Buy Nothing Group: 10/10
When I lived at my last house, I did try to join a Buy Nothing group but sadly, I was a little too far outside the lines of any current groups.
In case you haven't heard of them: Buy Nothing groups are hyper-local Facebook groups where people give things away (and also sometimes ask for stuff).
The idea is to keep things out of the trash but also to keep things local. That way people aren't having to ship stuff or drive a long way to pick up freebies.
When I lived with my parents, I joined their group because my mom had some stuff to give away and I figured I could help her get rid of it. Along the way, I picked up an end table:
And a bookshelf, which I rehabbed (lots of before, during, and after photos here)
You can only be in one Buy Nothing group at a time, so once I moved into my rental, I unjoined my parents' Buy Nothing group and joined the one here.
Things I've given away
I haven't had a lot to give away, since I'm basically starting a household all over again. But I have been able to give a few things!
The vacuum I ordered from eBay came in a big shipping box full of packing peanuts. Packing peanuts are messy but useful, so I offered them up, and someone came to get them the same day.
I also gave away a box of staples (from the treasure house!), and several metal/plastic dishes (someone wanted them for her daughter's backyard mud pie kitchen).
And I gave away some crochet hooks from the treasure house.
Things I've picked up
butter dish
We didn't have a butter dish, so when someone offered one up, I was like, "OOOH YES."
trash cans
I needed some small trash cans (I didn't have one in the laundry room, for example) and I'd stopped in at Goodwill to see if they had any. Nope!
But a few days later, several popped up on the Buy Nothing group, so now I'm all set for trash cans.
Buying trash cans is very unrewarding, so I was delighted to get some for free.
And for somewhere like the laundry room, I really could not care less what the trash can looks like.
plant pots/spray paint
Someone was giving away three dirty/dilapidated pots, so I picked them up.
The same day, another person was giving away a huge collection of spray paint, so I stopped to pick that up, with the idea that I could use it on the pots.
The middle pot in the above photo is a Pfaltzgraff ceramic pot, so I did not want to paint it.
It was very dirty and almost looked like it had been sprayed with tiny drops of cement.
I washed it and then painstakingly scraped off all the little drops, and I am happy to say it looks new now!
I planted some cuttings from my long-lived Aldi succulent, and they are thriving.
I spray-painted the terracotta pot on the left with purple spray paint.
And for the big pot on the right, I tried using some green-ish spray paint, but then I realized it was gonna clash with my house.
So I swapped that out for a cranberry color.
And I filled the pot with some sedum from my old house.
So, before:
And after.
The bookshelf these pots are sitting on was also a Buy Nothing group find, but I want to show you that in a separate post.
Back to the paint: I used some to fix up my mailbox flag too, as I shared before.
some earrings
These obviously fall into the nice-but-not-necessary category...but someone in the group was giving away some jewelry, and since I was already in the area for another pickup, I stopped by. I gave some of the earrings to Zoe, but I kept these gold ones for myself.
While I was trying to take a picture of my earrings (it's harder than it might seem!), the cat came to join me.
silverware
We were scraping by with a rather motley assortment of flatware from the abandoned house, but we were pretty short on some things, like knives.
So, I was seriously thrilled when someone offered a whole set of silverware. Yay!
Now we don't have to wash dishes quite as often.
___________
In conclusion: I really love my Buy Nothing group. A solid 10/10 from me!
If you want to find a Buy Nothing group near you, there's a directory here.
Or you can always just google the name of your town plus "Buy Nothing Group" and see what comes up.
I love the earrings, they look great on you :-)!
Thank you!
I'm in a Buy Nothing group and love it. I've given away things that are nice, like artwork, appliances that I rarely used, and jewelry. I've also gifted egg boxes, spaghetti jars and cat litter buckets. I love it that it keeps things out of the trash. I've gotten a reading lamp and an assortment of greeting cards too. Its fun!
Yes! And since everyone lives so close to everyone else, it's easy to give away even small things; odds are good someone will be driving by someone else's house anyway, so it's not a waste of gas.
We do not live in a But Nothing group area but I have used Freecycle.org for many years. I have given away hundreds of items and requested/received just a few. I have some items I need to list when I have time, maybe today.
I love how small the Buy Nothing geographic area is. One time someone drove 30+ miles each way, in a big SUV, to pick up a bed frame. In my mind it cost them more than what it would have cost to buy a new one but everyone has their own cost accounting.
Yes, the extreme locality of the group is what I love. That makes it so much more feasible to give away small things.
@K D, you are always welcome to start a group if you’d like to be part of one on Facebook, or there is also an app that doesn’t require belonging to a group, you’d be connected with people who live within a certain distance of you that you can choose (like, if you live rurally you might need a bigger circle).
No, but oh, how I wish I was. Such a great thing.
I don't belong to a Buy Nothing group on Facebook because I'm not on FB, for various reasons. But I am beginning to look into my local NextDoor group's possibilities.
A question for those of you who (like me) are women living alone, however: Do you take any particular precautions with pickups or dropoffs, such as doing them at a well-frequented public place, having other people around, etc.?
@A. Marie,
@A. Marie,
I used to get things from Craigslist and sell things on Craigslist all the time. I never took any particular precautions because I figured that the risk of anything happening was pretty minute. My thinking on this was very similar to the post here the other day about walking alone.
