Saving money may seem like a complicated task. However, we all know a few tips and tricks in our professional lives that can help us save money. A Redittor asked on the forum – What do you know about your profession that can help people save money? Here are some valuable tips from saving-savvy Redittors.
AUCTION SPECIALIST – BUY FROM POLICE AUCTIONS
“Go to police auctions. All the stolen stuff that can’t find its way back home gets sold off there. People steal the coolest and nicest stuff! I got a brand new 12″ compound miter saw and a crazy mountain bike for about 5% of retail value. Some guy bought a yacht for $2000 because he was the only one there with the capability to take it away. They aren’t advertised, and there is a TON of stuff, so you don’t get outbid on too many things. I wouldn’t know how to track them down either, as I went with a guy I used to work with who lives and breathes everything about flea markets/auctions.”
PHYSIOTHERAPIST – CORRECT YOUR POSTURE TO PREVENT INJURIES
“I am a physiotherapist: sit at your desk with proper posture. Get regular moderate exercise. Many of the injuries that I see in my clinic are injuries of UNDER use, not overuse. This is a generalization as injuries happen with sports, slips, falls, etc. But the number one thing I try to get people to correct is their posture to treat or prevent neck, back, and shoulder problems and headaches.”
MARKETING PROFESSIONAL – DON’T FALL FOR MARKETING PLOYS
“I run a 75-person marketing agency. Most of the things you buy you don’t need, and they won’t make you smarter or more attractive. And they certainly won’t make you happy. Try to buy as little as possible every day. Learn to separate your “wants” from your “needs.” If you WANT something, list that item on a calendar for a month from today. If you still really want that item when the date arrives, then, and only then, consider buying it. You’ll find that your life is a lot less cluttered, and you won’t be burdened with useless stuff. And always remember that labels and brand names are for fools.”
SOFTWARE PROFESSIONAL – DON’T PAY FOR ANTIVIRUS
“Don’t pay for antivirus when you can get it for free. There’s no reason to pay for antivirus for Windows. Microsoft Security Essentials is free and awesome.”
“I work for a prominent company in the anti-malware software industry. Microsoft Security Essentials is interesting not only because it is free but because it is actually really good. It does not have the same signature scope as some of the biggest players at the moment, but its technology and self-defense features (which are arguably the most important) are top-notch. It is, without a doubt, the best free AV solution on the market at the moment.”
COLLEGE INSTRUCTOR – ASK YOUR PROFESSOR FOR ALTERNATES TO REQUIRED TEXTS
“If you’re broke and can hardly afford the required text for the class, you can always email the instructor ahead of time to find out alternate options:
Maybe an older edition, often at a much lower rate, works just fine.
Maybe a copy of the book(s) will be put on reserve in the campus library.
Better yet, you never know: the teacher might have spare copies you can borrow (I’ve loaned out a spare more than once).”
“Here’s the best trick to getting the correct textbook for free. I worked in a library for four years at the reference desk, and I only shared this secret with a select few: Order your textbook through an interlibrary loan. Other schools, like NYU to Chico State, probably have your textbook but aren’t using it that quarter/semester (different professors often use different texts or the class isn’t being taught right then). So the textbook you need, even 2011 editions, are at some school just sitting on the shelves doing nothing. Saved me thousands.”
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR – BUY FROM THRIFT SHOPS
“I’m an Early Childhood Educator here. Children are expensive!! And they grow FAST. Buy clothes at thrift shops while they are young. Most things have only been worn a few times, and you can get them at a fraction of the cost.”
PHOTOGRAPHER – BUY NEW LENSES
“If your budget is small, it is better to buy lenses than a new camera body. Most DSLR bodies will take fine photos when mounted with some sweet glass, and a 7,000 dollar body will take blurry photos with cheap lenses.”
HOSPITAL STAFF – NEGOTIATE YOUR BILL
“If you cannot pay a medical bill, call the hospital/doctor’s office as soon as you get the bill. The office is much more likely to negotiate early in the process than after they send you to collections. Some places will even give you a discount if you pay in cash/pay in full upfront.”
PIZZA DELIVERY DRIVER – ALWAYS ASK FOR SPECIAL DEALS
“As a former pizza delivery driver for Dominos and Pizza Hut: there are special deals for everything. Never order pizzas without first checking if there’s a deal for something you are looking for or asking over the phone if you have to.”
DIETETIC STUDENT – EAT YOUR VEGGIES
“Seriously, people, eat your veggies and some food that looks like foods (eggs, meats, grains, whatever); drop that processed nonsense and excessive carbohydrates, and maybe you won’t need to buy insulin and medication to counter metabolic syndrome at 50.
Also, learn how to cook. A bag of beans and some ground beef makes some excellent chili at a fraction of the cost of the drive-through. You can throw veggies in here as well since you won’t taste them much. (Great way to get cabbage in your diet, nobody will notice it’s in there if you shred it up).”
PERSONAL TRAINER – SAVE MONEY AND WORK OUT AT HOME
“Buy some basic neoprene dumbbells ranging from 5lbs to 10-15lbs, a skipping rope, and a yoga mat. Learn basic bodyweight exercises like pushups, situps, plank, lunges, jump squats, etc.
Build five high-intensity interval training programs and block out 30-45 minutes, 4-5 days/week. Do that program for a couple
of weeks, then modify it.”
STARBUCKS BARISTA – ASK FOR MORE PUMPS OF COFFEE BASE
“If you’re getting a Frappuccino, don’t add extra shots; they cost extra money. Just tell the barista that you want more pumps of the coffee base added to your Frappuccino. We don’t charge money for extra pumps, and you get that stronger, more caffeine-packed frap every time!”
“If you want an iced latte, or anything iced with milk, it’s much cheaper to order it as espresso shots on the ice in a Venti cup, with whatever syrup you want. Then you can fill it up with milk at the bar.”
TAX ATTORNEY – APPEAL TO REDUCE PROPERTY TAX
“I work at a small tax firm. There are a ton of homeowners that don’t realize they can appeal to reduce their property taxes if they have evidence that it’s too high. It’s probably because other forms of taxes cannot be appealed. It’s fairly easily done, too. If you know a home has sold in your neighborhood or block, as the case may be, use that value to estimate your home’s value. If nothing has sold, you can ask your neighbors whether they have appealed and their assessment after the appeal.”
INSURANCE BROKER – CHANGE YOUR POLICY WITH ANOTHER COMPANY EVERY YEAR
“I am an Insurance broker. Whatever insurance policy you are paying, if you have it through a broker, ask him every year to change the policy with another company (remember to request it with enough time). You ALWAYS find lower premiums. When we are talking about business lines, the savings can be huge. And all just for the asking.”
JEWELER – BUY STONES AND RING SETTING INDIVIDUALLY
“I was a hobbyist jeweler and worked for gem dealers and at a jewelry shop for quite a while. If you’re buying an engagement ring or really any jewelry, you can save an amazing amount of money by going to a local gem/mineral/jewelry show. Be sure it’s open to the public, or have a wholesale tax ID # to bring with you.
You can buy stones and ring settings individually and have a jeweler at the show set them for you, and you can literally pay between 50-90% less than retail. I’m not making this up.”
CONSTRUCTION – GO FOR SOMEONE WITH EXPERIENCE
“When it comes to remodeling your home, get someone over the age of 40 who’s been doing remodeling for 20 years or more. “Johny Come Lately” will probably botch the job. You just won’t know it for a while. Get a good contract stipulating who says what is “Quality” and “Complete.” Quality/Time/Money. Pick two. And NEVER pick the low bid. The middle bid with REFERENCES is the way to go.”
MORE FROM WHATANIKASAYS
People tend to believe conspiracy theories when they feel they have lost control or are afraid or anxious. Evidence and facts over the years have debunked several widely accepted conspiracies. However, there are many more conspiracies that people still believe.
15 CRAZY CONSPIRACY THEORIES THAT ARE WIDELY BELIEVED. DID YOU TOO?
15 THINGS YOU’RE TOO OLD TO BE DOING ANYMORE
As we grow older, many changes occur within us, both physically and emotionally. Dealing with the aging process can be stressful, and there’re few things that you’ll not feel like doing anymore. Read about a few of them here!
15 THINGS YOU’RE TOO OLD TO BE DOING ANYMORE
10 OUTDATED TECHNOLOGIES THAT MANY STILL PREFER TO USE NOW. DO YOU TOO?
In a fast-paced digital age, where technological advancements constantly push us towards the latest and greatest, some of us still find comfort and satisfaction in holding onto the past & outdated technologies over their newer, more advanced counterparts.
10 OUTDATED TECHNOLOGIES THAT MANY STILL PREFER TO USE NOW. DO YOU TOO?
16 STUPID THINGS PEOPLE LOVE TO BRAG ABOUT. ARE YOU GUILTY OF ANY?
We have all met people who love to talk about themselves and their achievements. No one likes to listen to these people, but getting a braggart to stop is tough. And the worst part is that these people will brag about the silliest things.
16 STUPID THINGS PEOPLE LOVE TO BRAG ABOUT. ARE YOU GUILTY OF ANY?
16 FACTS THAT YOU THOUGHT WERE FALSE, BUT ARE ACTUALLY TRUE
There is no point in denying the facts. However, many facts are 100% true, but people reject them. Here are a few of them.
16 FACTS THAT YOU THOUGHT WERE FALSE, BUT ARE ACTUALLY TRUE
Anika Jindal
Anika is a CPA and founder of What Anika Says. She shares simple and actionable frugal living, money management and money-saving tips to live a debt-free financially independent life. She has been featured on popular websites like Bankrate, Forbes, Mint ,and Authority Magazine. Byline: MSN