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As people reach or near their retirement years, getting the most out of every dollar becomes more critical than ever. If not careful, the savings that took decades to accumulate can quickly evaporate. Fortunately, aging comes with at least one financial advantage – senior discounts that give older Americans a break on prices for everything from a haircut to a fast-food meal to a seat on an airplane.

“Taking advantage of these opportunities is a smart move for seniors and their families looking to stretch their dollars,” said Chris Orestis, who is known as the “Retirement Genius” and president of LifeCare Xchange.

Each year, Orestis publishes a list of discounts that restaurants, grocery stores, retail stores, airlines, car rental companies, hotels and other businesses offer to their older clientele.

“Plenty of opportunities exist out there to shave a little or a lot off what you pay,” Orestis says. “Unfortunately, many people don’t take advantage of these discounts as often as they should. In many cases that could be because it just doesn’t occur to them to bring it up. In some cases it may be because they have a hard time thinking of themselves as seniors.”

In scouring for discounts, he says, a few things to keep in mind include:

Don’t assume you’re too young for a senior discount. At what age do these discounts kick in? Is it 65? 60? 55? “Every place is different, and in some cases you may already be eligible for a discount at a business you frequent and you just don’t realize it,” Orestis said. AARP membership starts at 50 and comes with numerous discounts built into the membership. Chili’s restaurants offer a 10 percent senior discount starting at age 55. Taco Bell will gives a free beverage, but not until age 65.

When you go makes a difference. Some discounts are for a particular day of the week. Some Captain D’s restaurants offer a “Happy Wednesday” discount where seniors can choose from among eight meals at a reduced price. “You might not want to schedule your entire life around discounts, but for some individual things – such as a night at the movies or dinner out or even a shopping trip to a retail store – it’s worth knowing that going a day earlier or a day later can make a difference,” Orestis said.

Even if you are not a senior, there are plenty of chances to save money, Orestis said. Many stores offer store “memberships” that come with a discount with each purchase. Also, the American Automobile Association is another organization whose members enjoy a number of discounts in much the same way AARP members do.

“Individually, some discounts might amount to just a dollar or two,” Orestis said. “But as you take advantage of more of them, those savings can grow. When you’re on a fixed income – or just trying to stretch your dollar – the difference can be significant.”

Chris Orestis is the President of LifeCare Xchange and a nationally recognized healthcare expert and senior advocate with 25 years experience in the insurance and long-term care industries. More discounts and tips can be found at https://www.newsmax.com/finance/insiders/chrisorestis/id-585/