thinking. It can be accessed at www.narfe.com/va/discount.htm

January 2003