aarp united healthcare :: Article CreatorNo Degree Required: AARP Reveals Part-time Jobs Great For Retirees
Retirement doesn't have to mean barely getting by on a fixed income. There are part-time jobs aplenty that are perfect for older adults in need of some extra cash. And AARP, the nonprofit organization founded by a retired teacher, recently released a report of the best side hustles for retirees that require no college degree.
School bus driver
School bus drivers make $20.39 per hour, on average. Because of the pandemic, the need for school bus drivers has diminished significantly. Compared to September 2019, there were 15% fewer drivers employed in September 2023.
But many drivers are 50 or older and often retired, as the job requires a couple hours of work in the morning and again in the afternoon. The AARP offers a list of active job opportunities here.
ExploreOver 55? Your adventures are just beginning at these Georgia travel hubsNanny
With $22 an hour in pay, nannies make more than any other professionals on this list. The increase in work-from-home opportunities has affected the career landscape for nannies, but the position is still in demand. Some families require only part-time help, because they work hybrid schedules. Some simply want a nanny to care for their children while they work from home. AARP offers a list of active job opportunities here.
Receptionist
At an average hourly wage of $16.33, receptionists are lower on the list concerning pay. However, it's common for businesses to split their receptionist duties among several part-time employees to save on benefits that would otherwise be awarded to full-time workers. This position is ideal for older adults looking to leave the home for an office environment. AARP offers a list of active job opportunities here.
ExploreIs your blood aging your brain? It might increase your dementia riskAdministrative assistant
Administrative assistants average $21.29 an hour, and businesses are often looking for part-time workers to fill hybrid work schedules a couple of days a week.
Virtual assistants work from home while attending to the same work responsibilities, making this a flexible path for older adults in need of a side hustle. You can find AARP's list of active job opportunities here.
Customer service representative
With around 3 million active workers in the field, customer service representatives average $18.16 an hour. The hours are often flexible and work-from-home opportunities are plentiful. Find AARP's offers a list of active job opportunities here.
AARP Financial Tips For Older Adults Are On The Money
My favorite magazine is AARP.
I don't scan it. I devour it. Not only is the magazine relevant to what's happening in my life, it is entertaining.
After all, what 70-something-year-old woman doesn't enjoy reading about Robert De Niro's private life or the "Sex Secrets of Extremely Happy Couples?"
The February/March edition is particularly helpful.
It's about safeguarding your personal finances.
While most of us won't retire as millionaires, we've worked too hard to see our savings in the hands of scammers or wasted on poor financial choices.
I was reading the magazine when I came across "7 Things NOT To Do to Stay Financially Healthy."
I couldn't believe it.
After reading the article, I discovered I made four financial mistakes.
Mistake: "Shower the people you love with money"
"It can be hard to tell relatives that you have to rein in your giving," said Lena Haas, head of wealth management advice and solutions at Edward Jones, in the AARP article. "Sit down with your family before there is a crisis, and be honest about what aid you can give."
As the eldest of several siblings, I've played the savior for a large part of my life. Now that I am the matriarch of my family, there is even more of an expectation that I'll help out financially in a crisis.
That won't change.
As a successful Black woman, supporting family members is a given. What will change, however, is my habit of giving large monetary gifts to make up for my failure to spend time with the people I care about.
As they say, time is money, but money can't make up for time.
Mistake: "Lap up the luxury"
"Before you spring for that European sports car or total kitchen makeover, calculate how much you'll need to live comfortably," the article stated.
That's the truth.
Because I remembered the sting of a supervisor telling me I would never be able to afford a Saab convertible, my idea of retirement was driving off into the sunset in a luxury car.
I got that Saab convertible decades ago.
But spending retirement money on one big luxury item turned out to be a dumb idea.
I now drive a vehicle with enough bells and whistles to make my head spin.
But what I needed was a cool car with a CD player.
Mistake: "Panic about investments"
For investment advice, AARP turned to Meir Statman, a professor of finance at Santa Clara University and author of "Finance for Normal People."
"People tend to assume that what is going up or down will continue," Statman said. "Use a two-week cooling-off period before you buy or sell."
I warn new investors to avoid watching the market's ups and downs daily. It could be bad for your mental health.
When I entered the market, I had no idea what I was getting into. All I knew, really, was that I had a 401(k) plan that I needed to roll over somewhere. I didn't know the plan's value could fluctuate — sometimes wildly.
I'm grateful that my financial adviser kept me from bailing out when the market sank.
Mistake: "Spend on autopilot"
According to AARP, "in 2022, C+R Research surveyed people who thought they were spending an average of $89 a month on subscriptions. But a review of their bills found they were actually spending $219 a month."
For me, tax season is a wake-up call. I'm always astounded by how quickly the subscriptions and streaming services can add up. Because of rampant fraud, I'm also paying closer attention to my credit card statements.
