Ultimate Blog Swap: In Today's Economy It Pays to Ask For a Discount

Today I’m participating in the Ultimate Blog Swap. You’ll find me posting over at Dillon Bailey about setting SMART goals, and I’m excited to welcome Kristia from Family Balance Sheet to my humble blog.

Asking for a discount can be intimidating for many people.  We worry, “what if they say  no?".

What if that is the worst that could happen?

In my previous career, I would negotiate with vendors for better pricing and deliveries to help my company's bottom line. Currently the bottom line that I am responsible for is my family's, which is more precious to me than my previous employer.

Even with experience in negotiation, I can get intimidated at times, but just asking a simple question, "is that the best you can do?" has saved me and my husband a lot of money.

Some examples:
1. Three years ago, we were searching for a new vehicle. We had a budget, a trade-in vehicle, a down payment and a goal to get as much vehicle as we could for our buck. We test drove many vehicles over the span of a month and spent our evenings researching and reading Kelly's Blue Book online.

After much thought, we decided on a particular brand and model and had a price in mind that we were willing to pay. We visited a local dealer and met with a sales person. He explained the price of the vehicle and the promotions that were happening at that time and we listened intently. And then we asked, "Is that the best you can do on the price?". The sales person brought his boss over and he explained the promotion again. The particular promotions for the model that we were interested in were FREE oil changes for the first 50,000 miles and FREE state inspections. Sounded good, but another model's promotion included those things, PLUS FREE brakes, if needed, and 4 FREE tires, if needed, within the first 50,000 miles. That promotion sounded better to us, but it wasn't included with the model we wanted.

The price of the vehicle was within the number my husband and I had talked about, but we held firm; we wanted some kind of additional discount. After talking privately, the salesman and his boss came back with a final offer. They offered more than we anticipated with our trade-in, they gave us the free oil changes, tires and brakes for the first 50,000 miles plus free yearly state inspections, they took off the price of the Rear Entertainment System, and they gave us crossbars for our car carrier. We were pleased and accepted the offer. Our persistence paid off, and the fact that it was the last day of July and the dealer was looking to unload some vehicles might have helped too.

2. We recently re-carpeted our business office. We received several quotes, but there was one particular style/brand of carpet that we really wanted. When the salesman submitted his bid, we were glad that it came within our budget, but my husband simply asked, "is that the best you can do?". The salesman knocked another $200 off the bid and we were thrilled!

3. We are avid newspaper readers and usually pre-pay our 7 day subscription every year to save a little bit of money. But this year, when I received the bill, the yearly fee went up by $100. Ouch. I know the newspaper business is tough, but that price hike was a little hard to swallow. I called the customer service number and inquired about the price hike. She confirmed the increase, but told me that if I pre-paid a year's subscription right then, she would charge me the previous year's price.

4. Recently, I was shopping for a bridal shower gift from a store registry. My budget was $25, but since the registry was pretty much filled I settled on a gift that was $30. This particular store runs occasional coupons in the Sunday paper, but unfortunately I didn't have one with me. When I got to the register I asked the sales person if she knew if there would be a coupon in the next day's paper and if so could I bring it in for a price adjustment. She wasn't sure but told me that she would give me the 20% discount on my purchase. I was thrilled that I saved $6.00 by simply asking a question and my gift ended up being within my budget.

Some things to consider when asking for a discount:

• Be courteous and respectful. Rudeness will get you nowhere
• Be prepared with knowledge and information. We went into the car dealership with information from Kelly Blue Book about what was a fair price to pay.
• Be reasonable. Businesses and people are trying to make a living. For bigger items, your research will tell you what is fair. Try to get the best price possible, but don't go overboard.
• Be prepared to walk away.  We have asked many times for a discount and been denied.  Know where your line in the sand is.

In today's economy people are more choosy on where they are spending and placing their money. Companies know this and in many cases are willing to work with you to get your business. Many every day purchases can be negotiated. Food items close to expiration date, damaged, yet wearable clothing, new flooring for your family room. There are discounts to be found, sometimes you just have to ask.

Have you asked for a discount lately? Where was it and how much did you save? Let us know in the comments.  

Kristia writes about family finances, frugal living, and food at Family Balance Sheet.

Visit Life...Your Way to see all of the Ultimate Blog Swap participants!

Menu Planning for One

Photo Credit

I mentioned the other day that I was interested in doing a series of posts on shopping and cooking for one, and some of you expressed interest, so today will be the first post in this series.

When I was in school, and doing the grocery shopping for just me, I was spending about $25 a week. Now that is just on groceries, I was spending an extra $25 or so a month on toiletries and other home necessities. So I decided, now that I'm on my own again, that I should stick with that goal of spending $25 a week. In order to do that, I menu plan and stick to a set grocery list.

I realize that not everyone menu plans like I do and I also know that not everyone menu plans at all. Menu planning works for me and I've found this to be an effective way to save money on groceries.

So how do I menu plan?

