Restaurant.com

Restaurant.com is having a 50% off special. You can buy $25 gift cerficates for $12.50 if anyone's interested. You just select the city/region you're in to see what restaurants are participating.

[houseelf]

Thanks so much for the great tip! We were able to go to our favorite restaurant on Saturday night for a lot less money. Between using the free parents' babysitting cooperative and your suggestion, we saved BIG money!

Gratefully,

Kelly

Glad you were able to get a good deal on a restaurant you like. I've become a real bargain hunter and can practically get anything, I believe, cheaper than most people.

[houseelf]

Please share your tips! I love bargains!

Kelly

One thing I've learned is that sometimes the price you're given isn't always the final price.

For example, I needed new tires for my Pathfinder. I call Discount Tires, Sam's, and Big O Tires. I always call at least 3 places asking for the exact same thing for comparison. Big O had the best price and I go to get my tire. He doesn't know that I called an hour ago but I go ahead and tell him the tire I want. He tells me $85. I hesitate. I stand there thinking should I or shouldn't I even though this is the same price he gave on the phone. I think out loud and say, "I'll have to call Discount Tires and see if they have this tire." In seeing me hesitate and fearful of losing my business, he says, "Well, I can give you a small discount..." "Oh yea?" I say. "I can play with the environmental fee and drop it to $70." I'm sold. Not only did he quote me the best price to start with, he even drops it more.

This has occurred more times than I can list - hotel rates, car rentals. It doesn't always work but then I haven't lost anything if it doesn't - it's not like they'll ever increase the price.

This is something I've learned over the years - not something I schemed up. Being poor and cheap lends itself to seeing that people start out big and if you don't want it, they'll drop the price if they want the business enough.