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HOW TO SEARCH FOR SENIOR DISCOUNTS IN 2021
Dear Savvy Senior:
I just turned 60 and would like to find out the best way
to go about locating senior discounts. Looking to Save
Dear Looking:
One of the best, yet underutilized perks of growing
older in the United States is the many discounts that
are available to older adults.
There are literally thousands of discounts on a wide variety of products and services including restaurants,
grocery stores, travel and lodging, entertainment, retail and apparel, health and beauty,
automotive services and much more. These discounts – typically ranging between 5 and 25 percent
off – can add up to save you hundreds of dollars each year.
So, if you don’t mind admitting your age, here are some tips and tools to help you find the discounts
you may be eligible for.
Ask!
The first thing to know is that most businesses don’t advertise them, but many give senior discounts
just for the asking, so don’t be shy.
You also need to know that while some discounts are available as soon as you turn 50, most don’t kick
in until you turn 55, 60, 62 or 65.
Search Online
Because senior discounts frequently change and can vary depending on where you live and the time
of the year, the internet is the easiest way to locate them.
A good place to start is at TheSeniorList.com (click on the “Senior Discounts” tab), which provides
a large list of discounts in categories, i.e., restaurant dining, grocery stores, retail stores, prescription
medications, travel discounts and more.
You can also search for discounts by provider. Go to a search engine like Google and Yahoo and
type in the business or organization you’re curious about, followed by “senior discount” or “senior
discount tickets.”
If you use a smartphone, there are also apps you can use like the “Senior Discounts & Coupons” app
(available on the App Store and Google Play), which categorizes discounts by age and type.
Join a Club
Another good avenue to senior discounts is through membership organizations like AARP, which
offers its members age 50 and older a wide variety of discounts through affiliate businesses (see AARPdiscounts.
com).
If, however, you don’t like or agree with AARP, there are other organizations you can join that also
provide discounts like the American Seniors Association (AmericanSeniors.org), the American Automobile
Association (AAA.com), or for retired federal workers, the National Active and Retired
Federal Employees Association (NARFE.org).
Types of DiscountsHere’s an abbreviated rundown of some of the different types of discounts you can expect to find.
Restaurants: Senior discounts are common at restaurants and fast-food establishments – like Applebee’s,
Arby’s, Burger King, Chili’s, Denny’s and IHOP – ranging from free/discounted drinks, to discounts
off your total order.
Retailers: Many thrift stores like Goodwill and Salvation Army, and certain retailers like TJ Maxx,
Banana Republic, Kohl’s, Michaels, Ross and Walgreens stores offer a break to seniors on certain days
of the week.
Grocery stores: Many locally owned grocery stores offer senior discount programs, as do some chains
like BI-LO, Piggly-Wiggly, Fry’s Food Stores, New Seasons, Fred Meyer, and Hy-Vee, which offer
discounts on certain days of the week, but they vary by location.
Travel: American, United and Southwest Airlines provide limited senior fares in the U.S. to passengers
65 and older, while British Airlines offers AARP members discounts of up to $200. Amtrak provides
a 15 percent discount to travelers over 62. Most car rental companies give discounts to 50-plus
customers or those who belong to organizations like AARP. Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Celebrity
and Carnival cruise lines offer discount rates to cruisers 55 and over. And, most hotels offer senior
discounts, usually ranging from 10 to 20 percent.
Entertainment: Most movie theaters, museums, golf courses, ski slopes and other public entertainment
venues provide reduced admission to seniors over 60 or 65. And the National Park Service
offers a lifetime senior pass for those 62 and older for $80 (see nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm).
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.
org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
FAMILY MATTERS By Marc Garlett
WAYS TO SAVE BIG MONEY ON YOUR 2020
TAXES—PART 1
2020 was such a tough
much or too little. But there’s good news—even if your
year in so many ways
financial situation has improved since 2018 or 2019
for so many families.
and you received too much stimulus money based on
But thanks to recent
your 2020 income, you get to keep the overage.
legislation, you could
see a silver lining in
2. Unemployment Benefits
the form of major tax
When the pandemic stalled out the economy, many
breaks when filing
Americans lost their jobs and were forced to rely on
your income taxes
unemployment insurance to pay the bills. That said,
this spring. First up, although it’s technically not a tax
unemployment benefits are generally taxable, so if
break, the IRS announced that the deadline for filing
you took them, without having taxes automatically
your 2020 federal income taxes has been pushed back
deducted, you were looking at having to pay income
from April 15 to May 17, 2021, which gives you an
taxes on that money when you file your 2020 return.
extra month to get your tax return handled.
