It’s getting close to Christmas. If you are unemployed, or underemployed, you might find that the postal cost of sending out all those Christmas cards is just more than your budget will allow right now. Sending an email is free, but, you need internet access for that, and paying for access to the internet at your house might be another extra expense you can’t afford right now either.
What to do?
Well, if you happen to have an iphone, or a laptop with wi-fi, (likely purchased before you had the slightest inkling that you were about to lose your job), then you are in luck!
Here is a short list of stores that offer free wi-fi. Go there, log on, send a holiday greeting in the form of email to your loved ones! Send them one of the many Christmas related shiny objects found in the many apps on facebook. Let them know you are still alive, and doing fine (well, except for that little problem of not having a job).
* Barnes & Noble
I found this on their own website. It actually says “No fees. No charges. Just log on.” Of course, you have to have your own laptop, because Barnes & Noble has never offered computers for customers to use.
This is somewhat new, because I know for a fact that Barnes & Noble used to use AT&T for as their wi-fi provider, and AT&T would charge people to use it. But now? It seems to be free. Give it a try! Just don’t sit in their cafe and do it, unless you continually make purchases of coffee and pastries from the cafe, or you run the risk of getting kicked out of the cafe. The wi-fi may be free, but, seems you need to “pay rent” to use the cafe chairs and tables.
If you happen to have an iphone, you get access to free wi-fi automatically, as soon as you walk into any Apple Retail Store. Nice!
What if you don’t have an iphone? Well… the Apple Retail Stores are set up for people to come in and play around with and “test out” their computers. Look around, and you are likely to see ten year olds logging on to stupid game sites, and challenging each other to a grudge match, using the Apple Store’s demo computers.
What harm could it be to log into your hotmail account, and send a quick email to Mom and Dad, letting them know that you aren’t dead yet, (but still unemployed)? I wouldn’t make a practice of using their computers that way, but, desperate times call for desperate measures. And, it’s legal!
McDonalds offers free wi-fi at 1200 locations in the UK. Go in, order yourself a Big Mac or something, sit down, and log on.
Starting in January 2010, McDonalds will offer free wi-fi for it’s stores in the USA, as well. It’s not in time for Christmas this year, but still, is something to keep in mind.
So, if you can stand to be at a McDonalds, with the strange grease smell, and the gaggle of loud and unattended children and tween-agers, you can get free wi-fi! Just make sure you check the table closely for cleanliness before you put your lap top into a mess. It goes without saying that McDonalds is NOT going to supply it’s customers with computers to use. Even if they did though, who would want to touch those? I picture them covered in ketchup.
Starbucks is sort of offering free wi-fi. They want you to purchase one of their gift cards, and register it online, first. Then, (if you continue to use your registered gift card at least once a month), you get two hours of free wi-fi, each and every day. So, if you are unemployed, but still getting your Starbucks fix anyway, it makes sense to get yourself a gift card, register it, and use that when you come in. Then you can drink your coffee or frap, and surf the net for two hours each and every day.
On the other hand, if you don’t happen to like Starbucks, and you hardly ever go there… this offer isn’t going to do much for you. And, once again, you need to bring your own laptop and/or iphone with you to use the free wi-fi.
* Here is a lovely list of more stores that offer free (or almost free) wi-fi. You can click around on it to find more details. There is also a link called “Return to Directory States List” (at the bottom of the page) that will allow you to look at a list of places with free wi-fi just for your state.
You can also search a list for:
Europe
Canada
Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America
The Middle East and Africa
Asia
or
Australia, New Zealand, and The South Pacific
* One more idea: Most Public Libraries have computers that they allow patrons to use. You will have to check in your area to find out if details on that such as if you must have a library card before you can use one, if it is free, or if it actually is connected to the internet.
Know of another store that offers free wi-fi? Leave a comment in the blog, for everybody who comes along to check out.