Seniors, Save More: This Is The Best Day To Shop At Kohl's For Discounts

After decades in the grocery store business, Kohl's opened its first department store in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the year 1962. But recently, the brand has been struggling. For example, Kohl's just announced the closing of 27 underperforming stores nationwide. That's not unlike its competitor Macy's, who's also closing locations. Shares of Kohl's stock plummeted in value over the past year at the same time that major U.S. stock market indexes skyrocketed.

So perhaps it's not wise to invest your entire 401(k) retirement account in Kohl's (NYSE: KSS). However, the chain that sells a wide array of goods from cosmetics to clothing to home goods can still be a great place to score a bargain. Especially if you follow some of these tips, including one that's reserved for customers 60 years of age or more.

In fact, shopping at Kohl's sometimes feels like a game where no customers actually pay full price. That's especially true for the chain's popular house brands like Sonoma Goods for Life, Tek Gear, and Apt. 9. With that in mind, here's how to win at Kohl's shopping.

To begin, shoppers who are age 60-plus will want to head their local Kohl's on Wednesday as opposed to other days of the week. That's because the retailer extends a 15% discount to seniors on qualifying purchases on Wednesday. However, do note that this policy is in-store only and is not available online. Additionally, the coupon isn't compatible with purchase of certain name brands. For example, clothing from Under Armor and shoes from both Adidas and Nike are typically exempt, along with many other famous brands. Finally, be sure to have some identification with you in case the cashier asks for proof of age.

Even if you're not quite 60 yet, you can still score an instant one-time 15% discount by opting to receive email notifications from Kohl's. And the good news is that unlike Wednesday's senior discount, consumers can use this coupon both in-store and online. Unfortunately, those same name brands which are prohibited from the senior discount are also excluded from this promotion. In fact, there is some chatter on social media and message boards that soon, any and all coupons or discounts may only apply to Kohl's house brands — though this hasn't been officially confirmed.

If you get into Kohl's ecosystem by opting into promotional emails, expect to continue receiving coupons. It's not uncommon for the department store giant to randomly send out offers for 20%, 30% or even 40% off purchases made in-store or online. As always, certain name brands are exempt, though. Finally, active and retired military — regardless of age — can snag a 15% discount by shopping at a physical Kohl's location on Mondays only. 

One Kohl's promotion that you might want to decline is opening a store credit card. Although you'll get a generous one-time 35%, or even 40%, discount in exchange for signing up for the department store's credit card, store brand credit cards are seldom a good idea.

That said, it could make sense if you're a serious Kohl's addict because the card earns a 7.5% reward on all Kohl's purchases. Also, unlike older versions of Kohl's credit card, the new Kohl's Rewards Visa can be used other places besides the department store. For instance, at gas stations and grocery stores. This flexibility makes the proposition of a Kohl's card slightly more palatable, but non-superfans will probably still want to stick to coupons and picking the right day of the week to shop.