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If you use Facebook, check your area for a Buy Nothing Project group. It's similar to Freecycle, but I greatly prefer how BMP is run. People post things they don't need any more, and anyone can also post an "Ask" for something they need, or something they would like to borrow. Buying, selling, and trading is not allowed. As long as it's legal, it's allowed on the group. For larger cities the groups are broken up by smaller neighborhood area.
I joined mine about a month ago and so far I have gotten for free:
over $50 worth of food (dried beans and lentils, whole wheat spaghetti, lots of canned salmon, tuna and canned veggies)
An expensive fancy litter box
Disposable plates and cups for DD's birthday
A bunch of plastic food storage containers
I also was able to borrow three pizza pans to make pizzas for her party, so I didn't have to buy them, and over 10 people from the group requested donor forms to see if they might be a match for my husband who needs a kidney.
I've also seen people ask for and get, or give away:
Laptops
Bikes
A large flat screen TV
DVD players
Microwaves
All kinds of furniture
Lots of children's clothing and toys
Pet items
In fact this morning someone posted an ask for a microwave, and I remembered someone had left a newish one in the laundry room of my building. I checked and it was still there. The guy who needed it will pick it up tomorrow.
I've taken to posting an ask for anything I need (aside from food and really small ticket items) before purchasing them, and very single ask has been fulfilled so far. I have also given away a coat, a pair of shoes, a half bottle of liquor I hated, a box of kitchen stuff I no longer needed, a microwave, and I have an old netbook I no longer use that still works well which I'll be posting this weekend.
I joined mine about a month ago and so far I have gotten for free:
over $50 worth of food (dried beans and lentils, whole wheat spaghetti, lots of canned salmon, tuna and canned veggies)
An expensive fancy litter box
Disposable plates and cups for DD's birthday
A bunch of plastic food storage containers
I also was able to borrow three pizza pans to make pizzas for her party, so I didn't have to buy them, and over 10 people from the group requested donor forms to see if they might be a match for my husband who needs a kidney.
I've also seen people ask for and get, or give away:
Laptops
Bikes
A large flat screen TV
DVD players
Microwaves
All kinds of furniture
Lots of children's clothing and toys
Pet items
In fact this morning someone posted an ask for a microwave, and I remembered someone had left a newish one in the laundry room of my building. I checked and it was still there. The guy who needed it will pick it up tomorrow.
I've taken to posting an ask for anything I need (aside from food and really small ticket items) before purchasing them, and very single ask has been fulfilled so far. I have also given away a coat, a pair of shoes, a half bottle of liquor I hated, a box of kitchen stuff I no longer needed, a microwave, and I have an old netbook I no longer use that still works well which I'll be posting this weekend.
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