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Veronica Peterson

Not Buying It? How to Trade the Stuff You Already Have

posted by Veronica Peterson Apr 15, 2009 2:41 pm
filed under: Conscious Consumer, Easy Greening, Healthy Home, Reduce, Recycle & Reuse, , ,
Not Buying It? How to Trade the Stuff You Already Have
10 comments

By Veronica Peterson, Editor, Care2 Healthy & Green Living

In light of the current economic debacle, some internet sites have discovered the way to our collective hearts is not through our wallets but instead through community. Below are a few creative (and free) solutions to save a bit of coin and feel good while doing it.

1. Craigslist
How it works:  This “classified-type-site” allows you to list anything you have for sale or want to trade at no charge.
Pros: They have a “Free Stuff” category where you can find everything from moving boxes to used dental equipment (hey, I’m not judging) and a “Barter” category that allows you to post your skills or goods for trade.
Cons: Craiglisters are notorious flakes and are not terribly proficient at returning e-mails. It’s always best to speak to someone on the phone before making the trek to their house.

2. Freecycle
How it works: The name says it all. Everything on this site is, you guessed it, free. Their goal is to keep stuff moving throughout the community and out of landfills. Got a rusty BBQ or half empty can of paint? Chances are good that someone wants it.
Pros: Freecycle has facilitated over a million trades since its inception.
Cons: The site isn’t terribly easy to navigate and you must sign-up to browse their selection of free stuff.

3. Favorpals
How it works: Their motto is “A world without money” and right they are.
Trade your skilled labor for someone else’s.
Pros: It’s one of the only sites that converts your unique skills into a commodity.
Cons: You must join before you’re able to see if there are even people in your area to trade skills with. It’s limited to urban communities.

4. I don’t need it, you can have it
How it works:  People donate items they no longer have use for.
Pros: Very parent-friendly. There is a lot of stuff on here that’s new or nearly new and they have an international scope.
Cons: They’re limited to big cities and some categories are pretty sparse.

5. Garden Web
How it works: Green thumbs from around the world keep in touch to trade plants and seeds.
Pros: Easy to use and a great opportunity to find illusive strains of heirloom plants.
Cons: You must pay for shipping.

6. Swaptree
How it works: Using their simple form, just enter the bar code on the books, video games, CDs or DVDs you want to trade.  They then apply an algorithm to your item and list thousands you are able to trade for it.
Pros: Very easy to use, lets you make a wishlist for future “wants” and many of the items are brand new.
Cons: You may have to monitor often as popular items go fast.

More on Conscious Consumer (61 articles available)
More from Veronica Peterson (52 articles available)

10 comments

10 comments

add your comment »
10 comments add your comment
Karyne B.

Freecycling is a great idea; however, the Freecycle Network is no longer grassroots. The organization has been taken over by a Board of Directors of 3 people in the USA.

The organization, at the top level, has developed many corporate imposed rules, some of which do not work for all areas. Some of the rules are very restrictive on what you can post and what you can ask for.

For a more grassroots, Community Owned and Operated ecycling group, please check out The ReUseIt Network.

At ReUseIt all groups are 100% community owned and operated; therefore, every group reflects and allows what works in that community.

For a more relaxed approach, please join the ReUseIt Network at www.reuseitnetwork.org

Raine W.

I use Freecycle all the time.That's how I got a nearly new exercise bike,Sometimes it takes a while to get a respose like on my bike but sooner or later someone will have what you either need or someone will want what you have.
Craigslist is just awful IMO.Between spam and people who either wont answer or people who wont show up,its more of a hassle than it is worth.

Vural K.

thank you...
Kabin
Konteyner

Vegan Stuff

vegan shop here at care2 http://my.care2.com/veganstuff

Melissa Burns

I love these links, and the idea of helping everyone live on a budget. My family has recently wanted to go green, but everything organic seems to be so expensive. I found an awesome book that also offers great resources for living greener, but while on a budget. "The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget," by Josh Dorfman. There are a lot of affordable suggestion in there.

Beth Hartford-DeRoos

There is the group The Compact that is about not buying anything new for a year, aside from real necessities. Thing is this is almost my way of life every year.
Since the 70's we as a family have belonged to local toy, and tool libraries where you check out toys and tools and then return them after a week or month. This means no one need have lots of toys or tools like lawn mowers etc. And for kids it means they don't get bored with a room full of toys. Instead they have new toys coming and going each month.

Rosena Trover

this article mentions swaptree, but i prefer paperbackswap.com, swapacd.com, and swapadvd.com for that type of thing. Instead of having to find someone who has something you want and wants something you have to make a direct trade, you receive a credit for each item you mail out. Credits can then be used at any time to request any item in the database. That way you don't run into "you must have one of these (x number) items" to get what you want! Credits can also be transferred between the book, cd, and dvd sites. Now a bit of shameless advertising - if you are interested in signing up for one or all of these sites, please use my username (WhiskeyBat) as your referral!

Joe Peck

I've been using Freecycle for two years now, and it's great. Not only are you helping the environment by reusing old stuff, but you do end up saving a lot of money.

It's funny, you nailed the top two sites that I found for reusing things :)
http://www.ecojoes.com/great-websites-for-reusing-and-getting-free-mess/

Beth Hartford-deroos

For five years I have used two local freecycle.org groups and I cannot praise them enough. And once a person gets involved with green living its amazing how like minded people come out of the woodwork. As a self sufficient living minded person I have made great friends from getting involved in teaching organic garden classes, vegetarian cooking classes, clothes swaps, and even sewing classes. Trust me..if your create it...they will come.

~Beth~

Jennifer E.

Cragslist isn't really big in my area. But Freecycle is AWESOME! I'm always telling others about freecycle :)

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