Freecycle!

A couple of months ago, Kathleen and Becky (dinner group friends) introduced me to Freecycle, a community of people giving away their things for free. They were stunned that a thrifty person like myself had never heard of it! Well, the next morning, I looked into it. I've been hooked ever since. I then told my neighbors about it, and they are just as hooked. I've gotten rid of many things that I never thought I'd find a user for. I had a really pretty rug, but since there were stains on the back, I didn't think I could sell it for anything much... we had accidentally picked up the wrong size of vacuum bags and went months without returning them... soup mixes from a school fundraiser that were WAY too complicated, needing 15 additional ingredients (?!!)... I had an odd number of glasses that were unused... outdated magazines... and more. I feel much better since these things didn't end up in a landfill (at least not directly from me).


The even better part is the neat things we've acquired... okay, it's an odd lot, but they were all free and just required me going to pick them up! I now have 2 pairs of Dr. Scholl's sandals, 2 new wine glasses, a pair of soccer shorts (for next season), and an Easy Bake Oven! (I would never have purchased that thing new... believe me!) I'm going out this evening to pick up a bag full of clothes for my oldest son, too... and maybe another bag full of shoes my size, if I get the address soon.

Now, despite my relatively small, humble finds (all free!!), sometimes you can score big. I tried to "win" a set of oak chairs to repaint for our dining room... but didn't get them. My friend Heather has gotten some good things... including an entire bedroom set for her two-year-old son. He's moving from the crib ... what great timing!

My experience has been that some freecyclers accept the first person that replies to their post. Others choose someone who can come quickly. Still others pick those that have a very good use for the item. And others choose people they know. (I've found probably a dozen or so fellow-church-goers also Freecycle, so I recognize their names in the posts and replies.) So, in addition to responding quickly, I also include when I can come and how I'll use the item. So far, I've probably only gotten less than half the things I've inquired about, but that's to be expected. When it's a good item and it's free, there must be many people wanting it.

Another feature of our freecycle network is that you can post "wanted" ads. For example, I'd love to find a used jogging stroller to try with my 3 year old on our morning walks... but I just can't see paying that money for something he may hate. I tried a "wanted" ad that time... but didn't get any bites. Oh well... at least that feature exists. I have heard of people getting kids' beds and costumes and other things that way.

To find a local freecycle, go to www.freecycle.org and plug in a nearby town or county. For example, ours is county-wide. Some require being accepted for membership; others are less stringent in their rules. Check it out... what's there to lose? It's free! And if you wind up with something not quite what you were looking for, then re-freecycle it!