But then I got called up for jury duty a few years ago. It turned out to be a Craigslist murder case. This wasn’t a sociopath kind of situation. Things went sideways during the deal and both parties were armed.
They did not end up needing me, but I spent all day sitting in a courtroom listening to a huge pool of potential jurors declare in court that yes, of course they always wore a gun if they were involved in a Craigslist transaction. The fact that so many people thought it was normal to show up armed and ready to shoot for a Craigslist transaction made me extremely wary of participating in these things.
I think the appeal of FB Marketplace or Buy Nothing or Freecycle is that you have a little more of a relationship with the people you are dealing with.
Most police stations now have designated parking spots so that you can meet the person you are dealing with there. I would encourage everyone to use these spaces.
@A. Marie, Most of the time I am home alone (or with my 13 year old daughter) when doing a transaction. I do porch pickups, which means that I put the item on my porch. I've picked up very few things for free, but when have, it was also picked up from a porch, and there was no interaction with the people giving it.
For selling, I still do porch pick ups, and instruct the people to put the money in an envelope and stick the envelope under my mat. You can also do PayPal or Venmo for money transactions. I personally have never had anyone steal an item off my porch without paying for it, but that is a risk when you do porch pick ups. I find that most of the time when I am picking an item up, it is also porch pick up.
If it is a larger item that isn't conducive to porch pick up, you could ask a friend to go with you or be at your house. I wouldn't do anything you felt uncomfortable with, and if you don't feel comfortable with sticking things on your porch and giving people your address: don't!
@A. Marie, all my pick-up and drop offs have been porch pick up (so no actual interaction).
One of the reasons for the small geographic range is the founders of BN wanted to increase community interaction (get to know your neighbor, so it was encouraged to meet the person picking up/giving away). But in the time of COVID, we all went to porch pickup. The only time that I've seen otherwise is when there is a large piece of furniture.
@A. Marie, try trash nothing: trashnothing.com. It's a platform for giving/getting stuff for free, like freecycle, but it combines groups from the areas you are interested in.
Like others, I'm always doing porch pickup. I leave stuff outside my front door for other people, and that's how it's been when I pick things up from others. I almost never see the people I'm exchanging stuff with!
@A. Marie, Since by definition there is no exchange of money, there isn’t a need to meet the people. Porch pickups here, too, or, at the end of the driveway.
Perhaps one of your married neighbors is on Facebook and already in a Buy Nothing group and would let you put your things on their porch.
Or, you could only use the part where you pickup things and not the part where you give away things. Then, no one would need to have your address.
@A. Marie, Our police department has invited people who are making FB or Buy Nothing interactions, to do them in their parking lot. I realize that would be insane in a large community, but here it seems to work well.
@Tarynkay, I've lived in apartment bldgs the past 13 years & was unable to do porch pick up while I was getting ready to move to a smaller place & was selling stuff on FB Marketplace & also donating stuff via my Buy Nothing group but was always able to meet the person in the parking lot of my bldg. It was out front & in the open. I was fortunate to have never felt unsafe.
(I also don't have a vehicle so couldn't have driven to a different public space) With FB Marketplace though you do have regular no shows. I would be standing outside waiting for a potential buyer to arrive during a particular time frame & no one would show up. It was extremely frustrating.
I did sell a lot of stuff though. I also learned that buyers essentially want & expect garage sale prices from FB Marketplace!
There are also people who respond who try to get your phone number to scam you. It was definitely a learning experience.
@A. Marie,
I have reasons for not being on FB too, So I use the name Frugal Spinster when I post.
I'm not particularly concerned about the safety of people picking up gifts but often for ease of scheduling I offer "Contactless porch Pick up"
My sister is concerned about people coming to her house for pick ups, so she give me the stuff and them on her behalf .
@A. Marie,
Because I give items away I state porch/driveway (depending on the size of the items) pick up. I ask for a time frame and then put the item(s) out ahead of time. Someone might tell me they'll come between 5:00-6:00, or in the morning after 9:00.
@A. Marie, After finding a mutually convenient time, we go to a park close to here. I am married, but I don't want strange people coming by. I am happy to get stuff and give stuff, but I really don't want people just dropping by. So, I guess the short answer is yes.
@A. Marie, Hi. Writitng to share that there is a NEW BNApp, and hope to let everyone know that we've moved our group and all the Give-Ask-Gratitude action to the free & independent BuyNothing app!
If you're on an iPhone, here's the link for the BuyNothing app in the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buynothing/id1557679959
And if you're on Android, here's the link for you to download the BuyNothing app in Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sharething.app
We've moved to the app so you can connect both hyperlocally with people in your immediate neighborhood (0.5 miles) and also with neighbors who are 1 mile, 3 miles, 6 miles and even 20 miles away, if needed. You can travel with the app wherever you go, to share more readily at work or on vacation.
There is no waiting you can instantly join and start posting today!
We're looking forward to seeing you there!
A Warm Buy Nothing Welcome to everyone
@A. Marie, there are hundreds of thousands of BN members without FB in the BNApp.
I am a woman that has done thousands of personal interactions.
I have made over 900 posts since November 2021 when the app launched most gifts are handed off in person and I have received at least 500 items. Some were basil leaves, pets, a birthday cake, or ice cream so in person was important.
I often bake an extra loaf of bread or make soup to share, both are best with in-person handoffs.
We also have a large condo population so no porches.
