We rounded up the best senior discounts in Raleigh

Finding senior discounts in Raleigh is easier than you might think. Here’s what you need to know about these local bargains.

There’s no shortage of things to do in Raleigh. Whether you want to take a class, visit a museum, or check out one of the local sports teams, you have plenty of options right at your doorstep—literally! 

Arguably, the most exciting thing about NC’s museums is the free admission offered at most locations, like the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and the North Carolina Museum of Art. If that’s the main reason why you like to spend your weekends there, that makes perfect sense to us. We’re all for saving money while having fun.

Luckily, though, numerous senior discounts are available throughout Raleigh if you want to shake things up and try something new. Heck, the discounts are worth checking out even if you just want to save a couple of dollars during your next visit to Applebee’s or the grocery store. It might not bring the cost of eggs down, but it’ll at least make it easier to stretch your monthly budget.

Entertainment & Education

Senior Tar Heel Athletic Card (STHAC)

Before we get into the more practical senior discounts, we wanted to shout out a few entertainment and education options you can take advantage of in Raleigh. If you’re a big fan of Tar Heel Athletics, then you’ve got to check out the Senior Tar Heel Athletic Card (STHAC) offered by the NC Department of Health and Human Services. 

This discount is free for anyone over the age of 60 who wants to support high school athletic programs. The most important thing to note here is that the acceptance of your STHAC cards during regular season games is optional, which means you might not always gain admission to every game. They are, however, accepted at all playoff tournaments as a requirement. The NC Department of Health and Human Services recommends calling ahead to the high school to see if your discount card will be accepted at a specific regular-season game before you make your way over there. This will save you time and frustration if they can’t honor the discount card that day.

For more information on how to get your free STHAC card, please click here. Most are available through local senior centers or area agencies on aging. 

NC State University – Senior Auditors program

In terms of education, if you’d like to expand your horizons by taking classes, you can do so for a discount at NC State University. The school’s Senior Auditors program is available for residents who are 65 years of age and older. The application fee is waived for applicants meeting specific requirements, and your tuition fee can also be waived upon request. 

The eligibility requirements for this program are as follows:

• You must be a resident of North Carolina.
• You must be 65 years of age or older.
• You must be in good standing with NC State University.
• You “must not have any financial holds on any institutional accounts” when you apply.

Once you’re admitted to the program, you can complete your registration for the courses you’d like to take. You’ll also need to fill out this 65+ Waiver Form and return it to the Department of Registration and Records. This ensures that your tuition will be waived.

Additional information, including non-degree studies available to you through this program, can be found here.

With NC State University’s Senior Auditors program, it’s never too late to learn something new. (Getty Images/Unsplash)

Restaurants & Grocery Stores

According to Kiss 95.1 FM, 23 restaurants in North Carolina offer senior discounts. You can check out the full list here, but we’re going to highlight a few so you can get a feel for your options.

Burger King offers a 10% senior discount, as do many Applebee’s locations. Some Applebee’s may even offer up to a 15% discount, which you can clarify with your server while you’re there. TCBY offers a 10% discount to individuals who are 55 years of age and older. 

At Steak ’N Shake, you get a 10% discount on Mondays and Tuesdays, and Krispy Kreme offers a 10% discount if you’re over 50. IHOP and Denny’s both have separate senior menus with their own designated prices. Most other fast food options, like Dairy Queen and Arby’s, will offer a 10% discount. 

If you’re looking for discounts on Raleigh grocery stores, we’ve got you covered there, too. The News Observer has a nice breakdown of the particulars for you. You can click here to check that out (or listen to the article if you’re hard of sight), but let’s go over a few of the highlights.

Publix offers a 5% discount for seniors every Wednesday, and Harris Teeter has a 5% discount every Thursday. Both of these are only available if you are 60 years of age or older. In Harris Teeter’s case, some restrictions on the discount apply. For example, it doesn’t apply to gift cards, fuel, or pharmacy costs. 

Additional senior discounts for pharmacies, lodging, travel, and other restaurants can be found here. 

Elderly couple enjoying a glass of wine while looking out at the water. (Sven Mieke/Unsplash)

Public Transportation & Retail Shopping 

GoRaleigh

I don’t know about you, but I love having access to public transportation. It’s nice to be able to hop on a bus to get around, and it’s even nicer that GoRaleigh offers free fare for NC residents over the age of 65. All you need to do is show your Senior ID, and you’re good to take any GoRaleigh or GoTriangle bus for free.

If you need to get your Senior ID in order to use this benefit, visit the GoRaleigh Station at 214 S Blount St, Raleigh, NC 27601, and someone will be able to assist you. If you already have your Senior ID, click here for more information about signing up for the GoRaleigh Access Program.

Retail stores offering senior discounts

Finally, for those of you who are also fans of retail therapy, there are all kinds of discounts available for seniors. Discounts are available at Savers (one of my favorite stores) every Tuesday for anyone 55+. 

You can also get 10% off your purchases at Michaels, Goodwill, and Ross Dress for Less. Kohl’s offers 15% off discounts on Wednesdays for people who are over 60. JOANN offers a 20% discount one day per month, which varies by location. It’s best to call ahead to your local JOANN store to see when that day is so you can plan your trip accordingly.

In most cases, you’ll need to show your ID to verify your age to receive the discount at these stores. For even more savings, click here.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.