We are living in a golden age of free, high-quality digital services. The internet has made it possible to get a huge number of products and services for free that we once had to pay a lot of money for. From office software to language lessons, there is a free, online alternative for almost everything. By taking advantage of these amazing resources, you can save a surprising amount of money every single year. You just have to break your old, expensive habits.
1. Office Software
For decades, the only way to get a powerful word processor or a spreadsheet program was to buy a copy of Microsoft Office for hundreds of dollars. That is no longer the case. Services like Google Docs and LibreOffice now offer a complete and very powerful suite of office software for free. For the vast majority of users, these free alternatives are more than good enough.
2. Language Lessons
Learning a new language used to require you to buy an expensive set of CDs or to enroll in a class. Now, a number of amazing apps, like Duolingo, have made the process of learning a new language completely free. The app uses a fun, game-like interface to teach you the basics of dozens of different languages, from Spanish to Japanese.
3. Basic Photo Editing
A professional photo editing program like Adobe Photoshop is an incredibly powerful tool. It is also very expensive. For most of your basic photo editing needs, you can now use a free online tool like Canva or GIMP. These free programs have all the features you need to crop a photo, to adjust the colors, and to add text and other effects.
4. Navigation and Maps
Not too long ago, a GPS unit for your car was an expensive, high-tech gadget. A road trip required a collection of paper maps and a thick road atlas. Today, all of that has been replaced by free and incredibly powerful apps on your smartphone. Google Maps and Waze provide you with real-time, turn-by-turn directions and traffic updates for free.
5. Access to Books and Audiobooks
While it is great to support your local bookstore, you can now access a huge library of books for free. Websites like Project Gutenberg have a massive collection of classic books that are in the public domain. More importantly, your local library’s “Libby” app allows you to borrow a huge number of modern e-books and audiobooks for free, right on your phone or your tablet.
6. Long-Distance Phone Calls
A long-distance phone call used to be a major expense. You had to pay by the minute to talk to a loved one in another state or another country. Now, a huge number of services, like WhatsApp, FaceTime Audio, and Google Voice, allow you to make crystal-clear calls all over the world for free, using your Wi-Fi or your data plan.
7. A College-Level Education
If you are a curious person who loves to learn, you no longer have to pay a high tuition fee. A number of the world’s top universities, including Harvard, MIT, and Stanford, now offer a huge number of their courses online for free. Websites like Coursera and edX have a massive collection of these free, college-level classes on almost any subject you can imagine.
8. Your Credit Score
In the past, getting access to your credit score was a difficult and often expensive process. Now, a huge number of free services, like Credit Karma, will give you instant and continuous access to your credit score and your credit report for free. This is a powerful and essential tool for managing your personal finances.
9. Stock Trading
The world of investing used to be reserved for the wealthy. A traditional brokerage firm would charge a high commission fee for every single stock trade you made. Now, a new wave of investment apps, like Robinhood and Fidelity, has made the process of buying and selling stocks completely commission-free. This has made it much easier for the average person to start investing.
The Power of Free
The internet has been a revolutionary force for the democratization of information and services. It has taken a huge number of tools that were once expensive and exclusive and has made them available to everyone for free. The old business models that were built on scarcity have been replaced by a new, more open and accessible digital world. By embracing these powerful and free online alternatives, you can save a huge amount of money. You can also learn a new skill, and you can become a more informed and engaged citizen.
What is your favorite free online service or app? What is the one thing you are still paying for that you wish were free? Let us know in the comments!
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