Each of the four Thursdays of our September No-Spend Month, I will introduce an article in a series I’m calling, “Don’t Buy It.” Each week I will focus on a different alternative to buying the things you want and need.
We’ll start with getting things free: Don’t buy it. Get it free! I joke that free is my favorite price, but seriously, there are lots of great things that you can get for free. I’m not going to focus on getting a dozen free toothpastes or getting random free samples. I will focus on how to get more substantial things for free (not that toothpaste isn’t great).
Here are some of the places I look and the strategies I use to get things free instead of buying them.
PLACES TO LOOK
Local Facebook Groups
Local Buy-Sell-Trade Facebook groups are a great way to find things (or request things) for free. Some areas even have a specific group for free things. When you’re on the lookout for something specific or just in the mood to find something free, browse through the things that are listed locally. You are likely to find clothes, housewares, toys, books, and much more.
Craigslist.org
In the “For Sale” section of Craigslist.org, there is a “free” category where everything is, you guessed it, free! You might have fun browsing to see what’s available. Sometimes people will still post under the normal category (i.e. free clothes listed in the “clothes” category). You can also search ” free __” from the main page.
We got our first piano for free on Craigslist. Pianos can be a pain to move, so they’re pretty easy to find for free.
Freecycle.org
Freecycle.org has over 5,000 groups nationwide where members post things they are giving away or request things they are looking for. Their goal is to help keep good stuff out of landfills. Unlike Craigslist, you have to be a member of the group to be able to respond to the offers (though anyone can see them). It’s free to join.
Internet Searches
When people get stuff or do things for free, they like to share about it. Lots of bloggers post freebie deals regularly. Even if you don’t follow all the blogs, you can find posts on specific free options that you are interested in by searching. I think you will be surprised by what you can find. For example, Google searches for “free cloth diapers” often bring people to my post How to get Cloth Diapers for Free or Cheap.
Product Review and Marketing Sites
Would you be willing to write a review in exchange for a free product? I’ve done that several times and it was well worth it. Some of my best offers came from being a member of the One2One Network. You don’t need to be a blogger. None of my reviews was blog-related. They just wanted reviews on the manufacturer’s website. A few months ago I got a free travel system (car seat/stroller combo) in exchange for a review.
Keep Your Ears Open
If friends are moving or cleaning out, chances are good that they’ll be getting rid of some things. Sometime church groups have email lists or newsletters where people give things away. We have given and received things that way. In fact, the refrigerator we are using now was from a friend who was moving out and needed to get rid of hers and ours just happened to be on the fritz!
Ask Locally
Out here in the boonies, the bulletin board at the post office and feed store are an effective way to share information. I put up a note saying that we were looking for free scrap wood to build a tree house for our kids. I left my phone number and got several calls. We picked up lots of wood and are in the process of building a treehouse (it will be prettier when it’s painted).
A WARNING
Getting stuff for free can be addictive. Don’t forget to factor time, gas, storage space, and sanity into the equation. While free stuff doesn’t cost money, it takes time to search for it, pick it up, and maintain it. Be selective about what free things you are willing to chase down.
Let me illustrate this point by an embarrassing example.
When we were in law school, I kept a close eye on my inbox for freecycle emails. When my oldest was one and I was expecting my son, I saw a freecycle email from someone who lived a couple towns over who had a double stroller and a barbecue grill available for free. “Perfect!” I thought. Those are both things we could use.
I hopped in the car with my little girl and headed out of town to a place I had never been before, driving further than I would normally drive in an entire week. Living in the boonies now, makes this trip look small, but at the time it was a long drive.
When I got to the place, I found a rickety, rusty grill and a filthy double stroller like the one my mom pushed thirty years ago sitting at the curb for me. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. I should have just left.
But, by golly, I had driven all the way out there and I wasn’t going home empty-handed. I single-handedly hefted the grill and rigged it to fit in my trunk (not an easy task for a pregnant lady) and got the stroller to fit in the reclined front passenger seat. I could only imagine what a show I was giving anyone in the neighborhood who was watching.
In addition to a car-load of junk, I took away quite a few lessons that day. I even took a picture so I wouldn’t forget. (Mr. SixFiguresUnder, a strong advocate of recognizing sunk costs, didn’t understand why I brought them home.)
STRATEGIES
- Just because it’s free doesn’t mean it’s a great deal. Just snagging stuff because it’s free means you now have to store and maintain the stuff. You don’t want to know how long that gross stroller and disgusting barbecue sat around before we were able to get rid of them.
- Take driving time and distance into consideration. While the stuff may be free, the gas isn’t.
