Incorporate negotiating into your life and get more for less.
Welcome to another new feature at BarbaraFriedbergPersonalFinance, “Barb’s Quick Personal Finance Tip.” This feature gives you access to quick tips to further your financial goals. Look for these tips periodically. Better yet, pick up my RSS feed and follow me on twitter so you get the word immediately.
NYC etching
Back story: Spent the week-end in NYC and indulged in one of my guilty pleasures; creating a “wealthy environment.” I love beautiful things at economical prices.
- At NYC street fair picked up original etching for $20.00. Beautiful artwork at a beautiful price.
- Rushed to Michael’s for an elegant frame. Expected the usual sale, 20-40% off. Instead, found a buy one at full price and get the second for a penny. I didn’t need two, I needed one. I approached another frame shopper asking if she was interested in buying the second for a penny and splitting the savings. No luck, she needed two.
- Got to the check-out willing to pay FULL PRICE.
- My hail Mary pass, “Do you have any discount for this frame, I don’t want two?”
- Sales clerk, “Sign up for email alerts and get a coupon RIGHT NOW.”
RESULT
Got 50% off the frame, just for asking.
TIP: Always attempt to negotiate, if you don’t ask you will not save.
ACTION STEP:
Get a notebook and label it: “(your name) Personal Finance” and keep it by the computer. Use it to keep all of your personal finance goals, thoughts, activities, and plans.
As part of your shopping experience, regularly ask for discounts. The stress of asking will diminish over time. The extra resources gained will be worth the effort.
What is your negotiating story? How much did you save?
Very nice story. For some reason when I get to the register I stop asking. I need to re-evaluate that!
Hi Aloysa, For some, it’s kind of difficult. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten a coupon or discount AT THE REGISTER. Good luck
Heh, I tried a similar trick once, though it was partly to make money rather than save it. I used to work at an amusement park, and I had no money for lunch one day. I asked a manager if he could loan me a few bucks for lunch, and instead he gave me some spare cafeteria coupons for $2, the ones we got with alternating paychecks. Problem was, you didn’t get change back with them. So, my food cost about five bucks, and I had six bucks in coupons. Asked some random girl at the back of the line if she’d be willing to buy one off of me, and (first try) she had no problem with it. She wasn’t losing anything, and I was either saving or gaining a dollar, depending on how you look at it.
Hey Jake, Thanks for the story. I applaud your creativity. I’ve found that in general, people really do want to help… and that includes random folks as well as sales people. Who doesn’t understand trying to get more for your money. Thanks so much for the comment.
That’s an excellent tip Barb, I am a negotiator as well when the environment is right. You have nothing to lose by asking!
@Beating-Isn’t is amazing how often you prevail when you just ask. Unless I’m really tired or burned out, I actually find it fun!
[...] recalls her trip to NYC, buying original art, and framing it – all for an economical price in Barb’s Quick Personal Finance Tip posted at Barbara Friedberg Personal [...]
Great tip. I don’t think I would have done that (just because I wouldn’t think it would work), but now I’ll try it all the time.
@Khaleef, To some it might seem kind of pushy, but I worry less about what others think and more about maximizing my resources.