How to use Freecycle effectively to furnish your home
A few years ago we found ourselves in a very dire situation and in desperate need of some essential furnishings for our home. Luckily for us, I was already aware of the wonderful sites, Freecycle and Freegle. These are community-led sites where you can offer (and ask for) unwanted goods to help keep them out of landfill.
As the old adage goes: one man's junk is another man's treasure, and I'm happy to say we were thrilled with those items we were able to recycle.
In the years since, we've virtually furnished our entire home using these sites, and have received everything from a set of drawers to a washing machine; picture frames and even a large television set!
There are certain rules and guidance which you should be aware of to use sites like Freecycle and Freegle successfully, so in this post I'll explain the tips and techniques we have used to have the best experience of these sites.
The Basics
You will need to sign up to your local Freecyle or Freegle site and have your membership approved before you can begin using the service. Visit the homepage for the site you are interested in joining to be directed to the group operating in your area.Each community group may have it's own rules about posting which you're encouraged to read before signing up (for example, in some groups you may have to offer an item before you can post a wanted ad), though almost all groups will incorporate the following standards:
- Anything offered or requested must be free. You can not offer or expect payment for anything advertised on these sites.
- Do not advertise (or ask for) live animals
- Do not post an advertisement for anything illegal (pirated copies of DVDs, firearms, etc)
- Only post an advertisement once per week
Don't expect miracles!
Ensure you are able to collect
Be polite!
Respond to any replies as soon as you can. Often freecyclers may want to get rid of an item quickly and may pass it on to someone else if you don't reply in a timely manner.
Always let the member know if you are delayed or cannot collect at your pre-arranged time. It's incredibly annoying to be kept waiting only to find the member doesn't turn up! It's also nice to follow up with a thank-you email to let the gifting member know you are a grateful recipient.
Don't wait for email digests if there's something you particularly need
Search existing posts before publishing a "Wanted" ad
Be open-minded
WANTED: Ikea Poang Chair in black leather
WANTED: Comfortable chair for lounge
Give back!
Final thoughts
For me, Freecycle has been invaluable in transforming my empty shell of a house into a comfortable home. Our house is no "show home", but it's comfortable and inviting with its own peculiar character of old and new. Most importantly, we were able to create our living space at very little cost by reusing furniture and furnishings which may otherwise have ended up at the tip!Image credit: Ollie Crafoord, via Flickr
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ReplyDeleteEffective use of Freecycle for home furnishings requires community involvement, careful searching, and transparent communication. You may get furniture and other necessities for your home for free and help reduce trash by using Freecycle, a network where individuals donate things they no longer need.
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