The Freecycle Network

[Skinnyneo]

I haven't seen this mentioned yet on the forums, or to my surprise on the blog,  but think it's a great resource for mustaschians to have.  The Freecycle Network http://www.freecycle.org/

The idea is simple.  You offer things up for free, people come and get it.  The opposite is also true.  You see something offered up and go get it (if somebody didn't already snap it up).  It's all free.  No trading, no selling, just giving and clearing up the clutter in your house.

For anybody that is a recovering consumerist this is a great way to downsize your life.  If you can't sell it but you don't want it to end up in a landfill try to freecycle it. 

[Dicey]

Freecycle is a Yahoo Group, which made me reluctant to join when it first started in my area. I got over it and I've been happily playing the freecycle game for years. I end up using it more to pass things on. It seems as if I'm never quick enough on the draw when things are offered, but getting rid of things that others have a need for is still gratifying. You can adjust your settings so that every post comes to you as it's published or in bigger chunks. It's an awesome way to get things out of your house while keeping it out of the landfills.

[Skinnyneo]

Thank you for clarifying that Diane.  You do have to join the group in your area so I guess a yahoo account is required. 

I have also used it to get rid of many things such as futons, hair dryers, printers, books, and coaches.  Never had a bad experience.

[arebelspy]

We've been on FreeCycle for a few years, only useful thing we've gotten is a few gas cans.

On the other hand, there's always a TON of baby stuff on their, so we're planning on using it extensively when we have kids (and gathering stuff from there during the 9-month pregnancy period).

[CG]

Freecycle in Melbourne, Australia, is excellent. My setting is for no forwarding of routine emails so I log into the forum only when I want to dispose of something. I'm able to be confident about not being tempted to take up any offers as I don't own a car to collect anything in this sprawling city.

I am sometimes amazed at what people will go out of their way to collect. Half a roll of plastic mesh for climbing plants, ring binders, miscellaneous bubble wrap and padded bags for posting stuff, a multifunction ink-jet printer that needed a new black print-head (as good as dead in that case, I had been told), etc.

But my happiest disposal was of several pairs of skis and a suitcase-full of ski clothes and boots to a skiing family with mother and two daughters much the same size and height as me who had lost their home and all possessions in a bush-fire.

[Tiamat]

I love freecycle, but around here, it has been eclipsed by craigslist, which is too bad in some ways, because the "free" section in Craigslist just is never good. But the fact that so few people here use freecycle instead, it has low usership.  Sad.

[James]

We used freecycle for a while to get rid of things, but it just became too much of a hassle.  We went back to just dropping stuff off at goodwill, it gives us a deduction and is less hassle.  I like the idea, but much like craigs list it depends a lot on the caliber of people using the system...

[darkelenchus]

There's always a TON of baby stuff on there, so we're planning on using it extensively when we have kids (and gathering stuff from there during the 9-month pregnancy period).

Good to hear. I'm going to check it out. Hopefully it'll help w/ managing costs.

[Skinnyneo]

Freecycle in Melbourne, Australia, is excellent.

Same here in Japan!  Really nice people and usually really good stuff.  I just saw an ad for a projector screen!