Cameron Huddleston
Everything seems to be getting more expensive, due to inflation, and the numbers prove it. Since January 2022, food costs have risen by about 17.8%, making a $100 grocery bill nearly $118 today. Meanwhile, physicians' services cost about 5.5% more, turning a $100 doctor's bill into over $105.
While these individual increases may seem small, they add up significantly over a year, making a real impact on your budget — especially if you are retired and living on a fixed income.
Thankfully, some things in life are free — and we all know, it doesn't get much better than "free." Sure, senior discounts, on everything from going to the movies to riding the bus, are ripe for the taking. But there are also plenty of freebies out there for those who have cast off the shackles of everyday work.
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We gathered a collection of the 10 best freebies for retirees. Bear in mind, some are strictly for those of a certain age, retired or not. Others are fit for retirees, and others of any age.
Check out our 10 favorite retirement-friendly freebies.
1. Free prescription drugs
Tap into the RxAssist database to find free or low-cost medications from the patient assistance programs of pharmaceutical manufacturers. Not all drugs are included here. Some that are included have eligibility requirements, such as income limits, and usually require that the applicant have no prescription insurance.
Also, some supermarket chains, including Meijer, Publix, Kroger, Family Fare, Sam’s Club, and more, offer select medications for free. Blink Health even launched a promotional program where you can get metformin free, delivered to your door. Some of these chains require a membership (Sam's Club and Kroger), and you will need a prescription from your doctor.
2. Free college tuition
If you're still dreaming about going back to school, it's never too late to make that happen. Some states require state-supported colleges and universities to waive tuition for older residents, as long as there’s space available in the class. One example: Kentucky. The University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville are among 23 Kentucky colleges and universities that waive tuition for all residents 65 or older. Virginia does, too, for residents 60 and over. Note: Some tuition-waiver programs allow credit to be earned for the course; others only allow the course to be audited.
Read: Free (or Cheap) College for Seniors and Retirees in All 50 States
3. Free services from Medicare
Yes, it's true, you pay a Medicare premium each month, an annual deductible, and possibly a copayment for doctor visits and prescription drugs. However, Medicare also offers many services with no out-of-pocket costs. In fact, there are about 18 of them.
From free yearly wellness visits and seasonal vaccines to colorectal screenings and yearly mammograms, if you're on Medicare and not taking advantage of these free services, you're missing out. Some freebies might not be available with Medicare Advantage, and there could be limitations on how often you can take advantage of a free service.
4. Free eye care
EyeCare America, which is a public service program of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, provides free eye exams and up to one year of care for any disease diagnosed during the exam.
This free service is available to anyone aged 65 or older who does not have private insurance and has not visited an eye doctor in at least three years. You must fill out a short survey to see if you qualify for the program. Visit EyeCareAmerica for program guidelines.
5. Free entry to National Parks
Now you can take in the sights without paying a dime at some of our nation's most scenic National Parks, including the Great Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway. Plus, on several days throughout the year, seniors can get in free to all National Parks that usually charge admission.
Several state park systems — among them Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, and Texas — also offer older adults free admission or free annual passes. (Some passes require a small processing fee.)
And, don't forget about the Senior Pass, available for admission to all National Parks. It's not free ($20 - $80), but well worth the cost.
6. Free e-books, audiobooks and music
Project Gutenberg and the University of Pennsylvania’s Online Books Page let you legally download thousands of books that have expired copyrights, including War and Peace, Moby Dick and Little Women. And you won't pay a dime to do so.
If you'd rather listen than read, the Libby app lets you access thousands of audiobooks free from your local library. You can sign up even if you don't have a current library card. Or, check out titles from Digitalbook and Loyal Books.
More into music? Check out music streaming services, such as Pandora, iHeartRadio, and Spotify. All three offer some variation of a free subscription.
7. Free credit reports
Nothing is worse than waking up only to find out someone has charged something on your credit card or, worse yet, your identity has been stolen. Reports indicate that older adults lose over $36 billion to financial fraud annually, with credit card fraud the most common form of identity theft for adults aged 70-79.
Fortunately, all three credit reporting agencies — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — offer a free credit report to consumers each week at AnnualCreditReport.com.
Check for errors or signs of fraudulent activity, such as the presence of a credit card or loan that you never opened or a collection account for a debt that you don’t owe.
8. Free perks from credit cards
Speaking of credit cards, about 88% of Americans aged 65 and older own at least one credit card, so you may as well take advantage of some free benefits for carrying around all that plastic.
For example, many of the best travel credit cards come with free rental-car insurance, and some will cover the cost of your vacation if you have to cancel your trip or even reimburse you for luggage that is lost, stolen, or damaged during flights purchased with eligible cards.
Other credit card perks include free extended warranties, free cell-phone replacement and free museum admission. Contact your card issuer to find out what perks you qualify for.
9. Free calls to the grandkids
In 2025, the average cell phone plan in the U.S. costs about $141 per month, based on factors like carrier, plan type, and additional features. So, why would you want to pay more when calling your grandkids, family, or friends?
To limit your landline costs or avoid using precious minutes on your mobile phone plan, try using a free calling service such as Skype, Viber, or FaceTime.
All three allow you to make free calls to other users of these same services, and all can be installed on mobile phones and computers.
10. Free financial advice and retirement planning
We don't like to boast, but here at Kiplinger.com and on our social media platforms you can find actionable, straightforward financial and retirement guidance to keep more of your hard earned cash in your pockets. Learn how to cut your tax bill, maximize returns on your investments, save more for retirement, stop insurance leaks, get the best banking and credit deals, and so much more.
Sign up for our free e-newsletters to get our best tips delivered straight to your email every week. You can also follow Kiplinger on Twitter , TikTok and Facebook.
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