Accepting Things

[kealina]

i would have taken those things in an instant... if i can't find a use for the, then i can usually find somebody who needs it...if it was sellable i would let the guy know and offer to split the money... if not, then i would donate it...

i'm surprised nobody took him up on his offer... the people i know over here would have at least looked and taken whatever they could use...

[twinsmommy]

People give me clothes for the babies. Anything that they don't wear is sold at consignment.

Someone offered me a second crib but I don't think that I am going to take it. It would be hard for me to set it up by myself. I really appreciate the offer though.

[cschin4]

It seems to be Human Nature. If people have to pay for it, they think it is "valuable". If you try and give it to someone they think it is not worth anything or that something is "wrong with it". I personally just hate to "sell" things. I would just rather give things away if I am no longer using them. I just gave a friend a gently used maple crib, sand box, assorted baby things, strollers, etc. But, I found I could not "give the stuff away" at work. Funny, huh?

[kealina]

Originally Posted by cschin4

It seems to be Human Nature. If people have to pay for it, they think it is "valuable". If you try and give it to someone they think it is not worth anything or that something is "wrong with it". I personally just hate to "sell" things. I would just rather give things away if I am no longer using them. I just gave a friend a gently used maple crib, sand box, assorted baby things, strollers, etc. But, I found I could not "give the stuff away" at work. Funny, huh?

go figure... another thing i've noticed about people is that many people prefer to take things from people they know... i know a few people in my family who shudder at the idea of thrift store finds and are even leery of garage sale stuff but will willingly take my own things that i'm giving away... never mind that i usually bought it at a garage sale... lol...
thankfully they have adapted to the fact that i buy things at garage sales and now accept them with thanks but in the beginning it was rather a different story...
the others who can't accept it... well, let's just say there's more bounty for me =D

[lrjohnson]

Originally Posted by shawni

Now, everyone gives me clothes and I give things to others that arent my color or don't fit. It was like after the "taboo" of being frugal and non wasteful was out in the open...it spread like wildfire.

Yup. At first my enjoyment of used items, thrift store or garage sale or hand-me-down, was looked at as slightly odd. Now that folks see that I am honest in my enjoyment and that I dont hoard, and that I in turn enjoy passing on items to others, it feels as if the sharing of free items has come into the open.

I've gotten boxes of cereal on my desk with a note-"Bought it, don't like it." I'm certainly not ashamed. I can buy cereal, but why should that box be tossed? I myself call it "rescuing" an item. For some folks, seeing it as environmentally slound and waste reducing helps them not see it as stingy.

[Frugal Father (tm)]

Bravo...actually yes I accept nine out of tens things or help arrange for someone else who might need it and still keep within that (giver) persons loop. We have a family friend that make kimchi in mason jars (nice big ones) gives us some and gives us the jars as well on a consistant basis/homemade wine and bottles as well. Received 2 nice chairs as well from someone who just couldn't stand the year old chairs.. If you can get it home or bring it to some who needs it, well then, go ahead.

[BCHGRL]

I'll take free stuff if I know it is something I can use. We have a neighborhood garage sale every year and when the day is winding down, neighbors are trying to give us stuff. Sure, I'll take a pretty vase or something else I will use, but what am I going to do with a dog carrier if I don't have a dog?

Getting free stuff is a nice thing for most people, but I always get frustrated with the stock piles of junk I have laying around. For anyone who wants to get rid of their excess, but can't image just throwing it all away as trash I'd recommend taking it to a thrift store or shelter. After all, there are places that will take your stuff as a donation - which can be a nice tax deductible.

[Bookie]

My take on freebies applies the same criteria I would apply to a purchase:

1) Do I need it?
2) Will I use it?
3) Can I store it?

Anything that doesn't pass all three tests gets a "No, thank you." I'm not interested in assuming responsibility for the cast-offs of others. I may suggest Goodwill as an alternative, but I do not recycle for other people.