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From rent to hair styling, phone to internet plans, these expenses are surprisingly negotiable. How every young Canadian can learn to haggle and get more for their money.
Adulting in Canada can feel like navigating a minefield of expenses. Rent in Toronto? Take all my money. Groceries? You practically need a side hustle. So, when someone puts a price tag on something, our instinct is to just… pay it. But what if swallowing your sticker shock isn’t the only way. I sat down with negotiation consultant, author, speaker and MBA instructor Fotini Iconomopoulos to uncover the surprising things young Canadians can negotiate for a cheaper price and how to do it without breaking a sweat (or burning a bridge).
Forget the cutthroat boardroom negotiations you see on TV. Iconomopoulos says effective negotiation isn’t about playing hardball and winning at all costs. “Negotiation can be collaborative, not just the competitive imagery you see in pop culture. People say, ‘Your life must be so exciting, like that show Suits.’ But people pay me a lot of money to ensure it’s not like that.” That’s not what effective negotiations look like, she says.
For Gen Z and Millennials who cringe at the thought of haggling, the trick is to shift your mindset. Negotiation need not be confrontational; it’s about finding mutually beneficial solutions. And Iconomopoulos’ take on what’s negotiable: “The easy answer is everything.”
That “suggested” retail price? Just a suggestion. That initial job offer? A starting point. “Just because something is suggested doesn’t mean it’s final,” she says. To illustrate this, Iconomopoulos points to a common scenario: “When you think about the simplest types of negotiations, like car negotiations, if you look at a TV commercial or a print ad, it’s going to say ‘MSRP: Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price.’ You have to focus on the word ‘suggested.’ Nothing is set in stone.”
Here’s the lowdown on surprising things you can negotiate, with Iconomopoulos’ expert tips for each.
Your employment compensation goes beyond just the number on your paycheque. Think benefits, vacation time, remote work options, professional development—and even severance if things don’t work out.
“Go in as informed as you possibly can—always do your research,” Iconomopoulos says. Know your worth, research industry standards on sites like Glassdoor and “talk to people in your industry. Other humans are great sources of information but get a diverse set of voices. Don’t [just talk to] someone like you, who may have been afraid to negotiate something for the last 20 years. Find out what else is out there and what else is negotiable from others who’ve done it.” Diverse inputs will give you more confidence and information.
Then, when you’re talking terms, don’t hesitate to ask “how” or “what” questions to uncover possibilities:
Remember to consider, “What are the things that are going to help you keep money in your wallet? And what are the things that will add money to your wallet, like professional development?” Think creatively about the perks that matter to you.
Your lease agreement isn’t set in stone. Consider negotiating the lease term, move-in/out flexibility, parking fees and access to building amenities, like gyms or communal spaces.
When it comes to your living situation, Iconomopoulos says, “The one that comes up most is flexibility.”
Ask about renegotiating the lease duration, so you’re not locked in or subletting. Also, consider, the other things can they do to make your life easier, so you don’t have to spend additional money on other things. Think about bundled services like utilities and internet or access to amenities that could save you money elsewhere.
If you use freelancers to support your business or for personal purposes—say an accountant or a designer—how rates and project terms are structured is often open for discussion. To secure the best arrangements, Iconomopoulos advises carefully considering how you’ll need their services. Think about whether an hourly rate or a project-based fee makes more sense for you both.
If the time commitment is unclear, she suggests first trying them out on a single project. This lets you assess their speed and quality before making a longer-term arrangement. Gathering this initial information empowers you to make a more informed decision about pricing.
Don’t hesitate to explore ways to create additional value for both parties. This could involve offering referrals or even sharing services with others (say, a shared virtual assistant) to lower costs for everyone involved. Think creatively about mutually beneficial exchanges beyond just the rate.
The same goes for selling your services to others, whether you’re self-employed and/or have a side hustle on top of your regular job. Work with terms and conditions that benefit both parties.
From your next hair treatment to that leaky faucet repair, don’t assume the quoted price is the only option. “Just think about it going off the menu,” Iconomopoulos says. Take a service like getting your hair done; instead of a full colour, ask if a partial balayage is an option to save on cost. Even if it’s not posted on the salon’s site, you can still ask for partial services or explore alternative solutions that might better fit your budget.
