Hooray for Freecycle

So after budgeting for a house, I realized, well, I can’t really budget for a whole lot less right now.   So, I am doubly committed to saving money in every way possible.  As I embark on my frugal endeavor, one of the greatest tools I have found is Freecycle.  Freecycle is a site that connects people who want to get rid of things for free with people who are looking for some “trash-to-treasure” finds.  There are Freecycle groups all over the country, and it’s easy to start your own if there is none in your area.

Freecycle groups are managed through Yahoo Groups message boards.  Each community has its own Yahoo Group that you have to sign up for individually.  You’ll need a Yahoo account to do this, but once you’re setup you can send e-mail alerts to any account you like.  All kinds of fun stuff can be found on freecycle – from clothing to furniture to construction supplies and more.  You can also post anything and everything you may want to get rid of.  This can be a great time saver, especially if you’re moving or doing a major spring cleaning. 

Freecycle allows you to get e-mail updates for every new post, once a day, or once a week.  There are some pros and cons to this.  Getting updates for every post ensures you wont miss a deal (and they tend to go fast!), but it can overload your inbox.  Also, the e-mails / posts cannot contain pictures.  So, if you want to see what you’re getting, you’ll need to contact the person making the offer.  Still, you certainly can’t complain much when it’s all for free.  I’ve already wrangled some night stands and yard tools.  So, happy Freecycling!