Free internet!

Who can live without access to the internet? My brother and I tried to go without internet in our apartment and it was horrible. We used to drive to a local coffee shop or the library to get online. The baristas would make a big stink if you came in to soak up the "free" WiFi without buying anything.  Between the two of us we spent hundreds of dollars on coffee at these places. It would have been cheaper to just pay to have it at our place. 

When I lived with my next set of roommates, we had WiFi put in and split the bill three ways. It cost us each about $20 a month. Worth it. Our apartment also had a business center where I could go 24 hours a day and get online if I needed a quiet place to blog. After a year and a half we all went our separate ways so I moved once again.

At my new place I am renting a single room in an apartment. The leasing agent told me that they have google fiber. Each room is equipped with its own router. She also said that they have a plan where you can get free access to the internet. Sounded too good to be true. Especially since everything else about my new apartment was dilapidated.

I contacted the google fiber representative. The options were that I could come to their office in downtown Austin or they could send me a router in the mail. I was pitched hard on the merits of Google high-speed ultra net or whatever they called it. I inquired about the free internet package. I was told that yes, they did have a free package but it was only a glacial 5 mps. I opted for the free package of course and assured her that if I found it too slow I would upgrade.

The Google fiber office was neat. Right when you walk in they have you sit down in front of a demonstration of to connection speeds. One is the free connection where everything is buffering and waiting to load. The other is the High-speed uber fast connection where they are simultaneously playing fortnight, mining bit coins, watching HD video, and sequencing the human genome without any lag. I was again told how smart I would be if I selected the fast internet and how stupid I would be if I selected the slow free internet. The sales person had the live demo to verify their claim right in front of us. Who could refuse?

I decided to be dumb. I again requested the free internet. Finally I was given the equipment and instructions on how to set it up. Just plug it into the wall and log into your account.

When I returned to my room I set it up and created my WiFi network. There were lots of clever WiFi network names in my building already such as porqueFi and FBI Surveillance Van. I decided to name mine after my swimming hobby. It is plenty fast enough for one person and works great for me since I am either surfing the web on my laptop or on watching youtube on my phone. For Free.

 

Almost free lunch

Saturday is my cheat day. The slow carb diet allows one day a week where I can eat anything. It helps me to stay on track during the rest of the week. I may take a day off of my diet but I never take a day off of trying to save money. Today I set out to claim my totally free lunch.

My gig work delivering from restaurants for favor occasionally produces some nice perks in the form of free food. I collect these offers and save them for Saturday. Often the receipt will offer a free burger with purchase of fries and a drink. Those go right in the trash. I want free food day to be completely free.

My first stop was down to my the office of my apartment building for a free coffee. They also have tea and bottle water available to residents and any hobos who happen to saunter in.

 

Armed with two cups of caffeine I set off to Flyrite Chicken. Last week I had to wait in line for an order for more than ten minutes so the manager gave me this token for $5 off my next visit. 

 

I looked at the menu. They had one item listed at $4.99. The original chicken sandwich. I was concerned that I may be required to pay the tax since this was prepared food. Then I remembered that I have a small cup of coins in my car where I stash coins I find on the ground around town. I decided that if I needed it I could dip into my coin collection and still maintain the spirit of free food day. Luckily the clerk said there would be no tax charged on this item. Score.

Dairy Queen was next on my list. After my last favor order there I received this an offer of a free Dilly Bar if I completed a survey. No money exchanged hands and I received my free ice cream. 

Delicious. My next plan is to continue getting punches on my Amy's Ice Cream card until I can take myself and my girlfriend out for free ice cream. Soon.

Dollar theatre

I enjoy going to see movies at a theater. The experience is more immersive. When I try to watch a movie at home it maintains my attention for about 20 minutes before I start checking my phone. Then I end up in some YouTube rabbit hole and forget all about the move.

There are plenty of theaters to choose from here in Austin but my favorite by far is the Lake Creek 7 theater northwest of town. This is a second run theater which means the movie has been out for a while so the tickets are much cheaper. Usually an adult ticket is under $3. The theater business model makes money on concessions anyways so this can be a profitable venture if they can get the film cheap enough. The screening are usually less crowded too. 

It takes about 25 minutes to drive there. As you can see from the map provided below, each of the blue dots is a theater I drive past to get to the discount theater. All of these are closer to my apartment.

I decided to go watch the new Jumanji movie. Jumanji 2: the next level. It started at 10:20 pm. Perfect. I hopped in my car and drove up. The dollar store next door where I usually pick up a snack for the film was closed. I walked into the theater and someone had cleaned the place up. It used to be a dump so I figured it was under new management.

One for Jumanji please.

Sure. That will be $12.

Huh? What happened to the $3 tickets. The clerk told me that they had transitioned to a normal first run theater and was no longer a discount theater. I turned around and walked out.

In the parking lot I decided to weigh my options. I would have wasted an hour with all the driving for nothing if I decided to skip the movie but the only reason I drove up here in the first place was to get a cheap ticket. Had I known the ticket was going to be full price I would not have come in the first place but I was already here.

I reluctantly walked back in to purchase a ticket. I noticed a sign next to the counter. It listed a range of discounts for different groups. Veterans, children, the elderly, and students. I decided that I would attempt to get the student discount. I told that clerk that I just started a 10 week sketch writing class at the ColdTowne Theatre so technically, I was a student. He smirked at my request pointed to the part of the sign where it said, with student ID. Well met. I told him they didn't issue ID's for this program but then I showed him an email which confirmed my spot in the class. He had to get his manager involved but in the end I did end up with the student discount which priced my ticket at $9.74.

There were three people in the theater including me. The woman behind me began cackling like a lunatic at the stupidest jokes during the movie. Next time I'll be staying home alone and streaming something off YouTube.