Archive for March 27, 2008
The AAA Card Can Save You Money
Shortly after my sixteenth birthday my dad bought me an old, used Ford Escort. That Ford Escort was nothing but trouble. It broke down at the most inopportune times, leaving me stranded on the side of the road on a number of occasions. About a year after buying that old bomb my dad bought me my first AAA membership.
AAA has been my knight in shining armor on more occasions than I care to remember. In fact, they came and picked my husband and I up after my car broke down during one of our first dates. After my Ford Escort finally called it quits, I drove an old Toyota Corolla and an even older Toyota Camry station wagon after that. My current ride, a 14 year old Oldsmobile, is the oldest yet. I think of my AAA card like an insurance policy against breakdowns. If I do breakdown I know I can call someone at anytime, anywhere to come pick me up.
The AAA membership isn’t cheap, but the peace of mind it provides is totally worth the cost. Plus AAA members receive a whole host of benefits. For travel purposes, they offer discounts on dining and hotels and once you know where you’re going you can order maps and tour books for your next trip. AAA also provides discounts to amusement parks, attractions, movie tickets, museums and sporting events. Not to mention a whole host of shopping discounts.
Just today I saved 10% buying shoes at Payless and last week I saved 15% at UPS. You don’t normally have to clip coupons or print advertisements from the AAA website. Most stores simply ask to see your AAA card. 1-800-Flowers, Circuit City, Dell, Lenscrafters, Linens & Things, New York & Company, Payless, Tanger Outlets, and UPS are just a few of the participating merchants.
As long as I continue to drive old cars I’ll keep my AAA membership. I don’t like the idea of being stranded without it.
