My folks are about to hit their 80’s.
Mum has had a stroke 12 months ago and Dad just had a minor heart attack.
They stress about things like money, mowing the lawn, watering during summer, etc.
Obviously the family helps them but they aren’t tech savvy and I was thinking that I need to search online and make sure they take advantage of all the savings that are available to them.
So this is a call to all the OzBarginers. What seniors deals do you know of?
Well, let's not help them save money by looking for bargains of things they don't already buy.
Tell us what their main expenses are and we'll find something relevant to them.
Yes, this is not about new purchases. It’s about saving money on the fundamental stuff.
Food, home maintenance, car maintenance, etc. Maybe stuff they are not aware of like taxi discounts on the occasion they can’t drive. Maybe people have good experience with other regular expenses like insurances.
You get the idea.
It could extend to purchase of goods or services that people might recommend end to make seniors lives easier, more secure or facilitating their independence. e.g. help button services.
I wanted to start this thread not just for my case but as a focused discussion for seniors or people with seniors in their lives.
I think you're getting a bit of negs because it seems as though you're wanting them to save money as opposed to you just paying for them. But - having read your other comments - I agree: my parents are the same and if they knew I was paying for services, they'd convince me they didn't need it, do it themselves, etc - anything to save their children some money, and so ultimately the cheaper things are, the more likely they are to accept it, whether they're paying or as gifts from others.
So other than the obvious ones: Council rates rebates for pensioners, water rates discounts for pensioners, car registration discounts (complete waivers?) for pensioners, public transport concessions, a lot of private businesses especially recreational ones also have concessional pricing for pensioners.
Other than that though - you're going to have to make them get used to accepting help and gifts from others. One of my favourites is to tell them: "I'm not spending this money on a (e.g. cleaner/lawn mowing service/etc) for your sake, I'm doing it for my own peace of mind to not be worried you're going to put your back out trying to do it. Don't let this money be a waste, let them do the job I paid them for."
And you just pay and arrange for it. After enough times, your parents will stop complaining.
Other states have their own seniors benefits, do a search. Many of the offers are nationwide or reciprocal.
Also: get free stuff from Freecycle, grow own food.
red rooster 10% off
Are they pensioners or independent retirees?
Car registration
$2 taxi rides
Half length passports.
Oh, Bradjj, At something like over 70 plus and are not healthy wise, why do you want them to save here and there anymore ? Won't you add them more stresses and unnecessary hesitations to enjoy their little left over life.Instead you kids or loved ones should convince them too spend more for the return of enjoyment they should be entitled, such as encouraging them to go out for a meal , coffee drinks , or holidays ( those easily reachable).Tell them not to save anymore as all you are already independent , tell them you don't need their moneys,and let them be free from those rules of hard savings and thrifty die-hard habits. We only live once and they don't have many years to go too.I am a senior too, aged 79; never worry about discounts things; I am not rich by any standard. For the return of my policy : spend as I want anytime anyway, no worries, be happy
; travelling here and there ( both of us still can drive),myself and my wife enjoy good health, and my kids adore us and let us free to do anything we like to enjoy with. Many times they give us some extra money for our enjoyment .Never form a forum to discuss how to use their money for those seniors as most are ending their part of life soon; maybe in months, weeks ; who knows?
It’s not about how to use their money. It’s about how to save the money they have left or how to use it to enrich their lives.
e.g. the family go over and mow the lawns but they worry about this and end up doing it themselves in a sneaky way. Maybe if I found discount mowing they would use this, or be happier about us providing it instead of risking their health.
Likewise anything we spend money on them they stress about, thinking we shouldn’t do it. They would stress less if things cost less.
