Neighborhood "Buy Nothing" Groups

@maezee (41985)
United States
March 18, 2021 11:30pm CST
This has been my recent obsession over the past few months. I have gotten rid of, AND received, a lot of items for free to other community members. The premise is basically is basically creating a community and building a sense of community within your neighborhood (or, often, city) by exchanging items OR asking for items for free. Reduce waste, upcycle, etc. These communities are often on Facebook. My Buy Nothing has about 2,000 members. You can give, or you can ask for items, and almost ANYTHING goes! Some of the items often found on the page include: *Furniture *Used clothing *Used or new body/skin/hair care, makeup, etc. *OPENED *OR* UNOPENED, expired OR unexpired foods, produce etc. (I have gotten rid of a LOT of supplements I didn't care for, chia seeds, etc that just needed to get out of my pantry). *Different things that can be upcycled - such as old jars for organization, old spray bottles, broken things that can be fixed, etc. The only things you can't give are alcohol or tobacco. You ARE expected to both GIVE and RECEIVE (or just give). The giver can usually CHOOSE a winner at random. It is ENCOURAGED that you don't just pick the first person who responds to your post, but rather make it a random drawing if you have multiple people interested in your item. What can be annoying - just like any SELLING page - people who want EVERYTHING (maybe hoarders?), people who flake out on picking up, people who expect you to drop things off at their doorstep (normal ettiquette is the winner picks up items from a doorstep). This also gets complicated when people live in apartments, but especially with COVID, keeping contact-free is important. What I LOVE about this group is that things that a thrift store or other donation place WON'T take - members of the community will! Half a loaf of bread that you don't love the taste of? Accidentally got the wrong item in your Instacart order? Slightly expired foods? Bought too much cilantro? Love it! It's a great way to reduce your garbage, give back to your community, and to receive random items. If you receive a lot of packages when you aren't home, it can be dicey - even if they are in this close-knit community group, and I often try to only allow for pick ups AFTER mail time or while I am home to "supervise" the situation (if that makes sense). One of my coworkers was really pining for a cast iron pan. So, I put out an ASK : and I received a super nice one from a lady in my neighborhood who didn't want it anymore! It has some glitches, but overall, I love the concept and have been having a lot of fun with it. In the past couple of months, I have received an electric water heater (for tea), a big refill bottle of hand soap (the person didn't like how it msells), some pumpkin spice Keurig Cups, a Love/Beauty/Planet shampoo & conditioner, What I have given away this month: an older model Keurig coffee maker, a couple Dave Ramsey books, some foundation that did not match my face, some lotion I didn't like, and a BUNCH of clothes and old swimsuits. I plan on going through my closet a little bit more this weekend once everyone picks up from my latest gifting. So, that was a long post. BUT - does your neighborhood or city have something similar to this? What has been your experience with it so far?
5 people like this
4 responses
@noni1959 (13017)
• United States
19 Mar 21
I'm in one for our small community. We put ISO if we are looking for something. It means In Search of. I've given away a lot of things like food, clothing, tables, dishes, decor, toss pillows, curtains, coffee pot, blankets, nice furniture, and so much more. I've commented on a few things and my recent gifts were a tiny white desk I'll be refurbishing, a dresser for my daughter, clothes for my granddaughter, a heavy wood lovely divider to separate my bedroom from living room, antique wood chair, half round table for my daughter, copper and wrought iron patio set, and two beautiful antique wrought iron chairs with cushions (I'm redoing in another pattern.)
3 people like this
@maezee (41985)
• United States
20 Mar 21
Wow, that is awesome!! I love it. So cool for everyone invovled!!
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (13017)
• United States
22 Mar 21
@maezee Tomorrow, I'm taking a lady the long heavy bear bench I posted. I have a vintage chair, vintage roasting pan and heavy glass mugs posted too. I have a lot of comments so will pick someone for those and deliver too. It feels good to clear and make someone happy.
@crossbones27 (52905)
• Mojave, California
19 Mar 21
That actually sounds like it could help a lot of people. If it can who cares if post is long. Thanks miss lady.
2 people like this
@maezee (41985)
• United States
20 Mar 21
Hi, thanks for reading, and yes I think a super awesome service. Hope all is well in your world.
@Fleura (34935)
• United Kingdom
19 Mar 21
I am a member of Freegle, as I've often mentioned. First joined back in 2003 (when it was a Freecycle group) and I wish I had kept a count of all the things I have given and received in that time. All kinds of things from large (big items of furniture) to tiny (a single rivet to repair something) to apparent 'rubbish' (old egg boxes, holey socks). Certainly hundreds of things, if not thousands by now. And yes it has all been good, there has only been one even slightly bad experience and that was when one person didn't read my instructions, didn't accept any help and then later complained his trip hadn't been worthwhile - because he'd taken the wrong thing!! Other than that, lots of lovely people and great re-use of stuff. I've even picked up things other people were throwing away so I could offer them there instead. I would certainly recommend it!
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Mar 21
Just a few days ago, Vince discovered we have one in our community and we've now given away a heap of recipe books we didn't need. I'm sure we'll be using it a lot more as our decluttering continues.