AAA Membership Discounts Helped One Member Save $1,000 on Renovations

Article overview

• Tosha Washington used her AAA Membership to save over $1,000 on a her family's condo remodel, which included a kitchen overhaul, new flooring, paint, furniture and fixtures.
• She maximized savings with tools like the AAA credit card (1% cash back), discounted gift cards (3% discount + 2% cash back) and the AAA Discounts Extension.
• Major savings for Tosha included 15% off Samsung appliances and cash-back deals on furniture through the AAA Discounts browser extension.
• By stacking discounts and planning purchases strategically, Tosha stayed within budget while reducing out-of-pocket costs.
• Her story highlights the value of AAA Membership for both large projects and everyday savings.

How AAA Membership Discounts saved on a home renovation

A major home renovation can feel like a financial puzzle, with every piece needing to fit perfectly within a set budget. For Tosha Washington, a condo remodel was a significant undertaking.

She and her husband , Maurice Washington planned to overhaul the kitchen as well as install new flooring, add a fresh coat of paint throughout the unit. Additionally, they wanted to also update their light fixtures and purchase new furniture, particularly for the bedroom. With a firm budget, every dollar counted.

Tosha set her plan in motion and began to strategically use her AAA Membership; Tosha turned their everyday expenses into impressive savings.

To get started, Tosha leveraged her AAA credit card, the AAA browser extension, discounted gift cards and exclusive partner deals to maximize her savings.

Her savings approach shows how anyone can stretch their money further, whether on a large project or on daily purchases.

How Tosha’s saved: Her AAA savings breakdown:

• 1% cash back with AAA credit card
• 3% discount AAA gift card purchases (Note: offers vary by state)
• An average of 2% cash back on AAA gift card purchases through AAA branches
• 15% off Samsung appliances (refrigerator, stove, hood and dishwasher)
• Extra savings through the AAA Discounts browser extension deals to earn AAA Dollars

Building a savings strategy

With a fixed budget and a pledge to not exceed it, Tosha put her plan in place to stay on track and rack up as much savings as possible.

Her first step was to use her AAA credit card for every single purchase related to the project. This guaranteed her at least 1% cash back on all spending, creating a foundational layer of savings from the start for their home remodel.

The power of the AAA Discounts Extension

Tosha began her shopping process online, where she put the AAA Discounts Extension to work. This tool automatically scans websites for cash-back opportunities and member discounts. As she did her research and browsed for flooring, paint and fixtures, the extension alerted her to potential savings at various retailers.

This simple, automated step ensured she never missed a chance to earn AAA Dollars (cash back) or apply a discount code.

Her primary shopping for the remodel took place on websites like: Saatva, Lumen, Walmart and Target, where she consistently earned cash back on her purchases, thanks to the extension.

Tosha and her husband could access major retailers like Amazon, Target, Walmart, Kohls and more to look up the products they were considering purchasing and see how much they could save or how many AAA Dollars they could earn before making their final decision.

Stacking savings with gift cards

One of Tosha’s most effective tactics was purchasing discounted gift cards from her local AAA branch. She identified her major retailers, like The Home Depot, Amazon and Wayfair and bought high-value gift cards to cover her expected costs. This move was particularly savvy because it allowed her to "stack" her savings.

First, she earned 2% back on her credit card for purchasing the gift cards at a AAA branch. Then, the gift cards themselves came at a discount, saving her an additional 3 % (Note: gift cards vary by state). By planning and buying the gift cards before making her final purchases, she compounded her rewards and reduced her out-of-pocket costs significantly.

Big savings on big-ticket items

The biggest win came when Tosha upgraded her kitchen appliances. By using her AAA Samsung discount, she saved 15%—hundreds of dollars—on a new refrigerator, stove, range hood and dishwasher. “That was the moment I realized how much my membership could really do,” she said.

Even furniture shopping became an opportunity to save. Using the browser extension, she explored various online stores and found a cash-back deal on a new mattress from Saatva and lighting from Lumen, chipping away even more from her total expenses.

By combining large partner discounts with smaller, consistent cash-back earnings, she watched her savings grow to an impressive $1,000 by the end of the renovation.

A legacy of value with AAA

Tosha's connection to AAA runs deep. As an employee for nearly 20 years, she has experienced the value of membership firsthand. Before she started her career with the company, her family wasn't part of AAA. Today, most of them are members, having seen the benefits for themselves.

In fact, her use of AAA discounts extends beyond the couple’s home renovation. In 2018, she planned a family reunion in Costa Rica for 35 relatives.

She worked with a AAA Travel agent who found a fantastic all-inclusive resort in the West Coast province of Guanacaste. The agent secured great incentives and discounts, allowing the entire family to enjoy a five-night stay for less than $750 per person.

Tosha’s story highlights the incredible, and sometimes unknown, ways a AAA membership can deliver value. From saving on an extensive home renovation to planning unforgettable family vacations, the benefits add up. Her success is a testament to how a little planning and the right tools can help you achieve your goals while keeping more money in your pocket.