- If you don’t see what you are looking for, ask. Maybe someone has one sitting around but just hasn’t got around to putting up an ad for it. Common terminology is “ISO,” meaning “in search of.” On Craislist there is a category called “Wanted” under “For Sale” where you can post what you are looking for and what you want to pay (or that you’re looking for something free).
- Keep a list of what you’re looking for so when you browse free listings you don’t forget. A list also keeps you focused so you aren’t distracted by stuff you don’t need.
FREE STUFF LATELY
We helped clean up after a wedding reception last weekend and brought home a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
Our cement basement floor is now covered (at least in the “living room”) with nice cushy carpet that was taken out of another house by a handyman friend. It’s pieced together a little oddly but it’s a definite upgrade from the motley assortment of rugs we had before.
I used a coupon in the mail from our mechanic to get a free check engine test. They will also run the codes for you for free at Autozone.
A lady at church was getting rid of some of her kid things (her kids are grown) and she approached me to see if I wanted any of it. I said yes to a few things (Pictionary, Dominos, and some flash cards), but no to lots of other things.
How About You?
- Where do you get free things?
- What are your best strategies for getting things for free?
- What have you gotten for free lately?
- What’s the best free thing you’ve found?
You’ll Also Enjoy:
Let's Do This Together!
We're banding together to pay off some serious debt in 2019! We want you to join in the debt-smashing fun!
When you subscribe, you'll get monthly reminders to report your progress and you'll see how we're doing as a group!
You'll also receive frugal inspiration and financial motivation in your inbox to help you along the way!
Are you ready to smash debt with us?!
Mary says
September 3, 2015 at 6:31 amI wanted a small table and chairs for my kitchen, but I wanted a very specific type of table. It had to be wood and it had to have the sides fold down, and it had to have at least one leaf. And I wanted two matching chairs. I searched the For Sale ads of Craigslist for months, looking for the type of table I wanted. Several times I found a set that was nearly what I wanted, but either I didn’t like the style, or the color of the wood, or something that kept me from shelling out money for it. (Did I mention I wanted to pay not more than $50 for it?) I’d nearly given up with one morning I found an ad on Craigslist for the exact type of table and two chairs and TWO LEAVES that I’d been looking for. Oh, and it was for FREE! I immediately called, then hopped in my car and went to pick it up. I love it. I’ve gotten several other items for free, but the table set has been the best by far I’ve ever gotten for free.
Stephanie @ SixFiguresUnder says
September 4, 2015 at 11:14 pmWhat a great success story Mary! Thanks for sharing!
Susan says
September 3, 2015 at 7:02 amI joined freecycle for my area and was never able to answer an ad fast enough to get anything. I also don’t have the best luck with free craigslist, but I do have an alert set up to email me when the ad is placed, so I can at least have a chance to reply quickly.
I always check the free pile at garage sales. Sometimes there is really good stuff and I cannot understand why it was free. Or go to the garage sales/flea markets when they are ending, usually people are giving their leftovers away since they don’t want to haul them back into the house.
My best way to get free is the night before and the morning of trash day. I have gotten tons of furniture, frames/pictures, lamps, garden decor, tools. You name it and I have probably seen it on trash day!
Jennifer says
September 3, 2015 at 10:52 pmSee if you have a Buy Nothing group near you. http://buynothingproject.org/find-a-group/ It is like free cycle but even moremember local and not first come, first serve.
Stephanie @ SixFiguresUnder says
September 4, 2015 at 11:16 pmYes! We still have a kids tricycle that I found at the curb on trash day when my oldest was a toddler. We moved it all the way across the country and my third is riding it now!
Krista Stockman says
September 3, 2015 at 12:12 pmI also frequent the craigslist free page as well as freecycle multiple times a day if I can. And though it is more geared towards free samples, I use hunt4freebies.com as well. I’ve actually gotten a number of really great things from that site; free business cards, free personalized mugs, free kitchen tools, etc. I also like to check Craigslist late in the afternoon on Saturdays and Sundays, about the time people are closing up their garage sales and are desperate just to get rid of stuff. The best thing I ever found was a lady who just wanted everything gone, so I drove over and ended up getting some new dishes, blankets, art supplies, and kitchen tools all for free. It was a great find!
However the best way to get free stuff for me is to just drive around town. I live in Los Angeles, so the high population is really great for getting free furniture. In fact, when I first moved here, I saw how much stuff people would leave on the curb, so I didn’t bother buying any furniture. So far I’ve only spent $6 furnishing my entire apartment! I’ve gotten couches, chairs, desks, tables, entertainment centers, nightstands… and all just from driving around a bit. Saturdays are usually the best days to look because people move then, and the early afternoon is about when they’re done and have found they can’t fit everything in their truck, so they just leave it. I try to drive in less house/more apartment based areas, it’s crazy how much stuff you can find.
