Is AARP Worth It in 2024?

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As retirement planning and senior benefits continues to change every year, many individuals nearing retirement age may wonder whether organizations like AARP can actually help you save money. AARP discounts are one thing, but it has long been known for its advocacy and resources for older adults. With changing times and new alternatives emerging, it’s important to think about whether AARP membership remains a valuable investment in 2024.

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You may have received mail from AARP encouraging you to join. But is an AARP membership really worth it?

Quick Take: What Is AARP?

AARP, the nation’s biggest nonprofit, nonpartisan entity, aims to empower citizens aged 50 and above to make the right choices as they grow older. Members receive discounts on everything from healthcare and travel to financial services, shopping and entertainment. The group also provides advice on careers, caregiving and other topics.

AARP publishes “AARP The Magazine,” a print publication with celebrity interviews, health and tech feature articles, recipes, and entertainment reviews. 

AARP Membership Benefits and Discounts at a Glance

Are there any real benefits to joining AARP? AARP’s Member Benefits page currently boasts more than 300 perks, including hotel stays, vacation packages, gift cards, credit card rewards and discounts on a wide range of products and services. In the table below, you’ll find just some of the discounts you can receive and resources you can expect to gain access to:

For a complete list of benefits and terms and conditions, you can visit AARP’s Member Benefits page.

Is AARP Worth It? A Review of Two of AARP’s Best Benefits

Based on current pricing, the most you’ll pay for an AARP membership is $16 per year. AARP’s exhaustive list of benefits includes discounts that could pay for your membership the first time you use them. To get an idea of how easily you can recoup the cost of joining, consider the following potential savings you can get on travel and shopping alone:

Is AARP Worth It for Travelers?

Whether you’re a frequent or occasional traveler, the travel discounts you can earn with an AARP membership can be well worth that yearly membership fee. AARP’s benefits page shows several travel-related car rentals, packages and deals you can receive.

For example, you can get $100 off per person if you sign up for a Grand European Travel package for one of over 30 river cruises in Europe, Asia and Egypt. You can also save $50 to $100 per person on guided land, river or rail tours by Collete.

Here are some other travel perks members receive:

• 5% off Vacations by Rail cruise tours
• $65 to $200 off British Airways flights
• 12% off reservations at Park Ride Fly USA locations, plus luggage assistance and airport shuttle
• 10% off stays at a long list of hotels and resorts
• Up to 30% off base rental car rates at Avid and Budget

What Kind of Shopping Discounts Do AARP Members Receive?

The many discounts you can get at local and nationwide retailers can also make an AARP membership worth it. For example, members get a $110 voucher for a purchase of $139.99 or more from Naked Wines, 30% off gifts from FTD and 5% to 15% off products and services at The UPS Store.

Other shopping discounts include:

• 10% off Laundry’s Kitchen make-at-home meal delivery service
• 20% of your first $50 order from Schwan’s Home Delivery
• Exclusive Walgreens Cash rewards

If you’re a frequent Amazon shopper, you may wonder if an AARP membership can help you save on an Amazon Prime membership. Unfortunately, you won’t currently find a discount for an Amazon Prime membership on AARP’s Member Benefits page.

How Old Do You Have To Be To Join AARP?

Full membership is available to anyone age 50 and up, even if you’re not retired or nearing retirement. Associate memberships are available to younger individuals, although some benefits might be limited.

What Is a Good Age To Join AARP?

Any age is good to join as long as you have reviewed the benefits and discounts and determined you’ll use them enough to cover AARP’s membership cost.

How Much Does AARP Membership Cost?

AARP membership is $16 a year. As of May 2, 2023, AARP is running a promotion offering 25% off your first year when you sign up for automatic renewal, making your first annual fee $12.

Other AARP membership options include:

• $43 for 3 years: One-time payment earns you 10% off the annual rate for three years
• $63 for 5 years: One-time payment saves you 21% on the annual rate for five years

How To Join AARP

You can easily join AARP using its website portal to create your account and pay for your membership.

Step-By-Step Guide

1. Visit the signup portal.
2. Fill out the form with your name, birthday, address and spouse’s information, if applicable.
3. Create an online AARP account using an email address.
4. Select a membership duration.
5. Accept the terms and conditions by clicking on the box.
6. Proceed to billing.
7. Enter your billing information and submit.[/tipquote]

If you have any questions, you can contact AARP by calling 1-800-566-0242 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. EST Monday-Friday, or chat online with a rep by clicking on the small red circular chat button on the lower right hand side of the webpage.

When Can You Start Using AARP Benefits?

Once you submit your online application, you can start enjoying your member benefits right away by downloading the AARP Now app for member access from your smartphone. Your AARP membership card should arrive in the mail in two to three weeks.

Drawbacks of Joining AARP

AARP is an advocacy group, and as such, it lobbies national and state governments on issues affecting older Americans. That might be a good thing if you agree with AARP on the issues it tries to influence — but it’s not so good if your membership money supports initiatives you oppose.

Another potential problem to consider is the amount of junk mail your membership will likely generate, including from AARP itself. Early and constant renewal solicitations, sometimes leading people to misbelieve that their membership is about to expire, are a frequent source of complaints from current members.

Final Take To GO: Should You Enroll in AARP?

Is AARP worth it? For most people age 50 and older, it’s a great deal, as long as you’re comfortable with the group’s lobbying efforts and can stand the junk mail. Just one night in a hotel or a couple of dinners out per year can cover the cost of membership and then some.

AARP’s healthcare and financial discounts and resources are also outstanding — and especially helpful during your transition to retirement. If you’re still not convinced, consider a one year membership to see what kind of discounts you receive and how often you take advantage of the other benefits. Considering how much you get for your money, you stand to gain a lot more than you stand to lose.

Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.

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