What is a discount program? Well, it’s exactly what it sounds like – a program that can help you save time and money, and even find some unexpected perks like free shipping when making a purchase. Some are all-inclusive, offering deals on just about anything – appliances, apparel, packaged food, movies, event tickets, travel and more. Some are targeted to align with an employer’s goals – like promoting a healthy culture by offering discounts on wellness-related goods and services.
How much does it cost? While an employer may pay a fee to offer a discount program, it’s usually available to employees free-of-charge.
How do I find out if my employer or my spouse’s/partner’s employer offers a discount program? The quickest way to cut to the chase is to ask someone in Human Resources (HR). If you’re lucky, your employer may have its own benefits or HR call center where you can confirm if a discount program is available to you with a quick phone call. Most larger employers also have benefits information available on their Intranet or through a dedicated benefits portal – in this case, go to the site and do a quick search for “discount program.”
For me, I came across the discount program available through my husband’s employer on accident. I was logged into the website for the medical coverage provided by his employer. There was a link to review benefits available. After scrolling down several screens, I came to the last line in the table summarizing benefits, and there was a link to a globally recognized discount program (according to its website, the average employee saves $2,500 annually using the site).
How do I take advantage of a discount/perk program? The first time accessing the site, I had to create an account (it was easy). Because it’s one of those benefits that I knew I would likely forget about, I created a short cut to it on my Internet homepage. I did spend some time searching for different items I had recently purchased – sneakers, movie tickets, flooring, etc. – just to get a sense of what I could save on and whether it would be worth the time. Let’s just say I wish I found it sooner.
What have I used it for? After forgetting to book my son’s flight home from college for Thanksgiving, I was in a panic. To make a long story short, I used the discount portal and saved a lot on a round trip, direct flight, to our preferred airport. You can read about it here.
Are there other ways to use the discount program to save time and money? Yes! On the website for the discount portal available to us, there’s a “local deals” link. Based on our home ZIP code, I found opportunities to save 7% to 11% at local retailers and restaurants. This prompted me to search for a number of different retailers – favorites among my college-aged kids – and yes, there are discounts available for a number of them. I think this upcoming holiday season, I’m going to make a point of visiting the discount program site before any others…I’ll let you know whether it helps our gift-buying budget go further – fingers crossed!
Important Note! While I have been writing about employee benefits for a number of decades, I am not a legal, technical or financial expert. Benefit plans are governed by official plan documents and can vary from employer to employer. To learn about any benefits available to you or your spouse/partner, contact your employer’s Human Resources department.
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