5 Websites to Get Free Stuff
Sometimes it is possible to get something for nothing. With the sharing economy taking over, it's easier than ever to find free stuff that other people no longer want. Whether you're looking to outfit your new apartment or clothe your kids, these are great places to start.
1. Craigslist
Of course, Craigslist is a great place to find cheap furniture -- and just about everything else -- but you can also find free stuff. Just search for your city, and under the "For Sale" section, you'll find items listed for free.
The stuff in the free section can vary dramatically. Sometimes there's absolutely nothing, and sometimes you'll find loads of furnishings and other items. The free items on Craigslist are things people usually don't want to move -- old TVs, big pieces of furniture and even landscaping rocks. But you never know what you'll find.
Often, the free stuff listings will just say that an item is out on someone's front lawn and is open to the first person who comes to pick it up. (You've got to be quick to score the choice items.) With smaller items, the owner might be willing to meet up for an exchange, but make sure you set this up at a public location -- or take someone with you to the stranger's home.
2. Facebook local garage sale groups
Like Craigslist, these local groups are often geared toward selling items. But sometimes you'll find people posting free items they just don't want. Again, it's usually first come, first served. However, you can often claim items, even if you don't have time to pick them up immediately.
It's a good idea to join a few groups in different areas near you. This will give you a better chance of finding specific items you might be looking for.
3. Freecycle
Unlike the options above, The Freecycle Network is a site where everything is meant to be free. It's built on the concept that "one man's trash is another man's treasure." This site is focused, again, around local groups. You have to apply to join your local group, and each group has different rules.
On Freecycle, you can post ads to get rid of stuff as well as want ads. However, if you post too many want ads, you might find your membership revoked in some groups.
As with Craigslist and other groups like this, you'll find that you may need to arrange to meet with people to exchange goods. So, again, be sure to arrange meetings in public places, or take someone with you when meeting with a stranger.
4. Bartering sites
If you're looking for a higher-end item for free, check out bartering such as like BarterQuest and TradeAway. On these sites, you can find items such as motorcycles, cars and even homes, as well as smaller items like clothing and furniture. As you can guess, you have to barter for the items with what you have -- either goods or services. On TradeAway, people can also list stuff for sale.
The trades are set up to be local, but on BarterQuest you can do international trades. BarterQuest also allows you to join or create trading clubs if you want to organize local people to trade just in your area.
These sites, for now, don't have as many users as Craigslist or Facebook. But as they pick up steam, they could be a great way to get rid of things you don't need or leverage your services in exchange for goods and services you want or need.
The Basics of Free
Any time you're setting out to get something for free or very cheap (like at a Goodwill half-off day or from a Craigslist deal), you need one of two things: time or flexibility.
If you need to furnish your apartment on a low budget within a week or two, you'll need to be flexible about what you pick up. You might not love the look of that 1986 end table, but it'll service for now. The advantage of getting stuff for free is that you can always replace those items with things you like better at a later time, and then re-list your free items for someone else.
On the flip side, if you know you'll want a particular item in the future, but you're in no hurry, just keep checking the listings. Be prepared to pick up any items you find and love right away. This is a great option if you're looking for furniture or items like kids' clothes -- even if the clothing is out of season or currently the wrong size, you can save in the long run by storing it for weeks, months or even years until they're wearble.
Once in a while you'll discover a gem right when you need it through some of these free sites, but that's not the norm. So give yourself time, and be creative and flexible with what you take. You never know what you might find.
Abby Hayes is a freelance blogger and journalist who writes for personal finance blog The Dough Roller and contributes to Dough Roller's weekly newsletter.
