It makes me laugh, in a really annoyed way when people I speak to (friends and family) have this massive fear of confrontation relating to almost anything!! I don't mean squaring up to someone in the pub because they looked funny at your drink, what I mean is the fear of asking people for things, before being offered. Some things as simple, and he is going to hate me for saying this, but my husband has a quasi-phobia of calling for a takeaway!! He will ALWAYS offer to pay, and even go and pick it up if its not deliverable, but he will never phone to ask for the food in the first instance! I don't know if that's a man thing or not, because think of the times that men WON'T ask for directions. Its a sign of submission to the fact that you don't actually know everything! I love it. I think its hysterical.
Its not just the obvious things that people shy away from asking, but its things that can save you money, save you time, and get you freebies!
People who know me, know that I rarely pay full price when I don't have to. I shop in the offer section of the supermarket before topping up with my staples that may not be on offer. I collect coupons (not as good as extreme couponing in the States. If you've not seen that, OMG you should check it out, but unfortunately over here, our Supermarkets are too switched on to giving as many discounts and even PAYING people for their $1000 dollar supermarket shop. I positively DROOL over this programme, I could do a whole nother blog on that one day!!). What I find is funny, is that British people (mostly) are so reserved that they don't like to waste other people's time. "Oh I can't find my coupon in my huge bag, so don't worry about it!" God forbid you should take an extra 30 seconds of the shop assistants time to get your 20% discount, the other customers might get so pissed off with waiting for you, they lynch you in the car park!! Would that really happen? Surely the worst that would happen is a tut. People rarely do more than tut to show their disdain at your time-wasting! And how many times have you tutted in a long queue whilst someone decides they really do want their coupon/voucher. Its payback time!!
We are a nation of complainers, anything we can complain about we will. Currently the cost of living is a very good one to start with. Prices have gone up, wages not necessarily. So what better time to start collecting those coupons and vouchers and also ASKING! I don't wish to be smug (well maybe a little, otherwise I wouldn't be a blogger) but I had to pat myself on the back THREE TIMES this week for taking the initiative and not fearing the confrontation.
So, number one - I had a call regarding a meeting next week in west London. Immediately, my thoughts were, Oh God its going to take ages on the tube, but if I drive I know a road in Earls Court where I can park if I take £20 in pound coins. Then I thought, big place I'm going to "Question, can you get me a parking place?" Answer "Oh, I'd need to check. I'll email you in a bit" My email came through two minutes later. Parking bay xx is booked for you! Just saved myself a possible £20 and a good two hours on my day! Hooray!
Number two - was browsing online for Christmas trees. Early I know, but I thought they'd be cheaper slightly out of season (we're talking plastic of course. I don't think a real tree would last that long). Found a website I'd not used before and the tree in question was £22 instead of £49. Bargain already, so I put it in my basket, went to check out and that, what I used to call, "annoying" box popped up - Live chat, can we help you with anything?
I'd noticed that P&P had come up around £4.99 and I instantly though, what do I need to spend to qualify for free P&P, so I asked Live Chat. Live Chat came back and said they didn't do free P&P on price amounts, but did I have a code I wanted to put in. I told Live Chat that I didn't have a code and I'd not submitted to payment yet because I was new to the site and still trying to work out if I could get a discount. Live Chat there and then said "Would you like a code for free P&P?" "Ooh yes please" was my reply and 20 seconds later I had further reduced the cost of my new Christmas tree by £4.99. Another pat on the back me thinks!!
The third pat on the back doesn't relate to asking, but I think I've given you enough ammunition now to go and try it for yourselves (please let me and the other blog readers know how you get on), but this time relates to being nice! The feeling alone that you've unprompted made the effort to praise something or someone should be enough to put you in a good mood, but in this instance I really got a nice surprise.
I was rushing back from an Ice-skating lesson at work, and didn't have time to pop into town to buy my lunch from the usual sandwich shop or M&S, so I stopped at the Shell Petrol station and picked up a Chicken Sandwich there. I couldn't believe how tasty it was. It really was one of the best sandwiches I'd ever eaten. Every mouthful was a taste sensation and I was so impressed that I went online and Googled Shell sandwiches (they do have a brand of sorts) and sent them a message to say how amazing the sandwich was. I got an email back within 24 hours, thanking me for my kind email and asking for my address, as Shell were re-branding and wanted to put customer comments on their sandwich boxes (I thought these things were always made up), I gave me address so I could sign the consent form for them to use my words and then just a couple of days later - a £5 voucher to use in a Shell station came through the letter box! What a nice surprise! Being nice really does pay. I dare any of you to try it with a different retailer, again let me know how you get on!
So this has been a pleasant money saving blog today, but I'm sorry I've not made any cakes yet this week. Hopefully going to try some cake pops at the weekend.
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