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How to Save Money When You Hit 60

How to Save Money When You Hit 60
MoneyMagpie’s Content Chief Vicky Parry is back this week with some fantastic tips for making and saving money – when you hit 60 and beyond.
Age is undoubtedly a privilege, but it can also be overwhelming. In this modern world, with the rocketing cost of living, people are retiring later than previous generations did. While the state pension age is an unsaid suggestion for people to stop working, it is becoming less common to actually retire then. 
Why? Because pension age people don’t have the same disposable income as they once did. Therefore, the over 60s are now on the market for money saving hacks more than ever. With sites like “Over 60s Discounts” making accessing this information easier than ever, here are our top five ways to save money for the over-60s.

Theatre and cinema discounts

Check your local theatres for concessionary rates for over 60s. You could also look for cheaper cinema tickets, too. Many cinemas have ‘silver screen’ matinee showings – for example, the ODEON Silver Screen offers discounted viewings at quieter times from only £4 per ticket (online booking) or £5 a ticket (in person).
Image of a row of red seats in a theatre
The first place to look for these discounts is directly with the theatre or cinema. For example, the National Theatre offers £20 off midweek matinees for the over 60s. The Royal Shakespeare Company has a 20 percent discount available for the over 65s on all seats for Monday and Tuesday evening performances and all midweek matinees.
You may find your local newspaper or radio station offers entertainment discounts for the over-60s, too – so it’s well worth checking them for information.

Food

If you are over 60, lots of restaurants offer an early dinner discount for over-60s. Look for special offers like a ‘5pm dinner deal’ to take advantage of. Also, remember to check Groupon for local dining discounts and your Nectar Card or Tesco Clubcard for deals - you can often trade your points for money off vouchers at selected restaurants.
  • Dobbies offer over-60s a main meal and a cake for only £11.95 Monday to Friday, from 12pm until 3pm.
  • If you regularly go out to eat, consider signing up for Tastecard, too. It’ll give you two-for-one or 50 percent off deals in loads of your local independent and chain restaurants.
  • Every Tuesday, all those who are 60 years old and older can bag 10 percent off their shop, with no minimum spend, at Iceland and The Food Warehouse.  
Image of a lady with a shopping basket with a bottle and vegetables

Free prescriptions

You now qualify for free prescriptions from the NHS. When you collect from the pharmacy, there’s a box on the back of your prescription slip to tick and sign. That’s it! No more £8 charge for every prescription you need.

Optical discounts

Get free eye tests to keep your prescription up-to-date. The optician is often the first port of call for spotting various diseases, too – the back of your eye can tell a lot about your health! So it’s important to get an eye test every two years even if you don’t think you need glasses.
You can also save money on your glasses, too. Specsavers offers a 20% discount on all glasses and lenses over £69 – and it’s worth asking your local independent optician about any deals, too.

Boots Rewards

Over 60s can get additional rewards from their Boots Advantage Card, earning 8 points per £1 on Boots brands and selected exclusive deals, including 300 points when you sign up for a free hearing test!
Image of a gentleman having his ear looked at inside as part of a hearing test

Swimming and gym reduced membership

Keep fit for less! Over 60s receive discounted swimming and gym membership at most leisure centres. Council-run centres may also run free exercise classes for the over 60s in a specialised programme to help older people stay fit and mobile. Remember to check online for free day or week passes, too – we love Hussle for this.

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