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Did You Know the AARP Magazine Can Save You Money?

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For the longest time, I must sadly admit, I treated my AARP Magazine as junk mail. Because of what I have discovered I want to ask you a simple question – “Did you know that the AARP Magazine can save you money?” I realize, of course, that you may not be old enough to be involved with AARP, but when you reach the age of 49 (the age I joined) I would suggest that you join.

In the September/October 2010 issue there is a great section on 16 ways that AARP saves you money. I would like to list these here just in case you missed this article.

Many of us have been coupon clippers for many years. It surely is a great feeling to check out at the store and find you have saved, in some cases, more than you have spent. And this happened just because you took the time to clip coupons. With the economy the way it is today, you cannot afford not to clip coupons. The AARP Grocery Coupon center offers coupons for more than just groceries. You can check these out at http://grocerycouponcenter.com.
If you are like me, I am always looking for discounts at the national chain stores. These include Target, Sears, Kmart, and many others. The Everyday Savings Center is powered by Next Jump. You can find discounts on things from books, electronics, furniture and much more. For more information on this service check out http://everydaysavingscenter.com/deals.
Nowadays, it is a blessing when we can find tips on low-cost home improvements, including no-cost ways to improve our energy usage. How many times do we find ourselves postponing a home improvement project because it is too expensive? AARP Magazine suggests checking out http://aarp.org/homeupdates.
Often we forfeit going out to eat as it just does not fit in our budget. Denny’s offers a 20 percent savings off your check every day between the hours of 4 PM and 10 PM just by your showing your AARP card. (please note that this offer cannot be used with other promotional offers and this is valid only at participating Denny restaurants). You can also get coffee for yourself and your guests for $1.00. You can call your local Denny’s to check this out at 800-733-6697 or go to their website at http://dennys.com.
I am most definitely going to be checking this “way to save” out myself. I did not participate in driver’s education when I was in high school but now AARP is offering the first and largest driver refresher course in the classroom and online. This will be at a discounted rate for AARP members. I have a spotless driving record but this could save me money. Check out the regulations in your state. Taking this course could very well save you money on your insurance premiums. For further information you can call 888-227-7669 or go to http://aarp.org/drive.
Who does not like to travel? As our purse strings seem to be getting tighter it is more and more difficult to take those vacations we would like to. The AARP Travel Center powered by Expedia can help you with your domestic and international vacation packages, cruises, flights, hotels and rental cars. You can be eligible for discounts from most AARP Travel hotel and car providers, as well as receiving extra onboard credits on select cruises. In addition you will not be charged air or cruise booking fees. Check out 800-675-4318 or http://expedia-aarp.com for more information.
And while you are on your way to the airport, perhaps you will need airport parking. You can save 10 percent at more than 130 off-site discount airport parking facilities operated by Park Ride Fly USA nationwide. They offer complimentary services that include curb-to-curb shuttle service to and from the airport, valet and/or self-parking and luggage assistance (this is an enormous help for sure). Call 877-503-7275 or log onto http://parkrideflyusa.com/aarp for more information.
I do not know about you, but car and home insurance payments can take a big chunk out of your budget. If you insure your home and auto with the AARP Auto and Homeowners Insurance Program you can receive up to a ten percent discount on your homeowners-insurance rates and an additional fifteen percent on your auto insurance. Go to http://aarp.the.hartford.com/msb, or call 800-689-9089, code 440160 for specific information.
If you are looking for ways to save on your cell phone plan, you can receive a free phone from Consumer Cellular when you sign up for a new service. With this program you will receive 5 percent off your monthly service and 30 percent off selected accessories. You will not have to sign up for a long term contract. Call 888-437-9226 or go to http://consumercellular.com/aarp.
Who is not trying to become more physically fit? Visit AARP’s online fitness center for exercise news and motivational tips. You can join an online group, Fat2Fit, and be part of a group that has helped almost 4,000 people lose weight over the past year. If you would like more information on this program check out http://aarp.org/fit.
Most people at this age are looking for ways to save money on eyewear. AARP has a program that can help you save on bifocals, trifocals, lens options and frames. You can realize these savings at LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Sears Optical, Target Optical, JC Penney Optical and also at many private practitioners. These savings are offered through EyeMed Vision Care and for more information you can go to http://aarphealthcare.com or call 888-352-3924. These savings cannot be combined without other discounts.
Health insurance is very expense and there are many people who cannot afford a health plan. This means that screening tests are not being performed. You can receive six free health tests for such things as bone density and cholesterol, through the AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour. This program is visiting cities nationwide and in Puerto Rico through February 2011. Call 866-484-8687 or go http://aarpwalghreens.com/tour. By logging onto the website you can see where the tour will be going.
Medications are another expense that many people are having difficulty affording. Check out AARP’s Doughnut Hole Calculator to find less expensive generic drugs. Those who have fallen to Medicare Part D’s “Doughnuthole” will receive a $250.00 rebate check from Medicare automatically this year. Check out http://aarp.org/doughnuthole for further information.
(Also remember that if you are having difficulty affording your medications you can contact your drug’s manufacturer and check on their assistance program. Many pharmaceutical companies, depending on your income, will supply your medications free of charge. You will have to request the required forms and get your doctor’s approval and prescription request. This was not in the AARP Magazine, but I speak from previous experience!)
Just because we have retired it does not mean that we still do not want to be active in the work force. We still have a lot of value to offer to the corporate world. If you are seeking no-cost job-search assistance or career counseling so you can maintain a marketable profile, AARP offers free advice and resources including career fairs and access to employers that are seeking workers 50 and older. If you require this type of service, check out http://aarp.org/work.
If you have retired AARP offers free webinars with tips on how to better stretch your money and helps you with information on ways you can make ends meet. If you have not retired but are thinking about it, AARP can help you figure out how much you should be saving for retirement. Go to http://aarp.org/moneywebinars.
Last, but definitely not least, AARP is always looking out for your interests in the halls of Congress and in all 50 statehouses.

