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AARP. Like the auto club, the lobbying and educational association for folks 50 and older is well known for its insurance programs and travel discounts. But AARP offers some retail discounts as well, including:
- 35% off AARP titles at Barnes & Noble, including "Scam Proof Your Life," "AARP Crash Course in Estate Planning" and "Caring for Your Parents: The Complete AARP Guide."
- 20% off purchases at Reebok and Rockport outlet stores
- 4% off Home Depot gift cards
AARP also added an online marketplace that offers discounts of up to 35% off retail prices on a revolving list of products, including flat-screen TVs and navigation systems.
National Rifle Association. The primary lobby for gun enthusiasts offers members discounts on insurance, banking services and travel. NRA members also receive breaks on more unusual offerings, including:
- Log cabins
- Laser vision correction
- Holiday cards
- Wine purchases
- Prescription-drug plans
Public broadcasters. Donations to public radio or television stations often secure membership cards that offer 2-for-1 dining deals at local restaurants and discount admissions to area museums. But some of the cards offer a lot more.
Contribute to Texas Public Radio, for example, and you can get discounts at a wide variety of businesses, including free or discounted sessions with local dentists, doctors, lawyers and therapists.
In Los Angeles, meanwhile, a "Fringe Benefits" membership card from radio station KCRW wins discounts at over 800 restaurants, retailers, museums and other venues. These range from 10% off at local independent bookstores to 20% off yoga classes.
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Professional associations and unions. A membership card for the National Association of Women Business Owners offers discounts at more than 100,000 businesses nationwide, including breaks on movie tickets, travel and dining. The National Education Association provides discounts on books, insurance and tax preparation, among other things. USAA, which started as an insurer for active-duty military and their families, has expanded into low-cost banking and financial services.
Hobbies. Membership in the American Quarter Horse Association brings discounts on FedEx shipping, John Deere tractors, even a $500 rebate on a Ford. Notre Dame alumni can get 37% off the price of a ThinkPad PC.
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Treasure hunting in thrift storesIf you're buying at retail stores you're wasting money. Follow Donna Freedman as she explores a local thrift store in search of bargains.
Cashing in
These are just a start. With all membership discounts, you should keep in mind the following:- You've got to keep up. Consider bookmarking your associations' Web sites and checking in every few months, or before a major purchase, for updates. If the association sends out brochures describing their discounts, leaf through those as well.
- Don't stop shopping. Your association's deal might not be the best available. A good haggler, for example, is likely to get a better price than a car-buying service; financial services and insurance can be less expensive through nonaffiliated companies. You should check with competitors and use MSN Shopping or other consumer search engines to compare prices for products you're thinking of buying.
- It doesn't hurt to ask. Before you ask for your check at a restaurant or hand over your credit card to a clerk, ask what discounts are available. You may learn of some, like senior-citizen breaks or military discounts, that don't require a specific membership. In any case, you'll want to keep your membership cards in your wallet to make it easy for you to cash in.
Columns by Liz Pulliam Weston, the Web's most-read personal finance writer, appear every Monday and Thursday, exclusively on MSN Money. She also answers reader questions on the Your Money message board.
Published Aug. 13, 2007
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