Money Moral Dilemma: Is it 'morally wrong' to use student discounts aged 55?

Womacks

Age is just a number and is irrelevant unless a particular age range defines the term “student”. The example demonstrates the wider issue of “I’ll claim it just  because I’m entitled to it”. Not “because I need it”. “Entitlement” is rife and a major negative influence in our society. Who knows how to fix it?  

We know nothing about individual circumstances in this example case so if all the conditions for discount are met the conditioned default will be it's morally right. 

CapeTown

Your son is making the classic mistake of assuming that unless you are a spotty hormonal teenager or in your early twenties, you cannot possibly be a student. The number of mature students has gone through the roof in recent years. I was a part time masters student in my 50s. I also had a student card. Not one of the shops where I used it even batted so much of an eyelid when I whipped it out. Your son is being very agist and I think needs to be dealt a firm lesson.

CapeTown

TtheTA said:

I think it's morally wrong for companies to restrict discounts to students only!  A sale price for one should be a sale price for all.  If a company wants to help students, they should contribute to grants, sponsor lectures, etc.

Really?! - hadn't realised we lived in a communist society these days.

nightstar12

I'm a mature student and I'm accessing student discounts so I can get things cheaper, especially a bus pass so I can get to my placements. 

To be honest, student discounts aren't that easy to get - you need a '.ac.uk' or similar email in order to get the best discounts. Many people now are doing free online course that classified them as 'students' and they get student discounts that way. If you're a genuine student you've got nothing to worry about. I'm certainly not worried about it, especially since I'm spending £9k on my course, which is mainly online, I'm entitled to a couple of pounds off here and there!

CyberZeex

It’s not morally wrong to use a student discount if you’re a student, simple logic! 

To base your eligibility on age is discriminatory which is morally wrong.

Please educate your son and anyone else you may come across with the same thoughts further as age is not something you should form an opinion on, same as ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual preferences, disability or any of the other protected characteristics.

Cimscate

Whilst not morally wrong to me it depends entirely on what you do the rest of the time. I volunteer at a major charity and find it very annoying when people take out a much reduced student membership and obviously are mature and not in need of the discount!! 

alexp1979

No not at all. If a savings there too be had then you should take it. Frankly I’m surprised that your son wouldn’t want you to do this... surely he’d want you to be able to save money as and where you can. Perhaps he hasn’t learnt the value of money yet? 

I would ALWAYS want my family and friends to be able to take advantage of as many money saving techniques out there as possible.
Places offering discounts are usually more than happy to provide their goods and services 10-25% off as they’re overcharging anyway. Don’t think for one minute that if they took the student discount away that it would lower their prices. 

pollypenny

I'm sure the OP needs to buy course books or material as any student would, so why not use a discount?  Of course, if it's available on other things, too, use it. 

Her son needs to be more supportive of his mother. 

oldandwizend

Of course it is not wrong. Do you think these companies are still not making a profit even after the discount?  People who pay the full price are paying over the odds to subsidise discounts.  I would go even further and say if you are a parent with a student offspring then by all means use them to get you a discount wherever possible!

kaths99

Firms offer discounts to get your business. It has nothing to do with morality.