The only inconsistency between the sentences is "says" in the first and "said" in the second. You need to decide if this conversation finished in the past ("said") or if it is a conversation which frequently occurs ("says"). If you want to incorporate both ideas, then you need to do something like this: "Sarah often says..." "But the last time we discussed it , Sarah said....."

In the sentence 'I said she has a great job that pays well.', you are using *immediate (or informal) reporting* and telling us what you told Sarah. Instead, if you say, 'I say she has a great job that pays well.', the 'I say' means it's your opinion (that she has a great job that pays well) just like 'Sarah says' means that it's Sarah's opinion (that she wants you to get a job).

The whole sentence is in the Present. Where do you see a past tense? need is present not past.