“If you just look at the menu, you might assume that is the only thing I could do. But you might find options off the menu if you ask a question.”
Those monthly bills might seem set in stone, but loyalty is a powerful tool. “When you call in to telecommunications companies, if you tell them you’re thinking of leaving, you will likely get transferred to a retention associate because it is cheaper for them to keep you than it is for them to try and replace you with a new customer.” Don’t be afraid to ask about promotions, especially as a new customer but even as a long-standing one. “Just asking little questions can often unlock opportunities that they have sitting behind a wall,” Iconomopoulos says.
Those sky-high bank account fees and credit-card interest rates might have some flexibility. “Yes, you may have to talk to somebody in person. You may have to physically go into a bank branch to develop a relationship with someone there and say, ‘This isn’t going to work for me. What else can we do?’ And usually, there are other ways to do that because they want your business or they want to retain your business,” Iconomopoulos says.
But, again, don’t be afraid to “go off the menu.” Ask about alternatives that aren’t advertised. For credit cards, call and inquire about lower rates or fee reductions, ask, “What else can I do to reduce some of these fees? Who can I talk to?” because, as Iconomopoulos says, they have people set up for this chain of decision-making and they don’t want to lose you. And you can always shop around to find the best credit card for low interest or credit cards with no fees, too.
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The first crucial step is to be genuinely curious. Instead of making demands, approach the conversation with a sincere attitude of inquiry.
“Be curious. Ask questions. More specifically, I want you to ask ‘how’ or ‘what’ questions, not ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions. Ask something as simple as, ‘What else can you do? How could we make this more valuable?’,” says Iconomopoulos. This tactic shifts the dynamic, encouraging the other party to problem-solve with you rather than against you and feeling cornered.
Next, going into any negotiation unprepared is a recipe for leaving money—or value—on the table. Do your homework. “It’s the number one thing I tell clients all the time,” she says. “You do not go into a negotiation of any kind cold.” Research industry standards for salaries, typical pricing for services and even learn about who you’re negotiating with, if possible. Knowledge equips you with the confidence and information to make informed requests.
When it comes to services, remember that your experience as a customer holds value. While threatening negative reviews is never a good starting point, you can leverage reviews positively. Iconomopoulos suggests framing it as an opportunity for them to earn your positive feedback: “I don’t recommend threatening a bad review. But if you say, ‘I would love to be that person who can give you a great review. What can we do to make that a reality?’ this approach incentivizes cooperation.”
It’s also important to be aware of signs of a non-negotiable stance and/or unprofessional behaviour. Iconomopoulos says, “If they start raising their voice or getting short with you, those are red flags.” Don’t feel stuck. Instead, find someone else to talk to. Escalating to a supervisor or seeking an alternative provider is the best course of action.
Finally, becoming a confident negotiator requires repetition. “Practice, practice, practice,” she says. “Make it muscle memory.” Start incorporating curious questions into your daily interactions with just about everyone.
When faced with a “No,” train yourself to automatically ask questions like, “Under what circumstances would that change? How could we make that work?” Building these habits in low-stakes situations will make you more comfortable when the stakes are higher.
Equally important is having a few tools in your kit for overcoming negotiation anxiety. “It’s nerve-wracking. It doesn’t come easily for anybody. I speak to CEOs and everybody in between,” Iconomopulos says.
Understand that it’s just a conversation between two people, and the more comfortable you become with that idea, the more natural it will feel. If you start to feel overwhelmed, practice what she calls your “mental pause button.” Take a deep breath in and a long breath out. This simple act can calm your brain, allowing it to function more effectively.
She points to a strategy from the psychology book The Upside of Stress (Avery, 2016). Instead of labelling your feelings as nervousness or anxiety, try reframing them as excitement. “When you can tell your brain, instead of ‘I’m nervous or anxious,’ if you can rewire your brain and give yourself a pep talk that says, ‘I’m excited.’ Your brain will actually function at a much better capacity.” This self-talk—this mindset shift from scared to excited—can improve your cognitive function, leading to better outcomes in your negotiations.
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Finally, Someone breaks the “pay what it says” thought in our brains. Don’t be too embarrassed to ask the question “can you do better”. It’s your money! Bravo!!