Comments on: The Hidden Fee Economy http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/07/05/the-hidden-fee-economy/ personal finance that makes cents Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:28:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Dave http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/07/05/the-hidden-fee-economy/#comment-117419 Dave Fri, 15 Feb 2008 02:14:35 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/07/05/the-hidden-fee-economy/#comment-117419 EZ PASS: I just learned that ez pass is charging $1.00 to delivery your bi-monthly statement, and that's whether you have it delivered by regular mail or email! I have never heard of such a thing. This is on top of the $1.00 per month fee they started charging after mismanagement, since afterall, ez pass was supposed to save money since fewer toll collectors would be necessary. So, the only way to avoid this fee is not to receive a statement. It's outrageous! EZ PASS: I just learned that ez pass is charging $1.00 to delivery your bi-monthly statement, and that’s whether you have it delivered by regular mail or email! I have never heard of such a thing. This is on top of the $1.00 per month fee they started charging after mismanagement, since afterall, ez pass was supposed to save money since fewer toll collectors would be necessary.
So, the only way to avoid this fee is not to receive a statement. It’s outrageous!

]]> By: Weathergirl http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/07/05/the-hidden-fee-economy/#comment-110374 Weathergirl Thu, 03 Jan 2008 18:25:10 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/07/05/the-hidden-fee-economy/#comment-110374 I wouldn't have such a problem purchasing my snacks at the cinema if they sold food I actually want to eat, and at reasonable prices I wouldn’t have such a problem purchasing my snacks at the cinema if they sold food I actually want to eat, and at reasonable prices

]]> By: Rhea http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/07/05/the-hidden-fee-economy/#comment-1208 Rhea Thu, 06 Jul 2006 13:38:28 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/07/05/the-hidden-fee-economy/#comment-1208 Always bring your own water or soda to the movie theater. Always bring your own water or soda to the movie theater.

]]> By: Guy http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/07/05/the-hidden-fee-economy/#comment-1207 Guy Thu, 06 Jul 2006 12:40:01 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/07/05/the-hidden-fee-economy/#comment-1207 I think the only thing I print now a days are directions from Google maps and labels for x-mas cards. I think the only thing I print now a days are directions from Google maps and labels for x-mas cards.

]]> By: Melissa A. http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/07/05/the-hidden-fee-economy/#comment-1206 Melissa A. Thu, 06 Jul 2006 11:45:04 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/07/05/the-hidden-fee-economy/#comment-1206 I might buy one cartridge per year at around $26 to $34 Canadian. I buy the recycled ones when I can find them. I don't buy a lot of items that have hidden fees, but I do have an annual fee on my credit card. But it's only $20 and I get %11 on it. What bugs me are all the set up fees with utilities. It costs $44 to get my cable turned back on if I decide to cancel it. I might buy one cartridge per year at around $26 to $34 Canadian. I buy the recycled ones when I can find them. I don’t buy a lot of items that have hidden fees, but I do have an annual fee on my credit card. But it’s only $20 and I get %11 on it. What bugs me are all the set up fees with utilities. It costs $44 to get my cable turned back on if I decide to cancel it.

]]> By: Paul Wren http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/07/05/the-hidden-fee-economy/#comment-1201 Paul Wren Thu, 06 Jul 2006 06:00:18 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/07/05/the-hidden-fee-economy/#comment-1201 I just look for refurbished printers at Fry's Electronics (or online at thir Outpost.com site). For under $40, I get a printer with full-size ink cartridges, and when they run out, I sell the printer on ebay for $20 and go buy another (it pays to buy two or three printers at once if you find a screamin' deal). I just look for refurbished printers at Fry’s Electronics (or online at thir Outpost.com site). For under $40, I get a printer with full-size ink cartridges, and when they run out, I sell the printer on ebay for $20 and go buy another (it pays to buy two or three printers at once if you find a screamin’ deal).

]]> By: J.D. http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/07/05/the-hidden-fee-economy/#comment-1199 J.D. Thu, 06 Jul 2006 04:38:35 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/07/05/the-hidden-fee-economy/#comment-1199 Great tips, dokaben. For several years, my wife and I used a personal laser printer. It was awesome. It cost just $200 new, and we only had to buy one $60 toner cartridge in four or five years. The quality was great. (I think it was Samsung.) Unfortunately, it was a parallel device, so when we switched back from PC to Mac, we had to get rid of it. I loved that machine. Great tips, dokaben.

For several years, my wife and I used a personal laser printer. It was awesome. It cost just $200 new, and we only had to buy one $60 toner cartridge in four or five years. The quality was great. (I think it was Samsung.) Unfortunately, it was a parallel device, so when we switched back from PC to Mac, we had to get rid of it. I loved that machine.

]]> By: dokaben http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/07/05/the-hidden-fee-economy/#comment-1198 dokaben Thu, 06 Jul 2006 04:31:48 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/07/05/the-hidden-fee-economy/#comment-1198 My frugal approach to printers: -- Stick to B&W. If you need color photos, order prints online. (Or borrow the printer at the office!) -- For inkjet, consider a refill kit. I refilled my parents' Canon BubbleJet cartridge five times before upgrading them to a used laser printer. -- For laser printers, consider an older HP. They may not have the highest resolution for images, but they're great for everyday web and word processor printing. They're often sold cheaply at yard sales by people that have moved on to color. I've had luck with the horizontal loading 5/6MP and 4L. The vertical loading 5/6Ls tend to jam. -- Keep an eye out for old printers at your office. Over the years our place has thrown out several with toner. Many monitors too. -- If you're not refilling cartridges, remember to take your empties to Staples for recycling. They'll give you a $3 off coupon for each one your bring in. My frugal approach to printers:

– Stick to B&W. If you need color photos, order prints online. (Or borrow the printer at the office!)

– For inkjet, consider a refill kit. I refilled my parents’ Canon BubbleJet cartridge five times before upgrading them to a used laser printer.

– For laser printers, consider an older HP. They may not have the highest resolution for images, but they’re great for everyday web and word processor printing. They’re often sold cheaply at yard sales by people that have moved on to color. I’ve had luck with the horizontal loading 5/6MP and 4L. The vertical loading 5/6Ls tend to jam.

– Keep an eye out for old printers at your office. Over the years our place has thrown out several with toner. Many monitors too.

– If you’re not refilling cartridges, remember to take your empties to Staples for recycling. They’ll give you a $3 off coupon for each one your bring in.

]]> By: Roger http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/07/05/the-hidden-fee-economy/#comment-1185 Roger Thu, 06 Jul 2006 00:51:29 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/07/05/the-hidden-fee-economy/#comment-1185 I believe it for some people...my mother, for example, prints out EVERYTHING. I only print out a few pages a month, usually. And aren't there a group of monks somewhere that refill cartridges for a fraction of the cost of new? Even with the high cost of admission, a movie or a ballgame is similar. Buy a hot dog or some popcorn and you'll very quickly be spending a fortune. I believe it for some people…my mother, for example, prints out EVERYTHING. I only print out a few pages a month, usually. And aren’t there a group of monks somewhere that refill cartridges for a fraction of the cost of new?

Even with the high cost of admission, a movie or a ballgame is similar. Buy a hot dog or some popcorn and you’ll very quickly be spending a fortune.

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