When Free Costs Too Much
On my last business trip, I was on the airplane and the stewardess handed handed me a snack mix bag and a napkin. She turned away before I could give her the snack mix back since I wasn’t going to eat it. I began to amuse myself by reading the label which contained about 11 lines of ingredients (lines not items) which included partially hydrogenated soybean oil and various artificial food colorings. A couple of years ago, I would have mindlessly munched on the snack mix partly because everyone else was munching, and partly because, after all the little packets were free, right? Actually, the cost was embedded in the ticket price, and in fact, with the information we now have on trans-fats and other undesirable additives, I now think that “free” is too costly from a cumulative health perspective (I’m also gluten sensitive). Here are some other areas where an item, ostensibly offered for free has a hidden cost:
–Free food, snacks or other things — eating things that contribute to bad eating habits, weight gain, and other problems (like cavities) means that free food is not always appealing. If you work in an office where people routinely bring (unhealthy) items to share, sometimes it’s better to turn them down. The same for free samples or coupons on unhealthy foods at the grocery store.
–Free items that cause you to buy something you didn’t want or need — Most stores offer a free item with another purchase for the purpose of getting you to try something you otherwise wouldn’t pick up. If you’re purchasing something you don’t want or need in order to get a free item, the savings really isn’t that great.
--Free trial of a product where you have to cancel a subscription in order to avoid charge — I almost never subscribe to these since I have a bad habit of forgetting to cancel.
--Free items that require a rebate – unless you are well organized and keep track of these, items with rebates can end up costing the full amount. The best way to ensure that you get the rebate is to apply immediately for the rebate.
–Free items with an abundance of packaging– sometimes a free item is fairly useless and comes in elaborate packaging. Ask yourself if you really will use it before creating more trash for landfill. I apply this rule to junk mail and have tried to opt out of most mailings.
shared at Frugal Friday
I’m gonna second you on the subscription thing. I stopped applying for ‘free’ magazines when they started showing up on my credit cards a few months later and I had to go through a 20-minute “press this button” routine to stop delivery. What a pain. (BTW, I don’t even have credit cards now, except for Sears. I cut them all up and use only cash!)
I have to tell you a funny overpackaging (trash) story. A few years ago I ordered some candy on line. It was a fancy type of chocolate you bought by the piece. I figured they’d send the few pieces I ordered in a small box, together.
I kid you not…they sent a HUGE box with all kinds of bubble stuff, and after plowing through it I found one (yes, one) piece of candy that was not much bigger than a quarter. How stupid and wasteful is that?
mom2fur, I would be so mad to have a huge box with lots of bubble stuff for one (small) piece of chocolate! Thanks for sharing your experiences.
I agree also with having to cancel a subscription. It’s way too much hassle!
I’d add that another time when free is not worth it, when it’s going to cause clutter and stress in your house!!!
Lori, indeed, stress is a big consideration. I have found interacting with the cable and telecoms company regarding monthly charges that I didn’t agree to a highly stressful activity. I refuse to sign up for 3 months of free cable or whatever they are pushing ever again.