Ok, so if any of you have been reading this blog for a while, you know that I am addicted to the Wi-Fi at Panera Bread. I can just roll out to the Panera down the street from my home, purchase a bowl of soup and get busy with my writing. It’s my trusty laptop’s favorite place to hang out! So, the other day, I went to log on at Panera and I was notified that between the hours of noon and 1:30 p.m. during the work week, I could only be on the Wi-Fi for 30 minutes. The next great manuscript can’t be written in 30 minutes! *Primal scream*
Ok, I have abused the Wi-Fi a time or two. Maybe I dawdled at Panera a tad longer than expected. Have the Wi-Fi Gods spoken? Are they tired of squatters who only sip on a cup of ice while sucking up air conditioning?
Starbucks just got into the free Wi-Fi game in its stand alone shops. To be sure, I’ve checked it out. Starbucks is just fine, but it doesn’t have Panera’s menu. And between you and me, I am scared of Starbucks’ coffee. If I get an addiction, I’m doing it big. Something edgy, daring and raw! “Starbucks junkie” screams cream puff! I digress.
Dear Local Panera, please forgive me for my past transgressions. Please, take me and other users off punishment. I promise not to linger for hours…Frugalista honor!
Where do you use wifi? Your home? Starbucks? Panera? Hotels?
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
” Have the Wi-Fi Gods spoken?” LMAO
girl you are silly. Natalie is an abuser!!!!!! LOL
This post has made my morning
I feel ya, Nat!! Little things mean a lot. They trying to nickel and dime us into the po’house. Recently my job told us we can’t bank our holidays anymore and I am not taking it well at all. Starbucks can afford the free Wi-Fi cause they put crack in their coffee. You will become a junkie. I say Panera Bread has declared war and if you want to fight back, I’m wit’cha!
Hey Frugalista
lol yes, I use wifi at home. Looks like Panera put you and some others in the naughty corner…..
Great post.
PJD
How about using the wifi at the library?
I usually do wifi at home but found the local library is a great source to get your wifi fix! Sorry, no coffee!
LOL…the prob I have with Starbucks is the one near my kid’s schools has put a large table down the middle of the store and it is always FULL of very unusual people who have every electronic known to man….I backed out of the store because it was just a bit too much for me….
I just saw the article about you on CNN–loved it! I really like what you are doing.
A few of my friends and I work online from home. We were discussing connectivity issues, and minimizing those costs, just the other day. I can understand why a business would not want wifi “squatters” in their booths for hours at a time on a regular basis. That is not why they have a hotspot in the first place. I can also understand why they want to limit use during peak periods, so that all paying customers can have reasonable access speeds.
I wonder, however, if it would be beneficial for one person in a group of friends or associates to open their kitchen for wi-fi use at certain hours? If they are already paying premium prices to have a wireless connection to the Internet in their home, why not share with friends from time to time? People who use the wifi can leave donations of money, food, coupons, clothing, rides, errand sharing, or whatever is needed by the provider of the spot. Your thoughts?
My friends and I live out in the country, and we are all accustomed to sharing and maximizing our resources together, and so this might work well for us. We might even have a rotating schedule for multiple neighbors’ kitchens who all have wifi in their residences.
I use wifi at home, but I want sometimes desire a change of pace and visit the library and a host of restaurants in my community that have free wifi available
OMG! I hope you have not ruined this for the rest of us Panerians! I live there! Well, at least you order the soup – I sneak in and just get a corner seat at one of the tables on the side (with a plug) and go to town. I admit (quietly) that I don’t always order. This could be all my fault….
I had a power outage at my home, my duaghter and I hung out at Burger King for hours using their Wi-fi. No one said a word. It was fun. FYI, some McDonalds also has Wi-fi.
Hey Frugalista, this is my first time visiting your blog. Read about the book review in Dallas Morning News.
I work at a college campus and recommend if you have a local one to check out the nooks and crannies there. Nowadays from the libraries to university centers/student unions to campus coffee shops and eateries, the entire campuses are wifi accessible. The only trick is vie found in my travels that some require you to be a campus member but many offer a guest login for the many visitors to campus in this technology age! No limit and almost always free!
I also live in the country, but our public library has free Internet access, so that’s where I go for Internet service. Sadly, it’s only for an hour a day! Sometimes, if there is no demand, the reservation will be extended up to two times for a total of 30 extra minutes. This was the only way I could get Internet until 3G came along.
Ugh – Starbucks coffee is not good. No worries there.
Go to the Library – you won’t spend money on food or coffee and can get work done
Starbucks wifi pushed all kind of advertising to my laptop and tried to modify my settings. I’m never coming back, it took me forever to cleanup my computer after I was there. Hating Starbucks with all my strength. Does Panera do the same? Because I may need public wifi again and I don’t know where to go.
OMG…This blog is too cute! I know that I am extremely late, but better late than never! I stay in Panera Bread claiming to be working on my school work when I am really just surfing the net for things that I don’t need! I do purchase a salad and frozen mango while I am there, but I have been known to linger for hours! Lol…I love Panera though…it’s so cozy!! I also go to Barnes and Noble, which isn’t as cozy, but it’s so quiet there I feel compelled to actually do some work!