Summary: (http://www.littlethingsmatter.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/10/Logo_Dark-BG.jpg) You’ve heard the old adage: a penny saved is a penny earned. That’s very true. The opportunities available to you to make money are not just limited to what you earn pursuing your career. You also make money by investing wisely, living frugally, and purchasing products and services at a discount. Did you know you could save money on most of the things you buy? Because of a new business I have started with my son Gerrid and son-in-law Josh, I have spent the last year studying and experiencing the fact that most individuals and companies have lower prices at which they will sell their goods and services than advertised. In this blog you will learn some simple ideas that, when implemented into your daily life, can increase the dollars in your bank account. I’m also excited to tell you about our new business and our goal to provide more than 100,000 meals to hungry children in October. Believe it! Live it If you want to start saving money on the things you buy, saving money must become part of your shopping mindset. By simply being intentional, I have saved thousands of dollars this year on products I have purchased. Do you believe that saving money is time consuming? It’s not, unless you are clipping grocery coupons from your local newspaper. Most money-saving strategies take less than 60 seconds. Let me show you how. Saving Money Offline Trying to get a better deal on the things I buy has become a game for me. When I buy products at brick-and-mortar business establishments, I ask if they have any coupons or special deals. In most cases, they do. The other day, I started my errand running at Sports Authority. When I got to the checkout, I asked if they had any coupons. The customer service rep smiled, pulled out a $25 coupon from her drawer, and applied it to my order. Then I went to the car wash. I asked if they had any coupons. The attendant told me about a special they were running on their coupon books. Since that is where I get my car washed regularly, I bought the coupon book and saved 40% on my car washes, which amounted to a total savings of $50. At lunch I ate at a Chinese buffet. When paying my bill, I asked if they had any coupons. The casher gave me a $2-off coupon. Next I stopped to buy a new pair of running shoes. When checking out, I asked if they had any coupons. After scrambling through the drawer, the clerk found a coupon and I got 10% off my order—a $9 savings. My last stop before returning home was at our local health food store. When checking out, I asked about discount coupons. For the first time on this trip, I was told no coupons were available. But the cashier told me about their loyalty program: for every $350 a customer spends, he or she gets a $10 gift card, so I signed up. By doing nothing more than asking for a discount when checking out, I was able to save $81 that day. For years I had purchased many products at the listed price. I never saved a penny because I never asked. Not only can you save small amounts, but you also can save large amounts. My wife’s car needed service: her A/C had stopped working and several other parts needed attention. The service manager told me it would be $3,100. I exhaled and asked, “What’s the best price you can offer me if I agree to get everything fixed now?” He paused, did some calculations, and gave me $800 off! That’s a substantial savings! I have been shocked with my success rate at saving money. By simply taking five seconds to ask one question, you too will be amazed with the dollars you can save. The worst-case scenario is that they don’t have any coupons but you’ve lost nothing by asking. If you plan in advance, you can find printable coupons online for your favorite stores and restaurants. When my wife and I go on our weekly dates, we use coupons for our favorite restaurants.
