7 Ways to Cut Your Budget: #5

#5: You bought it, it broke, now what?

If I have a product that doesn’t taste or work the way it’s supposed to, I call or write the company. I’ll be damned if I pay good money for something that turns out to be crap. Like, this one time I tried one of Odwalla’s Superfood smoothies. It was basically all types of greens blended together. And it tasted horrible. I didn’t have a problem with their other flavors like I did this one. So, I emailed them off their website and within a few weeks got coupons for their product. Another time, my writing professor contacted a publishing company when she saw the binding of our “used” books falling apart. Not only did she get a response, but they also sent a replacement for the whole class. Most companies will try to resolve the issue to the best of their ability. If the problem is bigger or more expensive and customer service isn’t helping, contact one of the higher ups of the company. They may not read the letter, but their administrative assistants will. Then you’ll be heard. No company, especially in these times, wants to lose your business.

If the company is small and you suspect them of being all around shady, file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. When I was researching companies to pack my stuff and haul them up north, I was surprised by the complaints on the BBB site. All the companies I was referred to, pull the same stunt with their customers. They’d give them an estimate. Then when the driver arrives, give them another price that cost way more than the estimate. When the customer tried to call their sales rep they had been in contact with, they were either told to talk to the driver or no one picked up. The bill was not only filled with ridiculous charges, but they were charged for boxes they never received. One company had so many unresolved complaints they changed their name to continued ripping people off.

All in all, don't accept subpar products or services. Voice your concern and get your $$$ back or at least your voice heard.
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Now playing: The Platters - Only You (and You Alone)
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Apartment Hunting

So I've been apartment hunting and have completely given up. Wanting to live near NY just isn't worth it. Everything I see on apartments.com and rent.com looks decent enough, but when I go to apartmentratings.com I'm disappointed and surprised by the reviews. Either the place is a roach motel, has bad and neglectful management or is in the hood. I know I didn't leave one ghetto to willingly move back to another. So basically, in this market, a 1 bedroom/studio apartment in North Jersey that is in a decent neighborhood, has no bugs, and near The City, will cost you over $1000. I'm sure people in Wisconsin or Indiana are laughing at us for using a good chunk of our paychecks just to pay for a place to sleep. It sounds pretty ridiculous to me. Maybe I can just move into a cardboard box in Jersey City or someone's crawl space in their home.

Which reminds me... if you currently are living in an apartment hop on apartmentratings.com. It has helped me a whole lot and saved me time from driving to all these places to be disappointed. Sadly, some of the rating are from years ago or the places haven't been rated yet.

This experience has taught me alot. Such as:

1. NJ being one of the most expensive places in the US to live.
2. Always find a place offers heat and hot water as part of the rent.
3. Make sure everything they promise is in the lease. It's the only legally binding paper that can help you in a dispute.
4. Parking, parking , parking. There's nothing more annoying then coming home from work and having to hunt for a parking spot.
5. Also, if a real estate management company is giving you grief (i.e., they haven't supplied the utilities promised in your lease, they ignore your calls to fix problems, they claim you owe more or haven't paid your rent) don't lie down and take it. File a complain with the Better Business Bureau. That way other comsumers can see their BBB score and avoid renting from them. Either that, or they'll realize you mean business and handle your complaint to avoid a bad score.

I'm checking out a place tomorrow afternoon eventhough I already know I can't afford it. Wish me luck! :)

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Now playing: Fergie - Clumsy
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