Comments on No Debt MBA: My latest money-saving technique is... being nice

Great topic! Kindness and consideration go a long...

2011-09-15T06:18:25.795-07:00

Great topic! Kindness and consideration go a long way in solving problems. I love the idea of how it can also save you money!

My kids will frequently ask me if there are jobs around the house that they can do to earn money. If they are picky or rude, they don't get the opportunity. If they are kind and polite, I will generally find a task for them to do. After reading this article, I will definitely point out to them the advantages of being nice!

I used to get free umbrellas, because I made frien...

2011-09-14T10:32:34.360-07:00

I used to get free umbrellas, because I made friends with person in charge of the psych floor at my university. I had given up buying them because, for some reason, I would go through them like crazy. One day, I was leaving with my jacket on and he asked me to come to his office. He handed me one of the extra umbrellas from the previous year and then I explained why I did not have one and he told me just to come up and get another when I broke that one. He was a very nice person and very few people treated him with the respect he deserved.

I always make it a point to be nice to everyone re...

2011-09-13T10:14:27.520-07:00

I always make it a point to be nice to everyone regardless of job title. I don't see why you would not be nice to someone simply because of what he or she does for a living. I have noticed that when things break or there's a problem with a bill or I need computer assistance at work or my food order is wrong, my requests get attended to sooner than others because I'm nice (and sometimes, I'll get comped a free drink or whatever).

It works in my personal life, too. My husband is, overall, nice to his co-workers and one of them, who teaches yoga at an expensive yoga studio, gifted me an entire month of classes just as a thank you to my husband.

I am a teacher and my rapport with the janitorial ...

2011-09-12T18:15:12.291-07:00

I am a teacher and my rapport with the janitorial staff yielded me special treatment my colleagues did not enjoy. Treating people reasonably usually yields a lot more. This works with strangers, colleagues and in my case, my students.

Interstingly, yes. I have never, as far as I can r...

2011-09-12T13:12:06.878-07:00

Interstingly, yes. I have never, as far as I can remember, tried to be nice for the purpose of saving money. Usually I'm either neutral or friendly. Only irritable once in a while, if I'm getting rotten service.

If I do get something free or for less, it's usually if a female is working, and strangely when food is involved. Such as, I'll get a cup of coffee for free, I'll get a free appetizer, etc.

This very rarely happens, though. And it happened more years ago.

As a customer service rep, I see very few manners ...

2011-09-12T12:09:01.109-07:00

As a customer service rep, I see very few manners displayed by callers! Even a neutral tone of voice and some basic civility goes a long way toward relieving tension in a call. That might get the caller what they need or want, and it might get it done quicker.

My advice: PLEASE say please and thank you (we do!), and don't yell. Listen to what the agent says, and follow directions. If you're not getting the result you want, ask if a supervisor can assist you. Don't yell at them, either. They will help you if they can. If they can't, that's not their decision in most cases; it's the company policy. Write a letter/email to corporate headquarters requesting a change in the policy; don't tell the agent you're going to "sue the company" or "tell the press".

Even if you don't get what you wanted from the call, you'll both have had a more pleasant experience. And you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you're a decent human being.