I do love a low price, and you can’t get lower than Zero. The good news is that there are a gazillion cool items out there that are just yours for the taking: everything from moving boxes to mature trees. And we all know how irritating immature trees can be.
The enlightened folks who donate these freebies realize that it makes more sense to give something away rather than dump it in the landfill. So when you take someone’s electric juicer, you are not just being thrifty: you are protecting the environment. Frugaholics tend to think green.
This is a great source of free stuff of all kinds.
- “Barbie doll house, made of wood, hundreds of small toys inside, with Barbies. Adding a little bike also.”
- “‘60’S VINTAGE BRIDAL GOWN”
- “One green round plastic patio table w/4 chairs”
- “Free Paint Cans: Black, Light yellow, Aztek orange, Light green, Deep maroon/red”
Occasionally, the offerings get a little bizarre.
“I have the following items in size medium”
5 thongs (white, red, black, pink, purple)
10 half slip s(2 white, beige, pink, purple, baby blue, 2 black, red, dark blue)
8 bras (same color as slips)
3 garter belts (black, white, red)
1 corset in white.”
Or, on a different note:
“HORSE MANURE YOU HAUL ANY AMOUNT”
I check these listings regularly, because you never know when I might need some horse manure – or a white corset.
In Los Angeles, people often leave unwanted goods at the side of the road. I am still enjoying two patio lounge chairs that I found that way. Over the years, we have picked up all kinds of useful items – including a box of picture frames, and a dozen bamboo plants. But I kept on driving past an overstuffed sofa, because bedbugs are one of my many phobias – along with crowded elevators and foggy plane landings.
LOCAL PUBLICATIONS
Most cities have periodicals that take free ads for goods being sold or given away. In Los Angeles, we have The Pennysaver and The Recycler. I use them all the time: both for selling and buying.
This is a terrific website with a difficult name where individuals list things they want to get rid of. You just enter your Zip code, see what’s being giving away in your area, and start hauling.
- “Ex Wife’s Mikasa dishes: White with a grey and black edge pattern – service for 8 the whole set is yours for the asking”
- “Litter Box Trained Bunny: it runs around the house like (with) your cat and uses a litter box. Comes with hay, feed and cord protectors to a loving home. She is friendly, fixed and healthy.”
- “39 unused Australia/New Zealand postcards: Unused postcards, good for an art project or to send notes.”
I find the first two items very tempting. I don’t need dishes or a house-trained bunny, but what great deals! Not sure about the last one. Do I really want to drive five miles for 39 Australia/New Zealand postcards?
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Great website! Your comedy video is hysterical. Can’t wait to read the book.
Philip, Third Viscount of Wevershire
Oh no! Somehow I missed your giant yard sale this year!!! I love your site and can’t wait for your book! Boy, I had no idea you were so funny!
Where has this book/blog been all my life!? Funny, informative, completely faboo!
Greetings Annie,
I wanted to personally thank you for writing about our website in your new book, Bargain Junkie. I am always grateful when people take the time to mention our service to others, so I wanted to thank you directly.
Also, I wanted to let you know that we will be releasing a new site (with a ton of new features, and craigslist’s free items) on Earth Day called “Local Reuse” and it will be available at http://www.localreuse.org. That’s a bit easier name to remember
If you or your readers are interested in helping test our new site, we are always looking for opinionated people to tell us what they want our service to do.
Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you, and tell you that you were right.
Best of luck with your new book! I know I will be buying a copy (how could I not ?!?!).
- Peter Schmalfeldt (Founder & President of Gigoit, Inc.)