Really useful if you are a cheapskate too.

Okay, felt a need to plug a website: freecycle.org is pretty cool.

We've been gathering better computer parts slowly over time (through stuff that people were getting rid of, or when my husband just wanted to upgrade, and when I decided to ditch the desktop and stick with my laptop. I'll let know you when I regret that choice), and so we got enough parts to build a whole new computer. Or two. They worked great, they were just outdated. And we had a bunch of monitors that we never got rid of.

This stuff was just taking up space. And, with our recent bout of spring cleaning, we decided that it was time for that stuff to go. But recycling the stuff would require us to travel out of town, AND pay a fee.

So, my husband found a better option: give it away. The Freecycle Network (freecycle.org) facilitates that by allowing you to post stuff that's still good but doesn't have a place in your home anymore. He got responses in just a few hours after posting each of them. We met each person in a public parking lot nearby (we thought it would be kind of weird having strangers come to our address), and everything went smoothly. We were happy, they were happy. It all worked out great.

Even if you don't care about the environment, hey, it sure beats paying a few bucks just to dump it.

Go to http://www.freecycle.org/ to locate a freecycle network near you.





Orig. Comment 10/23/05: Well, I donate old clothes to charity drop-off locations and I donate books to libraries, but it doesn't come up very often. If I can, I will, though.

As far as buying used stuff, well, I went to a used book sale for a charity today. I guess that counts. I got a ton of books for like forty bucks, a lot of books were great deals. I got an old Merck Veterinary Manual for like four bucks, a book on Albrecht Durer for another four bucks, some more comic books for my "bathroom library" (now I've got two shelves of books in my bathroom), a half-dozen books on Biology and one history book. Oh, and a cookbook. And the book that inspired this list. If there were more used book sales, I'd be going more often.

I have bought used items before, and I see nothing wrong with it. The only thing I don't like about buying used items is you can't take them back and you don't know how long you're going to be able to use it before it conks out on you. And then again, I think it all depends on what used item you are buying.

i love giving to the red cross and salvation army!!! and if i find a store for one i go in and look b/c you never know what you may find!!

My Wife does

i won't buy but I'll give

I honestly never thought about the notion that buying and selling used goods could be good for the enviroment. My omnivorous diet may be considered damaging to the earth to some, but it would not be hard for me to make up for such a "barbaric" action and go the "retro" route. With a few exceptions, my basic taste in clothing is found in a thrift store. Plus, I like to look for old books, tapes, and CDs, as well. One person can be tired of something, but that same something (even with a little age to it) can be new and fresh to someone else. That is, as long as it's basically in good condition.

The irishgit personal environmental plan.

Buy Used - books, CDs, DVD's, some clothing

Donate used - clothing, kitchen stuff, furniture, books

I give lots of stuff to the Salvation Navy. I figured that the Army gets enough.

When I moved a couple of years ago I was amazed at all the stuff I accumulated...some went to the dump but a lot of it went to goodwill.

I've picked up a few used items here or there. I don't donate much stuff, because most things that I'm done with aren't really usable by anyone.

I don't really buy that much stuff, and I'm pretty good about giving away or reselling what I don't need.

the thing i hate is to see perfectly good things/clothing thrown away plus i'm a packrat. i always find somebody who can use the stuff. i shop at thrift stores more often than anywhere else.

Excellent money saving tactic.Garage sales and flea markets rule.There are very little "health risks" here if you just use common sense.I haven't bought "new" clothing in years-and I'm fit as a fiddle.(Of course I wash everything well-(in biodegradible,citrus based cleansers,of course!) I've also given many items to charity-why throw away something another person can use? Many churches have a thrift store to help raise money.Then there's the Salvation Army,and any number of non-denominational charities.I even "donated" two old motorcycles once-to make room in the garage for my vintage chopper.

Try to do so whenever possible, especially donating. But buying used items is often problematic (I'll never buy another used car!)

We donate clothes and other items to the goodwill. we also have garage sales on occasion to sell items we no longer want. I buy used books from the book burrough at the downtown library, and donate books I do not want. I would do this anyway but if it saves the environment all the better.