Retirement is supposed to be your “live your best life” era, but getting there takes a little know‑how.

Here are 12 tips people say they wish they knew sooner.

1. There are secret travel discounts that don't always show up online

Airlines, hotels, rental cars, train tickets, museums - plenty of places have senior rates, but you usually have to ask for them.

Before booking a trip, it’s worth doing this:

• Call the airline or hotel before you book online
• Ask if they have a senior fare, 55+ rate, or AARP discount
• Check if traveling midweek or off-season lowers the price
• Look at train and bus discounts too, especially for shorter trips

For example, Amtrak offers 15% off for travelers 65+, and Greyhound offers 5% off for riders 62+.

2. The $80 pass that gets seniors into national parks for life

If you’re 62+ this is one discount that’s very easy to miss. 

The America the Beautiful Senior Lifetime Pass costs $80 and gives you access to national parks and other federal recreation sites across the U.S.

That includes places like Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, and plenty of smaller parks people forget about.

Here’s what it can cover:

• Entrance fees at participating national parks and federal recreation sites
• Everyone in your car at parks that charge per vehicle
• Possible discounts on things like camping and boat launch fees
• You can buy it online through the official government site or in person at participating federal recreation sites

If you visit even a couple of parks, it can pay for itself pretty quickly.

3. Check if you’re overpaying for car insurance

Believe it or not, the average American family still overspends by $461/year¹ on car insurance.

(Sometimes it’s significantly more: I saved $1,300/year when I switched)

Here’s how to quickly see how much you’re being overcharged (takes maybe a couple of minutes):

• Pull up StopOverpaying.org – it’s a free site that will compare offers for you
• Answer the questions on the page
• It’ll spit out a bunch of insurance offers for you

That’s literally it. You’ll likely save yourself a bunch of money.

Here’s a link to StopOverpaying.org

4. The home equity option more seniors are checking right now

If you own your home but are low on funds, you might want to look into a HELOC (home equity line of credit). Instead of borrowing from your bank, you can essentially borrow from yourself (by tapping into your home's equity).

They may have lower interest rates and more flexible terms that a typical loan would.

Here’s a free page you can use to see how much you could access: link.

5. Check your life insurance

Over half of Americans think term life insurance costs 3x more than it actually does¹. So a lot of people may be avoiding it based on a bad guess, not the actual price.

That matters if someone depends on your income, shares your mortgage, or counts on you for things like housing costs, bills, or everyday expenses.

If you’ve never checked, Ethos is one way to get a clearer idea of what term life insurance might cost. Online health questions are required, but there’s no medical exam or blood test.

See what coverage may cost here: link.

It only takes a few minutes to see what coverage may cost, which is a lot better than assuming it’s too expensive and never checking.

6. A small gutter fix that can prevent expensive home damage

Most people don’t even think about their gutters until they become a problem.

But when water starts overflowing, it can mess up your roof, siding, even your foundation - and those repairs can cost thousands of dollars.

Installing gutter guards is one of those small upgrades that can save you money long-term. They keep leaves out, cut down on cleanings, and can help prevent the kind of water damage that turns into big bills later.

If you want to see what installation actually costs, you can get a quick estimate here: link.

7. Seniors are getting more out of their money with the right financial advisor

Most people don’t have one, and it’s typically a huge mistake.

Sure, you can manage things on your own if you want to, but most people don’t have the time to actually do things right. There are huge benefits to having somebody pay attention to your money all the time.

• People with financial advisors tend to beat the market by ~3%/year (according to a 2019 Vanguard Study). That can make a huge difference over time.

• But more important: a good advisor will handle ALL of the annoying retirement stuff & bizarro tax implications you would have never thought of.

If you don’t know a financial advisor personally, use a comparison site (like Datalign) and find somebody near you that has good reviews.

Or if you want something easier, here’s a quiz you can fill out that can find an advisor/planner based on your reqs.

8. See if this company will help you pay off your credit card debt

If you’ve got $10k+ in unsecured debt (think credit cards, medical bills, etc), you could use a debt relief program and potentially save up to 45%.
Here’s how to quickly see if you qualify for debt relief:

• Head to National Debt Relief’s site here
• See what debt relief options are available
• Find out if you qualify

Simple as that. You could end up paying less than you owed and be debt-free in 24-48 months.

Here’s a link to National Debt Relief.

9. Stop overpaying for heating and cooling bills with energy-efficient windows

If it’s been a while since you’ve updated your windows, they could be making your heating and cooling bills more expensive than they need to be.

Older windows can let heat out in the winter and cool air out in the summer, making your AC or heater work harder.

Here’s a quick way to update your home and help save on utility bills:

• Head to this page
• Answer a few questions
• Get a free quote for installation

Simple as that. If your windows are old, replacing them with new energy-efficient replacement windows could help you save on utility bills.

Head to their site here: link.

10. Stop paying credit card interest on balance transfers into 2027

High-interest credit card payments can be a nightmare. Have you ever wished you could just take a break from them?

You actually might be able to. Many people may not know, but there’s a great way to avoid interest payments for over a year or more.

It’s called a balance transfer. In simple terms, you move your balance to a new credit card that offers a 0% intro APR for a set period of time, which could help you save on interest.

If you’re interested, here are a few great balance transfer cards to look into: link here.

11. Seniors might be able to save $1k+/year on home insurance

If you’re looking for better home insurance, whether that means lower rates or better coverage, there’s one thing you have to do: compare quotes from multiple providers.

A lot of people miss this step. But getting multiple options could save you thousands over the years you own your home. And yes – you can switch your insurance any time.

This site makes the comparison part easy. They match you with a range of home insurance offers based on your needs and budget, so you can choose the right fit without spending hours searching.

Just answer a few quick questions to get started.

Enter your zip code to see your options