I have never had an issue in the BN, and I really get to know my hyper-direct local neighbors. We *really* know them. They are on my holiday bake & card list. 😉
Some, their shoe size (us size 40's gotta stick together), their favorite color, their birthdays, their families and we can build our village by meeting over a gift economy. I have been participating in it since 2015.
I love the BuyNothing Project, I am a volunteer and I want everyone to know that there is a way to participate. Come join us!
I have given a ton of stuff away in our local Buy Nothing group. But I have never been able to get anything because everything gets claimed as soon as it is posted.
@KS,
The groups I've been members of have encouraged participants to let items sit for a day or so before gifting them, that way more people have a chance to request the item. They also encourage people to say what they want the item for or if they have a creative use for it. Then the person gifting it can either choose or choose a random way to select a person to gift it to.
It's true that there are people who spend a lot more time online than others & the ones who have more time are rewarded more by being able to jump on items. Kind of not as fair to everyone.
Also if you don't have a vehicle or decent public transit, (Most of the US) you also can't pick anything up.
@KS, I had a couple of people actually publicly berate me on my own post where I was offering something for free! they berated me for not giving it to them, or for posting that I wasn't going to give to the first person who responded as I was asking for their reason for wanting that thing. Needless to say, those three people were blocked. (and I had some private conversations with others about them, as some of the other people responding to my post were getting harassed by these same people!). so I can understand your frustration for never getting something that is offered, there do seem to be folk who jump fast. Longer time users of the group seem to have caught on to the quick-pickers, and not always offering to the first.
@Ecoteri, The group that I'm in has the rule that you have to go in order of contact. I don't really try to get anything from this group, as a result of that and the fact that a lot of the things are too far away.
A group was finally started that covered my home’s area & I joined earlier this year. I’ve given & received a couple of times. I plan to use it more as I clean & declutter the next few weeks. I love my group!
I use mine! It's great for giving away things that would otherwise be trashed, like partially-used craft supplies. People wouldn't pay on FB Marketplace for yarn that had been knitted and unravelled, but are very willing to accept it for free 🙂
My grandmother used to say "If someone offers you something for free, take it." Now unfortunately that's lead to some issues with hoarding in my family but I do still like the concept of freely sharing and accepting free items.
As I get older the more things like excess trash start to really bother me. As such I've tried to actively avoid buying things if I can get them for free or at the very least at low cost from a garage sale or something.
We also have a communal free table at work where people bring in stuff they don't want or need for others to take.
Love the earrings, and apparently so does the kitty!
I'm in our Buy Nothing group and have given away a bunch of stuff. I have not received many things because there usually so many people requesting the items I'm interested in receiving.
I've been part of a Buy Nothing Group for at least 4 or 5 years now, there wasn't one in our rural area so we applied to have one. The Buy Nothing People determine your groups boundaries so ours was although geographically large, population small. We convinced them to widen the boundaries and we were set. I love that I can give things away instead of throwing them out. And I've had a few lucky scores as well, like Kristin, often furniture to redo. If you don't have one in your area, just ask for one! It's a really great thing for both giver and receiver.
@Leann, Kristen, not Kristin! Having a name chronically mispelled, I can't believe I did that.
@Leann, there isn't the concept anymore of a separate team that determines a Buy Nothing group's boundaries. Anyone can start a facebook group with whatever boundaries make sense to them (including overlaps with other existing groups). The trick is that someone needs to volunteer to admin/mod the group and get it off the ground.
@Leann, as of 2018 local admins set their own boundaries and build their groups.
The webpage has a step-by-step self-paced outline including the training and how to set up a group, as of 2020. 🙂 https://bnponfb.org/buy-nothing-project-starter-pack-2/
Don't forget to have it listed on the BN Find Your Community Page.
https://buynothingproject.org/find-a-group
If you are the admin of your group, you can tag me in The FB Admin: HUB.
I can help answer any boundary questions you may have. 🙂
The Buy Nothing group that I am in services a fairly large portion of my state (some people posting are up to 1 1/2 hours away from me), and as far as I know there aren't any regulations about only being part of one group at a time for my area. I haven't looked to see if there is a more local group to me - technically this is a local group and there are people who are in my area in it. I tried it out because of some of your reader interviews, but I have to say that I am not a fan of my particular group. Earlier in the summer, I helped my daughter clean out her room, and she had several larger items that would have been harder to sell. I put four things on the group and for *every single item* I went through multiple people arranging to get the item, giving them my address, setting up a time, and then having them flake on me last minute. It was quite annoying and time consuming.
My positive feedback from the group is that I got some sourdough starter and kombucha starter and three months later they are both thriving. I did have to drive a half hour to get them.
@Tammy, yes, I completely gave up. All no shows and I'm short on patience.
@Tammy, No shows here get reported to group admins, and three strikes and they're out. Maybe something to take up with your group admins?
@Leann, That's a good idea. If I wanted to be more active on the group, I'd definitely raise that as an idea. At this point, I have pretty much just given up on it.
@Leann, or you can use FB's block tool and currate your best group.
🙂
@Tammy, I am sad to hear that; I want to make it better for you!
@Tammy, wow. That sounds awful.
I am sorry, there is a FB group list here: https://buynothingproject.org/find-a-group
There is also a new BNApp where YOU are the center, and the first setting is <.5 mile. It can be set at .5, 1, 3,6, and 20 miles for rural areas.
https://buynothingproject.org/join
I like hearing about your two fermentation wins!
