Bargain Puzzler: Does the Way You Order an Item Make a Difference in The Cost?

This Week's Bargain Puzzler is About Changing Your Perspective.  And How Being a Critical Thinker and Following the Math Can Save You Money Where You Didn't Even Know You Were Over-Spending It

So, you decide to go grab something fast and cheap for breakfast. And, you go for convenience.. so you pick one of those places you don't even have to leave your car... But, you are lactose intolerant. You want that Bacon Biscuit,but without the cheese. 

Do You:

A. Order a Bacon and Cheese Biscuit, as shown on the menu, and ask them to hold the cheese

B. Order a Biscuit with an add on side of bacon

C. It depends on where you go

D. It doesn't matter and comes out the same anyway

The answer is C. It depends on where you go.  But it almost always matters which way you order, from a financial standpoint.  

A simple way to add a little extra money in your budget is to pay attention to the menu. What do add ons cost? Follow the math. Here is an example:  I went to Mc Burger Place recently during breakfast. I went through the drive thru. I asked them for a "biscuit please, add bacon." They rang up breakfast bacon biscuit, minus egg, minus cheese.  I could tell because I saw the order screen. I politely told them that was not what I ordered and insisted they ring it the way I asked.  Their way would have cost an extra 45 cents for the same item!  They sighed. Then, I heard them (oops on their part) complaining that "she is telling me how to ring up her order like she knows better than I do.."  When I pulled up to pay the rude lady, I smiled sheepishly, apologized, and explained that it was just cheaper to order a plain biscuit and pay the add on price for the bacon.  Then, I pulled to the next window and asked for a manager and explained the situation to them. They apologized, of course, for the rudeness.

My point though, is that it does matter. And, every cent counts.  When I can take that 45 cents to a drugstore and walk out with 3 Gain dish soaps and 1 Crest toothpaste, that overcharge is just too pricey for me.  Call me cheap. But if you start paying attention, you too will see some extra pocket change acruing. The thing is that most folks just don't stop to think about it.

Another good example is when people ignore the current specials at a fast food place.. or any place... and order a value menu because it is "cheaper."  If the location is offering a Large drink for the price of a small, the value menu is not cheaper. Order a la carte. Spend less money and get more...

My husband and I took a rare opportunity to go on a date last month. We went to Applebees.  We wanted the "2 can dine for $20" which includes an appetizer and two entrees. Also, we knew we wanted two appetizers.. boneless buffalo wings and cheese sticks. (We were living it up! Funny...)  We happened to time it just right to hit the "happy hour".  So, the appetizers we wanted were half off.  Both were available as options to be included in the $20 meal deal. I followed the math. Even half off, the boneless wings were the more expensive item. When we ordered, I made sure to order the boneless wings to be included with the 2 for $20 deal. AND, I ordered the cheese sticks to be the half off app. We saved $2 doing it this way. It just takes a moment.

Why would you ever over pay for something if you could take that moment and save money?  It is very interesting to me how folks just don't take the time to think about it a new way. It is one super easy trick to saving a little more money.. think about how you word your order. It really is that simple!