FREE AND EASY
Get what you give with no-cost item trade
THERE’S nothing free in this life, they say.
Freecycling – the grassroots movement of giving and getting stuff for free – is proving the old adage wrong.
Through freecycling, I’ve found a way to get great stuff for free, while also rehoming things I have but no longer need – and simultaneously doing my bit for the environment.
Freecycling is a waste-free system where goods are passed from one person to another free of charge.
I’ve found it to be a win win – I get to declutter the house of things we don’t use while getting stuff I do need for free.
I stumbled upon freecycling completely by accident.
In the dark days of lockdown, when we were forced to entertain ourselves within the confines of our own homes and gardens, I decided to try my hand at a small garden project for which I needed two wooden pallets.
But where to find such pallets? A quick Google search led me to the local freecycle Facebook group. It was worth a try. Within a few hours, I had my two pallets.
This kick-started a major cleanout in our house.
I got rid of picture frames, duvet sets, a Tipperary Crystal serving platter that we got as a wedding present 20 years ago and never used, bikes and a lot more.
I had things that other people needed, like Christmas tree lights and children’s dress-up costumes. Rehoming the stuff my kids had grown out of was one of the most satisfying parts.
I have three girls and over the years, things have been passed down from one child to the next.
Now that my baby is 15, I find I have no-one to pass them on to, so they have been gathering dust in the attic or the shed.
Through a local freecycle group I managed to rehome bags of school uniforms, sports kits and toys.
Then, last summer we had a couch crisis when my dog ate a massive hole in it.
With cost-of living pressures, there just wasn’t an instant budget for a new couch.
I wasn’t very optimistic about finding a free couch in the colour I wanted – navy or grey – and in good condition but a search for ‘free couch’ turned up a fabulous navy couch just a few miles away from me.
It was in perfect condition and looked like it had never been used. It now has pride of place in the living room.
But where freecycling really paid off was when my sister and her seven-month-old baby were coming to visit from the US.
The amount of equipment that comes with a child that age is staggering and since she was flying alone with the baby, the amount she could carry was limited.
We borrowed items from friends and family where we could and through freecycling I managed to find a high-chair, walker and Jumperoo for free.
It was so handy when the little guy was here and I am keeping the items for their return.
Freecycling has been a gamechanger for me. It’s the modern-day equivalent of popping into the neighbour for a cup of sugar. I’m hooked.
HOW TO FREECYCLE SAFELY
Personal electronic equipment: don’t give away laptops/phones if they could still contain personal information.
Most laptops have a method to reset to factory settings. These items should be brought to a recognised Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) disposal site. See weeeireland.ie .
Beware of scammers: if someone says they have a phone to give away but they need money for the postage and packaging, it could be a scam.
Be careful about giving out any personal information or sending any money.
Safety first: you don’t have to let anyone in your home.
Many people choose to leave the offered items outside the door for collection.
Facebook fakes: watch out for any fake Facebook profiles.
Check for personal information, the number of friends that they have, how often they post, and when the account was set up.
Community watch: if you suspect that a member or post is not genuine, alert the group administrator who will investigate the situation.