I love sourdough, it is a big win on the BN. Mine is a mashup -remix of Olympic Hill W. Latta and Green Lake Katylin. It’s been allowed to cheesecloth grow and open-air breethe in two local organic vegetable gardens to see if the flavor would change near lavender and bee hive boxes.
Yes. It’s a little different.
Today I saw a gratitude post where my starter gift was used for pizza crust, which made my day as that is how I never have discard.
Did you name yours?
I call ours Living Latta (after the last name of the BN neighbors now friends) that gave me his levain "Olympic Hills" so the air in his garden, is a fermented dough filled with natural, wild yeast and a bacteria called lactobacilli. I baked with it for six months and made a second strand I use. 🙂
I seem to have posted a voice to text without correction.
I love my buy nothing group! I used it very much this summer as I cleaned out my craft room to make it a bedroom for my oldest. I took pictures and posted stuff I needed to get rid of, and people often came to pick up within an hour of me posting. I was able to stay in my home instead of loading up my car with stuff for savers. I’ve also been able to get some pregnancy and baby related things for myself. I had given away all of my maternity and baby stuff in the group earlier this spring, and then found out I was pregnant! People are always posting baby stuff, and I am grateful for it. One item was so local that I was able to walk to pick it up.
I've given away a ton of stuff on our local Buy Nothing. We've picked up a few things here & there. My biggest "win" was a neighbor who was giving away brand new, tags on teen shorts. She had six pair. I was just in the process of ordering some for my teens, and these were a perfect fit. It was so kind of her to give them away.
Also, during peak garden season, I often ask if the people coming to pick up whatever i'm actually giving away would like bonus: zucchini, garden tomatoes, basil, herbs, etc. Additionally, when I pick something up, if I have time & something on hand, I sometimes offer fresh garden items. It's by no way required, but people are often excited by the prospect of fresh garden goodies.
We do porch pickup for our BN group. Everyone just leaves items out in a bag with the other person's name. No need to coordinate pickup time, or worry about when someone will stop by.
I have a glass butter dish like yours. Mine will hold a whole pound.
I use it upside down - so the base is the lid...I just like it better that way!
I'm part of a VERY active Buy Nothing Group.
I've gifted/given away:
*large coffee maker
*rolling pin
*platters
*computer cables (who knew that I could sell them!)
*old GPS systems
I've been gifted/received
*a 4-slice long toasted (EXACTLY what I wanted!)
*a 2-slice toaster for work apartment
*1/2 bag of salted licorice
*what I thought might be a celery vase, but once I picked it up, I realized that it was not, so I re-listed it and passed it on the next day
These are all what I remember, but I know that there has been a few more.....
I don't get on Facebook, unless I know one of my kids posted a picture I'd like to see, but there is no buy nothing group in my hometown area anyway. I used to belong to Freecycle in the city where I now work, when I was still working in my hometown. I had to have permission to join, since I lived outside their area. I have since somehow lost track of it. While I was still active, I gave away a few things and got a few things, but it was hard to catch stuff before it was gone, and it was a distance for me to drive in order to meet with the people.
As far as meeting up, I only met in public areas, such as in front of a Publix. Only twice did someone give me their address and leave the stuff out for me.
I would love access to a Buy Nothing group. I had looked to see if there was one here in the city where I work now but found none. I'll look again.
I like our local group. The quality of the things that are given away in a very wealthy area are staggering. Like, for example, quite nice antique pieces or gorgeous barely used sofas and so on. Things do get snapped up pretty fast--one lady was having trouble giving away a Hoosier cabinet with the original antique decals--so charming! So I wrote a couple of paragraphs about the history of these items and then someone took it. I would have snapped it up myself if I had any room.
The downside of all this great stuff available for free is that it's pretty hard to sell things locally, so there's that. I'm trying to get rid of a nice old Art Deco slip shade chandelier and even at a rock bottom price no one wants it. I don't really feel good about giving it away because my daughter wants it for the future but then she wants everything and I need to get rid of things. Either I need to put it on ebay or just say the hell with it and pack it away.
and now I feel sentimental about it. for heaven's sake. Fine, into the basement it goes.
Oh I love our buy nothing group. I work right in town and can easily pick items up when people list them. I tend to not give (like smaller things) as much as others since we live on the border and not many people want to drive out as far as we live. We have a "wish Wednesday" & a "fat chance Friday" where we ask for bigger things. I've asked for a meat slicer, which was granted, but it broke a few days later. And I've NEVER had luck with clothing racks that were given to me, they either break or are already broken.
Love, love, love
I donate everything to a humane society thrift store. Their prices are really low so most people can afford a couple bucks and the cats and dogs get to eat. If its something they can't take I put it on the curb or by the dumpster and it disappears.
Our local BuyNothing group is so small. My husband and I keep looking around the house for things we can offer just to build some momentum for the group.
We did recently get some great storage shelves from friends.