Libby says
September 3, 2015 at 5:35 pmLOVE the idea of trolling CL as yard sales are ending – brilliant!
Stephanie says
September 4, 2015 at 11:20 pmThat’s awesome that you’ve been able to furnish your apartment nearly for free!
Libby says
September 3, 2015 at 5:32 pmMy favorite freebies are the curbside finds with a “free” sign on them. If it is in decent shape, I pick it up and donate to Goodwill and get a tax deduction. Two months ago I picked up (with my son) several pieces of upholstered furniture and got $125 tax receipt!
Stephanie says
September 4, 2015 at 11:18 pmThat’s awesome Libby! Way to keep good stuff out of the trash and get a tax deduction too!
Krista Stockman says
September 5, 2015 at 5:56 pmThat’s pretty genius
Becca says
September 3, 2015 at 8:58 pmWhen my husband’s best friend’s family first moved to this country, they furnished their entire home leaving things other people had left out on the curb for garbage collection. A funny story about that though – This was recounted on the radio. The radio presenter had gone outside one lovely morning to find a beautiful dining room table on the curb. So, she pulled it inside, wondering why anyone would ever want to get rid of something that nice. Several weeks later she was talking with her new neighbours, and they mentioned that, although they’d thought it was a nice neighbourhood, they weren’t quite so sure because, on moving day, they’d unloaded their dining room table and then moved some other boxes inside, only to come out and discover someone had pinched their table!
Stephanie says
September 4, 2015 at 11:21 pmThat’s a funny story Becca!
Alyssa says
September 3, 2015 at 9:27 pmI work at a church and there are many events at the parish that involve food, everything from fundraisers, weddings, funerals, social events, bible studies, you name it. Often finding free food is as simple as being there at the end of the event or checking the parish fridge for unlabeled items. Once I got to take home 2/3 of a delicious Olive Garden cake (not one piece, the 2/3 of whole dang cake) with a mousse topping…It was amazing. Of course any parishoner can take home food after an event, typically food is divided among the people helping clean up, but I have an extra leg up since I am there so often! I am on Day 3 of the spending fast and have actually mostly eaten parish food.
Stephanie says
September 4, 2015 at 11:22 pmThat’s awesome, especially in a no-spend month! We often help clean up after church events and end up taking home food extras too!
Jennifer says
September 3, 2015 at 10:51 pmhttp://buynothingproject.org/find-a-group/
My local buy nothing group is the absolute best. Everything is free and in your neighborhood because they are hyperlocal groups. I get so many awesome things on there and I decluttered my own home using the KonMari system so it really is a get and gift society. Some of my favorite things are art pieces for my house, one woman even made a painted portrait of our family as a gift. And recently my boys got a scooter, those yellow and red ride in toy cars, and a balance bike all from my group
Stephanie says
September 4, 2015 at 11:23 pmCool! I’ve never heard of Buy Nothing Project, but it sounds awesome, both for getting things and giving things!
Elise says
September 4, 2015 at 5:10 amIt never hurts to ask to borrow something, too! I am doing a craft show in a few weeks and just realized it was outside. I don’t have a pop up tent and I really didn’t want to spend $100. So i just ask some ladies from a local group I belong to and someone offered to loan one to me for the weekend!
Stephanie says
September 4, 2015 at 11:24 pmYou read my mind– “Don’t Buy It, Borrow It” is next Thursday’s installment! 🙂
grace says
September 4, 2015 at 7:54 ammaybe its just me but its really frustrating when I scroll through the wanted ads and everybody wants stuff but nobody is willing to pay. When I put an ad I tend to put something to the effect of reasonable prices please like most people we aren’t rich. But then I live right outside a major city so there are a lot. Inevitably someone offers stuff for free which is nice but its frustrating to see people shameless. LOL. (and we aren’t talking clothes we are talking cars, appliances, animals!, and other big ticket items.) I am all about freecycle and the free section though.
Stephanie says
September 4, 2015 at 11:26 pmI’ve thought the same thing Grace. I would never have the nerve to ask for some of the things that people ask for on Freecycle or in the CL wanted section.
Susan says
September 5, 2015 at 9:04 amThanks for the ideas! I searched free on our popular Craigslist type website- it’s called Kijiji and it’s very popular here on Canada. A farm just ten minutes away was offering free apple picking this morning. Just got home with two large bags! She was just happy they weren’t going to rot in the grass. We met some lovely families there too.