She has saved more than $1,000 in credit card annual fees. Here's how she does it...

Plus, her newsletter/text alert hack that can save you real money, too

Hi there, my friend.

One of my favorite things to do here at “Ask, Save, Earn” is to share success stories from people who’ve advocated for themselves and won. Whether they’ve negotiated a better deal on a car, made thousands of extra dollars in extra salary or just knocked a few bucks off of a credit card bill, they’re all important — in part because they can inspire people to be bold enough to try to do these things themselves.

Today, I want to introduce you to a fellow Substacker who says she’s had success negotiating everything from credit card annual fees to items on Facebook Marketplace. In an email interview, she shared some of the secrets of her success, as well as the biggest thing she’d want people to know about negotiating.

Meet Leigh Weingus…

Note: The interview has been lightly edited.

Matt Schulz: Can you tell me a little about yourself and your Substack?

Leigh Weingus: I'm a New York-based writer and editor, and I've worked in the media space for 15 years. I'm currently the Deputy Health and Wellness Editor at Parade.com (I love it!) and also co-write the interior-design Substack The Aesthetic Edit with my best friend — who happens to be a professional interior designer, unlike me.

MS: You told me that you've gotten credit card annual fees waived in the past. About how many times have you been successful doing that, and how did you go about it?

LW: I think I've gotten them waived about five times total. I learned this trick from my brother-in-law, who is a financial planner. He suggested calling the companies every year and mentioning that because the annual fee is too hefty, I'm considering closing the card. If they say they can't waive the fee (this did happen to me once) and you don't want to close the card, you can backtrack and say you're still thinking about it and will get back to them. This process takes me about five minutes and has saved me over $1,000 over the years, so I highly recommend it!

MS: Have you ever asked for other breaks or discounts as well, whether related to your credit card or other aspects of life?

LW: I've asked for breaks from my health insurance company, but that hasn't worked— the most they've offered me is interest-free payment plans (better than nothing). While I'm not sure this counts because it's not something I technically request, whenever I order from a website I've never shopped at before, I always sign up for their newsletter or text alerts so I can get 10% off. And if I have shopped there before, I sign up from my husband's email. And after that, well, we just have to pay full price. Is there a lot of unsubscribing involved in the aftermath of this? Yes! But it's totally worth it for the money we save. '

MS: Have you ever had any issues with unsubscribing from any of the various things you've signed up for to get freebies and discounts? And what would you say to someone who is reluctant to give their email out for security concerns or other reasons?

LW: Nope, no issues! I usually buy from bigger companies that aren't too sad to see a few subscribers go. But I also don't mind keeping some of those subscriptions, so I know when these companies have sales or special offers for subscribers only. People have different levels of comfort regarding security, and I don't worry too much about my email being out in the world, especially because I trust the companies I'm buying from and know (hope!) they have good security measures in place on their end.

MS: Most people never take the time to make these requests, even though their chances of success are usually higher than they realize. Sometimes people simply don't know that they can ask, but for many people, fear stops them from acting. Were you nervous or scared about making these requests? If so, what did you do to overcome the fear? If not, why not?

LW: A little! I hate the phone, and I really do hate asking people for things (I have no idea how people run fundraisers). But reminding myself of my long-term financial goals and how much that $100 can grow in the market or a high-yield savings account over the years motivates me every time.

MS: Your Substack is all about design and "elevating small spaces." How can advocating for yourself or being willing to negotiate and ask for breaks help you when you're decorating your home? Got any success stories there?

LW: Oh yes! Home items are typically big-ticket purchases, so the hack of signing up for a website's newsletter/text alerts in exchange for getting 10% off is key. I also wait for holiday weekends to buy anything, since almost everyone has a sale. Finally, if I'm buying on Facebook Marketplace, which is a goldmine for home/interior design items, I always ask for a lower price than the seller initially lists. Everyone negotiates on Facebook Marketplace, so the seller will never be surprised or offended by your request!

MS: If there was one thing you'd want people to know about negotiating based on your experiences, what would that be?

LW: Remember that most likely, you will never see or talk to this person again, and the absolute worst thing that happens is that they say no. It never hurts to ask!

Asking really works

Leigh’s successes aren’t unusual, especially when it comes to credit cards. I’ve said many times over the years that most anything to do with credit cards is negotiable.

My latest report from LendingTree on this topic showed that more than 90% of people who asked to have an annual fee waived or reduced got their way. Really. 90%! That’s a huge number, the highest since LendingTree began tracking it a few years ago, but it isn’t a fluke. Success rates have long been high for those who ask for waived fees, lowered interest rates and other such perks from their credit cards.

It was the inspiration for my book, and something that I’m never going to stop talking about because it can make a real difference for people.

If you have a success story to share, let me know! I might just feature you in a future edition of “Ask, Save, Earn.”

Until next time!
Matt