Frugal Family: Ask and You Shall Receive

In October of 1995, when my older daughter, Jackie, was two years old, I explained Halloween traditions to her. She was fine with the thought of dressing up, and happy about the prospect of receiving candy.  Standing in doorways and saying Trick or Treat? Not so much.  I told her she’d need to speak up in order to get the goodies. She said she wouldn’t do it.

“Then how will you get the candy?” I asked.

Her response instantly became a family inside joke.

“Mattel will do it!” she said, pointing to her four month- old little sister, Michelle, whose name she had yet to master.

When the 31^st arrived, Jackie managed to summon the courage needed, and there was plenty of candy in the pumpkin bucket that came home on her arm.

I think Halloween is a great way for kids to be introduced to a skill that will serve them well later in life. Speak up, ask, and receive much more than would be had by keeping silent.

Here are some scenarios where finding one’s voice is likely to result in money saved:

Negotiate the price on big-ticket items. It’s common knowledge that the “sticker price”  on a car is not a firm number. Skilled negotiators will research the average selling price of identical models and enter a dealership prepared to talk the salesperson down. At some point, however, the price will have dropped to its lowest point. What to do then? Ask for extras, like mud flaps, a second set of floor mats, or a trailer hitch. My minivan is inspected for free each year, saving me $29 every time. This was a perk offered to seal the deal when we bought it.

The price of jewelry is often negotiable.  Two weeks ago, I was searching for a special gift.  I found the perfect pair of pearl earrings at Long’s, but they were more expensive than I’d  hoped.  After explaining that I loved them, but they were not within the budget, I asked the saleswoman if I could buy them for $50 less. She went off to check with her manager, who promptly approved the reduction in price.

Don’t pay for services you don’t use.  I am embarrassed to say that I went ten years not knowing that our local trash collector, Allied Waste Services, offers a credit for weeks when curbside pick-up is canceled. But two summers ago, my neighbor clued me in to this fact. Since then, I have called ahead to have the $9 fee credited to my account for each week that we are away.

Newspapers like the Boston Globe will extend your subscription if you decline delivery while away from home.

Health clubs will often allow patrons to put memberships on hold for a period of time, saving money or extending the term when the club is not going to be used.

Call for reinstatement of fees. Credit card companies levy penalties for late payments. Often these fees exceed the original amount owed. Many folks think Well, I was indeed late; I have no recourse. But the majority of these companies will waive the late fees one time.  Any first offenders should call and ask for a credit. Other late fees, such as those charged by dentists or doctors for delayed payments, may also be waived upon request.

Have your bill analyzed for savings.  It pays to have your cell phone or cable bill reviewed periodically. Introductory offers expire and companies’ bundled packages are often altered. One’s utilization of plan benefits may change. Often there is a less expensive option to be had just by calling the company to have your plan assessed.

Ask for discounts at the register. During this past Christmas season, my husband did some impromptu gift purchasing on his way home from work.  Expecting a grateful response, he was dismayed when I reacted by saying, “You went to Dick’s Sporting  Goods? I have coupons here you could have used!” or “Did you use the Macy’s charge? That gets us 20% off!” 

Instead of giving up on shopping, he began asking the salesperson at the register, “Am I entitled to a discount on any of this?” He became a huge advocate of speaking up when he got positive responses that resulted in reductions in the cost of several items he planned to buy anyway.