16 Everyday Things You Shouldn't Be Paying For

Mikey Rox — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 16:00:03 +0000

Life costs money — a lot of money. But as savvy personal-finance gurus, we've learned how to cut back where we can. Consider this list of everyday things you shouldn't be paying for, and then let me know some of the basic freebies you live by in the comments below. Happy saving!

1. Wi-Fi Outside Your Home

Unless one of your neighbors is technologically inept and has left their Wi-Fi network unlocked, you probably have to pay for your own Internet connection at home. Okay — par for the course. But if you're paying for Wi-Fi outside of your home, you're giving into a system that takes advantage of impulse buyers.

Plenty of places offer free Wi-Fi these days (Starbucks, Panera Bread, and even many McDonald's) as an incentive to come in and sit for a while. But then there are times when you really want to connect, and the only option is a paid connection (airplanes, anyone?). Don't fall for it. Load your devices up with everything you need to relax or read beforehand (like books, documents, movies, and TV shows), so you don't have to pay to get online. One day, in a perfect America, we'll never have to pay for public Wi-Fi. Consider your refusal to do so today a stand for the future.

2. Condiments

How much ketchup, mustard, and mayo do you use? I use very little, so the packets that I can harvest from my occasional take-outs and order-ins suit me just fine for when I need them at home. Even more expensive commodities like sugar, jams, and honey can be found if you're looking hard enough — like those packets and individual jars that are common at the resorts and hotels that you may visit on vacation.

3. Napkins

Free napkins are virtually everywhere you go, from rest stops to fast-food joints to the bars at your local restaurants. They're at your place of employment, the doctor's office, and even at your local theater. Pick up a few every time you go out and you'll never need to buy another napkin again.

4. Water

One of the most brilliant capitalism coups of the 20th century was convincing people to pay for water in bottles. Um, hello — we live in America, where we have some of the cleanest, tastiest water on the planet (which our taxes cover, by the way). Fill up a reusable bottle already. It's 2016, my friend.

5. Bank Fees

One, you shouldn't have a checking account that's charging you a monthly maintenance fee. If you're banking at an institution that's siphoning money from your account just for being part of its brand, change banks — stat! Also, stop visiting ATMs that charge fees. I've gone to ATMs whose fees were upwards of $5 before, and that's just not acceptable. If you know you'll need cash on a night out, take out how much you think you'll need. You're already paying inflated prices for drinks — do you really need to pay $5–$10 extra in bank fees when all is said and done?

6. Fitness

Nobody — and I do mean nobody — needs to pay for a gym membership. Exercise is free if you want it to be. There are plenty of workout and fitness videos available for free on YouTube and other resources to help folks who are pinching their pennies lose weight and get in shape.

7. Your Mobile Phone

Mobile phone companies are fighting so hard for your business these days that they're offering free phones to switch carriers, sign new two-year contracts early, and other incentives. Listen to me: You do not need to the latest and greatest phone as soon as it hits the market. Cool your jets, wait a bit, and upgrade when it's available to your for free as a result of your continued business with your carrier — or one to which you switch. They need you, not the other way around.

8. Books

Hello! Paperback or hardcover, your local library has a wealth of books for rent and for free. Oh, and did we forget about borrowing from friends? That's still totally legit, ya know. (See also: 17 Cool Jobs for Book Lovers)

9. Credit Reports

Every one of us is entitled to a free annual credit report by decree of the federal government. Never, ever pay for one. The credit report you get in January should be accepted by anyone who needs to see it until at least a year later.

10. Run-of-the-Mill Computer Programs

Google Drive, with all its components, pretty much replaces any need for the Microsoft suite of office software. If you can't afford Microsoft or other programs — and they're fairly pricey if you have to buy them yourself — there's no need to fret. Online resources have your back.

11. Ice

It's frozen water, ma'am and sir. Even though we weren't born magicians, we're all capable of turning water into ice, at home, for free. Stop buying it!

12. News

It's everywhere, and, frankly, print media can't keep up with the immediateness of the Internet and social media. If you're connected, there's no point in buying anything in print anymore.

13. Tax Prep

Unless your taxes are complicated — like, say, if you own a business, and you require an accountant — there are resources online that allow you to do your taxes efficiently and effectively, which, in turn, results in a quicker payday than if someone else were on the case for you.

14. Cable TV

Nearly every show you watch is available either for free online by its respective network or a streaming service that charges far less than the monthly cable bill you're paying.

15. Long-Distance Phone Calls

One word: Skype. Or, okay, two words: FaceTime. Either way, long-distance phone calls should be dead to you by now.

16. Museum Tickets

Almost every museum offers at least one day a month where admission is free. Even better, some museums are part of programs — like Bank of America's Museums on Us — where entire weekends are free. Before you fork over the cash to view and enjoy what, frankly, should belong to the American people and not private entities (especially those getting tax breaks for being "not-for-profit" organizations — but I digress), research the museum you'd like to visit and see how you can get in without paying a dime.

What are some other everyday things you shouldn't be paying for? Let me know in the comments below.

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This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How to Get Free Wi-Fi at Airports That Charge for Internet Connections

Frugal Duchess — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:42:08 +0000

If you're stuck at an airport that charges for Internet connections, here's a solution: Go to the gift shop and ask for a a free Wi-Fi pass.

That's what happened to me last week. I was in LaGuardia Airport and my flight — surprise, surprise — was delayed. I decided to use that gift of time to check my e-mail and do a little bit of work.

So I charged up the laptop and tried to go online. No luck. The airport offered a pay-as-you-go system called Boingo and I was not able to hitch a ride on any of the other unsecured Wi-Fi systems. (See also: 8 Frequently Under-Budgeted Air Travel Costs)

But while looking at the Boingo pay-now portal, I noticed that there was slot for a promotional code. HMMM?

Minutes later in the gift shop, I saw a stack of "15 minutes Free Wi-Fi" coupons from Boingo. Boingo provides Wi-Fi at over 500 airports, 17,000 hotels (Marriott, Hilton, etc.) and 9,000 McDonald's.

Hmm. The clerk gave me a Boingo card and I sat down to log on for free minutes.

The promotional code did not work, but I called the tech support number and the Boingo customer rep offered me a complimentary code that would get me online while I was waiting for my flight.

That did the trick. My flight was called and I had no need for the free pass. But I learned the following lessons:

Inquire about free Internet passes at the airport gift shops.
If there are no passes, go to the fee-based Wi-Fi portal (website) and look for a toll-free number. Ask the customer rep for a promotional code that will provide you with free minutes.

By the way, the customer service number for Boingo is 1-800-880-4117. I'm keeping that number with me when I travel.

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This article is from Frugal Duchess of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

wifi

16 Everyday Things You Shouldn't Be Paying For

1. Wi-Fi Outside Your Home

2. Condiments

3. Napkins

4. Water

5. Bank Fees

6. Fitness

7. Your Mobile Phone

8. Books

9. Credit Reports

10. Run-of-the-Mill Computer Programs

11. Ice

12. News

13. Tax Prep

14. Cable TV

15. Long-Distance Phone Calls

16. Museum Tickets

Like this article? Pin it!

How to Get Free Wi-Fi at Airports That Charge for Internet Connections

Like this article? Pin it!