Freecycle

[AlanHo]

I have recently been introduced to the Freecycle organisation by a friend which enables people to give stuff away for free - rather than add to land fill.

It's amazing what people do give away - or advertise as wanted.

My local Freecycle for Solihull is Here. but you will have one local to your area in all probability.

Yesterday I advertised some vertical blinds removed from my conservatory. They were collected withing 2 hours.

Today I have had a small clear out of the loft and advertised the following. I got Email replies for all items within 30 minutes.

Epson Inkjet with spare cartridges - Will be collected tomorrow

Panasonic Fax and answering machine - to be collected Friday

Cross Cut Paper Shredder - To be collected this evening

Sony VCR - To be collected this afternoon.

I have lots more stuff in the loft I need to clear - because I am thinking of downsizing to a smaller house next spring/summer. It's a good way of getting rid of your unwanted items to some worthy causes - and avoids the chore of a trip down to the local tip. Before anyone says it - yes I also use Ebay - but some items are just not worth enough for the hassle of selling there.

[andsome]

My daughter uses them. She suggested that I had a look at them when we recently needed to get rid of a bed. I was imediately put off by the fact that I needed to download a lot of Yahho stuff. The last time I had anything to do with Yayoo on my computer was definitely THE LAST.

[AlanHo]

My daughter uses them. She suggested that I had a look at them when we recently needed to get rid of a bed. I was imediately put off by the fact that I needed to download a lot of Yahho stuff. The last time I had anything to do with Yayoo on my computer was definitely THE LAST.

I don't know what you mean by download - you certainly have to access a yahoo site and register - but it is painless and I have had absolutely no problems. In fact - I have found Yahoo mail useful as a second string to my Email bow.

[artist]

Every excess from our house goes to charity shops.

[andsome]

Every excess from our house goes to charity shops.

So does all our stuff. In fact we are about to donate a two seater and a three seater settee, as soon as our new stuff comes into stock. The last time I had Yahoo messenger on my computer it proved very difficult to completely uninstall, and left loads of rubbish behind. I found it to be very intrusive, and could not prevent it from opening up every time I logged on.

[catgate]

Why were you using Yahoo messenger???

[AlanHo]

I too donate to certain charity shops when possible. I am selective which charities I support having seen how little some charities actually spend on the needy after paying their executives ludicrous salaries and expenses.

In our town some of the charity shops will not accept certain things(such as electrical goods for safety reasons) and some items they are not interested in. I doubt that any charity shop would be interested in a dozen 3 x 2 paving slabs or a ton of sand.....

An example is my conservatory blinds - the top rails were 9 feet long and would only be of interest to someone with good DIY skills to adapt them to new dimensions. No charity shop would be interested and it would be a shame to scrap them.

I had a new leather suite 4 months ago and donated the 6 year old 5 piece suite to our local "Dogs for the Deaf charity" who tend to look after the elderly and handicapped. They told me that it had furnished two old peoples homes - one having a 3 seater and 2 chairs - the other having the 2 two seaters.

[Irene]

I am a member of the Stoke-on-Trent Freecycle (they cover the Stafford area). :D

My reason for joining, was to usefully dispose of items, which are no longer of any use to us.

We try to put all unwanted items either to re-use, recycle or charity.

In our village, we have another great resource...

At three monthly periods, we have what is called the 'Clear out Day'. The idea is that on the given day, to take any unwanted items to the community centre, where anyone can view and take away anything they think they can use.

No money changes hands. What ever is left at the end of the day, the organisers arrange to recycle or send to charity shops. :D

[AlanHo]

In our village, we have another great resource...

At three monthly periods, we have what is called the 'Clear out Day'. The idea is that on the given day, to take any unwanted items to the community centre, where anyone can view and take away anything they think they can use.

No money changes hands. What ever is left at the end of the day, the organisers arrange to recycle or send to charity shops. :D

That's a nice idea.

[andsome]

Why were you using Yahoo messenger???

My son asked me to install it so that he could keep in touch more easily when he was touring the world. NEVER AGAIN.

[AlanHo]

I repeat - you can access freecylcle without any problems with Yahoo.

[Irene]

I repeat - you can access freecylcle without any problems with Yahoo.

I second that. :D

[Watchful]

I also support local charity shops and an animal shelter where they have regular auctions of unwanted goods.

We recently gave a suite and a dining set to them and they arrange collection too.

The Freecycle venture is a good thing.

[andsome]

I repeat - you can access freecylcle without any problems with Yahoo.

So be it, but after the last time I had Yahoo on the computer, as I said, NEVER AGAIN. I will stick with the local charity shops. Have you also considered the possibility that a lot of the stuff will end up at car boot sales, and the things are not genuinely needed by the person who calls for them?

