So you have heard all the jokes about 50, including the special exams, the aarp cards, etc. Well, I got the exam(s) and I got the AARP card. So what’s next? Well, rejoice in your half century survival. Now plan for the next.

For me, my epiphany came to me yesterday at my annual physical. After the first of my “special” exams, I sat down with my doctor as we discussed the tests I had done in preparation for my physical.

Aside from finding that my cholesterol is steady at 140 and my tryglicerides are perfect, he wrote the following wonderful sentence on my records; “will remove the diagnosis of diabetes because your A1C has been well below the pre diabetes range for 4 years without meds. You are in essence, cured”. How did I do it?? By loosing 50 lbs and going from several Mountain Dew’s and a few twinkies per day, to 1 Mountain Dew a day and 1 twinkie a month.

This was me a year ago at 285 and obese

This is me at 235 NOW

I found that busy work distracted me from eating. Music keeps me moving, and fitting into pants whose waist is 4 inches smaller than a year ago makes me happy. Now that i am off my soap box, how about showing you how 50 can save you money

Fifty is fabulous and sometimes free (but at least discounted) for many services including;

Eating Out

• Ben & Jerry’s: 10% off
• Chili’s: 10% off
• Dairy Queen: 10% off
• Krispy Kreme: 10% off
• Mrs. Fields: 10% off
• Shoney’s: 10% off
• Steak ‘n Shake: 10% off every Monday & Tuesday
• Subways: 10% off
• TCBY: 10% off
• Tea Room Cafe: 10% off
• The Plant Shed: 10% off every Tuesday

Apparel and Retail

• Bealls: 20% off first Tuesday of each month
• C.J. Banks: 10% off every Wednesday
• American Discount Stores: 10% off every Monday

Transportation

• Trailways Transportation System: various discounts for ages 50+
• Alamo, Avis, Budget, Hertz, National: up to 25%
• Dollar Rent-A-Car: 10% off
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car: 5% off

Hotels

• Best Western: 10% off
• Comfort Inn: 10% off
• Comfort Suites: 10% off
• Holiday Inn Express: 15% off
• Hyatt Hotels: 10% off
• Marriott Hotels: 15% off
• Mainstay Suites: 10% off with Mature Traveler’s Discount
• Ramada: 20% off
• Sheraton: 20% off
• Westin: 20% off

Activities and Miscellaneous

• Busch Gardens Tampa: $13 off one-day tickets
• SeaWorld Orlando : $3 off one-day tickets
• Jitterbug: $10/month cell phone service
• LensCrafters: 30% off
• UPS: 15% off

So embrace the 5-0. And while you are at it, join AARP