You don't have to be retired (or old) to join AARP — here's why you'll want to be a member at almost any age

If you're trying to save money, joining the AARP® (American Association of Retired Persons) may not be your first thought, especially if you're not retired. But people in their 20s, 30s and 40s are doing just that because you don't have to be retired or over the age of 50 to join.

An AARP membership unlocks discounts on flights, hotels, restaurants, cell phone service, auto insurance, homeowners insurance and so much more. And it's affordable — AARP membership only costs $12 for the first year with automatic renewal and $16 per year after that. You can save even more if you sign up for a multi-year AARP membership plan.

If you're not sure if an AARP membership is worth it for you, there are a few deals that by themselves make the cost more than worth it.

An AARP membership is great for anyone who's always on the hunt for the best deal. Its discounts can help when you shop for a rental car, hotel, or a better deal on your car insurance, and often the deal is good enough to more than offset the cost of membership.

But it can be a headache if you're trying to wrap your head around all the possible ways a membership with AARP can save you money. A simpler way to approach the decision is to find a single discount that will more than cover the membership fee, and then consider all of the other savings as a bonus.

Here are three discounts that can make an AARP membership worth it by themselves.

AT&T customers

If you're an AT&T customer or are looking at switching cell phone providers be sure to factor in the potential AARP discount into the equation. AARP members are eligible for an up to $10 monthly discount per line with AT&T.

That's $120 in savings a year, which is ten times what you pay for your first annual membership. And if you have multiple lines, the savings can add up even more. The discount applies to accounts with up to five lines and also includes waived select activation fees, waived select upgrade fees and 15% off eligible accessories.

Anyone booking a British Airways flight

AARP members can purchase British Airways tickets for $65 to $200 off. Even on the low end, taking advantage of this benefit just once would offset the cost of a five-year membership.

With this benefit, AARP members get:

• $65 off eligible round-trip economy flights (not including basic economy)
• $65 off eligible round-trip premium economy flights
• $200 off eligible round-trip business class flights

Technically this offer is only valid through March 31, 2024. However, it has been around for many years now and has been renewed annually.

Frequent travelers

There are a lot of ways an AARP membership can help you save money on your next vacation with discounts at restaurants, hotels and rental car companies.

A wide range of hotels offer 5% to 20% off for AARP members and some even include late checkout on top of the discount. Avis and Budget offer up to 30% off car rentals for AARP members, and you can also get $20 off an annual Zipcar membership.

With your AARP card, you can also save on food at a bunch of popular national restaurant chains including Bonefish Grill, Carrabba's, Moe's, Jamba and more. You can also search for local coupons and deals at specific restaurants and franchise locations nearby.

Other benefits

While these are some of the easiest-to-use benefits, many more perks that come with an AARP membership. For example, you can receive exclusive discounts on event tickets through Ticketmaster, prescription medications, eyewear, vision exams and hearing care. There are also opportunities to save on various insurance products, including special discounts for bundling home and auto insurance. By completing the AARP Smart Driver course, members may qualify for even more savings on auto insurance.

AARP memberships are available to anyone 18 or older, the only caveat is certain deals may be age-restricted, such as some insurance products.

An AARP membership costs $16 a year, but you can save on the first year or lock in savings with a multi-year membership:

• $12 the first year (with automatic renewal)
• $43 for a three-year membership
• $63 for a five-year membership

There are also additional membership deals available. For example, military members and veterans can save up to 43% on an AARP membership. Plus, you can share your AARP with another adult in your household for free.

AARP members can take advantage of discounts for travel, cell phone services, insurance and more. And you don't have to be 50 or older to join AARP. Plus, it's cheap, the first year only costs $12 (with automatic renewal), and you can easily save many times that by using a single discount. As an added bonus, new members typically also receive a gift (i.e. a charging hub, packing cubes, etc.).

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