"Freecycle allows me to get rid of things without sending them to the landfill."
How I did it: I'm a pack rat. I can't throw things away if they have any usefulness left in them. Therefore my house is cluttered with stuff, which makes it a depressing place to be.
I've found that the only way I can de-clutter is to give things away to people who really want them. Taking stuff to Goodwill is a last-ditch desperation measure for me -- it is too impersonal and feels almost like throwing things away, because I don't know their destination and whether they found a way to make anyone's life better. I simply can't bring myself to de-clutter that way, and that means that the de-cluttering doesn't happen, if that's the only option.
Freecycle allows me to offer things I have to people that might want them. I can choose who gets them based on any criteria I want -- perceived need, first come first served, it's completely up to me. I've gotten rid of a lot of kids' stuff that way that I never would have hauled to the Goodwill. Our local moderator is very good about keeping the list on task.
I've also scored some great finds on Freecycle, although thankfully I give away much more than I get. Some nice vintage yarn for my knitting habit, for one thing, a couple of desks that I repainted and made into homework spots for my kids, and bikes with training wheels for them to learn on.
Lessons & tips:
- Follow the listserv instructions about what information to put in your subject line and what not to ask for
- Join to give, not to get
- Write messages of thanks and appreciation to those who take your stuff or who give you stuff.
- Freecycle isn't Santa Claus. It's about keeping useful things out of landfills. Feel good every time you accomplish that goal by giving or by getting.
14 people found this helpful
Jan 05, 2009, 11:45AM PST
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