I spend far too much of time at Starbucks, more than I’d like to admit. Please don’t hate me. As freelancers (especially writers), we appreciate having an alternative space to work, staying caffeinated and having access to the Web. Of course, a local mom-and-pop coffee shop would be my preference, but unfortunately there are none near my home. I figure each visit to the ‘bux costs me north of $7 or $8, including the iced coffee and AT&T wifi connection. A couple days of this per week and the expense can certainly add up. Hey, it’s a cost of business. But soon that cost will be far less for us Starbucks squatters. That’s because the java giant has decided to provide free-WiFi to customers beginning July 1. Nice! (By the way, other big retail chains offering free wifi to customers include Panera, Cosi and McDonald’s. You can also visit OpenWiFiSpots.com for other free WiFi locations in your town.)

Originally posted on moneywatch.com