Once a week (usually on Fridays or Saturdays, whenever I'm going to go to the grocery store), I sit down with my binder full of recipes and a few cookbooks, this week's grocery story circular, my coupons, and my previous menus (stored so excellently here). Don't get a newspaper (and the grocery stores' circulars)? Most grocery stores publish their sale items online, which makes shopping sales and matching coupons very easy.

I sort of think about what I haven't had lately, what I've been wanting to try, and how much I think I'll feel like cooking. Once I get a basic idea of what I'm thinking about cooking for the week, I take stock of what's in my pantry, freezer, and fridge. What needs to be eaten before it goes bad? What can I do with all this spinach/chicken/insert favorite sale item here that's been hanging around so that it will go away?

Once I have a basic idea of what I have (and don't have) on hand, I pull out my recipes and get to looking. I pick out recipes that will use up what I have on hand and I try to make one new recipe a week (it helps combat the enormous amount of recipes I pull of the internet that usually go untried). After those two things (if I still need more meals), I fill in the blanks with whatever I feel like cooking and what's on sale.

An example: frozen shrimp is on sale and I have a new shrimp recipe I've been wanting to try. So, I pick the best day for that meal based on my schedule and write it down on my menu planner (I use this one if you're interested). Then I add all the ingredients I don't already have on hand to the grocery list (which is why I like this particular planner – it has a grocery list attached!). If the recipe I'm making needs sides, I pick those out to and make sure everything I need is on the list. Once one day is done, I repeat the process until I have a full menu.

After I've settled on dinner plans, I move onto breakfast and lunch. If I'm not taking leftovers for lunch, I usually take a sandwich or soup with crackers, so if I need anything to replace what's been used, I put it on the list. I do the same with breakfast. Then I decide if I need to bake anything (bread, snacks, something sweet, etc) and add whatever I don't have to my list. If I have any coupons that are about to expire for something that's on sale or something that's one of my staple items (more on that in another post!), I add it to my list to help keep up my stock pile.

It may be anal of me (but we all know I'm slightly obsessed with lists), but I like to organize my grocery list according to how I shop the store. (If this is too much for you, feel free to stop reading now.) I always hit the bakery/deli area, then the produce, then the cereal aisle, etc, so that's how I write my list. I do this for two reasons: 1) it keeps me from walking all over the store, and 2) it helps me not to miss anything. But the most important thing I do (and if you don't get anything else out of this post, I hope you get this) is stick to my list. Having a list is great, but if you give into impulses and buy things not on the list, your grocery budget will go out the window. So stick to the list!!

Menu planning does take time (usually about 30 minutes), but I find that it makes life much easier, I don't waste as much food, and it saves me money. I find those benefits to outweigh the extra time it takes to sit down and actually do it.

Do you menu plan? Do you menu plan like I do or do you have another way?

Entertainment On a Budget

I'm young and single, so spending time with my friends is a huge priority for me. The problem is, spending time with friends often means spending money. When I was in school and working, this wasn't a problem. I worked hard, and didn't have a problem spending money at the movies, out to dinner, at bars, etc. Now, though, it is becoming a problem. I'm living on the money I earn from my (very small) part-time job and my savings. Neither of these is ideal to spending money while hanging out with friends.

I've come up with a list of activities that are meant to take the place of regular entertainment activities (dinner, movies, nights out at bars). I'm not good at sticking to this list, but I am trying, so that has to count for something. (Right?)

• Rent a movie instead of going to see one. Renting movies is still expensive, but it's cheaper than seeing them at the theater. Going to the local Redbox is even cheaper than the rental store or OnDemand. Have friends over, pop lots of popcorn, and watch the movie. If you're anything like us, you probably won't actually watch the movie, but spend more time talking. (Which is always more fun!)
  
• If going to see a movie is unavoidable, suggest a matinee. Matinee prices usually last until 6:00, which means that people can come straight from work and still make the cheaper show. One of my local theaters has a "super matinee" that's even cheaper. It's $6.50 versus $7.25 for the regular matinee and $8.75 for the regular price. My area also has a $1 movie theater that I like to go to. If you skip the concessions, it's a great deal! Speaking of…
  
• Skip the concessions! It's such a waste of money!! Bring snacks (and a large purse) if you like to eat while at the movies. A theater near me has a special on Tuesdays where a small popcorn and a small drink are a $1 each. Not a bad deal when nothing will satisfy that movie-theater popcorn craving.
  
• Don't do dinner and a movie. If your friends insist on going out to dinner or to a movie, suggest one or the other, but not both.
  
• Meet friends for lunch rather than dinner. You'll save way more money that way. Bonus, meet for lunch at a sandwich shop or a typical lunch place. Food tends to be cheaper there than at a regular restaurant.
  
• If dinner is all that fits everyone's schedule, aim for something less expensive. Sandwich and burger places, chain restaurants, and local favorites tend to be more budget friendly. Everyone's trying to save money these days. People, friends especially, will understand when you say you're trying to watch your wallet.
  
• Share an entrée with a friend. Restaurant portions are huge anyway, so offer to split something. Share an appetizer or dessert (but not both!) if you don't think one entrée will be enough food.
  