AARP has fought to provide $250 in relief to Social Security recipients whose benefits were frozen this year.

AARP strives to protect and strengthen Social Security not only for you, but for generations to come.

Did you know that AARP saves consumers billions of dollars in home-energy costs by defending us against unfair rate hikes utility companies?

This is only a very small portion of the plethora of information that is included in the AARP Magazine. There is so much value in this magazine, including health, money, motivational articles, etc. this was just the tip of the iceberg. This is by no means “junk mail”, and do not throw it away before reading it from cover to cover.

I hope that this information is helpful to you. Please share this information with others so they will know that the AARP Magazine can save them money and how the AARP Organization is working to help us. This is so very important, especially during the economical conditions of our country.

Happy Savings!

Judy Conway

Email: judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com
http://homebusinessinatlanta.com
http://fullservicemarketingtools.com
Skype ID: judy.conway

In compliance with the FTC Compensation Disclosure Guidelines I am required to inform you if you click on my links and join a program or purchase a product I may make a commission. I hope you have found useful information on this site and will stop back again soon.

Ways to Cut Expenses and Save Money

Author: Judy Conway

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: Image by voobie via Flickr

I am writing this article to provide you with some suggestions for ways to cut expenses and save money in your daily life. For those of us who have been laid off, had to take lower paying jobs or been faced with not being able to find a replacement job and opted to take an early retirement … corners need to be cut for sure.

I do not think that many people are prepared for the day when they find themselves with an almost empty bank account and the pantry in a shape of hungry despair.

It is amazing how much you can save at the grocery store if you choose not to purchase prepared foods. Not only do you save money, but in the long run it is healthier for you.

Check your supermarket sales for the week and plan your meals using items that are on sale. If there is a really good sale on chicken, seafood, or whatever, perhaps you may want to stock up on these items. You could spend a little bit more one week, but the next week you would have already purchased your meat items, so it averages out.

