Freecycle

[Tenacious_D]

Freecycle is my new best friend!! I was a little apprehensive at first but I it really does work. In the past month we got a free jogging stroller (worth $200) for little E and it is amazing condition and today I am going to pick up a treadmill. I posted a request for a treadmill so I can run while E takes his naps and got a response an hour later with a free treadmill.

If you haven't tried it yet in your city, you've got to look into it. Just wanted to share

[Momo]

I have used it to unload a lot of stuff. When I got my new appliances (the old ones still worked they just didn't match the SS fridge we purchased when we moved in) I was able to give them away, to a couple that had just bought their first home. I also got rid off all of our professional moving boxes.

Because of giving away stuff I am now eligible to ask for stuff. That seems to be the rule out here. You can't do a want post, until after you have done an offer post.

Sounds like you scored!
I have had luck getting rid of stuff but no luck getting anything! I have never put up a "wanted" though, just replied to "offers". But I know from giving stuff away that a minute after it is posted you get a dozen or so "I'll take it" emails. I think the professional freecyclers have it on auto - reply. Even when I have posted multiple items someone will email "I'll take it!". Um, which item? Kind of annoying.

[MarissaNicole]

I too have used it to clean out stuff but haven't had much luck in getting things we need. The group is so large that I have trouble sorting through all the posts quickly enough - it seems like someone else always snatches them up first. And the things we were looking for (bike or patio furtniture) are in high demand and always went quickly.

[Tenacious_D]

I think what helped me was that I said I was a new mom trying to lose weight and a fellow mom reached out to me with her offer. I haven't done a lot of donating on freecycle (I use our local mom group for our freebies) but I really like the idea that we don't have to be so wasteful and purchase everything new. It's not exactly the best thing for the economy right now but it works for my wallet!

[diggitydot]

I love, love, love Freecycle. I've been active in it for about 5 years now and always join the local groups whenever/wherever we move. There are some pitfalls here and there, but overall I highly recommend it.

[Cumberland]

When we were fixing up our house in the past I put ads on there to give away a broken sliding glass door, an ancient fridge and a broken garage door. People all came to haul them away. I got a really cool vintage bike in great condition once and a huge lot of canning jars once. I love it!