One day, when I worked at our local Council on Aging, a veteran Harvard professor of my acquaintance came into the office and registered for one of our discount programs. His doing so surprised me at the time and, frankly, shocked me as well.

Of course, I did not let these moralistic emotions show on my face, but I did wonder how a well-paid professional could justify receiving reductions in taxi fares and in certain store purchases simply because he was past 60 years old. The incident drove me to question whether it was right to make such benefits available to everybody of a certain age, even Ross Perot, George Soros, or other billionaires.

Long ago, however, I gave up such scruples and recognized that wealthy older people belong to a relatively small minority, most of whom do not care about discounts. For the rest of us, discounts are important to our financial well-being and we have no problem claiming them.

Many elders have precious few savings and little available cash;  discounts are a vital help to their finances. If those who are dependant on public transportation, for instance, had to pay the full fare on MBTA buses and trains, the expense would be a genuine hardship.

My friend Hugh, an 80-plus veteran of World War II, may be regarded as typical. When asked how he feels about discounts, he fires off this response: “I love them.”  

Also, young and middle-aged Americans seem readily to accept these benefits for their elders. Whenever I go to the movies, I am impressed by how cheerfully I am accorded my cut-rate tickets.  (I do confess cringing, however, when the ticket seller asks if I am an adult or not.)

This leads me to think that our society at large believes that our breaks are appropriate. And this kind of social solidarity between age groups, I am persuaded, is good for our national community

I have also consulted a professional economist, asking him how he and his colleagues look at this subject. He uses the technical term “price discrimination” to explain a factor that, ideally at least, works to increase revenues.

Economists are not often associated with warm and fuzzy feelings. In this instance, however, they help make me feel reassured about claiming discounts. I am aiding businesses to do both good and well. We discount hunters help make the world go round.

Many of us elders would presumably not go to the movies at all, or as often, unless we could count on discounted tickets. Nor might we buy a new sweater or a new dress at a certain store without the incentive of a lower price given because of our age.

Colleges and universities commonly offer elders access to courses for much reduced tuition. Here, too, it may be in the educational institution’s interest to do so for a double reason. They find it good to help in the education of older people. And, besides, the classroom seats might otherwise go vacant.   

Beyond this discussion of meaning, I want to make two practical points: first, discounts are much more widely available than most of us realize; and second, to receive many of the discounts, you have to ask. Many companies and agencies do not broadcast their availability.

One Internet site I have consulted (www.seniordiscount.com) announces breathlessly: “Now over 150,000 discounts for folks over 50!” This serves not only to indicate the huge numbers of discounts available; it also reminds us that some of these benefits begin at an earlier age than we think.

The same site lists 22 different categories of goods and services for which discounts are available. It is hard to think of a type of business that does not provide these perks.

If you are like me, you will be surprised at the range of rake-offs and other special breaks. For example, one hotel in my urban community will not only give you a discount in your own room rate, but will extend it to other people who are traveling with you, even if they are not of your mature age.

Besides hotels, others give discounts that might not occur to you. Some public libraries, for example, will waive fines on overdue books. Car dealers will often give discounts on non-routine work. Newspaper subscriptions are frequently lower for elders, and cable companies may have lower rates for those over a certain age.

To my surprise, certain food stores give discounts, often larger on a given day of the week. Large chain stores selling all sorts of merchandise provide bargains for older customers. Barbers and hairdressers are wont to do the same.

If you have access to the Internet, you will find that the fabulous site mentioned earlier (www.seniordiscounts.com) features abundant listings by cities and towns all across the U.S. Also, some Councils on Aging have lists with names of local businesses and other agencies that have agreed to offer discounts.

But the best rule of thumb remains: ask.

Richard Griffin