However, taxpayers who received unemployment
The postponement applies to individual taxpayers,
benefits in 2020 were provided with significant relief
including those who pay self-employment taxes. But
with the passage of President Biden’s American
the extension does not apply to first-quarter 2021
Rescue Plan (ARP). Under the ARP, the first $10,200
estimated tax payments that many small business
of your 2020 unemployment benefits are tax-free if
owners file. So if you file quarterly taxes, contact
your annual household income is less than $150,000.
your tax advisor now if you haven’t already done so.
The ARP doesn’t provide a different threshold for
single and joint filers, so both spouses are entitled
Additionally, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and
to the $10,200 tax break, for a potential total of
Economic Security (CARES) Act passed in March
$20,400, if both spouses received the benefits.
2020 provides individual taxpayers with several
hefty tax-saving opportunities, many of which are
Note that if your unemployment benefits exceed
only available this year. What’s more, President
$10,200 in 2020, you’ll need to report the excess as
Biden’s new relief package, known as the American
taxable income and pay taxes on the amount over the
Rescue Plan (ARP), which went into effect in March
limit. And if your household income is over $150,000,
2021, not only offers additional stimulus payments
you’ll need to pay taxes on all of your unemployment
to most Americans, but it also includes significant
benefits just like you would before the passage of the
tax relief for those taxpayers who lost their job and
ARP.
had to rely on unemployment benefits in 2020.
3. Waived RMDs
While there are dozens of potential tax breaks available
You are typically required to take an annual required
for 2020, here are three of the leading ways you can
minimum distribution (RMD) from your IRA, 401(k),
save big money on your 2020 tax return.
or other tax-deferred retirement account starting
in the year when you turn 72, but the CARES Act
1. Stimulus Payments
temporarily waived the RMD requirement for 2020.
As part of the CARES Act, millions of Americans
The waiver also applies if you reached age 70½ in
received stimulus checks in 2020, and those payments
2019, but waited to take your first RMD until 2020, as
were an advance refundable tax credit on your 2020
allowed under the SECURE Act.
taxes. This means that no matter how much you owe
(or get back) on your 2020 taxes, you get to keep all of
RMDs generally count as taxable income, so taking this
the stimulus money and won’t have to pay any taxes
waiver means that you may have lower taxable income
on it.
in 2020 and therefore owe less income taxes for 2020.
Because the IRS didn’t have everyone’s 2020 tax
However, there are several factors to consider, including
returns when they issued the stimulus checks, they
the state of the market and your living expenses, when
based the stimulus payments on your 2018 or 2019
deciding whether or not to waive your RMDs. Given
returns, whichever one you had most recently filed.
this, consult with your tax professional before making
Using data from those years, the stimulus payments
your final decision.
from 2020 phased out at an adjusted gross income
(AGI) of $75,000 to $99,000 for singles and at
Next week, in part two of this series, we’ll cover a few
$150,000 to $198,000 for married couples filing jointly.
additional ways you can save big money on your 2020
tax bill.
Given that the stimulus payments were based on your
AGI for 2018 or 2019 but technically apply to your 2020
AGI, you may find that your payment was either too
SENIOR HAPPENINGS
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …MARCH Birthdays*
Cathy Flammer, Clare Marquardt, Karen Blachly, Carla Duplex, Ella Guttman,
Viky Tchatlian, Mary Cooper, Sun Liu, Helen Wallis, Joan Crow, Nancy Fox,
Martha Cassara, Rita Johnson, Mercedes Campos, Dorothy Webster,Terri Elder,
Carol Cerrina, Amy Putnam, Sally Contreras
* To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper at
626.355.2737. YEAR of birth not required
SENIOR ACTIVITIES IN SIERRA MADRE
CHAIR YOGA Every Monday and Wednesday, 10-10:45 am Chair yoga with Paul is coming back! Class will
begin on Monday, August 10th and will be held in the Covered Pavilion in Memorial Park in front of the Senior
Center. Please join us for some gentle stretching, yoga, balance exercise and overall relaxa-tion. Class size is limited
so please call 264-8923 to reserve your spot.