LOVE my buy nothing group! I have been reorganizing and cleaning out clutter and have given away cookbooks,novels, clothes, an old stereo and speakers we had in our garage, a camping cot we no longer use, an extra cat carrier we had in garage, an old Bluetooth speaker, and more. When I was hoping to try a flat iron to style my hair, I did not like the prices I saw..so I went online and asked..someone local had TWO to give away and I received one! It’s awesome! I also picked up a color printer to use in my crafts, and a keurig coffee pot which I then donated to my meetup group (i don’t especially like using pods..not so good for environment, but our group leader uses them..soo..) I also have a sick family member and felt I needed a room monitor at one point for nighttime’s since our bedrooms are far apart. I asked online and someone gave me a baby monitor they no longer use.We are a wonderful and supportive group.I am always looking for things I can give away!!!
I forgot: On my buy nothing group we sometimes give away food,too.I had a jar of brand new sun dried tomatoes from trader joe that I used in one recipe which we did not care for..I knew I would not use them up so a neighbor came and got them.I also gave away bunches of fresh basil and a package of frozen cranberries I was not gonna use! Someone else was giving away about 100 KEURIG pods and I picked those up for the meetup group.
Yep, I see people doing this too. So great!
It's so weird that your group is huge like that. In my old house, I lived literally across the street from the boundary line of the existing group, and I was not allowed to join.
I would have thought all the groups were that strict, but I guess not!
@Kristen,
With my Buy Nothing group, they will let you join if you are not strictly living within the boundaries - but, you have to agree to meet or hand off items within the geographic boundaries. Some folks work in the areas my group covers, but live farther away.
I love my Buy Nothing group!! I've been on the group for several years but it kept getting rezoned and shuffled around. They make the geographic area really small. Anyway, I've given away so much and it is so great! I only wish I had a covered porch because it would be much easier to say "I left it on the porch for you."
I also love the option where people can ask for an item, so helpful.
The Pfaltzgraff pot looks mysteriously like my Pfaltzgraff canisters minus some blue paint!
Our group here is called Paid In Full, and in my town we also have a Paid In Full store! They take ALL KINDS donations, clothes, furniture, food, you name it - and you can get stuff by paying a donation, or you can donate your time to get items! Its a REALLY WONDERFUL setup, and I love it! It used to be Freecycle when we were back on Yahoo, but since Facebook came along Freecycle became Paid in Full. So play around with the names, each area seems to have something its called! You just have to figure it out! But I use the group all the time to get rid of stuff, and to get stuff. I had a bunch of random items sitting around my yard, and I've been giving stuff away on the group because people will ALWAYS come to get free stuff - no matter how random it is! I love being able to connect items with people who want them! Its been great being able to clear out my house. I also can set stuff on the curb here, and there is an unspoken rule that if its on the curb - its free! I tend to grab up stuff and I've sold a lot of stuff I have found on the curbs here LOL! But I love, love, love the Freecycle/Paid in Full group and I hope that EVERYONE has something like it in their area!
Yes! We got a new rug, new to us, to replace the one the puppy has been eating; A little kids basketball hoop for a student who has special needs and loves throwing the ball in the hoop; A bunch of hospital socks which for some reason my daughter thinks are the best, And I needed 150 coffee and tea mugs for a Girl Scout camp project and we got them all and didn’t have to use any of our budget! I love the buy nothing group 🙂
Ours is very strict on rules, like you can't give to the first person that asks, rather pick someone a few days later based on their need and answer to any random question you ask. Then you have to tell who you chose. I have given and gotten several items on there. The most recent being a TV that I had that I gave to a gentleman for his daughter's room. He was low income and had been asking on this group for a very long time for a TV. It felt good to pass it on to someone who needed it more than me.
Some great finds! And your plant pot rehabs came out amazing! How very satisfying. And I'm with you: buying a trash can is just SERIOUSLY the WORST. Why are they so expensive? It's really just dumb. Finding one used is such a genius idea. Might have to check my Next Door group for one! (I need a laundry room trash can, too.)
I do not have or want Facebook, so I don't use those options. Anything small goes to the local thrift shop that sells at low prices and invests in small local projects with the proceeds. Anything too big or heavy I post as "free" on our NL Marketplace (local E-bay) and you usually get some response, depending on the item and your patience.
Also I participated in a clothes line for a while (Big bags of clothes, add some and take what you want, but remove any of your clothes that have not been chosen by the time the line is back to you). I gifted quite some good clothes there but did not find anything I liked in return. On the whole the quality of the clothes was good, but I am picky with cut and and fabric of what I wear. It was a nice initiative though, especially during covid.. All participants were within cycling distance.
We have a "share your stuff" group. Need a punch bowl for a party? Someone likely has one you can borrow. There's a master list of stuff and who owns it so you can call and make arrangements for pickup and return.
I want to know what you did to rehab that beautiful Pfaltzgraff ceramic pot! Soap and water? or something else-- It looks gorgeous
Love this post. Am not on FACEBOOK. Did own the stock when it first came out. Had to sell it to pay a credit card bill. Have not had to sell stock for a credit card bill in a long time. This is so inspiring. I can find a lot of nice stuff in my apt complex when college students from NYU move out.
You are so talented and creative. The stuff looks GORGEOUS. Enjoy. I am glad you have some flowers from your old home. Love your earrings and the cat. Love your blog so grateful I found it,
@Kristen
Could you do a post about succulent cuttings and getting them to grow?
I don't belong to a BN group, as I don't do Facebook. I have given away a few items through Freecycle, always meeting in a public parking lot. I have also left furniture pieces on the curb a few times and they disappeared within a day or two.
@Jeni, our neighborhood has brisk traffic in items left on the curb, too. In fact, we refer to it as the "[Name of Neighborhood] Flea Market."
