When you’re retired and living on a fixed income, it’s hard to afford many of the things you need. But fortunately, there are a number of ways seniors can save, all thanks to special deals, discounts, and offers made just for those age 65 and older. And many seniors don’t even realize they could be getting these great discounts.
Retirees can take advantage of quite a few special discounts – but in order to do that, you need to know what discounts are available and where to find them. These are the discounts you should be asking for and looking into to save yourself money.
1. Save Hundreds On Car Insurance
Senior drivers have been behind the wheel for decades, and auto insurance companies are willing to reward you for all of your experience. While it might seem like senior drivers pose a higher risk than younger drivers because of their age, the exact opposite is actually the case.
Because retirees have years and years of driving experience, auto insurance companies know that they’ve seen it all. From dangerous driving conditions to different roadway circumstances, seniors are typically more aware and responsible on the road. Even if your response time is a bit slower, you’re still considered a very safe driver by your insurance company.
And that’s why car insurance companies offer discounts to older drivers. According to Bankrate¹, most insurance providers offer a general senior discount to retirees. Your premium will drop in price once you reach a certain age, giving you a great discount. However, this discount goes by different names at different companies.
To lower your auto insurance, ask about a senior discount or a mature driver discount. It’s definitely available, but might not be something easy to find. For example², Allstate calls its senior discount a “senior adult discount” while Liberty Mutual calls its discount a “newly retired discount.” Asking is the only way to be sure you’re saving money.
2. Lower Your Mortgage Payments
During your golden years, it’s likely that you own your home or have very little left to pay on your mortgage. But if you are still facing mortgage payments, you don’t need to pay thousands of dollars that you might not be able to afford – especially when your income is fixed. With refinancing options, seniors can lower their monthly mortgage payments and gain a little more financial flexibility.
Refinancing is a great way to change the terms of your mortgage and lower your monthly payments. With the right refinancing option, you may be able to get a lower interest rate or use some of the equity available in your home. Look into refinancing options and see if you could save money every month by changing your mortgage. Seniors are great candidates for refinancing, especially if you’re looking for a lower monthly rate or a way to pay off the rest of your mortgage in the near future.
3. Get Free Tax Help
Even as you enjoy your golden years of retirement, you still have to worry about filing taxes. And it’s easy to simply pay someone to help you understand the latest tax laws and filing processes. But if you’re a senior, you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars – or even a single dollar – in order to get qualified, quality tax help from a professional.
There are actually two tax preparation services that are offered for free for seniors. You can use these experts to file your taxes without spending a cent. IRS certified volunteers work for these programs, and they’re there to counsel you regarding your taxes, help you figure out your tax return, deductions, and more, and are able to advise you on pensions, retirement finances, and other areas of taxes that apply specifically to seniors.
According to Daily Caring³, you’ll want to check with Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) if you’re in need of tax help. These programs are entirely free, and many seniors will qualify for their assistance.
4. Go Back to School (for Free!)
Have you always wanted to learn about a new subject or hone a special skill? Are you determined to earn your degree now that you have free time in your retirement? Seniors can easily access higher education – and they can do so for free.
That’s right: there are special education programs available for seniors that are 100 percent free. You could use waivers, discounts, and special tuition offers to get the education you’ve always wanted at no cost.
You can find programs designed and offered specifically for seniors at plenty of institutions across the United States. Colleges of all rankings and levels⁴, like UCLA, California State Universities, Georgetown University, Boise State University, and Mississippi State University, offer classes and degree programs at no cost for seniors.
5. Pay $0 for Phone Service
Many seniors now rely on cell phones for their phone calls and other communication needs, but even if you’re a very tech-savvy senior, having a landline phone is still an important factor. A landline phone can connect you to emergency services and keeps you in touch with your loved ones. But as cell phones and wireless technology become the new norm, landline phone service is getting increasingly expensive.
If you’re struggling to pay your sky high landline phone bill, you need to know that there are special offers and services for seniors who need financial help. According to Motley Fool⁵, low-income seniors can qualify for a program called Lifeline that will either discount your landline phone service or make it 100 percent free.
To get this free phone service, you’ll need to apply to the Lifeline program. If you’re a senior who’s already on some kind of government-sponsored program or your income falls below a certain level, you can get the discount or even free service. It’s a great program to consider if you’d like to cut costs, reduce your expenses, and save more money without losing your landline.