Summary: Last week, I discussed about getting the best deals when you shop. Today I’ll be covering extended warranties and credit card perks you may already have that can save you money.<br> [smart_track_player url=”http://media.blubrry.com/couplemoney/traffic.libsyn.com/couplemoney/QA_Session_9_Credit_Card_Perks_and_Extended_Warranties.mp3″ ]<br> <br> * Subscribe on iTunes: Simply <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/couple-money-podcast-build/id924656111">click on this link</a> and you’ll be taken to Couple Money’s page where you can subscribe.<br> * Subscribe on Stitcher: Please <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=54457&refid=stpr">click here</a> so you can catch all episodes.<br> <br> If you enjoyed the podcast, could you please take a second to share this with your friend or leave a <a href="If%20you%20enjoyed%20the%20podcast,%20could%20you%20please%20share%20this%20with%20your%20friend%20or%20leave%20a%20rating%20and%20review?">rating and review</a>? You’ll be getting the word out on the show and helping other couples build their marriage and net worth.<br> Should You Get the Extended Warranty?<br> Next time you buy an expensive item like a laptop, cellphone, or TV, you may be offered to add a protection plan or extended warranty.<br> You may be tempted. No one wants to be stuck with expensive repairs or a replacement on a big ticket item. However they usually aren’t as great of a deal as they are pitched.<br> Consumer Reports found that<a href="http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/extended-warranties/buying-guide.htm"> items tend to break after the service plan window</a>, so you may be lining up someone else’s pockets without gaining a real benefit.<br> They also reported that <a href="http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2012/12/resist-the-extended-warranty-pitch/index.htm">you may already be covered and don’t need pay</a>.<br> First off, the manufacturer may have a warranty covering defective items and or repairs for a limited time. When you’re looking at buying some shoppers could save a lot of money upfront by seeing which manufacturer has the best deal and the best reliability.<br> Second, you may want to be careful where you shop. Retailers want to have and keep your business and some have generous policies when it comes to returning and repairing purchases.<br> Another layer of protection is your homeowner or rental insurance.<br> You may be surprised to hear that <a href="http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/credit-card-perks-you-didnt-know-about-part-2/">your credit card may already offer an extended warranty on purchases a perk</a>. Depending on who you use, your credit card may already double the manufacturer’s warranty. Why spend more if you already have the coverage?<br> Does that mean that all extended warranties are a bad deal? No. You have to ask yourself, Will you pay more to have the warranty than what you can save if your item breaks or needs to be replaced?<br> In fact, Damon Darlin had a thoughtful article in NY Times on <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/29/upshot/should-i-buy-a-warranty.html?_r=0&abt=0002&abg=0">how to analyze whether or not a warranty is a good deal</a> looking at reliability and coverage costs. I’ll include it on the site so you can check it out before you head out to the store.<br> Finally, I want to suggest that you consider self-insuring. Have a savings account to pay for repairs and replacements.<br><br> You can either open a dedicated savings account or just have it separated on a spreadsheet. The advantage with this set up is that the money stays with you (growing interest) and if you don’t need it, you can reallocate as you see fit.<br> Credit Card Perks <a href="http://couplemoneypodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/credit-card-perks-save-you-a-ton-of-money.png"></a><br> Getting back to credit cards, I want to highlight a few additional perks that may come in ha...
