Recycling is good, reuse is better. Before tossing things out, see if someone else can use them. Post on Freecycle or Craigslist for free and see if your trash is someone else's treasure.
Here's an example. We take a lot of prescription medications in our house (even the dogs) and I always removed labels, washed, and saved bottles for our own reuse. When cleaning the cellar recently I found 2 bags of bottles - more than we would ever use. Before putting them in our recycling bin, I posted them for free on Craigslist just on the off-chance someone would want them. In an hour there were 4 replies! The first 2 people came for them, the other 2 asked me to save their email addresses and contact them when I had more. So not only did I find a home for clutter from my house, I can continue my habit of saving the bottles and someone will use them.
NOTE: Pharmacies cannot reuse the bottles because of the possibility of medications having leached into the plastic, so do not reuse them for food products (spices and the like). The folks who took mine were planning to use them for beads and for electronic parts.
Source: Inspired by a craigslist post by someone wanting plastic peanut butter jars.
By Soup-Lady from near Boston, MA
This page contains the following solutions.
If you can't find an item on ebay, or can't afford to bid on ebay for the item, try searching the yahoo groups in the appropriate category for the item you are looking for; i.e. toy collectors groups, etc.
There is an online Recycling group here in the Manatee County area of Florida. If you've got more "stuff" than you know what to do with this is the place!
My husband became disabled in 1985 and then I became disabled in 2005. So we have had to think of ways to cut back and save money. I recently found out about some groups on Yahoo that have helped us considerable.
I belong to several recycling groups in my community. After you join, you write your own postings with items that are either "Want", "Need" or "Offer", but ALL items must be for FREE.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
Is there anyone that is giving away furniture in west Philly or southwest?
By kori from Philadelphia, PA
Look in the Yahoo Groups for a freecycle group in your area and become a member of that, then after you offer to give away one item to somebody, you can in turn ask if anybody has the thing that you need. However, you have to be able to pick them up. Sometimes if you go to a Salvation Army Thrift Store you can get a voucher for free furniture----that won't include things like TV, etc., just basic furniture and it might not even be what you would choose, but it will be free.
Yahoo groups often have several recycle reuse groups in local areas; also you might check the free on craigslist as well as under materials, furniture, etc. You can also see if they have a Good Will as is store locally; or in several nearby areas; these are fantastic to get things in! May have to go quite a few times, and spend time looking through things; these are things donated to Goodwill and from the stores that they bring in.
Go to www.freecycle.net, look for your state, then the closest town. They will ask you to join the group. I have given and received many items from my group.
Good luck.
Where can I get my children 2 queen mattress sets? They are 16 and 17. Please can someone help with ideas. Thank you.
By Bobbie from Southside
I would think they could get by with full size(double bed) size mattresses. In fact I know kids that age that have single size beds. Do they have beds at all, if so, it isn't an emergency. If queen beds is something that they want, let them get jobs to buy them. I know kids that age that share a double bed. Also the larger the bed, the more expensive the bedding. You can look at thrift stores, and sometimes furniture stores have good sales.
Check out the free stuff listing on www.craigslist.org for your city and state. Also join freecycle for your city and state.
Do not bring used mattresses/box springs into your home. There is a major bedbug epidemic going on and once they get into your home it is almost impossible to eradicate them.
I would not bring a used bed in the house, even if the kids had to sleep on a sleeping bag for a while. But if you are going to it would be freecycle.org and you sign up and then find the local group and join. You first have to offer something, anything, like an old shirt or shoes. It is a great way to keep things that are useful from going to the landfill.
Our local freecycle has had everything from cars to horses to miniature horses, animals, clothes coffee makers, books, etc. I have given away an entire laundry basket full of cookbooks before and a coffeemaker. People are happy to get things!
Blessings, Robyn
Know anyone who works at a furniture store? They often pick up gently used matresses when delivering a new mattress. If you ask they will sometimes give them away.
All these people talk about bed bugs without telling you how to get rid of them. Just get bug spray made for bed bugs, spray the mattresses thoroughly then put the mattresses into new mattress covers and you won't have a problem. Make sure you spray ALL the seams. That's where they hide. Check it out on the internet. Good sites for getting rid of the little bugs.
Walmart.com has memory foam mattress, anywhere from 6 inches to 12 inches. Very affordable and comfy, great for adults and teens. Hope this helps. :)
My Grandson sleeps on a blow up mattress. It thinks it's "neat" and has never complained. He shares a bedroom with his little brother where space is limited so when not in use the bed is either deflated or leaned up against the wall making room for play, etc.
