The Gluten-Free Homemaker

What is Freecycle?

"It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills."

Basically, you join a yahoo freecycle group in your area. When you have something to give away you post an OFFER message. People then email you directly to make arrangements for pick up. Most of the time the item/items are placed on a porch or somewhere similar so people can swing by and pick it up. When it's gone a TAKEN message is posted. Of course, you also get to view the offers. You can do this by individual emails, daily digests, or web only.

I first joined my local freecycle group because I had something to give away. I think is was a piece of furniture that couldn't be easily donated elsewhere. I have given more than I've gotten, but that's fine with me. I only look at offers on the web occasionally. A few times I have happened to look at the right time. Some of the things I have gotten include, pictures that are now hanging on my walls, an Ethan Allen swivel rocker that is stained but works fine in our family room with a blanket on it, a rice cooker, and a cast iron pot.

Everything is always free.

Go to http://www.freecycle.org/ to find a group near you. I bet you'll end up with some great stuff. If you're already part of a freecycle group, leave a comment and let us know what things you have gotten for free.

For more money saving ideas check out Frugal Fridays.

Labels: frugal tips