Paying Retail is for Suckers!
A saying that I have jokingly adopted in life is: "Paying retail is for suckers".
I remember running into my Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) contractor at a Target in Walnut Creek, Ca. one night and he asked me how the electrical was coming along for my remodel. I told him that I am just getting quotes and nothing has been done yet. Then he gave me this bit of advice that I am going to 
pass onto you that can save you money almost instantly when you receive a quote from your contractor.
He said that when the quote is given, no matter what it is, that I should physically and audibly wince, sucking the wind in through my teeth as if I just pricked my finger on a rose bush, and finish with a sigh. This sound alone can cause a contractor to quickly, and without thinking, drop their price for fear that they may loose the job altogether.
So I tried it with my electrician when he called me with a quote:. "That is going to cost $1,650 to get the new service box put in". I immediately winced and sighed then waited for his response. "Alright I can do it for $1450!" Bingo! He dropped $200 off the price just like that. It worked!
The kicker came when my HVAC contractor came to run the ducting work and thermostats for my remodel a few months later and he quoted me a price of $1,150, I signed and winced audibly on the phone, He immediately came back with, "well I can do it for $950". I started to laugh, and then he realized what just happened.
I have done this with other purchases, much to my wifes embarassment, and sometimes, have gotten up to 20% off the retail price. Give it a try!
Do you have any money saving tips that you would like to share?