• No one wants to share? Order an appetizer as your main meal. Ask for a side salad to go along side, if you'd like. But check your prices! This could end up being more expensive than just ordering an entrée!
  
• Skip main meals all together and grab coffee, ice cream, even breakfast! The point is to spend time with friends, not to eat. Again, just say you are being more careful with your money and suggest an alternative. Real friends will understand and be supportive.
  
• Meet for happy hour instead of hitting the bars late at night. Most bars have happy hour specials, so use these to your advantage.
  
• Can't get out of going out? Be the designated driver. That way you're confined to 1 drink AND you have an excuse to explain why you are not drinking.
  
• Suggest a totally new idea! Try hitting a local state park for a hike, browsing an arts-and-crafts fair (no buying!) or farmers market, or just hanging out at home. Who says you have to spend money to spend time with friends!
  

I would love some other ideas on how to spend less money on entertainment. Please share!

Stocking Up On a Budget

This weekend is one of my local grocery store's warehouse sale. This isn't a store I frequent very often because I find it to be a little more expensive, but it's just down the road and is usually where we stop by when we need just one or two things. While there prices are usually higher, I still check the circulars every week looking for good deals, especially on meat.

Meat is the most expensive thing we buy and I'm always on the lookout for great deals. We take advantage of the warehouse sale because we can stock up on many items without breaking the bank. This weekend we were able to buy:

• 12 beef tenderloin steaks
  
• 3 pounds extra lean ground chuck
  
• 7 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  
• 8 pounds russet potatoes
  
• 12 pack of Diet Dr. Pepper
  

We spent $86.00 on these items. That may seem like a lot, but all the meat will last for months in the freezer. As soon as we got home, Mom and I portioned out the steaks and the chicken into freezer bags so only what we need for dinner will get defrosted. I was really excited about the chicken since it was $1.99 a pound. That's the lowest price on chicken around here and whenever I find that price, I stock up. (That would explain why there are 10 bags of chicken in my freezer.) I was most excited about the potatoes because all 8 pounds only cost – get this - 99¢!! I've never seen potatoes that cheap. Given that an individual russet potato is usually 79¢ or more, this was the best deal by far. I would have bought more, except we don't eat tons of potatoes and I'm going to have to work extra hard to plan meals around potatoes and/or make and freeze tons of mashed potatoes.

Obviously the steaks were the most expensive. I'm not a huge fan of steak, but my parents are. We try to limit how much red meat we eat, both for health reasons and because it can be very expensive. Finding really great steaks (and they really are amazing cuts of meat; even I like them) at a such a great price is great and it's worth stocking up on. They will last for months in the freezer and we can enjoy steak whenever we want.

Besides the warehouse sale, I use the circulars that come in the paper as a guide to let me know what to stock up on. For example, my usual grocery store has my favorite brand of pasta on BOGO, so I plan on running out to pick up some. In this house there is no such thing as to much pasta! I also like to stock up on soup; when a sale is combined with a coupon, good deals are going to happen! I'm always on the lookout for flour sales since I bake so much. I know that flour usually goes on sale around the holidays, and with Easter just around the corner, I'm hoping to see flour on sale soon!

Do you stock up? What do you like to buy in larger quantities?

Being Well Read on a Budget

Being a librarian, it's no secret that I love to read. I adore books, of all kinds, but especially romance and historical fiction. Alas, these are not always the most popular in the eyes of the general public. I'm usually at a loss when people ask, as they often do of librarians, for book recommendations. I can go on and on about my love of Nora Roberts or Diana Gabaldon, but these aren't books that are going to appeal to everyone. This summer I set out to remedy that. I created a nice long list of books, mostly of the general fiction persuasion, that were designed to improve my ability to give good book recommendations. I read a good number of the books on my list over the summer, but once school picked back up again, I reverted back to my easy reading schedule of romance novels mixed in with the occasional fantasy.

It's not always easy to read so many books on a budget. Books can be very expensive, and sometimes the wait list at the library is months long. I've learned, however, that in order to finish my list, I've got to learn patience. That and find other things to read in the meantime. I started using paperbackswap.com a few years ago when I was frustrated at finding the same books at my local used bookstore. If you are unfamiliar with the website, it operates like a book-trading system. Membership is free; once you sign up you can begin posting books you wish to trade. Every time someone requests a book from you and you mail it to them, you earn a "credit". Credits are then used to order books for yourself. All you pay for is the shipping costs of sending your books to people who request them from you. Through this website, I've able to clean out a good number of books that I had lying around my house and have been able to get lots of books I've wanted to read.

Using PaperBackSwap and the library have been my two ways of working towards my goal of being more well-rounded in my reading choices. The library is an obvious choice since it's free, but PaperBackSwap is also a good choice because it gives me an opportunity to declutter my numerous bookshelves. I occasionally visit used bookstores and trade in some of books for credit there, but to date, I have more credit that I'll ever use, so, for now, I'm sticking to these two sources.

Do you like to read? How do you read on a budget?

A selection of recently acquired books from the library and paperbackswap.com.

*I have not been paid or compensated by PaperBackSwap to endorse them. I am doing so because I truly love their website.