Our neighborhood has a robust "pick it up from the curb" culture. No electronic communication required: everyone just sets out what they don't need anymore beside their driveway and it will be gone within a day. We've always put a Free sign on stuff just to reassure anyone who is looking but feeling uncertain.
We donate a lot of small things to Goodwill and formerly to the humane society thrift store when they had a local branch. Books I donate to our tiny city library, which has no budget and depends on donations. Pet food my picky tribe did not like goes to the animal shelter, along with old towels, sheets and blankets.
I'm thinking about how good it would feel for the people in your buy-nothing group who listed those items to read this post. Personally, I'd be delighted to know that something I got rid of was now being used and appreciated so much by its new owner!
After seeing you post about Buy Nothing, I joined the group in my area. We had old windows that we wanted gone and apparently, they are a hot crafting item these days. After that, I have given away several things and just today asked for and am picking up this evening a small piece of furniture. Love Buy Nothing!
We have a neighbourhood billboard kind of group, and it works in the same way. Though people may also offer stuff at the price of a bar of chocolate (which grew into kind of a tradition there). I love groups like that! I actually had some nice conversations and got to know people - but maybe that is just my chatty nature?
You definitely hit my hot button there, Kristen! I love to hear Buy Nothing stories!
And answering questions about it, too!
I started the Buy Nothing group in our area almost 5 years ago now, and am still an admin. Buy Nothing Project itself has undergone some changes, and not all of them were in line with the original premise, so some groups are allowing dual memberships, some don't; some allow a member to join the group where they work or where their kids go to school, and some adhere to the "give where you live" model, etc. Decisions are up to the local admins now.
Our group is a traditional group, restricting membership to geographical boundaries, and as we live in a small town, it works well for us. Many members knew each other before and/or invited their friends to join, but even those folks have met and made new friends they might never have run across otherwise. When I started the group, as a newcomer to the state, I knew 6 people. Now I can drive in multiple directions and point out members' houses, their kids' names, their husbands' (or wives') names, and sometimes what kind of work they do!
Traditional groups also do not have a "first come, first served" rule, though that is an option. We encourage creative gifting--guessing games, random generator, having kids choose a name, flash gifting (who can pick up the quickest, used a lot when giving food away), or just choosing based on the reason the member wants the item.It's more fair that way, and we also encourage "simmering"--letting an item sit for a while before choosing a recipient.
Besides items, gifts of self, time, and talent are encouraged. In my own case, I've had a member come help me finish assembling a tricycle on Christmas Eve, and a nurse friend/member who came and changed the dressing on my back after I'd had a skin cancer removed. Two weeks ago, I took items to the dump for a newly divorced mom who didn't have access to a pickup truck. We have a list of people able to deliver items, or pick up and deliver to someone else, and a list of those who are homebound or have a temporary or permanent inability to pick up for themselves.
Tangible items have included duck eggs, car seats, pallets, pianos, homemade zucchini bread, clothing, pets and pet items, ceiling fans, fresh tomatoes from the garden, curtains, sofas, leftover yard sale items, swing sets, toys, plants (real and artificial), perfumes and lotions, tools, etc.
Since Buy Nothing's primary purpose was to build relationships between real-life neighbors and strengthen communities, we encourage meet-ups, whether in a public place or at each others' homes. I can easily walk to about a dozen members' houses. The pandemic really threw a monkey wrench into that process, though, especially as our group has grown so much and the newer members aren't accustomed to that. But we're starting to do more of it, and several times lately I've seen Gratitude Posts remarking how much they enjoyed talking to each other. Some play dates and walking buddies have sprung from this group as well. One of the best bonuses to this is that kids get into the whole gifting thing. My granddaughter has received items from her mom's group, and is much more receptive to giving away outgrown toys when she knows how it feels to receive them.
So if there isn't one in your area, grab a friend and start one! There is training available, and it's easier if there are a couple of you, so you can bounce ideas off and "spell" each other. There are also groups for admins so you can ask questions from more experienced admins. We're all volunteers, and we just make it work around our families and jobs. You can do this, too!
I like my BN group but don’t love it :-(. It is great for getting rid of things but we have at least two people who are clearly re-sellers. Within a few minutes of anything good being posted, they will jump on it. Whatever it is - diapers, food, clothing NWT, new toys, brand name anything, etc. Re-selling is frowned upon but not forbidden. Some I’m my group have asked politely “what charity are you collecting for?” No answer, ever. Most people don’t care, they just want to get rid of stuff. If I post something that I believe will have a lot of interest, I will announce that I will hold a drawing at the end of the day. It gives everyone a chance. I also noticed, as Rose posted, that with so many freebies some people won’t pay for things on FB marketplace. I had someone ask if I would give her the nespresso pods I was selling, since obviously I didn’t like them?! My city has two groups - north and south sides of town.
I love Buy Nothing!
I have been able to give away so many things on Buy Nothing. I rarely have to make a trip to drop off items at Goodwill since joining my group 2.5 years ago.
I have also picked up so many great things for my family and myself. Recently I picked up a bag of groceries from someone going out of town, water shoes for my daughter for next summer, pants for my son for next year, and work shirts for myself. Because or Buy Nothing I have not hard ot buy my kids clothes, Winter gear, or shoes (except underwear and socks) in 2 years. I have also not had to buy myself really any clothes or shoes in 2.5 years.
