Home Just for fun, what are your resources?

[Shoopy]

I banged up my car today. It isn’t bad, no one got hurt but it is bad enough for me to cringe every time I look at it. I called the dealership and without even looking at it, they are claiming I need to replace the whole piece (versus painting) and it’ll be $500.

Then I remembered that my best friend’s fiancé’s best friend owns a body shop. He’s expecting my car this evening. He already said that it "sounds" like it doesn''t need to be replaced and he can probably just paint it for free

Anyway, that got me thinking about the different people we know and how we can use those resources to save money (especially with the way the economy has been lately). What are your resources that you tap into every once in a while? What are your “hook ups”?
Mine—a handy man that is my mom’s oldest friend’s husband, parkhopper''s pass to Disney for $30, and a plumber that is married to a good friend of mine.

 

[DivaDiamond007]

I''ve been working for attorneys since I graduated from highschool (I have a bachelor''s in Paralegal Studies now) so I know plenty of attorneys in various areas of law - traffic/criminal, landlord-tenant, estate planning, civil.

My husband''s uncles own a towing business/garage so car repairs are quick and easy and often free. My dad can make a car out of anything so that helps as well.

My dad is handy with just about anything around the house - faucets, flooring, electrical, etc. He can fix almost anything.

My MIL is a registered nurse so minor problems are usually reported to her first and then follow-up with our PCP if necessary.

I also know a recently retired police officer so sometimes I call her up and ask her general questions.

Diva

 

[dragonfly411]

I have a few different ones . We know several farriers personally so horses feet are easy to handle. We know someone who does airboat work, that''s covered. We know someone who can repair saddles, check. We know SEVERAL farmers, so veggies are always abundant check. my aunts groom dogs - check. my cousin does massage DOUBLE CHECK. and we know a band manager who can get us tickets to most shows triple check

 

[Selkie]

Fiery, I did the same thing to my car and was quoted $1000 by the dealer to fix what amounts to a scratch

. I need to make friends with some body-shop folks!

My mom''s a nurse: free medical advice and TONS of free dermatology product samples (seriously, I''m stocked on sunscreen and neutrogena cleanser for the next decade.)

Dad''s a car-nut/machinist: free car advice and random technical knowledge

Brother''s a CPA: free tax advice

Friend is an excellent amateur photographer: we have sooo many great pictures from her over the past 8 years.

DH is all-around handy with woodworking, painting, repairs, etc.

 

[Shoopy]

Date: 8/27/2008 5:32:00 PM
Author: Selkie
Fiery, I did the same thing to my car and was quoted $1000 by the dealer to fix what amounts to a scratch

. I need to make friends with some body-shop folks!

I''m so bummed about my car after spending the past year being extra carefu with it

It does help to know someone in the body shop world. My FI''s best friend takes his car in to a body shop all the time (he enters his car into car shows) and the guy he works with has helped us in the past. The problem is that he''s always trying to get me to do something to the car and is pretty pushy about it (adding TVs, bucket seats, extra dark tints). I have to remind him that I''m not an 18 year old boy looking to pick up chicks

. I''m a girl and all I care about is a nice, clean car LOL

 

[Selkie]

Date: 8/27/2008 5:40:00 PM
Author: fieryred33143

Date: 8/27/2008 5:32:00 PM

Author: Selkie

Fiery, I did the same thing to my car and was quoted $1000 by the dealer to fix what amounts to a scratch

. I need to make friends with some body-shop folks!

I''m so bummed about my car after spending the past year being extra carefu with it

It does help to know someone in the body shop world. My FI''s best friend takes his car in to a body shop all the time (he enters his car into car shows) and the guy he works with has helped us in the past. The problem is that he''s always trying to get me to do something to the car and is pretty pushy about it (adding TVs, bucket seats, extra dark tints). I have to remind him that I''m not an 18 year old boy looking to pick up chicks

. I''m a girl and all I care about is a nice, clean car LOL

LOL! I''d probably run into the same attitude if I bring it somewhere in my neighborhood...if I''m not careful, I''ll end up with blinking purple bumper lights, chrome EVERYwhere, and spinning hubcaps!

 

[musey]

I know a pizza delivery guy who can get me ½ off

 

[Linda W]

I am really lucky, as my DH can do anything and everything. Fix cars, plumbing, electrical, painting, you name it. Neighbors, family and friends come to him all of the time for help. Sometimes, he is taken advantage of, but he has a good heart. I so love that man

Linda

 

[oobiecoo]

DH''s dad is a doctor and step-mom is a nurse. They''re weird about helping their kids with medical probs or sample prescriptions though.

