Be careful of Free

After all these years, you would think that I would have learned my lesson by now. I am more gullible than I want to admit. I am a little embarrassed sayiing that but it is true.

I recently saw something that I was interested in, which was even more attractive because it said free.  Who doesn’t like free? As I proceeded through the process of claiming my free product, there was another offer this time for a fee. Would you know it that this new offer had even more bells and whistle than the first, but at a price.

Eventually, they got me. I signed up for the free as well as the other advertised item(s). They hooked me on free, and I was now at their mercy. This is how most business is done. It’s the emotion that sells not necessarily the product. It’s how you feel at the moment that gets the credit card or check book out of your wallet or pocketbook.

Have this ever happen to anyone else but me? I refuse to believe I’m the only one this has ever happened to.

Impulsivity still rules. We are all impulsive creatures some more so than others. I am now trying to walk away, which I have done before. It does work sometime but as you can see, it doesn’t all the time.

The tribes of Judah and Benjamin faced a similar issue. They were being offered free help to rebuild the temple. Who would turn down free? They would, and with good reason as you can see. Look who it was that was making the offer.

The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were rebuilding a Temple to the Lord, the God of Israel. So they approached Zerubbabel and the other leaders and said, “Let us build with you, for we worship your God just as you do. We have sacrificed to him ever since King Esarhaddon of Assyria brought us here.” (Ezra 4:1, 2 NLT)

The lesson for me is to take time to think and look at what is being offered and who it is that is doing the offering.

These are the questions I need to ask myself:

1. Is what they are offering something that I could do without?
2. Will it take me away from what it is I’m focusing on?
3. Will it require more of my time to make it happen?

If I answer yes to any of the above questions, then the offer of free has become an enemy of mine. I need to treat it that way and just say no.

What are your thoughts or suggestions on this subject? Do you agree or disagree with my comments? I would love to hear from you on that matter so please take a minute and leave a comment below now. Thanks.