How to get free stuff for your home

_{Learn how to get free stuff for your home with The Freecycle Network. The perfect way to get stuff, but a Learn how the Freecycle program works.}

Free Cycle Get free stuff for your home. stack of multicolored dishes to donate

The Freecycle Network – Ways To Give and Get Free Stuff

Heard the Saying “One Man’s Trash is another Treasure”? I love it when I can find a good roadside curb item. One that I can fix up and repurpose in my home. No need to search out the streets when you can do it all online.

Or maybe you are looking are move into a new home and are ready to purge a few things. You can list them online too. I know some of us don’t want the hassle of setting up a yard sale to sell your items.

With Freecycle, you can do both. Get rid of a few things or pick up a few items and give it some new life.

Now is your chance to try The Freecycle Network. It is a great program that allows you to list items that you want to get rid of or pick up some items that would be perfect for your home. It is also a great way to declutter your home.

FreeCycle -pictured stack of sweaters and a box

What is Freecycle?

The big secret, we all love saving money on items we buy – but getting stuff for free is even better. Freecycle is an online not-for-profit network that provides unwanted items to others through a pass-it-on system. This program helps items from needlessly taking up space in a landfill. It is a nonprofit movement of people.

The concept of The Freecycle Network is quite simple: It’s a large network of people who give things they don’t need to people who want them. Every region has local town groups you can join.

It was started in 2003 by Deron Beal and at first, only 30-40 people (Deron Friends). Now FreeCycle is in over 86 countries and has over 5,000 groups worldwide. Great Grassroots effort has now flourished.

There are so many great benefits to this program, but there is one downfall I have to let you know about. I find it more annoying than anything. Lots of emails. The Freecycle Network operates within its own system via email, and it will quickly fill up your inbox.

How To Join FreeCycle

First, visit Freecycle and go enter your city and state, and click Go. A list of Freecycle groups in, or close to, your town will be revealed. Click on the town’s Freecycle group you’d like to join. You can join up to five Freecycle groups. This means if you live close to other towns, you may want to join those groups as well.

Keep in mind that the more groups you belong to, the more free stuff you’ll have access to. If it’s your first time using Freecycle, it’s a good idea to read the sticky note at the top of the group forum to get more details on how to use your city’s Freecycle board and the rules and etiquette for the group.

There may be rules on items you can not give away.

How to Create an Account

Once you hand-picked out a group, you would like to be a part of, you will need to create a free account. Keep in mind that some groups accept new members automatically, while other groups may take a few days to approve your membership.

What You Will Find on FreeCycle

Lots and lots of good stuff!

You can give and get almost anything from your local freecycling group. Some of the most common posts are for items such as old electronics, building materials, kids’ clothes, Halloween costumes, books, and furniture. Even things you might not consider reusable, like clothing scraps, old CDs or cassette tapes, and broken appliances.

These items are sorted after others who may be artists looking for materials or tinkerers looking for an interesting project or spare parts. Honestly, you just never know what you will find. It is like searching for lost treasure.

There are some things you’ll need to know before becoming a member

Must be a member to post items (membership is FREE)
Don’t add any personal information to the post for safety reasons.
Just like any other buying/selling program, please don’t go alone to pick up items. Most people will do porch pickups. Please use your discretion when picking up.
When you’re offering items for others to pick up at your house, consider leaving them outside, clearly labeled in a plastic bag with the name of the person who is picking them up (if you feel comfortable with this kind of pickup).
Each FreeCycle Group has its own set of rules. Please read them before posting.
No advertising is allowed.

Items you can not list on Freecycle

Vitamins
Medications
Supplements
Alcohol
Pets of any kind

Now you’re freecycling! It’s a simple, economical, emotionally rewarding, and morally sound practice that can help save the Earth. Freecycle performs many wonderful functions: building bonds and community, keeping material items from landfills, and redeeming the clutter that consumes us by moving it forward to a new, productive life.

I am so glad you can participate in these wonderful efforts. The more people who are members sharing, the more items there are to receive. Plus, you will get to exchange items with wonderful people.

Other options for Finding FREE Items

If you’re not finding what you want on Freecycle, you can find out how to get free stuff on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. There’s a separate section on both sites just for free stuff that people are offering up.