My mom is a hearing aid dispenser so anytime I''m having an earache (which is OFTEN) then she checks it out on her video otoscope.

My dad is super handy and can help out with pretty much any home project and has lots of equipment we can borrow. he stripped and refinished some random furniture pieces I had purchased when I moved to my first college apartment. Now they are all the same color and have the same hardware!

My friend has a Barnes & Noble membership card that she lets me use.

My brother used to be a carwash manager and would give us free wash and details.

And then, of course, there is COSTCO for travel discounts and good deals!

 

[qtiekiki]

Wow you ladies have a lot of resources.

Most of my resources are through DH, so I didn''t have much until we got married.

DH''s cousins has a auto repair shop. So when we get car maintenance or repair, we just pay for the wholesale price for parts, oils or whatever is used. No labor fee.

DH''s uncles has a auto parts shop. Sometimes we get parts from them, and take them to cousins'' shop for repair job. Again, we just pay wholesale price.

DH''s aunt has a nail salon, so free manicures and pedicures. But I do tip the workers.

SIL works for a jewelry wholesaler, so she passes on her employee discount to us if we want something. Mostly gemstones and pave diamonds jewelry.

One of SIL''s in-law has a jewelry store; she gives us discount when we buy from her. DH got my e-ring from her.

Another SIL is a Disney employee, so she takes us in Disneyland for free.

Have a friend who is a optometrist, and she sells us designer sunglasses for wholesale price.

We know a criminal lawyer and a CPA, but so far we haven''t need advices from them.

A couple of DH''s cousins will be graduating as pharmacists next year, so if we have questions about drugs, we can ask them.

Another DH''s cousin is in chiropractic school, so when he is done, we expect some chiropractic care. =P

 

[Kaleigh]

We have a friend that can hook us up with anything, so we go to that friend when need be. It''s like one stop shopping!!!

 

[goldenstar]

FI is in IT so he''s super handy when it comes to computers. All my friends and fam go to him when they are having computer probs (me too of course).

My brother is in dental school and I made him promise to whiten my teeth when he''s able to. Oh, and I''m hoping he goes into orthodontics because I know that my future kids are going to need braces.

 

[miraclesrule]

I alwasy dreamed of being able to get ready like the Jetson''s did in the old cartoon. Why can''t I have someone wash me, blow dry my hair, put on my make up, dress me.

Instead, I have resources for excel, powerpoint, photo capturing (especially ahnding for wedidng proofs without the logo), plumbing issues and lawn mowing.

I have a gazillion legal connections, and love to send them monopoly money after they help me out.

I always thought that was a nice touch.

But my favorite resource is just a friend with an ear.

 

[pennquaker09]

Nate is a pediatrician, so if the kids get sick, he can pretty much tell me what''s wrong. However, they have someone that they see because Nate isn''t a general pediatrician.

Nate''s dad is a exec at AT&T wireless. We get free phones, if we want them.

My mom is a lawyer, so she gives us our legal advice.

My grandmother was a professor of nutrition, so she can tell you a lot of things about food.

My dad is anesthesiologist, but he also has a degree in pharmacology, so he can tell us about different drugs.

My uncle is an architect and I hope his services will come into use in the future.

I don''t get the benefits of this, but I have an uncle that is a dentist (he lives in Alabama).

Nate''s oldest sister works for Delta Airlines. We still pay for our tickets, so I suppose that''s not a "resource" . . .

I have a friend from college that ended up working for Texas Instruments. I needed calculators for a lot of my students last year and she came through for me.

Another friend from college works at Dell.

 

[tiffanytwisted]

Hmm. My grandparents own a furniture store, so they charge me cost (plus shipping).

 

[Haven]

Hubby's family owns a furniture store.
My dad's family owns car dealerships.
My best friend works for the Westin and hooks us up with her awesome employee rates. (Hence our ten-day Virgin Islands honeymoon!)
I've been getting free Chipotle for nearly six years now. I engaged an employee in a conversation one day, and he's been treating me (and whoever happens to be with me!) ever since.
My parents are tech gurus, so they fix all of our tech problems for us.
Hubby is a muscle specialist so he fixes all my ailments.
Does it count if I've been going to my dry cleaners for so long that they give me a ton of free cleaning now? Well, they do. I love them. And they always take a lot off of alterations, too.
My students have hooked us up with:
- Hair salon (manis, pedis, that sort of thing)
- Landscapers
- Accountant (especially when hubby waited until the last minute to file . . . )

ETA:
I used to get free Jimmy John's all the time, too. I forgot about that. Say hi to people and they want to feed you, I swear!

