Free Stuff (The Freecycle Network, and others)

You may be required to register (free) for access to some of these sites.

The Freecycle Network has since grown into 5,000 community-based Freecycle groups in over 85 countries around the world. Chances are that there's a local Freecycle group in your area, and you can find it on the Freecycle Web site.

The mission of The Freecycle Network is "to build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources and eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community."

On these sites, members list things online that they're looking to give away or hoping to receive. For instance, members of many local Freecycle groups post items including laptop computers, cars, bicycles, baby carriages, plants, and clothing. Freecycle is straight-up "gifting." Trading, swapping, or charging for items is strictly prohibited. If you have something to give away, just give it away. If you're looking for something, just ask, and you may receive.

Freecycle is for everyone - regardless of economic status. To reiterate, the primary goal is to keep usable stuff out of the landfill. Membership in The Freecycle Network is free, and you usually join the Freecycle chapter in your local area so that items can be picked up and dropped off in person, usually at your home or place of business, rather than shipped through the mail.

While The Freecycle Network is the largest organization of its kind, other local "reuse groups" are also springing up everywhere. You can find a nationwide directory of local reuse groups at

1. www.green.yahoo.com, also check out

2. www.ReUseItNetwork.org and,

3. the "free stuff" category for each city featured on www.Craigslist.com.

There are plenty of terrific free things in life, if you know where to find them.

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