HAWAIIAN AND POLYNESIAN DANCE CLASS Every Friday, 10-10:45 am Class will also meet in the Covered
Pavilion in Memorial Park in front of the Senior Center. Join the class with instructor Barbara as she leads
you through the art of Hula. Please call 264-8923 with any questions.
Classes will maintain a distance of 6 ft between participants. ALL participants must be wearing masks for the
duration of the class. All equipment used will be sanitized after each use before it is stored. Each participant is
responsible for providing their own water, masks and needed equipment or sup-plies for each class. Please call the
Community Services Department at 355-5278 with any questions or concerns.
OCTOBER CRAFT
Wednesday, October 21, 11:00 am. Please join me as we try our hands at making Wooden Owl Orna-ments. This
will be a new type of program as we create our masterpieces via Zoom to ensure all of our safety. I will have all the
supplies individually packaged and ready for pickup on Monday, October 19th pickup will be between 10:00 am
2:00 pm. I will have enough supplies for 10 participants. Reservations are required so please call 355-5278 x 704
to secure your spot. Please note that this is an ONLINE class that will be held via Zoom. We will not be meeting
in the Hart Park House Senior Center.
IDEAS
Do you have any ideas for programming? Is there a class or club you would like to see in our Senior Community?
Please call or email Lawren Heinz with ideas or questions. 626-355-5278 x 704 lheinz@cityofsierramadre.com
City staff are monitoring email communication daily, and although employees are minimizing direct engagement
and interfacing less with the community, please note that voice messages, emails, and social media responses are
being addressed in the most efficient and timely manner. If at any time additional information is needed, please
contact City Hall Administrative Services at (626) 355-7135, Monday-Thursday from 7:30a – 5:30p, as they are
taking messages and e-mailing the appropriate per-son. For messages that may trickle in otherwise, please note
our team is remotely checking voicemail daily at the Community Services Department, (626) 355-5278 x702.
SIERRA MADRE SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS PLAN
The City of Sierra Madre is following these procedures to provide current communication in light of COVID-19
and keep the Senior Community and families informed of essential information and resources. City staff are
monitoring email communication daily, and although employees are minimizing direct engagement and practicing
social distancing in the community, please note that voice messages, emails, and social media responses are
being addressed in the most efficient and timely manner.
If at any moment additional information is needed, please contact City Hall Administrative Services at (626) 3557135,
Monday-Thursday from 7:30a – 5:30p, as they are taking messages and e-mailing the appropriate person.
For messages that may trickle in otherwise, please note our team is remotely checking voicemail daily at the
Community Services Department, (626) 355-5278 x702.
Community Services Department will continue email communication with Senior residents and aging community
members.
If you know of family members or neighbors who may benefit from accessing information electronically, and
to receive the department’s Seniors Newsletter via email but may not otherwise have been included on an email
group list, please send your request with email address to the following team members: Lawren Heinz Lheinz@
cityofsierramadre.com and Clarissa Lowe Clowe@cityofsierramadre.com.
City Social Media will continue via Facebook as well as Instagram, and information sharing will include updates
as details becomes available.
Mater Dolorosa - Sierra Madre Meal Pick-Up Program provides seal-packaged frozen meals, 5-per person
every Thursday, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. at Hart Park House Senior Center 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. Donations
are accepted. Call (626) 355-5278; x702 or 704. YWCA Intervale Meal Program - Effective
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
YWCA has transitioned their distribution of take home meals at the Sierra Madre Hart Park House
Senior Center to a home-delivery meal program. Participants previously reserved for meal pick-up
as of Wednesday, 3/25/20 were informed that they would begin to have their meals delivered to their
homes, beginning Wednesday, April 1, 2020 until further notice.