Bradjj,
To add to my above comments: indeed there are quite many seniors like your folks , many of them are aged pensioners, still trying to save what they are having , for whom, ? for their kids who I consider very selfish and cruel. Many of my friends are even asked to look after their grand kids. They have not their freedom even after struggling for the past donkey years.Please be kind to them.They seldom go out for meals and prefer to stay back at our senior club for free meals. Much fragile they are, they are tied up for trying to save, save …As I said earlier never form a Forum to encourage seniors how to save here and there. Don't you know they can't live for ever and the purpose of living a life here?
Perhaps the circumstances are very different to your own, there may not be the opportunity to be anything but frugal. To me the OP seems very caring by posting this to help his/her parents. It is easy to say don't worry about saving but you assume that there are funds available to live the life you think they want and not the life they have to live. Making savings on everyday things can make all the difference, plus this is Ozbargain afterall and there may be suggestions of savings that the OP and his/her parents hadn't thought of or weren't aware were available.
They are saving it for themselves so they don’t run out of money.
You are totally missing the point.
And I wish there was a dedicated forum so that seniors, who often struggle with money, had an easy way to find out how to preserve their savings so they can do the extra things they want to do and don’t have to worry about selling and renting because they are running out of money.
The sentence that will get you most of the benefits is: Do you have any senior discounts? at the same time showing senior card. Many businesses do have discounts, but it's a chore to consult the directory, so just ask.
And for the big things, do take advantage of public initiatives to advise seniors on finance, house maintenance, etc. Your local library can help.
If they were in NSW, they could buy WISH cards at 5% off (new NSW deal).
As a senior myself, I can say there aren't too many… subsidised public transport and council rates about the best. They should also get an energy rebate. For the odd jobs, this is where you step in, and organise AirTasker and the like. Agree with damamaria 1943, let them enjoy their lives…
Check with their council as to what's available.
Mums in aged care, Dads still at his house and he gets a few things. Main one is a cleaner every fortnight, doesn't vacuuming, cleans bathrooms etc. Free from council I think ( or maybe state govt).
Talk to council and also local health care, they will know all the help that's available.
Hi, folks,
Many years ago some friend who was an x police superintendent (overseas, but migrated here)asked me how much was enough to have a decent comfortable retirement . He was working then as a security guard, and was getting bored over the job and was approaching his retiring age. I told him if one had a saving of $150,000 plus the benefits derived from aged pension, he would have no problems . He owned his house and a small car, and that was some 17 years ago. And I have been right as myself was experiencing the same. What is most important for all of us is to keep ourselves healthy . I do not mean everyone can , but there are ways to destroy one's health. Indeed we know all types of senior discounts as there are plenty of talks in our meetings in our senior citizen club from time to time through discussions of our friends who are in the same boat.Perhaps your parents never join those Senior Citizen Clubs? Membership fees cost only $10.00 per head per year. If one really wants to save one could have free coffee, and even free porridge for lunch there. I do not mean you are barred from using senior discounts: free train fares on weekends /public holidays, utilities authorities give pensioners discounts on ( water, council rate , gas , electricity etcetc) free V line tickets on seniors weeks yearly plus one each yearly from both state and federal governments, free drinks from fast foods chains such as Hungraryjack, McDonald . Somet motels also give seniors some discounts.. Here what I am concerned is some of these seniors who like to keep their die hard habits by trying to save at the expense of themselves ; they have no enjoyment of their life. Unwilling to spend money restricts one's movement and tends to add stress but nothing else . Definitely no good for seniors. My advice does not point to Baajill only as his parents are over 80 and sickly, but those who are still alright health wise. Go enjoy life, take excercis , holidaying while you can; never lock yourself at home; go and meet your buddies over a cup of coffee, join the tours of the senior citizen club while you still can walk.I also wish to add independent children can help here and there to some extend if really necessary such as mowing their lawn ( obviously OZ's parents got their own house) . Young ones are supposed to help the elders, why No?
If you're looking for holiday deals, I recently booked a package for my parents with these guys https://travelteam.com.au/holidays/
My mum asks pretty much everyone for a seniors discount.
https://www.seniorsonline.vic.gov.au/seniors-card