AARP membership

What the annual dues actually buy: how the discount catalog stacks up against a typical year of travel and dining, who reliably comes out ahead, and what members wish they had known before joining.

• Is AARP membership worth it? Worth it if you'll use the discounts.
• How much do AARP's discounts save members in a year? Typically a few hundred dollars a year.
• What do AARP members wish they'd known before joining? The discounts are real, but the mail is relentless.
• How much is an AARP membership? About $12 to $16 a year, but it's often cheaper.

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