[Irene]

I repeat - you can access freecylcle without any problems with Yahoo.

So be it, but after the last time I had Yahoo on the computer, as I said, NEVER AGAIN. I will stick with the local charity shops. Have you also considered the possibility that a lot of the stuff will end up at car boot sales, and the things are not genuinely needed by the person who calls for them ?

Not really, but I just have to rely on the integrity of those who respond.

The same applies to our local village event.

I just hope that whatever we donate finds it's way to someone with a need greater than mine. :)

[AlanHo]

I repeat - you can access freecycle without any problems with Yahoo.

So be it, but after the last time I had Yahoo on the computer, as I said, NEVER AGAIN. I will stick with the local charity shops. Have you also considered the possibility that a lot of the stuff will end up at car boot sales, and the things are not genuinely needed by the person who calls for them?

Fortunately, I have a rather more optimistic view of life. Like Irene I have confidence that most people are decent and in need of the items. If some things find their way to car boot sales - so be it - it is still benefiting someone else and not adding to land fill.

[andsome]

I'll stick with our favourite charity shops. :D

[catgate]

I'll stick with our favourite charity shops. :D

I think it is morally wrong to have favourite charities. They should all be treated equally.

[andsome]

I'll stick with our favourite charity shops. :D

I think it is morally wrong to have favourite charities. They should all be treated equally.

I couldn't disagree more.

I've never heard of most of these, so I just support the ones that I know and like.

[AlanHo]

I'll stick with our favourite charity shops. :D

I realise we have wandered off topic - but out of curiosity - which are your favourite charities - and are they any of those that skim 75% off the donations to reward their fat cats.

[Gandalph]

Another free website is one called 'Don't Dump That'. I realise there may not be one yet in your area but the sites are being added all the time. You can advertise what you have , or, you can advertise for what you are looking for.Link to site

[catgate]

I try to be fair by ignoring them all equally.. Most of the charities seem to be self serving organisations run mainly for the benefit of OBE seeking, career "do gooders", conning soft hearted but "short sighted" volunteers into doing "good works".

But then that's only the opinion of a warped and twisted old fart.

I look round and see things like the British Legion, Dr Bernados, Salvation Army, Help the Aged etc etc. All the functions of these organisations fall fairly and squarely into the lap of the government and it pretensions to be caring. (In deed much of the need for this "support" can also be laid fairly and squarely into the lap of the government.)

Instead the money that should go to these destinations goes on guns and bombs, ( to create more need for "overseas aid"), and a multitude of trough expenses. All the while the volunteer organisations are patronised by a few OBEs and words of much emptiness.

[andsome]

I'll stick with our favourite charity shops. :D

I realise we have wandered off topic - but out of curiosity - which are your favourite charities - and are they any of those that skim 75% off the donations to reward their fat cats.

We take a lot of stuff into the Acorns children's hospice shop in Lichfield, and also the St Giles Hospice shop. We also further support St Giles hospice by taking part in their lottery every week. As soon as our new furniture is due to arrive they will also be collecting two settees from us. We always support the annual British Legion poppy day. We buy most of our second hand books from the various charity shops in Lichfield. We also support the local air ambulance. There are others who we contribute to on an occasional basis. We also contribute to collections for McMillan nurses. Hope these meet with approval. :D :D

P.S. I forgot to add Children in need.

[Gandalph]

Just a brief word on my link to 'Don't Dump That. There is no charity connected with this site. It is purely a site for advertising what you have that you no longer need. The person that wants the item comes and picks it up. Likewise, if you have put on the site that you require something, you go to the person that is getting rid of it and pick it up. The whole thing is to help avoid fly-tipping and pushing stuff into landfill sites.

[Irene]

Just a brief word on my link to 'Don't Dump That. There is no charity connected with this site. It is purely a site for advertising what you have that you no longer need. The person that wants the item comes and picks it up. Likewise, if you have put on the site that you require something, you go to the person that is getting rid of it and pick it up. The whole thing is to help avoid fly-tipping and pushing stuff into landfill sites.

That sounds like the same format as Freecycle. :D

Speaking of 'cycles', there is also a cycle-recycle (can't for the life of me think of the name) who recycle bicycles. They gladly accept donations of those which are no longer of use to the owner, then renovate as required and sell on to anyone who is in the market for a bicycle.

Mike bought one from there for me, but I have never mastered the art of riding a bicycle!! :0

I never had a 2-wheeler when I was a child (maybe my folks couldn't afford one or perhaps they were just over protective.. ).

However, the outcome is that although I can balance in a straight line, I just can't bring myself to turn a corner (the right hand one is the trickiest). :lol:

Consequently, I think my recycled bicyle is destined to be recycled again. :D :lol: