Playing Poor: Because rich people don’t get deals

I’m not an actress. I know there’s a lot of model/actresses out there, but I can’t act worth shit. Somehow, though, when the opportunity comes around to save some money, I can act poor better than that homeless person who sits outside of Starbucks. This skill has saved me hundreds if not thousands of dollars in my life, and I will tell you why. People simply do not feel sympathetic for rich people, and find no reason to go out of their way to give them deals. From everything to getting my doctor to lower my medical bill, to a better price at the mechanic and getting myself out of a traffic ticket – when you’re able to make a really strong case for being poor – people will generally give you a break.

Is this unethical? No way. It’s always worth asking for a better price, because there is always wiggle room for negotiation. People wouldn’t offer a deal if they themselves couldn’t afford to give it. Plus, we have all been in a place where we really needed to watch our spending, and people are generally sympathetic to that and can relate to your story. The key here is to leave your coveted Chanel purse at home when you’re arguing your case for why you should get a break – you need to make sure you’re believable here.

Final thought: Just because you can afford to pay full price for something doesn’t mean you automatically should. When it comes to services, telling someone you can’t really afford the full price can often open the door to negotiations so that the sale isn’t lost. The next time you see the opportunity to save some money, get your puppy dog eyes ready and put on an oscar worthy performance.

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