Many popular restaurants and fast food places offer special money saving deals for senior citizens. There are great deals to be found for those fifty and older.

According to the Labor Department report, "those over age 55... spend more than $160 a month eating out. A host of local restaurants offer senior discounts..." This is good news for older adults.

Restaurants often offer senior citizens specials at certain times of the day (such as an “early bird” discount), but there are also special deals about which few senior are aware. Fast food restaurants also offer bargain prices on certain items that can add up to big money-savers over time. Here are some discounts seniors have found.

Call or ask in advance at any restaurant to check individual policies. It is difficult to find any information on corporate websites, as many chain restaurants make their own policies.

Fast Food Deals For Senior Citizens and Baby Boomers

Most fast food places offer some sort of senior citizen discount. Make sure to ask as these exact discounts may not be offered at every eatery.

A senior interviewed (via phone) in March, 2008 reported that at his local Southern California McDonald's seniors pay the discounted price of 42 cents for a large cup of coffee (up from .25 last year), with unlimited refills. At Thriftyfun, seniors report that some McDonald's give out free coffee.

DiscoverRichmond (online) reports that some McDonald's charge up to 51 cents per large cup. McDonald's does not have a set policy as each restaurant is individually owned. It is best to ask before ordering.

Other discounts (as reported by Thriftyfun, DiscoverRichmond and cstn) include:

• Burger King usually gives discounted or free drinks
• Taco Bell gives free drinks
• Pizza Hut gives 10% off
• Wendy's usually gives 10% off and occasionally will give free drinks
• Fast-food restaurant Chick-fil-A offers seniors a free small drink upon request
• Hardee's offers seniors a small drink for 35 cents, with the purchase of additional meal items
• At Krispy Kreme a 10% discount starts at age 50

Generally, it seems that there is no specific age requirement for seniors at many of these chains. Many will simply take one's word that they are of senior citizen age. On occasion one will be asked to show proof of age.

Sit-down Restaurant Bargains for Older Adults

• Denny’s restaurants offer free meals to anyone on his or her birthday.
• Applebee's restaurants offer a Golden Apple Card at age 55. Present it for deals and discounts (cstn).
• Senior centers often offer very nice and inexpensive meals (Cities of Anaheim & Cerritos, CA).
• Souplantation or Sweet Tomatoes offer a 10% senior discount to those over 60 on their buffet style meals, thought this may vary by location (seniordiscounts.com)
• Bennigan's restaurants offer a 10% discount on all items (bankrate)

Special Money-Savers for Grandparents Eating with Grandchildren

• Some Denny’s Restaurants offer children 10 years and under free meals on Tuesday nights and at some places, on Saturday nights from 4 - 10 p.m. at participating restaurants. They also have a birthday club. The chain also offers customers age 55 and over meal selections at special prices (in some areas a 20% discount is given according to The Times Standard) and children 10 and under a specially priced menu. In addition, Denny’s offers free refills on coffee, tea, soft drinks and lemonade.
• Join "31 Cent Scoop Night " April 31, 2008 from 5 to 10 p.m. at participating Baskin-Robbins® stores and help them honor America’s firefighters. Prices of small ice cream scoops will be sold for just 31 cents (limit 10 scoops per person) (per Baskin Robbins)
• Many McDonald’s Restaurants offer free mini ice cream cones to children.

According to Bankrate, "Many discounts also are contingent on membership in AARP, the nonprofit membership organization for people age 50 and over. AARP negotiates discounts on everything from motel rooms to home security products for its members." Bankrate also state that Chili's and Arby's give senior discounts. AAA discounts are also available at many locations if one asks.

Entertainment Books (available online) offer discount coupons for everyone, according to locale. Seniors or Baby Boomers as young as 50 should always ask and take advantage of the terrific discounts available.

For more senior citzen discounts, see March for Meals by Meals on Wheels and Senior Citizen Deals and Discounts

Also of interest may be Best Information for Seniors and Senior Citizen Caregivers website

Resources:

Specific business websites (ie. Baskin Robbins, Denny's Restaurant, cstn)

Perks Add Up for Seniors,Sandra Homes Walsh, Discover Richmond website, Feb. 2007

"A Chance to Give Back: Businesses Offer Seniors Discounts", Thadeus Greenson, The Times-Standard,02/06/2007

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