Buy Nothing is a great way to spend money, great way to get rid of unneeded items, good for the environment, and good way to bond with neighbors.
I've been in 2 different Buy Nothing groups within my past 2 address's & they were a positive experience, I mostly "gifted" a ton of stuff while moving. I don't have a vehicle so knew I most likely wouldn't be able to request anything. I was always happy to see items find new homes. However, my most recent group was a disappointment. After moving I continued finding stuff I no longer needed but that were useful items. There were differences between the various groups. I had grown used to a more casual group (it was also smaller) And in the newest group the moderator wanted people to "let gifts simmer" for at least 24-48 hours prior to gifting the item. I had been used to being encouraged to choose the person to gift the item to, based on their response & intended use for the item or to choose the giftee randomly after the item had been posted at least 24-48 hours. I get the reason for that but once or twice I gifted things to people sooner than that time period & was bawled out by the moderator. I couldn't seem to figure out exactly what she expected of participants. I finally left the group.
I live in a 55+ senior apartment bldg & if I have something I no longer need I just put it out by the mail boxes & it always gets taken.
How do you arrange pick up? Any concerns about using your address?
I generally had great success giving things away - which I desperately needed to do, living with a hoarder-type. Love BNG!
The Buy Nothing group isn't very active where I live (oddly enough), but I have been using Freecycle for over 10 years and have given away so many things I've lost count. Mainly things that can't be donated but are still useful. The latest ones were some king-sized pillows someone needed to fill their shams. We had changed pillows a while ago and I hadn't gotten rid of them so the lady was really pleased to get them. I was happy they didn't go to a landfill. I also use the local Freebies group on FB and have also given away lots of things there. There are still lots of flaky people who will be quick to respond to an offer but then never show up, which is a total pain.
I have no issues with leaving things on my porch for pickup. One time I was buying a lightly used Nintendo Switch which involved a larger amount of money so I met the seller in front of the local police station. When I arrived and saw a lady waiting there, I told her my name and she immediately got of her car and took out a large screen tv to put in my trunk. When I asked her where the Nintendo Switch was, she said she wasn't selling it! She was waiting for another buyer for the tv with the same name as me! Luckily we worked it out and my seller arrived shortly after, to which I confirmed with her first that she was selling the Switch. What are the odds?!
I love my BN group. here are just 3 of my favorite BN stories.
I joined because I was remodeling my home. I gave away major appliances, furniture and Knick-knacks.
When covid hit I started making masks to donate to charity. I soon used up my stash of appropriate fabric. I put out an ask and soon had all the supplies I needed to stitch up 100s of masks. Some of the masks were then given away on Buy Nothing.
Each spring our group holds a seed/plant swap. I am now harvesting tomatoes of several varieties by swapping with other gardeners.
I love your posts. You did a great job on the pots. I wouldn't have known that was a special pot, but you brought it back to its former glory. I'm going to see if there is a buy nothing group near me. Thank you.
I tried to join my local buy nothing group and was denied because of my location. I can't figure out why though. I'm within the area that it states, but here is no way to tell them that.
I belong to my local Buy Nothing FB Group. As I live in an apartment, I can leave items I donate in entryway with name of recipient and have contactless pick up. Our FB Group does “Wish Wednesday “ and “Fat Chance Friday” when one can ISO (in search off) for a specific item. I have received a balance ball, cutting board, folding (dahon brand) bicycle! I have given away an ironing board, vases, lamp, clothes, bedding.
Our group also has “round robin bins” for men and women = clothing bins for each size… that people sign up to go through take what they need/add items/invite next person in list to pick up. These do not require photos of the items in bins. I try and walk or cycle to pick up my items a win win for our environment and my health.
I love my local Buy Nothing group! My hubby and I have given away a ton of stuff - things that were stored in our basement, but really needed to be used and loved by other people. I've also been the recipient of some lovely things - clothes, jewelry, a bag of (really good) coffee, foods others don't like or can't use (like steel cut oats). I see a lot of baby and toddler items come up, which is a great way to move those items along after you're done with them (we don't have a baby or toddler). Sometimes, if I have a free food offer at Kroger, I'll offer the free food item - so far, I've given away two 18-packs of eggs that were freebies (we do eat eggs, but our neighbor gifts us with eggs from her chicken-raising sister).
I’ve been the admin for my local Buy Nothing group for 3 years now and I have to say reading through all these comments with people saying they never see or meet the neighbors who have graciously gifted their belongings is quite discouraging. Our mission is of relational intent, we strive to build community and form relationships with our neighbors. Without making contact with our neighbors we cannot follow through with the mission of the group, which makes us no different than Freecycle or any other “free stuff” site.
Also noted was the fact that many people have mentioned not being able to receive due to items being taken too quickly. This should not be a problem in Buy Nothing groups because members should be allowing their posts to stay in place for a day prior to choosing their recipient. This gives all members an equal opportunity to receive! So if this is not happening in your group let me encourage you to reach out to your group admin so that he or she can encourage members to adhere to this guideline! And finally I want to add that there have been many changes with Buy Nothing groups since 2020. Some of those changes involve the fact that where the Buy Nothing Project was once a group that did not allow monetary donations, they now do, and even have gone as far as asking members for donations to support their app. While my Facebook group, along with many others, have held true to the original rules and mission of the Buy Nothing Project, we have now dropped the title from our group as to not associate with something we don’t support. You can find many Facebook groups that adhere to the original guidelines, including the Gifting with Integrity group. Happy gifting, everyone!
