Free Stuff is Not Free

When you see free stuff from businesses, courses, and online sites, it's not as free as you think it is. You are paying for these items in one way or another.

Free Rentals at the Library

Those aren't free at all. Nine chances out of ten your city, county, state, and federal tax dollars help pay for them. If not, someone else paid to have the books, courses, tapes, CDs, and other items to be in the library.

Free Samples from Manufacturers

Whether you are getting free samples online or through your local store, you are paying for them from purchases you make from the company giving them away. This is why the manufacturers want you to give them a test.

They want you to buy the full sized product. The person in front of you who bought the item just paid for your free sample.

Free Birthday Meals at Restaurants

The same thing applies to those free birthday meals. I don't know one person who will go eat alone on their birthday. Thus, the person who went with you just paid for your meal while you think you're eating free. This is another marketing ploy to get you in the door.

Free Book Swaps

Seriously, you think you're getting a free book to read? No, someone down the line paid for that book. The author isn't getting royalties off of book swaps either and that's not right.

Free Stuff from Home Parties

When you host a home party from Tupperware or similar companies, your host gifts aren't as free as you think. To get the better prizes, your sales have to increase with each item. Therefore, it isn't free. Your guests and buyers just bought you a $5 item.

Freecycle.org

Sure people are giving away the stuff they don't want, but they did pay for it to begin with. Then you have to meet with the person to get the item. Your free item just cost you in gas money. Not so free is it with the price of gas these days.

Three of the five items takes gas, bus or taxi fare to get you there for the item. One of the five uses your tax dollars to help fund the so-called free stuff. One of the five free items robs someone of their income. Two of the five items uses your friends and family to get you the free item. So, how good does that free stuff look now?

Source

Farnoosh Torabi, Yahoo! Finance - Financially; Fit 7 Ways to Score Free Stuff; Yahoo! Shine