We all love a good deal. But it turns out that “affordable” doesn’t always mean what it sounds like, whether that’s because of hidden add-ons or limitations. We spoke to some financial experts about “affordable” things that aren’t what they’re cracked up to be. Here are thirteen of them. Which of these have tripped you up before?
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Budget airline tickets with add-on fees
That $39 flight looks great until you see all the add-ons. Your backpack counts as “oversized” & costs extra, and low-cost airlines have whole pages listing the extra fees. These include seat selection charges & maybe an early boarding price tag. Depending on the route, you could pay more in extras than for the actual seat.
Cheap inkjet printers with tiny starter ink
You might think you’re winning by buying a printer for under $100. Yet the “starter” ink usually runs out after a handful of pages & the refills aren’t so cute. In some cases, you’ll drop more than the printer’s price on ink every single year. The cycle just keeps going. Is it really worth it?
Intro internet plans with extra line-items
Internet plans usually come with a promo price, which is nice. But only for a year. Then the bill creeps up. You might see things like a “Broadcast TV Fee” if you have a bundle, and that’s just extra money you’re spending. For no real reason.
Low-monthly gym memberships with annual fees
The $10-a-month gym plan is a classic hook. But then you see the annual fee when it hits your account, and there’s an enrollment charge that you may have to pay as well. Most gym companies spell this out in the contract. Yet the majority of people only ever notice after they’ve been billed for it.
“Free” phones tied to activation and upgrade fees
The ad says the phone is free. Yet the fine print says you need to open a new line & trade something in to actually get this “free” phone. Oh, and you have to pay a $35 activation fee as well. The carriers do show these charges online. You’ll have to pay careful attention to them, though.
Car rentals with layered fees at pickup
Renting a car for $40 a day sounds fair. What could be the problem? Well, there are plenty of extras to pay for, including a young-driver fee & airport surcharge. There might even be a charge for a second driver. You probably won’t even see any of these fees until you’re standing at the counter and actually paying them.
Discounted mattresses with expensive delivery
Stores love to shout about huge mattress markdowns. But the part they’re not so vocal about is the delivery bill, as well as the cost of setting it up & hauling away your old one. They may even add a “fuel” fee for those who don’t live nearby. Soon enough, that 40% off sale starts looking a lot smaller. And it’s all thanks to those extras. How nice.
Cheap eyeglass frames with costly lenses
It doesn’t matter how cheap those eyeglass frames are. You actually need lenses to see through them, and this’ll cost you, especially if you get anti-glare, thin lenses. Scratch protection also bumps the total higher. Some places only include plain lenses in that low sticker price. You’ll be wondering how it got into triple digits so fast by the time you check out.
Budget cruises with port and service fees
Some cruise fares sound like you’ve found a deal of the century, as they’re so low-priced. But then come the port fees & daily gratuities. These are rarely baked into the fare and can easily hit a few hundred bucks per person. Even the fine print about “double occupancy” doesn’t protect you from the extras at the end. It’s a lot.
Low-fare commuter trains and buses
But that’s not all for travel. Some train & bus companies push a special low fare for certain routes or times. What’s the issue? Most of those tickets usually work only for off-peak hours or less convenient stops. Having a normal work schedule means you’ll end up paying the standard rate a lot more often than you’re able to use the cheap one.
Budget “eco-friendly” cleaning product refills
Lots of green cleaning brands push their refill packs as a money-saver. However, the catch is that you have to buy their special starter bottle first & the refills only fit that exact setup. It’s enough to make that low refill price look a lot less affordable. You’re locked into that brand. You can’t exactly swap to something cheaper later.
Budget supermarkets’ value
Supermarkets often put “value” or “economy” labels on smaller packages so they seem cheap. But you should check the unit price. You might find it’s higher than the regular brand sitting right next to it, as the packaging & branding do all the convincing. The actual math doesn’t match the affordable image they’re selling.
Flat-pack furniture deals
It’s easy to think that flat-pack furniture deals are a good price. But once the box shows up, you realize the extras like hardware kits & shelves aren’t in there. Buying those separately isn’t always cheap. It closes the gap between “budget” and just buying a ready-to-go piece from the start pretty quickly.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us on MSN.