Frugal Living Friday: Freecycle

Welcome to Frugal Living Friday! Each week I will feature a tip that can help us stretch our budget and live more frugally! If you have a tip that you want shared on Frugal Living Friday, let me know and you could become a guest blogger for a day.

Have you heard of Freecycle? If not, you need to check it out. In a nutshell, Freecycle is an online community where you can give away and get items for free (in your own town) that are otherwise thrown away or given to charity. The basic idea is to keep all this stuff out of the landfill if it can still be used....if not by you, then by someone else. There are thousands of groups all across the country. It is amazing how well it works!

When I first heard of Freecycle, I thought it was an interesting concept, but I was willing to try it. I joined my local group and began checking it out. I was amazed at all the things that were being given away! Everything from empty baby food jars to books to Eddie Bauer double strollers. Many people are genuinely interested in keeping as much as they can usable, and helping out other people.

In the past 3 years I have been a part of my Freecycle community, I have gotten many things from generous people: new diapers for my baby, clothes in great condition for my kids, shoes for my kids, toys, books, art supplies, a toy kitchen for my daughter, crafting supplies, sod, 10 jars of unopened peanut butter...the list goes on. It really is amazing what some people want to get rid of. All of my experiences on Freecycle have been good. There have been times I asked for an item that was listed, I got it, but then changed my mind once I received the item. I simply then re-listed it for someone else to use.

I have also given away countless items on Freecycle. I really enjoy doing that when the receivers are genuinely thankful for the item. When I receive an item off Freecycle I hope I convey how thankful I am as well. In this tight economy right now, any little bit helps! In the past I have posted some wants on Freecycle and have had people email me back, telling me they have the item I want and that I can have it. Last year my cell phone pooped out...so I posted a want for a working Verizon cell phone. I was not really expecting a response...but a sweet lady gave me a very nice working cell phone and charger! I was thrilled, and that saved me some cash!

Make sure when you join your local group that you know all the rules before posting. You have to post your offer and want in certain ways, and you are only allowed one want post per month (at least in my local group). Be courteous of others in your group and follow the rules. It is not the easiest thing to just get lots of items...usually you need to be the first to respond to an offer post. Then when the poster emails you back that you can have the item, you know it is yours. You then correspond back and forth about where to pick up the item.

I actually set up a specific email for Freecycle posts. That way I don't have to weed through everything when I want to see what has been posted. Every time I get into that email address, I can see what new items have been posted on Freecycle immediately. Makes finding things much easier.

Freecycle is an ingenious thing...don't miss out on it!

Frugal Living Friday: Freecycle

Patience is a virtue

One of the best qualities you can have when it comes to deals, bargain shopping or couponing is patience. You won't get anywhere if you don't have patience. Many times the best deal comes from waiting, watching, or planning. Many people don't want to do that so they just up and buy it. They don't know what they are missing!

For example, I always have an ongoing list of things that I want or need, whether big or small, cheap or expensive. Part of that list are things that I know I could find at a garage sale for a fraction of the price. After a few months of garage saleing and I still haven't found it, I can look elsewhere. A few years ago I dropped my beloved Pampered Chef chopper and it broke, although it was still usable. I kept on using it for several months until I garage saled for a bit...didn't find one, so I ended up getting one on Ebay for a good price. Over the past several years, I have been able to purchase most of the newest things on the market (food, cleaning, hygine) for free or almost free just by waiting and planning. I think it is worth it!

Whenever a new product is introduced, whether it be home cleaning supplies, personal hygiene items, or food, free samples are almost always offered. Almost 100% of the time. There are always either high value coupons and/or rebate programs distributed for these items as well. When the Schick Intuition razor came out about 4 years ago, these offers were all over the place. Rebates from several stores, coupons everywhere....I think I got about 5 free razors. Take the time to wait, see what coupons are coming out and if stores like Walgreens or Rite Aid are offering rebates to sweeten the deal. You would be surprised at what offers come up sometimes.

Don't forget about checking Craigslist or your local Freecycle group for items you need as well. I have gotten so many free or cheap things from both of these places that I have saved a ton of money I would have otherwise had to spend. Last spring we really wanted a picnic table for our backyard, but I was not willing to spend $100+ for a brand new one. We kept looking on Craigslist and put a want ad on Freecycle. A little while later we found one on Craigslist for $30. With a new coat of neutral paint (that we already had) it was as good as new and for a fraction of the cost!

When your kids want toys, don't go to Toys R Us and buy it for them, take them to garage sales or thrift stores! My 7 1/2 year old has already figured out how many more books he can get with a few dollars at garage sales compared to the school book orders. It is a good way to teach them how money works, and they get the most bang for their buck! All of my kids love going to garage sales. It is a fun game to see how many items they can buy with only $1. Usually it is quite a few. Spending their own money this way is rewarding and fun! Plus it also teaches them they don't always need the newest & greatest thing out there.

As you can see, having patience with finding deals is important. Don't under-estimate the value of waiting!

Patience is a virtue

Book Review

I finished reading this book last week. Wow. I saw them on the Today Show awhile ago, and immediately wanted to read their book. I am all over learning new techniques and reading about how they live so frugally. They are truly amazing. And very very disciplined.

A few amazing things about them:
* paid off their first house in 9 years on an average income of $35,000
*they spend $350 a month on groceries for a family of seven
*have never had debt of any kind, except for a home mortgage

That is a only small bit of info on their amazing habits. I thought I was organized and disciplined. After reading this book I realized that they are on a level all their own.

While their techniques will not work for everyone, what I found helpful were the chapters on grocery shopping and budgeting. I plan on implementing some of their techniques soon. Currently I do budget, but I could be better. I keep track of my finances on Quicken (I am sooo anal about all that) but I have some frustrations with that, and doing it the way they do, all on paper, might be a better route for me. Who knows. I also really liked how they taught their children about money. There were many similarities with that and how I grew up being taught about finances. They stress responsibility from the start, and I agree completely. It is never too early to start that with your kids.

I felt like they missed some key points in their book, like utilizing such websites as Freecycle and Craigslist for many free and cheap items. Those two websites, especially Freecycle, have done wonders for my checkbook. Being LDS, I also appreciated their opinion of having a stockpile and planning ahead. I have a passion about that myself.

This book is definitely worth the read. Check it out from the library before you purchase to make sure you like it first. Here is their website with info and where you can sign up for a free email newsletter with lots of money saving tips.

Read the book and let me know what you learn!

Book Review

Freecycle

If you don't know about freecycle, you are missing out! It is a national organization on a local level. There are thousands of local groups across the world. The concept is that instead of throwing things away that are still usable, free cycle them and let someone else use them. Good for the environment too! Join your local group, and you can get things and offer things for free!

I have received many many nice things off freecycle. Clothes for the kids, new diapers, decor, magazines....I can't even remember everything I have gotten. I also have offered lots of things too, and it feels good to help others in need. We all work as a team.

Here is what I was able to score today on freecycle. My husband picked it up for me:

Yes, it is a cute pretend kitchen for my daughter! I am thrilled! Beyond being dusty, having to remove a few stickers and missing one little side of the cupboard, it is in great shape! I was wanting to get her one, and this will save us a good chunk of change.

So, it can be done. Make a list of things you are wanting to get and always be on the lookout. Finding deals takes patience and perseverance. If you can wait, you will always find a way to get it cheaper than full price.

Freecycle