My epiphany moment came on Thursday somewhere between the automatic renewal of my Norton subscription and the day’s main event – seeing whether I could get a better deal on car insurance.
I’d been planning to review my security/ backup arrangements, but Norton pipped me at the post. Slightly aggrieved, I went to the Norton website where I discovered that the advertised price was ten quid less than what they’d charged.
Strongly aggrieved, I contacted Norton and within a few minute Prasad (new best friend) had offered me a 40% discount and an extra 6 months subscription.
That’s when it struck me. My mind went back to the days open markets and a man doing an astonishing balancing-cum-juggling act with a set of dinner plates –
“Now I’m not asking a hundred pounds, I’m not asking fifty pounds, I’m not even asking twenty pounds … and I tell you what – I’ll throw in a complete set of tea plates for nothing …”
It’s the same thing – but without the entertainment – the best bargains are still available to the sharp-eyed, the sharp elbowed, the sharp-witted and the people who are prepared to haggle.
Emboldened, I went on to knock 20% of my car insurance (without having to change provider) and 56% off my breakdown insurance (for the same level of cover).
Postscript: Savings on breakdown insurance were made by switching to a company called AutoAid, which I hadn’t heard of before, but which has rave reviews on the MoneySavingExpert Website.