You Can Never Get Something for Nothing

As the Economy Slows, Everyone's Out To Get Your Buck

As long as there has been a product and a consumer, there have been freebies. From free pens at the bank to redeeming reward points for flights and gift cards to stores - everyone takes advantage of these "business perks".

The question though, is how free are these freebies?

Recently, Harvey's offered us a "Free Hamburger Day". The lines for a free burger were massive at every Harvey's in a populated area. People waited in line, in some cases, for over an hour to get a $2.50 burger for nothing. Time is money, people! Isn't it?

It's a great deal if you have nothing better to do on a Sunday afternoon and plan on getting nothing more than a plain burger. Of course cheese costs you more, as well as bacon and sautéed onions. Worked up an appetite waiting in line? Your free burger just turned into an extra $2.75 for fries, and since you don't want to wait in line again, better grab that triple-thick milkshake now - just in case you get thirsty. So now your free burger has turned into an easy $5 spent, if not more.

Now, because the marketing directors are smart, they know you won't just take the freebie and run. You'll get the drink and the side, and even the frosty for an after-snack - and that adds up to some big bucks.

Freebies are fantastic and a great way to try a product that you might not normally be inclined to spend your cash on but it's important to still be smart. Do the simple math and think, "Am I going out of my way to try and save money that I know I'lll end up spending in the long run?"

Can you truly stand in line for 15 minutes waiting for a free Iced Coffee at Tim Horton's and know that you will not leave with anything more than that Iced Coffee? Is the Tim Horton's part of your travels that day or do you have to spend money on gas to go out of your way just to save $2.37? Also, figure out what your time is worth and if that certain freebie is truly worth it. Will your sanity behave long enough to resist that extra chocolate-dipped doonut?

Just some things to think about as the world around us attempts win our consumer loyalty through freebies; ask yourself: "How free are these things anyway?"