'Another $1k for your tally'
$1,000 off your rent just by sending an email? Here's how my college buddy did it just recently, and you can, too.
Hi there, my friend.
There’s little I love more than hearing a success story about how someone saved or earned extra money just by asking.
I love it even more when they save or earn $1,000 or more.
It is even better since the person has been a friend of yours since you were a teenager.
That’s exactly what happened to me earlier this month when my friend Jaime Aron (pictured above in bobblehead form) sent me an email with a subject line of “Another $1k for your tally.”
I’ve been lucky to know Jaime since the first semester of my freshman year at the University of Texas, when we first worked together in the sports department of the student newspaper, The Daily Texan. We haven’t seen a lot of each other in person in recent years, but we’ve kept in touch via social media and email, so I was excited when he reached out.
I was definitely intrigued by the subject line, so I opened the email right away. When I read his email, I knew I wanted to share his story with you, so I asked him if he’d write something up for me. He was nice enough to agree, so I’ve included his story below.
And by the way, he’s quite a writer. He been a senior writer for the American Heart Association for 15 years. He also spent 20 years writing, mostly about sports, for The Associated Press, and has written seven books. But perhaps the best thing he ever wrote is this: an amazing two-part story (Part 1 | Part 2) he wrote about his sons’ premature births. It is an incredible piece of writing and, far more importantly, an inspiring story with a happy ending for his “miracle babies.” (Seriously. I can’t recommend it highly enough. Once you’re done reading about his rent savings, be sure to come back and read these. It is worth your time.)
Here’s the story he sent me, which includes the exact email he wrote to his landlord that led to him getting $1,000 knocked off his rent …
By Jaime Aron
Last summer, one of Matt’s posts provided the perfect words at the perfect time. It was exactly what my sons needed to hear — and, as all parents can understand, they needed to hear it from someone other than me.
First, though, I had to laugh. Because my kids were 27, 23 and 23 — all older now than Matt and I were when we met.
After forwarding Matt’s email, I signed up for his newsletter. Better late than never!
The Oct. 30 edition was all about negotiating for a better apartment lease.
Well, we had an apartment lease that was up for renewal on March 15. So I put the following reminder on my calendar for Jan. 15:
Time to look into extending lease at (apartment complex). See negotiation tips in Matt Schulz email from 10-30-25 in (apartment) email folder.
This was typical for me. My calendar is filled with reminders of when certain subscriptions are close to renewing. When they pop up, I’ll call and use the threat of cancelling to get a better rate; or I’ll make sure we’re ready for, say, more cereal before letting the auto subscription renew. I also change power companies every year, scooping up whoever has the lowest price. This was recommended by a friend who was then CFO of an oil company; as he noted, everyone in Texas gets power from Oncor, so all you’re actually getting from a provider is their pass-through services. (Not sure how this works in other states.)
Now fast forward to Jan. 7.
The complex management sent an email encouraging us to renew right away. They included a spreadsheet that offered different prices depending on how soon we renewed and for how long. I obviously scanned for the cheapest option. Even if we signed the soonest, and for the longest, the best they would offer was keeping our rate flat.
Uh, no. That won’t do.
I went online to see their inventory of apartments like ours and their promotions for new customers. Let’s call this Leverage No. 1.
Leverage No. 2 was the fact that we’ve always paid our rent in full and on time. This was part of us being what I would consider low-maintenance renters. The one exception was complaining about the fact that the elevator was out for more than two months, which was quite a pain considering we’re on the fourth floor and we had a sick dog who needed to be carried in/out multiple times a day. The fact that we were never adequately compensated for that inconvenience served as Leverage No. 3.
Armed with all this, the email practically wrote itself.
Thanks for your note. We are considering renewing our lease for 12 months and we’re willing to do so by Jan. 25. However, we would like to discuss reducing our rent.
Your website shows three properties like ours (2C) available for substantially less than [our current price], including one in our building. You’re also offering new tenants up to 8 weeks free rent. While I realize newcomers often get better deals than existing customers, I also believe you should want to retain low-maintenance tenants who always pay in full each month. (It’s also worth noting that we’re still a bit peeved by how long it took to get the elevator fixed in our building, with little more than lip service about the inconvenience along the way; we were offered use of a carport, but that meant little to use because we routinely use the garage.)
Feel free to continue this conversation via email or by calling me at xxx.
Their reply, which arrived the next day, included a lot of saber-rattling about how “rates and concessions fluctuate throughout the year” and the fact that they’re “unable to reduce your current rate due to company policy.” It also said this:
I’m happy to share that we are keeping you at the same rate, which is fantastic. Additionally, based on your feedback, I was able to request a special one-time concession for you. Our pricing analyst just approved $1,000 off if you decide to renew with us!
We agreed to the deal on Jan. 13. Two days later, I got the calendar reminder about using Matt’s script. Ha!
I emailed Matt to share this tale, in part because of the funny timing twist, but mostly for him to add my $1,000 to his tote board tallying up all the money he’s helped people save. Sticklers may note that I didn’t actually use his script, but if you parse what I wrote, you’ll see it aligns with his advice. Clearly, his words of wisdom landed and stuck with me.
And, I hope, with you.
The big takeaway, obviously, is that it really is as easy as asking. Worst they can say is no.
Or offer you an unneeded carport.
Jaime Aron writes for the American Heart Association. Previously, he was Texas Sports Editor for The Associated Press. His books include co-authoring Rod Carew’s memoir One Tough Out and Breakthrough ‘Boys, the wild story behind the Dallas Cowboys’ first Super Bowl championship season. More at jaimearon.com and jakeandjosh.net.
What to take away from Jaime’s story
He’s absolutely right that sometimes it is as easy as just asking. But there are a few other important things to take from his story:
Your calendar is a powerful ally. We’re all human. We get busy and forget things. However, you can avoid that by simply adding reminders to your online calendar. This can help you in most any aspect of life, but it is certainly true when it comes to your finances. You can remind yourself to pay your bill on time, negotiate with some company, cancel a free-trial subscription and so on.
Information is power. In his story, Jaime calls it leverage — a truly apt name. However, it is ultimately about information. He did his homework to understand the rental market. He also reminded his landlord of a few crucial facts that helped Jaime make his case. That stuff matters. It is far more impactful to say “I’d like you to do this, and here are a few well-thought-out reasons why” than to simply say “I’d like you to do this for me.” This is true whether you’re talking about rent or most any other negotiation.
Be prepared for counteroffers. Negotiations are rarely a yes or no thing. They’re about discussion, compromise and agreement. “Well, I can’t do this for you, but how about this instead?” Jaime didn’t get a lower rate, but he did get $1,000 knocked off of one month’s rent, which is a big deal. That’s real money, and a pretty easy choice. However, the right choice isn’t always obvious when a counteroffer comes, so taking a few moments before the negotiation starts to think about what possible counteroffers could come — and whether you’d accept them — can help you feel far more confident when decision time comes.
Share your big wins, too
I want to hear them! Reply to this email or leave your comments below.
Until next time!
Matt
Love it! And I love using my calendar for reminders like this, along with the fantastic Snooze option in Gmail!