Memberships are paid rights that you sign up for to receive discounted prices on services. Memberships are a good idea and always seem great at the point of signing up, but they often prove to be a waste of money in the long run. You realize that you spend more money regardless of the membership. With careful research, you can get signed into a membership that will save you money. Some memberships offer more value than the cost of membership. Let us know some memberships that save your money in this article.
Memberships That Save Your Money
Some memberships save you money, more than you bargained for at times. Those club memberships include AAA (American Automobile Association), Amazon Prime, AARP (American Association of Retired Persons), and Costco, amongst others. The listed clubs offer more value for money to their club members. They also have different membership plans based on your budget.
AAA
- Membership in this association costs $50-$170, depending on your location.
- The membership is open to all in North America.
- They offer roadside assistance which is necessary for all road users and frequent travelers.
- In addition to roadside assistance, you enjoy discounted services such as hotel accommodation, vacation packages, automobile maintenance, insurance coverage, etc.
- The membership fee can be paid monthly or annually and as stated earlier, it varies from state to state.
- AAA membership plan operates on 3 levels:
- Basic or Classic Membership (cost $52-$74 per annum)
- Plus Membership (cost $85-$124 per year)
- Premier Membership (cost $118-$170 yearly)
- These membership plans differ in the number of services covered by the membership.
- The AAA Classic Membership offers the following services:
- Vehicles can be towed 4 times in a year within 3 to 7 miles.
- $50 worth of car lockout services.
- Flat tire, fuel, and dead battery services.
- AAA Plus Membership offers all the services under the Classic Membership and includes the following:
- Vehicles within 100 miles can be towed up to 4 times a year
- Members get free passport photos and free fuel delivery
- The car lockout services can be up to $100
- AAA Premier Membership offers all the services covered by Plus Membership, in addition to:
- Identity theft insurance up to $10,000
- Lockout services up to $150, for a car or a home.
- Vehicle tows up to 4 times in a year; three 100-mile tows and one 200-mile tow.
- Up to $1500 coverage for trip disruption
- A free rental car with tow services for a day in a year
- An interesting fact is, that your membership covers you whether you are a driver or a passenger. It also covers a member of your household chosen as an associate member.
- Additional services such as driving lessons, car-buying services, etc., can be offered depending on your location.
Amazon Prime
- Prime membership allows you to enjoy some services on Amazon such as free delivery, access to Amazon Videos, access to Audible to listen to audiobooks, and a subscription to Kindle Unlimited.
- Members also enjoy benefits outside of the Amazon platform, such as buying from Whole Foods, free shipping at Shopbop, etc.
- Signing up for Amazon Prime costs up to $15 a month or $139 a year. You get a free 30-day trial if you subscribe for a year.
- The Prime Student Membership is available at a discounted price of $69 per year. This Membership comes with additional benefits like discounts on textbooks and $1 a month for Amazon Music Unlimited.
- Also, a Prime Student Member gets a 6-month trial period before starting to pay for the Prime Student Membership. You will need a valid .edu email address to enjoy this discount.
- A Prime Member can share the membership with another adult for free.
- There is an option for multiple family members to share Prime benefits and this is called Amazon Household.
AARP
- As an association for retired persons, the membership fee is only $16 per year.
- It has 15 benefit categories members can choose to benefit from. These categories are:
- Advocacy
- Community
- Gas and Auto Services
- Shopping and Groceries
- Home and Real Estate
- Travel
- Work and Jobs
- Insurance
- Technology and Wireless
- Insurances
- Health
- Entertainment
- Family Caregiving
- Restaurants
- Magazines and Resources
- Some of the common AARP member benefits are:
- AARP Delta Dental: provides an insurance plan that caters to the dental health of an individual or family.
- AARP Travel: provides great vacation ideas, hotels to stay, etc
- AARP Job Board: focuses mainly on jobs for experienced workers.
- AARP Hearing Center
- BMI Calculator: helps members monitor their BMI(body mass index) and health status from their homes
Conclusion
Many memberships help save money if enough research is done about them before subscribing. Knowing will prevent you from wasting money on a membership that offers no real value.
FAQs
- Does AARP have an age requirement?
No, although the association is dedicated to individuals who are 50 years old and above.
- Is there a plan that gives free batteries in AAA?
Yes. Premier Members get 1 free battery every year.
