Friday, November 12, 2004
My penchant for "Free"
I like to get things for free. That's a claim that most people would truthfully make. I, however, like to get anything for free. It's gotten to a point that I'm starting to think it's either a problem, like an old lady's addiction to cats, or it might just be a special gift, a sixth sense even; that I have yet to fully exploit. Maybe one day I will be able to quit my day job and live a full life sustained only by the freebies that my cunning intellect and keen eye so frequently and willingly search out, pursue and devour.
Let me illustrate. I go to Costco for lunch. I don't buy lunch there, the samples usually suffice. I received a compact flourescent lightbulb in the mail today. In the last six months, I found the following magazines in my mailbox: Macleans, Canadian Home Workshop, Lou Lou, Today's Parent, The Economist, Canadian Geographic, Chatelaine, Canadian Home & Garden, Gardening Life, and Business 2.0. The only subscription that I pay for is Today's Parent. And I got a good deal on that one.
I'm a Gold collector in the Airmiles program. I'm expecting a $25 GAP gift certificate in the mail that I earned by clicking links in email. A few weeks ago, a company in the US sent me over 200 free earplugs.
I have become so comfortable detecting free things, that I've taken it one step further in recent years. I've begun to seek out fun and/or interesting things to do that actually earn me money. Last year I shopped at IKEA, answered some questions and earned $50 (3 times). This summer I had an MRI and got paid 30 bucks. Next week I'm getting paid $20 to taste bison steaks. Is it an illness or a gift? I guess time will tell...
Let me illustrate. I go to Costco for lunch. I don't buy lunch there, the samples usually suffice. I received a compact flourescent lightbulb in the mail today. In the last six months, I found the following magazines in my mailbox: Macleans, Canadian Home Workshop, Lou Lou, Today's Parent, The Economist, Canadian Geographic, Chatelaine, Canadian Home & Garden, Gardening Life, and Business 2.0. The only subscription that I pay for is Today's Parent. And I got a good deal on that one.
I'm a Gold collector in the Airmiles program. I'm expecting a $25 GAP gift certificate in the mail that I earned by clicking links in email. A few weeks ago, a company in the US sent me over 200 free earplugs.
I have become so comfortable detecting free things, that I've taken it one step further in recent years. I've begun to seek out fun and/or interesting things to do that actually earn me money. Last year I shopped at IKEA, answered some questions and earned $50 (3 times). This summer I had an MRI and got paid 30 bucks. Next week I'm getting paid $20 to taste bison steaks. Is it an illness or a gift? I guess time will tell...