The article also told seniors to make minor home repairs to prevent more expensive ones down the road and to get rid of items you really don't need to avoid expensive storage costs. AARP also advised seniors to keep up with preventive health care to help to curb expensive medical care expenses.
As a senior, I'm developing a new relationship with my money — and AARP.
The AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard From Barclays Review: Rewards That Ease The Cost Of Medical Expenses
The AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® * The information for the AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. Offers solid rewards for those who spend a lot on medical expenses, but unfortunately does not have a 0% introductory APR period on purchases.
Why trust our credit card experts
Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of credit cards and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best card for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
50+ cards analyzed. 8 data points considered. 5-step fact-checking process. About the AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard from Barclays
The AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® * The information for the AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. From Barclays is unique in the rewards card space. Rather than offer an enhanced earning rate on common categories such as travel or dining purchases, the card focuses its rewards program on health expenses.
The AARP Essential Rewards Card earns 3% cash back on gas and drugstore purchases (excluding Target and Walmart), 2% cash back on qualifying medical expenses and 1% back on other purchases. Additionally, Barclays will donate $10 to the AARP Foundation for every new account.
Charitable donations don't stop at account opening either — Barclays will donate 1% of eligible purchases to the AARP Foundation as well.
The AARP Essential Rewards Card doesn't offer an introductory APR on new purchases, which can be a big drawback for those hoping to pay off a large medical expense with the card.
However, if you have debt you're carrying on another credit card, the AARP Essential Rewards offers 0% intro APR on balance transfers for the first 15 months, as long as you transfer your balance in the first 45 days. After, a variable APR of 21.99%, 25.99% or 29.99% will apply, based on creditworthiness. There's a 5% or $5 balance transfer fee, whichever is greater.
After the intro offer, the AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard doesn't come with very many long-term benefits. Other than the fact that you can choose to redeem cash back for an AARP membership, the card doesn't have much to offer. If you are considering signing up, make sure you get enough value out of the rewards to justify keeping the card in your wallet.
On the plus side, the card doesn't charge an annual fee, so there is no cost to keeping it open.
Just remember that if you put more in medical expenses than you can afford to pay off on the card, interest can accrue quickly. The AARP Essential Rewards Card can definitely be useful if you want to earn a bit back on your health care — both on medical visits and drugstore purchases — but it's not the best long-term payment solution due to its high APR.
AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard from Barclays basics
Annual fee: $0. Welcome bonus: None. Rewards: 3% cash back on gas and drugstore purchases (excluding Target and Walmart), 2% cash back on qualifying medical expenses and 1% back on other purchases. APR: 0% intro APR on balance transfers for the first 15 months, as long as you transfer your balance in the first 45 days. After, a variable APR of 21.99%, 25.99% or 29.99% will apply, based on creditworthiness. There's a 5% or $5 balance transfer fee, whichever is greater. Other perks and benefits: Redeem rewards for an AARP membership starting at $16; Barclays will donate $10 to the AARP Foundation upon account opening; Barclays donates 1% of eligible purchases to the AARP Foundation; complimentary FICO Score access. Does the issuer offer a preapproval tool? No. Recommended credit score: Good to excellent. AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard details AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard rewards
The card's ongoing rewards are tailored toward health-related spending. Cardholders earn 3% cash back on gas and drugstore purchases (excluding Target and Walmart), 2% cash back on qualifying medical expenses and 1% back on other purchases.
Since rewards are earned as cash back, redemption is pretty flexible. You can redeem via a direct deposit into your bank account, for a statement credit or for select gift cards, with the minimum redemption threshold at $25 worth of rewards. You also have the option to use your rewards to pay for an AARP membership, and the minimum for this redemption is just $16.
AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard rewards potential
Using government data and other publicly available information, we estimate that a household in the U.S. That would be in the market for this card has an annual income of $84,352 and $25,087 in expenses they are likely to be able to charge to a credit card. Here's a breakdown of how the rewards would add up:
$3,009 in spending on gas x 3% rewards = $90.27. $816 in spending at drugstores x 3% rewards = $24.48. $21,262 in spending on all other spending x 1% rewards = $212.62. That brings the grand total to $327.37 in cash back rewards earned annually. That's pretty solid for a card with no annual fee.
However, charging $25,087 to a card that earns a flat-rate 2% cash back on all spending would generate $501.74. The Citi Double Cash® Card is an example of a cash-back card that earns 2% cash back on purchases — 1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they're paid off, plus, for a limited time, 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24 — and charges no annual fee, making it a more rewarding alternative to the AARP Essential Rewards Card.
AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard APR
Cardholders get a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for the first 15 months, as long as you transfer your balance in the first 45 days. After, a variable APR of 21.99%, 25.99% or 29.99% will apply, based on creditworthiness. There's a 5% or $5 balance transfer fee, whichever is greater.