I belong to a group in La Habra everyone is so giving and it’s just amazing to see how the community comes together we even organized a potluck it was nice .. I honestly don’t even know how I came across the group but I’m so grateful that I did it’s been such a blessing I love it
Ahem -- some of us collect those metal enamel cups. I would have loved to have had those!
Oh man. If only you lived here!
They had some breaks in the enamel, though, and so they were rusted in spots. So that made me think maybe they were better for a mud pie kitchen.
Oh, I love my local Buy Nothing group. A friend of mine who has helped me in the past with clearing out the loads of things that accumulate here used to ask me "How many Cubic Feet do you think you got rid of in THAT load?". I think of her every time I gift something. Recently I was able to gift a dad my daughter's very nice twin bed mattress, box spring and frame - she has moved out and moved to a larger bed, and I no longer need to store hers! HER box spring came from buy nothing and mattress came from a friend who also gifted me her old family dining room table and chairs, which my Son now proudly uses in his new apartment. I have received frying pans, plants, canning jar lids, vases (which I picked up and secret-santa dropped off at a local lady's flower stand, where she gives away vases with her flowers) and books (picked up to mostly donate to our local tiny roadside library), and more. Just contacted a lady who was getting a double bed from a Buy Nothing gifter, to offer her two sets of double bed sheets - and when SHE came by we hit it off, she might end up doing some housecleaning for me! Go local groups!
Someone was looking for a blow up mattress for company, and I was able to lend her some blow up cots that a friend had given me. She was delighted and returned them a week later with thanks. (I was willing to share like that to a stranger as the cots owed me nothing, however I was pleased to get them back..). I have given away a set of dining room chairs after receiving a set of chairs that I much preferred.
Every once in a while I go on a posting flurry - when we were cleaning out the barn I posted a bunch of random stuff and managed to get rid of almost all of it within a day, some to repeat picker-uppers who I have come to know. I don't think they are reselling, much of those gifts were renovation specials.
Every time you post about Buy Nothing I am reminded and go and post and look at mine. One Cubic Foot at a time!
Hi. I’m Katylin.
We want to welcome all of our new members and let everyone know that we've moved our group and all the Give-Ask-Gratitude action to the free & independent BuyNothing app!
If you're on an iPhone, here's the link for the BuyNothing app in the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buynothing/id1557679959
And if you're on Android, here's the link for you to download the BuyNothing app in Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sharething.app
We've moved to the app so you can connect both hyperlocally with people in your immediate neighborhood (0.5 miles) and also with neighbors who are 1 mile, 3 miles, 6 miles and even 20 miles away, if needed. You can travel with the app wherever you go, to share more readily at work or on vacation.
There is no waiting you can instantly join and start posting today!
We're looking forward to seeing you there!
A Warm Buy Nothing Welcome to everyone !
I'm part of a Buy Nothing group in southcentral Pennsylvania, and I adore it. I've given and received so much. I've made new friends. Our group is about so much more than this stuff! ❤️
I was in a BN group until recently.
It is a wonderful concept that I wholeheartedly support. I gifted a lot and received some items. All good.
However recently people started passing around live animals like they are stuff.
I appreciate that on the whole the people in these group are genuine and good hearted. I have met some and am now friendly with them.
Nevertheless it is a strangers group…most people you never actually meet, let alone get to know (and how well do we ever know what goes on behind closed doors?)
Our group actually has a person who has been charged with animal cruelty and twice had animals removed.
When I drew this to the attention of admin I was told there was a ‘rule’ that says it is ok, as we will check up on each other. Sadly the real world isn’t like this. No one is going to follow up to make sure Fluffy has been spayed/neutered and all shots completed etc
We all know animals are acquired by those that mean harm…dog baiting etc
I spoke to local police, animal control, vets, registered animal rescuer, the ASPSA, my assemblyman and mayor. All were horrified and appalled. None supported this.
People don’t understand they maybe putting themselves and their home at risk too. How you going to tell a stranger that actually they are not a good fit for the free cat when they are standing in your living room? They have promised their kid a kitty and now they know where you live.
Equally, would you ask a stranger in the group to babysit your children?
It isn’t actually a rule, but a guideline.
No group has to follow it, especially if there are objections.
I made my objections and observations, I am a retired police officer. I have seen it all.
The group admin sadly did not take a step back to think, but took the position that it is a hard rule…and basically I was told to keep my thoughts to myself. I left the group…I morally can’t be part of passing live animals around like old books and purses.
I truly believe this is a great group/concept…for stuff, not animals. They don’t have a voice.
I appreciate there are other Facebook/Craigslist etc etc place where this goes on….but the BN groups can at least take a stand and say NO.
So, please, all you lovely well meaning people… pass stuff, not lives.
Love this! My local buy nothing group has been fantastic for giving things a new home that we no longer need. We acquired WAAAAYYYYYY too much stuff over the years and I'm desperately trying to make some room in our home. Giving things to neighbours who need them is such an awesome win/win.
I have forgotten shopping . Except groceries.
I love my town’s buy nothing group, and we also have a take it or leave it shed where people get rid of things - some of which are terrific! It’s at the recycling center /sanitation center.