The internet contains a wealth of information for cutting food costs. I just Googled “recipes that allow you to cut food costs”, and the page that came up provided me with recipes for when you are on a budget, how to cut food costs, cheap and healthy (15 nutritious foods for about $2.00), a website that provides a weekly inventory management system to cut food costs and even a site to guide you on making your own baby food. One of my daughters made her own baby food. She saved a lot of money and her children are not picky eaters and are very healthy.

Be sure to sign up for the coupon sites. It is absolutely amazing how much you can cut off your grocery bill if you take the time to clip coupons. You can even go to a specific site, like Kraft, Maxwell House, or many others, and get additional coupons that you do not find in your weekly newspapers or at other coupons services. I have saved at least half of my total grocery bill just by clipping coupons. Nowadays, clipping coupons should be a requirement if you are trying to save money. Get your kids involved. They love to clip coupons.

Make it a family project and plant a garden. It is a fun experience to see the plants grow and be able to harvest your “crops”. I bought a spaghetti squash last fall and dried and saved the seeds. I planted the seeds last week and I already have the plants coming up. Spaghetti squash is healthy and tasty. If you were to buy this in your grocery store it could be costly at $1.50 a pound and for one big enough to feed your family could weight three to four pounds. Just by taking a few minutes to rinse and dry the seeds you have saved a lot of money.

The wildlife (birds, squirrels, chipmunks) are a big help in spreading the seeds of various plants in your yard. A couple of weeks ago while cutting my grass I discovered there were many little blackberry bushes sprouting in my lawn. I have two bird feeders and thanks to the birds this year I have a many blackberry bushes that will be providing fruit this year growing under the bird feeders. I am going to dig up these new little plants and plant them in a more appropriate place than the middle of my lawn! These bushes will provide blackberries for eating, or making preserves and pies. The best part is I did not even have to purchase these bushes.

Make use of the internet to save on other items you need. Amazon has very reasonable prices on many items. In most cases if you spend over $25.00, your shipping is free. Please check out the Amazon link on this page to compare prices.

eBay is another site that can save you considerably. I recently found a seller for the ink cartridges for my Cannon Pixma 530 printer. We all know how expensive these cartridges can be. I have ordered cartridges from various suppliers. I have even used Staples, who provides good service. However, I found an eBay auction and have been extremely pleased with the product. I discovered that you can order directly from the company.

I know we are all apprehensive about trying “other than manufacturer’s brand” of ink cartridges. These cartridges come with the chips in place. You simply have to take them out of the box, remove the plastic wrap, usual tab and cover from the cartridge and you are good to go! They come with a one year money back guarantee. I have saved a remarkable amount buying my cartridges from this company. Check out their products at compandsave.com. I recently ran out of one of my cartridges and was pleasantly surprised at the great customer service and speed in which I received my order.

You can cut your utility bills. If you have ceiling fans be sure they are running 24/7. In the winter you will save on your heating expenses and in the summer you will save on air conditioning. Be sure your blades are set to go in the correct direction … counter clockwise in the summer and clockwise in the winter. I have vaulted ceilings and when I first moved into my house my electric bill was outrageous. I called the electric company and was told the tip about running my fans. It has made all the difference in helping me cut costs in this area.

I could go on and on about saving money. You see I had to learn this talent when my children were nine and ten and I got divorced and became a single mom. There are some every day expenses that are pretty much fixed but if your search hard enough you will find ways to cut costs.

I hope this information will be helpful in ways to cut expenses and save money. If you have other suggestions please contact me at Skype (my Skype ID is listed below) and I would be happy to share your ideas in future articles.

Judy Conway

Email: judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com
http://homebusinessinatlanta.com
http://fullservicemarketingtools.com
http://beadazzledjewelrycreations.com
http://joinjudyconway.com/bestdealsonline
Skype ID: judy.conway