but I got calls and emails about the stupid thing for months. Never again. My freecycling is now done on the curb in front of my place. I arrange a large item pickup just in case nobody takes it, but somebody always does.

I'm giving back. I furnished my first 3 apartments in Boston from stuff I found in the trash. I've still got one of the lamps I painted and rewired. Keeps me humble.

But i've been told it varies largely by area / town / group (moderators of mailing lists)

i'm assuming you posted "TAKEN"

Giving back (paying it forward or backward or what ever) always helps.

We've had TV's, old Christmas trees, old furniture, and every sort of thing get picked up by people in the neighbourhood once set out by the curb. I don't think any useable item has ever stuck around long enough to actually get picked up by the trash haulers.

We have a pretty good group here, and have the option of listing "taken," which stops the e-mails. (No phone calls unless you have a solid prospect and are arranging a meet.)

In my case, I usually meet the the recipient half way since I live up on the hill, and nobody wants to drive up the hill. That stops the "no shows," which is mostly the problem you have with FreeCycle.

Usually, I'm getting rid of stuff for clients who sell their houses. I, of course, get first dibs on anything interesting. I helped a friend clean out her house and garage after her husband died. Let's just say he was a "collector." Took two years to get rid of everything. Anything that might sell went to consignment shops. Things in good condition, but not terribly saleable, went to FreeCycle. Tools, I set up a table at a friend's place on Main Street and sold them. My friend was grateful and generous, and I got all the proceeds to pay for my time. I also sold a lot of scrap metal. I made $2000 on a copper run.

But I've received stuff I've needed, too. Got a whole roll of rabbit fencing once.

is one of my favorites. Not free, but decent prices on stuff. And when I moved to a smaller place I donated a bunch of stuff and got 25%-off coupons in exchange. On one occasion I jokingly asked if they'd consider a trade, and they did! And they delivered the day bed and picked up my donation, so I didn't even have to work at it. I'll be heading there in the next few days, looking for a recliner; I'll be donating my perfectly good but rarely used sleeper-sofa. Good deal all around.

My favorite thrift shop supports a local organization dedicated to helping single moms and their kids in our area. It's all volunteer, and they launder all clothing before putting it on the racks. It's usually the place where I do all my Christmas shopping (even though I do that all year, stowing my finds in a special box and marking names off the list as the box fills; we have a $5 limit on gifts, the only "rule" being that the gift makes the recipient smile); I've managed to find some great things there, one time a brand new-still-had-tags Bob Mackie blouse for my sister. Also snagged myself a complete set of corelle dishes to replace the very heavy stoneware I'd been using for years.

I'd still like to find a "shop" that helps us non-spring chickens with tech stuff. Computers are a constant bewilderment, I have a DVD player still in the box awaiting a pre-teen to roll his eyes at me as he hooks it up, and I just had to get a replacement cell phone that has spent two days resisting activation.

Other than that . . .

a good thread with good suggestions!

although not necessarily directly in line with what you are doing is YouTube DIY videos. I like to do what home repairs I can on my own, hence saving money as I can do so. Before I start a project I look it up on whatever topic I am going to do and see if there is some advice, shortcut or alike to be of assistance.

I have repaired my lawnmower this way, installed a basement ceiling, figured out how to install a new wall light switch and many other things. Sometimes I do end up spending more money on a tool that will be helpful, but those tools usually end up saving me time and making the job look much better in the end.

The other great source of advice is the gray haired guy at the local hardware store... One can never beat experience!

not everyone uses it

http://www.youtube.com


personally i like checking my neighbors too
if one can get a 'local neighborhood cash free help each other' economy running that helps a lot

"ooh so you are an electrician assistant?" "cool i see you have a bicycle ...oh not running?" "how about if i fix it can you fix my fusebox (or what ever)"

and so on

While I might not give things to just any old person who asks on a blog, I'm certainly more open to folks who have an established history on a site and just happen to suddenly have a need for something, especially replacement parts for older computers, for instance. If I've got em and am not using them anymore, I might as well send them off to somebody who needs them, rather than dumping them off to an e-cycler to tear apart.

many people don't have a lotta people on blogs


for instance i don't have you on blog
and i AM into old puters (c64/128../amiga classics (up till wb 2.04)/atari st's) LOL

i see your point the problem is reaching them unless you got a good idea?

So if they're on DU to read your OPs, they can read my stuff and I theirs as well.

Why not allow OPs in this group for people who need to ask if people have specific old things they might be willing to part with.

Although, btw, when I say 'old computers', I meant more along the lines of pc's with 2 gb ram or less Pentium processer era.

so basically your 'old puters' is more than the best one i got LOL

LOL

i may just have to hit you up for some laptop memory LOL


my 'top box' is 1 gig ram dual core

but if you can use desktop size stuff, I've probably got some of that you could use.

I did drop out of that. There was one couple who owned a large retreat who were continually asking for free labor. That got old fast.

The other problem was most of the exchange people lived down valley, which wasn't convenient for me. I was willing to exchange computer or graphic help in exchange for garden clean up or irrigation repair. Again, no one wanted to travel up the hill.

But, I can see this working in a different geographical set up such as a neighborhood or small community or town.

If there is not a group near you, consider setting one up.

I'm remembering just how that worked. I think you got points for each hour you worked, and then could spend those points for other services. Been a while, so I'm not sure that was it, but I think it was.

You could join and get separate emails, a digest, or read the yahoo group. Or so the site said. In reality, you could only get the emails, which amount to hundreds a day, clogging my inbox. When I questioned the owners/organizers, they denied having anything except daily emails. Duh, then fix your site. After getting knocked out of the group time and time again, I just gave up. It was mostly people wanting hundred dollar shoes for their kids, or really expensive baby stuff anyway.

You can get good deals on Craig's List, though I've never had the money to pounce when I see one. I mostly hit up the local thrift stores, or the Habitat store. Our hospice has a nice thrift store, most things very reasonably priced, though they do get crazy every once in a while (and for some reason, they price Barbie dolls at $3).