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Next up: student discounts and senior discounts.

Right? This seems like an impossibly sweeping judgement. If it were allowed to stand, would the AARP itself be forced to allow anyone to join? [I just checked and they no longer have an age requirement.]

AARP hasn't enforced any age requirement they have/had for many years. I know quite a few young members, they join for the discounts. Discount/frugal blogs also mention this fact pretty often.

I in my 30s, don't have an AARP membership, but have the AARP credit card (it's a good card!). It says it's "designed for AARP members" but doesn't say AARP membership is required. I just left the AARP membership number blank on the application and Chase was cool with that.

So, in practice at least, AARP is open to all, it's just not well known/advertised.

"AARP" also now stands for "AARP" and not "American Association of Retired Persons." They "changed" the name more than 15 years ago. The focus is not necessarily on retirees anymore. The current TV commercials seem to be in an office setting. The "age" to join is now 50.

If you don't own a car, the AARP discounts seem to be the same as AAA.

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