Tuesday Tip | Put the word out
When a non-emergency "I need to buy a new thing!" situation comes up, instead of buying something right away, try putting the word out.
Let your group of friends know you're looking to buy/borrow the item.
Put a "wanted" post out on freecycle/Nextdoor.
Ask your neighbor if she knows someone who has item X for giveaway/sale.
This works especially well for things people don't constantly use for long periods of time (like tools. or baby gear. or niche kitchen items. or a carpet steamer.)
Of course, this doesn't always pan out, but it's worth a try as long as you have the luxury of waiting for a little while.
And if it doesn't work out, well, you still always have the option of buying the item.
Excellent advice. I was "wanting" a salad spinner and it just so happened the kids' friend's mom had just decluttered and was getting rid of a brand new one! She got rid of her "junk" and I got my salad spinner! Gotta love win-win situations!
I do this all the time with tools...projects come up all the time and why buy one for a one time use when I am surrounded by family members with so many to borrow from!
I found a new phone and laptop this way (they were both used, but new to me). I just put the word out I needed them and waited.
I borrow lots of tools from my neighbors and family that lives close by. I wish more of my neighbors used nextdoor. That would be so useful.
My sisters and I share large baby gear (ergo baby inserts, exersaucer, bouncy seats, etc.).
My mom and I live in the same town and pass the mini muffin tins back and forth whenever we need to make a big batch of cupcakes for an event.
A few homeschool moms and I trade books back and forth. Why buy all the Five in a Row books when your friends have them? And another mom is lending me curriculum for this year.
Borrowing is the best.
But it is also freeing and satisfying to return something when you are finished. And it is fun to return the thing filled with cookies or a meal to thank the person for lending it.
We're very open in our frugality which has helped us save lots of money. At first we had no choice but to live frugally, so it was necessary. Now we are frugal by choice, and still open about our love for used items.
I love your Tuesday tips! We're pretty open about our secondhand stuff. If anyone is offering, I don't hestitate to say no if we can come up with a use for it.
So much yes!
I've had this happen so many times. I've even gotten a computer just by casually mentioning I was on the hunt for a new one. There are non-spammy or slimy ways to let people know you're on the hunt for certain items.
I do that too! I try not to annoy other people, but I think some of my neighbors now know that I'm looking for 4T boy clothes hehe. They told me about yard sales and consignment stores and such 😀 Asking around is great when other people are willing to help!
Yup! This is great. A friend emailed a bunch of us last summer looking for a nice dress for her daughter who was going to be a flower girl. While I did not have the exact thing she wanted, I thought it was a great idea to ask.
This happened to me just yesterday. My mom was talking about buying a new kitchen timer, and I had been planning to get rid of our perfectly good one. Win-win for both, just because she mentioned she was going to buy something 🙂
Does Freecycle still exist in some places? Ours shut down, but it was never very active in the first place.
Yup! Still active here.
Freecycle is very inactive in my area. I guess people are holding on the their stuff.
Freecycle is still in existence but seems be used a lot less than it used to be.
NextDoor killed freestyle in my area. Now ND is so chock full of ads, it's quickly losing its effectiveness. Speaking of ads, I don't mind you adding them, but it is very frustrating that they will not close when one repeatedly hits the "X". Also, bottom and side ads that won't close and are glaring colors are a complete distraction to your message. I really want to be able to ignore them, but they are frustratingly insistent. Do not love.
Wallpaper steamer is making it's way around town due to this very thing. Use it once and it sits. Advertised and found some folks thrilled to get it.
There are local Buy Nothing groups Facebook. Since I joined my BN group I have not used Freecycle. Its very localized and you really do get to know your neighbors by using it.
Funny you should mention this- we were visiting friends yesterday and my nine year old mentioned that she is saving up for a tablet. One of our friends grabbed his that he doesn't use and wiped it (after asking us) and gave it to her. It is perhaps 12-18 months old and way nicer than she was going to be able to afford.
This feels like share your sorrow and share your joy. Whatever it is that you want/need tell everybody you know! Someone knows someone that has that very thing. Great Idea.
Just borrowed a set of ear protection for my son (Monster Truck Jam) from a co-worker. She was more than happy to let us use them.
Hubby's coworker is moving out of her parents home for the first me. She hung a note in the office kitchen saying she is happy with anything since all she has is a bed and a couch. I went through boxes in the basement and gave her a 2 slice toaster, 2 vases, some glasses, some dishes, a big pot, and a coffee maker. She was so happy. I was happy to find it all a good home and to get some room in our basement. All of it is in good shape. They were either given to us or free piles.
This is a great idea. I can’t remember how many times my kids and I have found that one of us is getting rid of an item that is exactly what the other one had been looking for. We also share a carpet cleaner, serving dishes, clothes and jewelry. Some of my friends and I like to put the word out that we are wanting to obtain or get rid of an item. It works well!
Another great place to check is local community Facebook groups, as well as your Buy Nothing group! Find yours at buynothingproject.org. Buy Nothing is the way I've met my best neighbors and many of my friends.