Free Stuff…When One Cost Leads To Another
We have all been given things over the years…great and small! Many of the things I have been given were and are a huge blessing for me and my family. Keeping that in mind, there are other times when a gift from someone leads to a greater expense. What do you do when free stuff costs you money?
Examples Of Free Stuff That Costs You More Money
- Tickets to a Detroit Tiger’s or a Lion’s game downtown
- A pass to a 6-week yoga class
- A swimming pool or hot tub
- Seedlings or plants for a garden
- A motorized bike, jet ski or the like
What Do You Mean…That Stuff is FREE!
Yes, some of those things listed cost a lot of money, and it would be very nice if someone just gave them to you. That being said…you take the tickets and head downtown. Parking is $40 and you get some food or beers at the game. Maybe you also take the time off work. The free tickets cost you $180.
You are excited to try yoga, but you don’t have a mat or anything to wear for the classes. You also have to get a babysitter for your child. Those “free” yoga passes just cost you $150.
One more example…your buddy moved away from the lake and he has two jet skis to get rid of, but they need some repair. You could do the work yourself, so he decided you can just have them. You have the cost of the work, the time it takes you and you don’t have a vehicle to haul them, so you have to buy a trailer, PLUS register them. Those “free” jet skis cost you $500 and you only go up north a few times a summer.
Three Things To Consider When Someone Gives You Free Stuff
- Do I really want this and is it something I would buy any way?
- What are the immediate and long term costs of this item?
- Will me or my family benefit from this in a way that is worth the cost?
Don’t worry about offending someone. If you are offered something and it is not something that brings you joy and fits your budget, pass it along. Let it be a blessing to someone else! Don’t take things just because they are worth something!
