freecycle - if you don't know about it, you should.

[jamreed02]

www.freecycle.org

they've got groups all over the U.S. now, and several other countries too. they are trying to keep useable items out of the garbage, so it's like assisted trash picking! it's a great resource for the frugal, the strapped-for-cash, AND the spend-aholics, too! you can clear out all the stuff you've been pack-ratting away for years, and pick up some things that you genuinely need (or just want ) and if they don't have a group in your area, start one, silly!

[lrjohnson]

I got a huge bag of clothes, some compact fluorescent bulbs, a 5# bag of oatmeal, and 3 jars of peanut butter, and I wasn't hardly trying.

I too heartily recommend Freecycling.

[Hina]

I can't sing enough praises for Freecycle. I discovered it in Sep 2004, we had just moved to NYC ( Staten Island) to me exact from Kansas City ,MO. It was not a move out of choice (two years of not being able to find any job in IT in the Midwest led to this cross country move)
And yes, you guessed it right, hubby's job Did Not paid for the move. I just brought the basics with me and even some of that got damaged/unusable in the move.It was my husband and I, my two small children and the empty rooms of a $1300 2-bedroom apartment... and then I found FC.
Thanks to FC we traveled all five boroughs of NYC and I was amazed by the generosity of New Yorks who are known for many things, open heartiness now being one of them. That and the fact they in NYC people have very limited residential space and once they outgrow/ loose interest in some thing, they can't keep it in a basement/garage/attic, it gots to go.
My top best finds were crib, toddler bed, dinette set, car seat(s) and lots of used toys and books.
Of course Free Cycle is not a charity or Santa's work shop. Essentially members post what they don't need any more, you e-mail them and it's their discretion who they chose to give their item. Addresses and pick up times are confirmed and ones man trash becomes other man treasure.
It's such a neat concept, not only you are saving money you are also doing you bit in saving mother earth .