Notably lacking for a card tailored to health care needs is an intro APR offer on new purchases. Clearly, this card was not designed to help finance large medical expenses, as any purchases you make on the card will have to be paid off in full each month or will be subject to high interest charges.
AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard pros
Rewards medical purchases: Uncommon for a credit card rewards category, the elevated cash back earned on medical spending can slightly offset the burden of pricey health care. Donations to AARP Foundation: Upon account opening, Barclays will donate $10 to AARP Foundation. After that, 1% of eligible purchases are donated to the AARP Foundation as well. Flexible rewards redemption: Since rewards are earned as cash back, you can redeem them to your bank account and then use that money however you want, or you can put your rewards toward covering an AARP membership. AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard cons
Slim on benefits: The AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard is lacking when it comes to benefits outside of the rewards program. No intro APR on purchases: If you were hoping to earn rewards on this card for a large medical bill and then pay it over time with no interest, you're out of luck. This card only offers an intro APR on balance transfers. Target and Walmart exclusions: Target and Walmart are excluded from the card's highest cash-back rate. If you tend to make most of your drugstore purchases at one of these big retailers, the AARP Essential Rewards Card might not be the best fit. How the AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard from Barclays compares to other cards AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard vs. CareCredit® Credit Card * The information for the CareCredit® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
If you've ever had a large or unexpected medical expense, you've probably been introduced to CareCredit. Advertised at many doctor's offices, this non-traditional credit card lets you pay for medical expenses and finance them over time. Financing plans range from six to 60 months and offer a no-interest or reduced-interest period (depending on the plan you choose) to pay off your balance without racking up extra debt along the way.
Unlike the AARP card, purchases on CareCredit do not earn any rewards, and you can't use CareCredit for non-medical spending.
It's crucial to understand that the no-interest promotional financing offered on CareCredit involves deferred interest. This means if you don't pay off your balance in full before the promotional period ends, you'll owe interest on the entire purchase amount from the original purchase date. And with this card having a 29.99% fixed APR on purchases, that could be an expensive charge.
We typically recommend avoiding deferred interest offers whenever possible.
AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited®
While the AARP card is a rare credit card that rewards medical purchases, it is not the only card on the market with a rewarding rate on drugstore purchases. The Chase Freedom Unlimited Card is a great option for such spending, offering the following cash-back program: 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on eligible dining and drugstore purchases and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
Additionally, the Chase Freedom Unlimited comes with a welcome bonus: 1.5% back on everything bought in the first year on up to $20,000 in spending, which is worth up to $300.
It also provides a 0% intro APR for the first 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% to 29.24%. An intro transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies in the first 60 days. After that, a fee of either $5 or 5% of each transfer applies.
There's no annual fee.
AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard vs. Citi Double Cash® Card
While medical expenses can certainly be costly, they don't make up the majority of most people's budgets, meaning you will probably miss out on potential rewards if you use the AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard for all your spending.
A flat-rate credit card like the Citi Double Cash Card solves this problem by offering the same rate of cash back no matter what you charge to it. This card earns 2% cash back on purchases — 1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they're paid off, plus, for a limited time, 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.
There's no annual fee for this card.
Should you get the AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard?
The AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard is a perfectly fine credit card and unique in offering a solid rewards rate on medical expenses. But when medical expenses get particularly high, many would prefer to pay them off over time. With no intro purchase APR, the AARP Essential Rewards Card makes it expensive to do that. And, unless medical spending and gas make up a substantial portion of your budget, you might earn more rewards with a flat-rate cash-back card.
AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard from Barclays summary
Our credit card team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product and that analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings.
Some of the factors evaluated in selecting the best rewards credit cards included:
Rewards potential and redemption options. Welcome bonuses. Travel and shopping benefits. Intro APRs. Annual fees. Frequently asked questions (FAQs) What bank issues the AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard?
Barclays issues the AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard. You'll use the bank's portal for managing your account.
Is the AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard a credit card?
Yes, the AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard is a credit card. You can use it on any purchase where Mastercard is accepted.
What credit score do I need to get the AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard?
The AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard is recommended for cardholders with good credit or better, meaning your score should be at least 670 to have a solid chance of approval.
Emily Sherman is a freelance writer specializing in personal finance, especially credit cards and maximizing rewards. She has written for publications including Bankrate, U.S. News & World Report and Stacker. Emily spends her free time planning her next vacation using points and miles.
Glen Luke Flanagan is a deputy editor on the USA TODAY Blueprint credit cards team. Prior to joining Blueprint, he served as a deputy editor on the credit cards team at Forbes Advisor, and covered credit cards, credit scoring and related topics as a senior writer at LendingTree. He's passionate about helping people understand personal finance so they can make the best decisions possible for their wallet. Glen holds a master's degree in technical and professional communication from East Carolina University and a bachelor's degree in journalism from Radford University.
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