There is strength in numbers.  Women all over the world showed that this weekend as they gathered to continue the fight for the equality our sisters have spent centuries battling for.

There is also strong purchasing power in numbers.  That’s why it’s less expensive to buy health insurance through a group plan, such as through an employer or the Aetna plan Penn State has contracted for its students, than if you were to purchase on your own.  It’s also why large big box stores are able to sell things at lower prices than mom and pop shops can.

So how can you take advantage of the strength that comes with numbers to help your cash flow?  Think about the things you are affiliated with.  Most of my readers are students. Look for student discounts on everything from food to movie tickets.  Are you a member of AAA?  That can get you discounts on hotel rooms, train tickets, amusement park tickets, and a number of other things.  My mother has no shame on asking for discounts.  She’ll pull out her AAA card, her AARP card and a stack of coupons and say, “What gets me the best deal?”  Are you a member of a club?  My membership in the Nittany Valley Running Club gets me a discount at one of the running shops downtown.  Your memberships can get you discounts in lots of different places.

There is strength in numbers.  And if you think about it a bit, you may find that you are stronger than you realized!