As a personal finance writer, so very often, I observe the demise of those who ended up broke in the pursuit of items, events, or places advertised as “free” or without cost. There are ads in our mailboxes, online, at the store, at the checkout counter, at the bus stop, at places of business, in the train – everywhere, to be sure – that tell us that if we sign up or join a line we’ll get another freebie.

Unfortunately, many discover very soon after they’ve enrolled in something, that there’s a catch, that there is a hefty annual cover charge or a “free trial period” that they were unaware of…or even, that they signed up for something unnecessary or that they could well do without in order to remain financially secure.

It is important to not rush in, throwing caution to the wind, after every advertised freebie along the way. Be wary of the fine print, of “freeness” that lasts only a brief period, but upon termination kicks in a fee or bill that ends up costing more had there been some nominal cost attached up front to that freebie.

To be sure, there are bona fide offers and giveaways that can be part and parcel of a good deal or of something essential, useful, appropriate, or even required by the consumer. The main caveat is, that after the smoke clears and the dust settles, to not find oneself trying to dig out of a financial hole created by chasing after everything advertised as “free.”