Like many of you, we've been following the 8 week cure and doing our best to winnow down our posessions to those that are truly important. Along the way, we all find ourselves with a wide variety of goods that have lots of life left in them, too much life to simply throw away...
As the weather gets too cold for yard-sales, we gratefully turn to both Craigslist and FreeCycle to help us find new homes for our gently used goods. Especailly in this troubled economy, we are happy to think that our previously beloved possessions will end up in the hands of someone who truly needs or will truly appreciate them.
Based on our experience, nothing is too big or too small to find a new home through these sites. Faced with the prospect of hauling two twin mattresses to the dump, we chose instead to list them as free to a good home- hours later they were picked up by a family in need. Freecycle is especially great if you have a porch or outside staging area as you can simply list the location and have the item picked up with no further interaction if you so desire.
Many local jurisdictions recommend Freecycle on their recycling and waste management pages. Here are some local Freecycle sites for those not yet on the email list:
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
Shout out to our hometown boy who started Freecycle right here in Tucson!
view jen_g's profile
I've been using Freecycle for months to get rid of stuff I no longer need, and to obtain a few of the things I do need. All of my experiences have been very positive - I highly recommend the site for everyone who has one in their area!
view oceandreamer56's profile
When we finally got to get some Grown Up Furniture, we gave away our entire living room on Freecycle. I am a big believer in the idea that you shouldn't sell something you got for free/inherited, so it was bye bye, Grandma's Crazy Floral Couch, to someone who really needed it!
view birdie_dc's profile
I love the concept, but the HASSLE of trying to get something listed on freecycle makes it not worth the effort. I just list items for free on craiglist.
view kimg924's profile
kimg924, is it complicated?
I've never used freecycle before so I don't know the process.
view Mrs.Mack's profile
i've never had a hassle picking up anything from off of someone's front porch, but then i dont live right in the city, but in arlington, dc suburbs. i don't have a front porch (condo) but i leave stuff behind the bushes by the front door and everyone has gotten their stuff. and and i just scored a couple of those old metal typing tables (in mint condition) that they try to sell on ebay for a hundred bucks.
view carolynapplebee's profile
Freecycle is not usually complicated. I have had some problems with people who say they're going to show up and then don't, which is a problem when you're trying to get rid of a big piece of furniture, for example. In our neighborhood, there's a "Freecycle burglar" who takes the stuff before the right person can get to it. But you just don't put it on the porch and it's not a problem.
view inkstainedwriter's profile
I've also had a couple of people not show up, but I usualy arrange for a time for them to pick up by, or to call if they'll be late. I do allow for a bit of extra time in case of traffic or getting held up at a previous appointment - not everyone has a cell phone. If they're a no call/no show, I contact the next person who emailed me.
view oceandreamer56's profile
I just had my first no-show after four years of using Freecycle. One thing I have loved it for is food-- I got someone's surplus tomatoes (just finishing the last now, they let me pick all I wanted), pears (also picked), and walnuts.
I don't like the idea that Freecycle is for the needy only, though. Most of the stuff I give away is not anything you would desperately need (a trolling motor? a computer desk? not necessities), and I am often the only one who requests the food items. You have to have an Internet connection to use it, after all.
view matchbookhymnal's profile
I don't think Freecyle is for the needy only. The only rule is that the items offered must be free. I've had no-shows, but usually you only have to move to the next person on the list to get rid of the item.
My first Freecycle experience: I was browsing through the messages and saw a post from someone needing a briefcase. I happened to have 3 leather briefcases I no longer used, so I emailed the poster to let her know I had one (or two or three) she could have. She emailed me back for my address, and added that she was trying to rejoin the workforce after a divorce, and had very little money to spend on clothing and other business attire. I mentioned I had an entire closet of business suits I no longer wore, since I'd lost a lot of weight and found they were her size. I loaded up a bag with a leather briefcase, some shoes I'd never worn, a few purses, and 12-15 business skirt and pant suits (some still had price tags on them). When she picked up the items, she had tears in her eyes, she was so happy. She would never have been able to afford the clothing I gave her, and I got to give some clothes I no longer wore that were taking up a lot of space to someone I knew would get good use out of them and she didn't have to pay $20-$30 each for them at Goodwill.
view traderdi's profile
I've had good experiences with Freecycle -- thanks for highlighting it! Perhaps the "hassle" one commenter mentioned is that you have to format the emails you send to the listserv in a certain way? It's really very easy, just follow the directions on the website!
view DC_Chica's profile
I agree with kimj924--listing in the "free" posts on Craigslist is at least as easy and gets results just as fast. My problem with Freecycle the one time I tried it was being inundated with emails about a half-used package of diaper wipes, a broken chair, a phone book from 1993...you get the idea. But obviously there are people out there who like it!
view madsarah's profile