when it said its free and then not

i love lately how many emails i get and post etc to join this workshop or class etc or this seminar to make me a better a chess player  and they all claim its free and then they request a donation of at least $xx-- i know i am a losing player by a way margin and a class for beginners is what i should take -- but i am on a fixed government type income  and retired  with pressing medical charges always above what the government can pay for  so these type of emails and posts here really get to me-- if it  free its free - no obligation no donation -- its free  mean it or don't say so 

there back to losing games and playing puzzles of my allotment of three each day cause the rate to pay here for seniors is to high at least for me that is