They say nothing in life is free but is that really true? Well, there are limitations to it of course but there are many things you can get for free instead of paying for them. There are also many ways that you can save that you might not even be thinking about. Let’s look at five items you should never pay for.(And yes there are more, but I’d love to hear which items you would never pay for! Leave a comment below!)
5 Things you should never pay for!
Subscriptions You’re Not Using
It seems obvious but you’d be surprised at how many people spend money on subscriptions and services that they don’t even use. The most common reason for this is that you sign up and forget about it or sign up for some kind of special deal and then forget to cancel it before the billing starts. It’s a good way companies suck you in and get a monthly sub out of you that you’re not even using. Check your subscriptions and cancel what you’re not actively using right now.
I am so guilty of this one myself, I have started monthly going through my Pay Pal account & Credit Card statement checking for monthly fees that are coming out of my account, anything I haven’t used that month I cancel right away.
Bulk Trash Pick Up
There’s no reason to pay someone to haul away those bulky items you don’t want any longer when there are many services out there that will pick up for free. If you call around to donation centers and trash pickups, you may find out there are organizations willing to pick up your junk for free. Just make a simple phone call, set up the arrangements and avoid paying extra fees on your trash bill. It’s really that simple.
Most cities also have a Bulk Trash Drop Off Day where you can drop off your Bulk trash, check your cities website for dates and details.
Late Fees
There’s really no reason to have to pay late fees. Bills, the library, movie rentals- late fees are everywhere and they take advantage of the person too busy to realize they are not being financially smart. Take some extra time to make sure nothing is late. Set reminders on your phone. Write yourself some sticky notes if that’s your thing but just do something that works so that you don’t have to keep getting late fees. Many people decide to have their bills set up on auto-payment so they never miss a payment and incur the fees.
I am a huge fan of Google Calendars, I can sync it with my phone and set a task to remind me via email or text message! If you take a few minutes to put a task in your calendar and set a reminder then you’ll be sure that you can remember a day or two ahead of time.
Bottled Water
Water should be free for everyone right? The majority of our planet is covered in it. But sadly, bottled water is not free and can cost $1 and up a bottle at most locations. It may sound like only a buck but it really adds up over time. You don’t need to be paying for bottled water. If you don’t like the taste of tap water, you can invest in a great water filtration system for your water. You should also invest in a reusable water bottle that you can carry with you and refill whenever you need it. You’ll be saving money and also helping the planet.
Something You Will Only Use Once
Ok we’re not talking about disposables like toilet paper. Rather, we mean larger ticket items like a tuxedo for that special event or tool or appliance that you only need for one specific job. You can always just rent these and save yourself the costs. If you ask around, you might even be able to borrow from a friend or neighbor and pay nothing at all.
So there you have it- five things you should never pay for. I’d LOVE to know what is on your list! Notice I tried to stay away from the essential household items that I can almost always get for Free! :) If I had to pick 5 household items I’d probably choose Toothpaste, Dental Floss, Deodorant, Shampoo and contact solution! :)
What’s on your list???
TV is free also with an antenna. We have never paid for TV
Hi, another thing you do not have to pay for is ice. If you carry your own glass to a gas station convenience store they will not charge you for it.
I won’t pay for beauty subscriptions like ipsy or Birch box. I just stock up on my beauty items when Ulta is offering a free beauty bag full of goodies with purchase for buying stuff I’m already going to buy anyway.
Good list, I will say it was half the amount for me to buy my 4 yr old a tux for a ring bearer than it was to rent it. He has worn it several times since.
I don’t and never will pay for satellite radio (xm or sirius) in my vehicle, a gym membership (workout at home) , a babysitter(my family does it for free), apps on my phone, late fees, overdraft fees, or music cds at the store or itunes.
I would not pay for pine cones even if they come in an onion bag.
I would not pay for coin roll papers, they give them to you at the bank.
I don’t pay for legal advice and mine and my husband’s wills. How do we do that? Two ways – 1. My husband is retired military, so we have access to the base JAG office. and 2. I know several lawyers from working in child care for the last 12 and a half years. Several of the children I had were the children of lawyers, so I can always ask them.
Never pay overdraft fees! At $28+ per transaction, this can become extremely costly!
Pens and pencils. There are so many events where they are given away free, so I always have a few. I’m sure that when my son reaches school age, this will change.
I can agree with the majority of this! However, while bottled water is a rather stupid idea for day to day life, in the case of an emergency, it will do wonders. No one ever expects to be without water. Just in case, a pack or two stored isn’t so bad to pay for :)
ATM fees. There are too many checking accounts and debit cards out there that cover the cost of ATM fees not to get yours covered too.