 

[Irishgrrrl]

DH is an electrician, so we will never need to hire one! Also, he is just very handy in general . . . like Linda's DH, he can fix just about anything! And Linda, I hear ya on the "being taken advantage of sometimes" issue! My family calls him for EVERYTHING!!!

My Stepdad is a supervisor for a construction contractor, so I'm sure he'll come in handy when we build our new house in a few years!

My uncle works for Ford and one of DH's uncles is part-owner of a Ford dealership, so guess what kind of cars we drive since they both get us a very nice discount!

My Mom is very good at flower arranging, so she did all of the flowers for our wedding. She only uses silk flowers for her arrangements, but they look VERY real! The best part is, since they're silk, we still have all of our wedding flowers, even though we've been married for over three years!

Oh, and I almost forgot . . . my aunt just got a job at a local tack shop, so she can give me her employee discount on all my horsey stuff!!!

 

[Linda W]

Date: 8/30/2008 7:49:57 AM
Author: Irishgrrrl
DH is an electrician, so we will never need to hire one! Also, he is just very handy in general . . . like Linda''s DH, he can fix just about anything! And Linda, I hear ya on the ''being taken advantage of sometimes'' issue! My family calls him for EVERYTHING!!!

My Stepdad is a supervisor for a construction contractor, so I''m sure he''ll come in handy when we build our new house in a few years!

My uncle works for Ford and one of DH''s uncles is part-owner of a Ford dealership, so guess what kind of cars we drive since they both get us a very nice discount!

My Mom is very good at flower arranging, so she did all of the flowers for our wedding. She only uses silk flowers for her arrangements, but they look VERY real! The best part is, since they''re silk, we still have all of our wedding flowers, even though we''ve been married for over three years!

Oh, and I almost forgot . . . my aunt just got a job at a local tack shop, so she can give me her employee discount on all my horsey stuff!!!

IG: Oh I hear you all right. We are eating dinner or we have company and are in our back yard having a bbq and swimming with them. Neighbors walk right in from the side gate and ask him to fix their cars, a leak in their sink or whatever.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

My dad is a doctor...so I have always had someone to "take care" of me without leaving my house or paying...be it phoning in a script or getting an x-ray or w/e.

My friends tend to be stylists....so free cuts and color

My BFF is a CPA...wooo hooo free taxes!

My DH is in the banking industry (however, NOT a teller, or personal banker)....so we usually get perks there, like LOW APR''s and what not

My Uncle is a cop....that helps...but my DH''s is friends with a lot of cops as well....it comes in handy

My Mom''s Best friends own a grooming salon...so my Chi''s always look smashing

 

[Skippy123]

Well my hubby is great at everything, fixing cars, computers, he remodeled our kitchen, etc.

I have a good friend who''s hubby is an awesome attorney. Someone hit me once and he was ready to write me a letter, I said it wasn''t necessary but I appreciated someone wanted to help but it all got sorted out in the end.

I have several friends who are doctors, some are neighbors and one is just an old friend I have know from the gym for years.

I am an accountant so if I ever have tax questions I can call up friends who have more knowledge then me but I usually will do the research and then pick their brains for additional info or to verify my thinking on the issue. Sometimes people ask me for help and I help if I can since tax isn''t my specialty.

We have a friend who is an electrician which helped w/our kitchen remodel and my hubby did some work for him, etc.

 

[bee*]

I work at a vets while I''m in college so I get a large discount on food and treatments.
A friend is a doctor so medical attention is usually free.
D is an architect so our housing things are provided by him!

 

[bem3231]

Neat thread!

DH and best friend are both dentists, so that''s covered.

Brother and nephew are professional photographers.

A friend of the family gets me friends and family rates at Fairmont hotels, which is awesome.

My dad travels a ton for business, and always has way more frequent flyer points on many airlines than most people could use in a lifetime - he just signed 1,000,000 over to me (yes, one million!).

DH also is a helicopter pilot and has a helicopter, so we get to capitalize on the ''fun factor'' for any adventurous friends or family members.

I have a large network of other friends and family whom I can turn to for advice on a number of different topics, which always comes in handy.