Nothing is free, not ever.

This is said without cynicism, but rather as a warning.

Everything has a price. Value is extracted from all gifts, goods, service, thoughts and even words offered. The only issue is the form it takes.

Often we hear of things that come for free, are offered freely, or free. On careful reflection none of this stands wholly true.

In business things added on or bundled for free, are already paid for or benefit the giver in some (usually, very) direct way. Buy this and you get this free. Typically, something given in this manner ties you to a path of action, extending the seller’s reach.

Engineers might claim a development approach brings some additional feature(s) for free. Invariably there is always some real additional creation, and/or maintenance cost. Sometimes this can be attractive.

Often love is given freely, without expectation. Yet at the meanest level there objectively is normally an expectation of reciprocation or practical return. And, the giving itself can be the great value sought by many people.

Again, this is offered as insight rather than trite expose of human behavior. A price or value is invariably extracted and attached. Isn’t this just human nature?

Free goods at retailers are paid for by someone or some entity. A famous commercial example is the free razor which is notoriously funded by a lifetime of your razor-blade purchases.

Sometimes business deals are sweetened by offers of reportedly free or discounted add-ons. If these are not already pre-funded by planned or existing purchases there can often be an expectation tied to goodwill, intended to influence your downstream behavior.

If you accept this overall reasoning, why does it matter, anyway? Might not this perspective just sour your view of the world?

Is there some emotional risk in believing that nothing is free, everything has a price? Not at all, if situations are always viewed with true detachment and objectivity.

It is perhaps much wiser to be guided by these principles in business and your life. Better to understand the reason, price and intent behind every apparent gift, than be unwittingly manipulated and sometimes used.

News is free, too. Yet I have rarely seen a news service where a specific perspective isn’t squarely represented within the text of the delivery. Have you?

Relationships are similarly influenced. They’re filled with expectations, unspoken demands and requests. If there is a tolerable symbiotic balance, what does it really matter? If not, watch out.

Take a good look around at those free things you receive. What are they? Do you recognize any unacceptable and unspoken costs? Are they worth their price?

Always remember, if you perceive anything to be truly free, you just haven’t looked closely enough.

Ultimately, we all have finite resources. So, you’d better check the prices you’re paying.

Ian R. Mackintosh is the author of Empower Your Inner Manager Twitter @ianrmackintosh