As we all know, one of the keys to living frugally is to simply shop less often. When it comes to furnishing your home or clothing your family, however, we all have definite needs! These expenses can really add up, particularly as your family grows. Fortunately, it’s all doable – one way to “shop” for the things you need without spending any money at all is to freecycle!
What is Freecycling?
Freecycling is simply giving things away that are no longer wanted as opposed to selling them or throwing them away. There are two sides to freecycling: giving things away and receiving goods from others.
Freecycling is definitely not a new tradition or anything, but it is gaining popularity in recent years – likely due to the state of the economy and the ever-rising importance of “going green.”
How is Freecycling Good For The Environment?
Freecycling is a much more eco-friendly way to acquire (or get rid of) household items for a few reasons. Fewer resources are ultimately used in the manufacturing of new items. Also, much less waste ends up in the landfills. Freecycling is also associated with a strengthened local economy – it seems conscious consumption is contagious!
What Kinds of Things Can I Freecycle?
There’s really no limit to what types of items can be freecycled. What you’ll find most often likely depends on your area, but a few categories to keep in mind are:
- Furniture
- Household goods – dishes, furniture, etc.
- Kids’ items
- Gardening equipment
- Books
- Clothing
- Cell phones
- Food – yes! Many people list produce when their garden does really well.
There isn’t much that can’t be freecycled!
How to Get Started Freecycling
If you’d like to get started freecycling – either to purge your home of clutter or to meet a need that your family has – it’s not difficult to do so! Here are a few steps to get started:
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Find a freecycling group near you. TrashNothing.com allows you to find and stay updated with local groups and even offers a smartphone app to search for and offer items.
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Get familiar with your group – each will have its own set of rules to follow and etiquette.
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Get in the habit of touching base with the group each time you need to buy something or get rid of something. Check to see if anyone is offering what you need and post your own items that you no longer need.
Freecycling is a great way to meet the needs of your household and to help others in their own efforts to do so. You may try freecycling once or twice as you think of it, but many find that it becomes a way of life!
About the Author:
Kylie Worthington is a green living and natural health advocate who blogs at Everblossom.net. She has freecycled furniture, kids’ clothes, toys, and more!
image credit: http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/793952
I had no idea FOOD could be freecycled! That is AWESOME! I need to go check out whether we have one or not!
I love Freecycle!
Thanks so much for writing about this. I am a huge fan of re-using and buying used, because it’s both thrifty AND green, which is hard t find! Thank you for the link also!