You may not have a college education. You might not be related to someone famous. You probably aren't independently wealthy. That is why you are reading this article! So, how can "being yourself" make you any money? "Where you are" in life can save you money!! "Who you are" can qualify your for discounts and that means saving money!
How Do You Get The Discount?
That's easy! All you have to do is ASK! All you have to do is say "Do you offer discounts for....?" and show them your ID. All they can do is say no, HOWEVER, there is often a good chance that they will say YES and you can pocket that savings!
Where Do You Find These Discount Places?
Watch for the signs on the doors or near the registers for discounts that they offer. Go online and check it out! Ask your friends if they know of any discount places! Watch coupons and flyers that you get in the mail. While watching TV, lend a small ear to the commercials to see if they are offering a discount. Usually this will be mentioned at the end of the commercial, so you just need to lend a bit of attention.
Are you a Student?
Carry your Student ID with pride, but let it work for you since you are working so hard for it. Many establishments offer a discount to students. Just show your ID and pocket the savings! Movie theaters often offer a lower admission fee for students. Car insurance often offer a lower rate or discount for students. Bus fare - hey, you have to get to school, show your ID and see if you can put that change in your pocket!
Some banks will wave a fee for students. Resturants will even have a student menu or office supply stores often have a low cost program for students. Museums and similar educational attractions sometimes offer students a discount.
Are You A Senior Citizen?
Are you a senior citizen, 55 or over? Have your ID ready and you can get a free cup of coffee as some fast food places - that alone could be a buck a day or $365 a year! Over 55 often means a discount at pharmacies, or club stores. Discounts are offered at many resturants for over 55. Some places have Senior Menus just for over 55! Ask about a "senior discount" wherever you go! Again, all they can do is say no, but many times they will say yes and you can add to your savings.
How about senior day at local facilities? Near me is a local day- old bakery that I go to every Sunday. It has "Senior Day" on Wednesdays and seniors get 50% off their purchase. You save 50%! Save the other 50% or buy more bakery goods to last you longer! A local car wash has "Senior Day" on Tuesdays and you can get a car wash for half price. You SAVE HALF!!! Use that half for another bill, or add it to your savings account!
Watch out for advertisements directed toward seniors.
AARP is one I am watching for as soon as I turn 50. Yes, 50, not 55 or 60 or 65 - but 50! You ge the discounts sooner than you think! They advertise so many senior discounts, there's gotta be enough in there to cover the monthly fee while cashing in on many, many more discounts!
Are you in the military or law enforcement?
Two fantastic professions that deserve a whole lot more than they are given since they are defending this countries freedom (that means YOU). And many establishments will offer a discount to show their appreciation for what these brave men and women do. I commend them for doing that!
Are you a mother, father or have children in your care?
Ask about a free meal for the kids under 13. Many resturants have a certain night where kids eat free. I took my kids to the best mexican resturant in town every Wednesday night for about 3 years straight because kids under 13 ate free. It was our weekly family night out and we saved about $10 each week - that was $40 a month! Pretty large chunk of change! And we had so much fun while saving that large chunk!
Many resturants offer free meal for a child's birthday. Some offer free desserts for straigh A report Cards! A local kids game room, offers free tokens to kids for all their A's in school.
Are you an Excellent Driver?
Does your record prove it? Show it to your insurance company and a lower rate can be yours. Just stop and think of who you are and then keep your eyes peeled and your ears open for promotions, discount offers and speciality offers.
AND REMEMBER, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ASK!!!
Other Discounts for All
Many resturants have early bird specials - same menu as their dinner menu, but between 3pm and 5pm they offer the menu items for up to $3 less! Going at 3 or 4pm means no crowds and quicker service, but if you absolutely have to eat at "dinner time", go at 4:45pm and you will be there at "dinner time" and still get the Early Bird Special price!
Watch your sales reciepts. Some stores or services offer a "$2 off your next purchase" or other promotion to get you to come back. Watch for those free checking accounts at banks. Why pay up to $12 a month for the service when you can get it free? And again, look at the junk mail and flyers that you get. Check out coupons in the paper and promotions in ads on TV. On-line shopping often offers discounts. Ask friends, family members or co-workers if they have heard of any specials or discounts.
Many resturants have promotions that you get a "free appetizer" or "free entree" if you purchase one or "in addition to" kind of thing. Bring a friend and split the bill! Or do it yourself and bring half home to have for lunch tomorrow!
But watch out for things like "buy one get one free" or Buy one, Get one half off". Those can be good deals, but only if you REALLY need that other one. Obviously it can be a good deal, but it can also be a waste of money. You buy 2 pairs of shoes. You only really needed one pair, but for free... gotta get it. So now you have more shoes than you can wear! Okay, no biggie as the other pair didn't cost you anything or "only half price". But why not make it save you money? Buy a "work shoe" and a "casual shoe". Buy one for you and one for your spouse. Buy one for your child NOW and one for a gift later - just get the next size up!
Or my personal favorite senario: I was looking at one of these sales once and found a pair of shoes that I absoluely LOVED! It was when pointed-toe shoes were the style, and I hated pointed-toe shoes! How uncomfortable! But the rounded toe shoes were hard to find. Well, here they were! The most beautiful, perfect pair of lovely round-toe dress shoes! Exactly what I wanted! So I bought 2 pair! One pair I wore and the other pair I left in the box and put up in my closet. I knew that as soon as I wore out the first pair, I had another pair of my favorite shoe right there waiting for me! Paid for and everything!