OUT TO PASTOR
A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder
ANTS,ANTS, ANTS, WHERE'S THE UNCLES?
I have learned in my life that
liberty to reveal that person's name.
the small things are the ones
I never encountered any problem those three days
that get you down.
and enjoyed myself; at least, I thought I was en-
You would think the big things
joying myself.
are the ones to steal most of your time. But those
My wife came home on a Thursday, and that night
big things call at-tention to themselves from the
we went to bed, and early the following morn-ing,
very beginning. You know they're there, you know
as I was shaving, I heard a loud voice coming from
you have to do something about it, and so you do.
the kitchen area.
The little things in life, usually unnoticed and ig
"What are you doing in here?"
nored, cause most of the problems.
I almost cut myself shaving, thinking we had an
Everybody has their definition of what a "small
intruder, and I better get out there to see what's
problem" really is.
happening.
A small problem for me is finding the pen I need
When I got to the kitchen my wife was at the door,
for a particular project. I have a different pen for
looking down with some can of spray in her hand,
each project, and I don't like to mix them up.
yelling, "Get out of here and never come back."
Someone in the family thinks it's crazy for me
I did not know what she was talking about or who
to have that kind of a problem. But everybody is
she was talking to. As I got closer, I looked down
crazy in some way.
at the floor, and much to my surprise, there was a
Another small problem for me would be finding
whole colony of ants that had invaded her kitchthe
right book to do some research for the day. Be
en. I have never seen so many ants in all my life.
lieve me, that small problem can become a huge
I was afraid to ask what I could do because she
problem towards the end of the day.
probably would've told me.
But then there is the Gracious Mistress of the
I try supporting her for the next hour as she was
Parsonage.
getting those ants out of her kitchen. Most of them
She never met a problem she can't fix and fix right
did not survive. When she was done, I thought that
away. No problem, in her mind, goes without be-
would be over, and we could get on with our life.
ing fixed right now.
After all, an ant is a tiny thing and, to my mind,
Sometime this year, we will be celebrating our
easily disposed.
50th wedding anniversary. For 50 years, I have
By afternoon, I had forgotten all about that morn-
lived with her, and I have learned some things
ing incident.
about her.
We went to bed that night, as usual, thinking ev-
For example, when something isn't working right,
erything was okay.
she stops whatever she is doing and fixes it, and if
The following morning as I was in the bathroom
it can't be fixed, then it really isn't broken.
shaving, I again heard her screaming, "You're not
This is quite different from me. There is nothing I
back again, are you?"
can fix. If it isn't broken, I can't even fix it. That's
I had forgotten about yesterday, so I ran out to the
why we make an excellent team.
kitchen to see what was going on in the world.
There is nothing I can't break and there is nothing
There at the door, my wife was looking down and
she can't fix. What a team we make.
yelling and spraying something, and I noticed it
There is nothing too big that she cannot fix and fix
was the ants again.
right away. I've always appreciated that, and I can't
"I told you not to come back again!"
imagine how much money we have saved by not
They were back again, and for the next few days,
hiring fix-it people to come and fix some-thing.
they returned every morning. Eventually, my wife
The truth be known, I never noticed anything is
had her way, and the ants disappeared. I have no
broken until after my wife fixes it. What would our
idea where they went, but I'm hoping they don't
home be if she wasn't around?
come back again, or they will be in real trouble.
But then recently I discovered something new
During the day, I happened to think of the Bible
about her.
verse that said, "The ants are a people not strong,
My wife and her daughter and granddaughter
yet they prepare their meat in the summer" (Provspent
three days doing some thrift store shopping
erbs 30:25).
in St. Augustine. That meant I was in charge of the
Ants are so little, and yet they can create such a
house for three days. I still don't understand why
big problem if not taken care of. Where are the
she left me in charge for that long of a period, but
uncles?
I don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
Anyway, I was in charge, and I tried to be as care-
Dr. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God
ful as possible, so I wouldn't get into any trouble.
Fellowship, 1471 Pine Road, Ocala, FL 34472.
However, someone in the house dropped some cat
food by the door as they fed the cats. I'm not at
Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285
Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com
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