Can someone tell me how find bed and other furniture for a needed family?
By Michelle
Try Craigslist first. I would also try yardsales and the Goodwill.
There is a website called Freecycle.org. Joining is free, and once you have satisfied the joining requirement, you can ask for furniture or reply to offers of furniture. You can google it to see if there is one in your area.
The only joining requirement for freecycle.org is that your first "post" be a give away. It can be anything ...a book, a plant...anything. I am currently giving away some tomato plants, some books, some make-up (unused), some coasters, some candles, and some VHS tapes. They were all spoken for within an hour. Almost every town and city has a freecycle community....all you have to do is pick up the items.
And everything is totally FREE.
Try craigs's list in your city and the surrounding area. They will probably have to make arrangements to pick the furniture up. Call or contact the person with the furniture as soon as you spot the ad. This stuff goes fast. Even if the furniture is spoken for, ask the owner to put you on a waiting list in case the first caller doesn't show up.
Your local food pantry many times has access to donated household items; also church sponsored thrift stores will often have a list of things available. Don't hesitate to call because you have nothing to lose but a little time. Good luck.
Where can I find free beds and dresses for my children?
By Shewana
Your local DFS (division of family services) offices should have a list, and often churches maintain a list of centers, as well as many food pantries or catholic charities. If you call one of them, they will be able to steer you in the correct direction.
Do you have a local yahoo freecycle group in your area? I've given away tons of stuff through freecycle.
Also don't rule out blow up mattresses for the kids if anyone has an offer. My grandsons had these for awhile and kids don't really care. Use boxes to contain clothing and other items until dressers come along. Good luck.
Also contact your local Salvation Army. If they can't help they will direct you where to go for help.
I would be careful about receiving a used mattress and/or box spring because you don't know if it has bed bugs or is possibly contaminated (could have mouse or rat urine on or in it and who knows about the previous owners personal health habits). I am with TXBetty about the air matress idea.
I have friends who do the food-pantry thing. They get some really nice clothes there, and have brought me some. I still wash them before I wear them, though, just for safety's sake. I got an old refrigerator & a chair once at a ministry here. The fridge shelves were rusty, but I was able to scour it off. That fridge served well enough for two or three years before giving out. You may also be able to get information on how to get what you need by dialing the national information/referral hotline, 2-1-1.
I live in Indonesia. My name is Adi. I really need a free used wedding dress size 10 for my bride. We don't have enough money to buy it and she really wants it. Can somebody help us? Thanks.
By Adi from Indonesia
Try asking on facebook and look on yardsale. People help there also.
Adi, The best sources are local. Churches, community listservs (online "bulletin boards"), freecycle, Craigslist. You could also just "borrow" a dress. Check with Indonesian-American communities online; perhaps someone is returning to your area and could bring a freebie back for you. If all else fails, promise to have a second wedding in the future, the wedding of her dreams (people do that!). But I'm sure that someone will come through for you! Especially check churches in your area!
Does anyone know where I might be able to get a used computer that works on the internet? It is for a 79 year old lady on a fixed income and housebound.
By Pauline
Does she want one or is that something that you think she should have? I have never heard of any place that gives away computers to anybody. You could try calling thrift stores like the Salvation Army, Good Will, etc.
It used to be that they couldn't sell used computers so when people would donate them they ended up getting thrown away. I don't know if it is still like that, but maybe if this lady could call and ask about it, maybe if they have any computers in the store, they would give it to her or sell it for very little.
You could also call different churches and ask if they know of anybody that might be willing to donate one. Be aware that free computers are apt to have problems. Also unless this lady has the monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc., when you say computer you apt to get just the tower.
My computer is six years old and about twice a year I have to have my computer guy take it and work on it, at $120.00 a crack, and I'm without it for 2-3 days. 3/4 of the memory is still empty and a week ago my computer guy told me I should start saving for a new one, because he thought a lot of my problems were related to the fact that I am running an older version of XP and he said the computer is old enough that he can't update it.
I have a choice of a big box store at $450 or having him build one at $550. He said the difference is he uses better parts in the ones that he builds. I told him I could be dead by the time I get that amount saved, and he said any of us could be. lol
Contact the share project .com There's a woman for California that gives laptops and also desktops to those who can't afford them. Good luck
Is there anybody in the Fredericksburg, Stafford, or Spottsyalvina areas that could help me with some furniture or clothes?
By Michelle S.
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
If you live anywhere near a large, or mid-sized city, it is easy to get free used items in a hurry! All you have to do is use your computer.
