Buying souvenirs? Get a discount!

I heart NYC

My relatives were visiting this past weekend and before they left they wanted to purchase souvenirs for their family back home. We walked into an overpriced souvenir shop and started looking at I <3 NY hats/mugs/key chains. My relatives had bought several of the same items. They had bought 5 key chains, a few shirts, and some mugs (approximately $75 worth of NYC knick knacks). We got a free key chain and free shirt out of it.

Laptop – Camera – Itouch stolen

Stolen Laptop

Dear Readers,
My laptop, digital camera and iTouch were stolen early last week. Hence, the infrequent posts.
I’ll resume posting again tonight!

Best,
Negotiation Girl

Get a human when you call customer service

Always get customer service

Cutbacks.  Economy.  Whenever I call customer service to complain about a product…or the way I’ve been treated…7 out of 10 times I’m greeted by a series of computerized promps.  Well, forget THAT.  Make sure you always speak to a human voice to put your negotiation skills to the test.   All you have to do is go to GetHuman.com. It will tell you exactly what to dial to get the love and care you need. Good luck!

Need a new checkbook? Get it for free

Don't pay for your checkbook!

So … my checkbook ran out of checks and I’ve been bumming them off of my husband. We have a joint account but I still like my very own checkbook. Does it annoy anyone else that you have to pay $10 for your new checkbook? A technique suggested by a friend.

1) Call up your bank
2) Ask them if have any discounts on the checkbooks or any promotions going on.
They’ll be pretty accommodating and hook you up with your checkbook.

Negotiate your magazine subscription

The New Yorker

If you’re still part of the dying breed that subscribes to a magazine or newspaper…don’t ever pay full price for your magazine subscription!

Helpful post submitted by a reader

Negotiate your credit card interest rate

The Kindle, coming soon to Negotiation Girl

Maybe one day you’ll be able to read NegotiationGirl.com on the Kindle DX. Until then, you’re just going to have to settle for a blog post on how to get your credit card interest rate down.

My Citi credit card interest rate had jumped to almost 22% without my even realizing. It’s the credit card I opened when I was an undergrad. Being my first credit card, it has sentimental value for me. My husband suggested I call the credit card company and try to negotiate it down. I dialed the number on the back of the credit card and was able to speak to the representative.

Borders – books discount at the register!

Spend wisely on books

You want to read, but you’re just too lazy to haul yourself to your local public library. Due dates. Returning the books. It’s such a pain. Who needs that?

Buying books is $$$. Especially if you’re the Barnes and Noble or Borders kind of gal. So, how do you save money and still get the books you want?

It’s pretty easy! Borders has a free membership to their Borders re
wards program. I’m not a big fan of B&N because you have to pay $25 a month.