Are you looking for help finding some basic household needs? Well if you are reading this you have a goldmine of genuine "Helpers" at your fingertips.
Freecycle. You NEED to join your local freecycle group. You need to.
I cannot believe out here in the real world how many people are not taking advantage of, or not even aware of this resource.
It's like signing up for a million friends with extra stuff to give away. No it is just that.
I have seen vehicles given away!
I got a refridgerator a couple of months back of of my freecycle group.
Not only is it a list of "I have....to give away", but you can ask for what you need.
"Ask and you shall recieve" Well this has never been so easy.
You do have to be patient. You may have to re-post your request, but you most likely can find the item you need on your freecycle group. It is free. It is easy and you will recieve emails alerting you every say of what is being offered in your group.
Now think about it. do you know someone without a computer who needs something? Do you belong to a church group and get requests for items familys need? Post for them you may be their saving grace! Do it over and over for area needy people and you can be an angel.
To join Freecyle click HERE. There is no referal program for freecycle.
Showing posts with label trash. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trash. Show all posts
I AM SUCH A CHEAP Mom I Shop Garage Sales For.
I think I may have let on by now that I own very few items that are bought new. I love a bargain, what can I say?
Well my favorite time of the year is here... GARAGE SALES! This is the time of the year I find allot of things that can really run up a tab when bought new through the year.
I always keep track of which child needs summer clothes and keep their sizes jotted down. I look for like new items. Shoes, I usually find the kids sandals and swimsuits used. Summer toys too. pools and sprinklers, bikes and roller skates, I always look for these things.
On a bigger note I look for school clothes and back packs. I have all summer, so I hold out for the right style and newest looking clothes I can find. Allot of times I can find most of their clothes for the next year used. I often find their dress shoes used too. I will usually end up buying under garments, socks and sneakers new. That's quite a deal considering the under garments and other new purchases I mentioned add up to about $100.00 for my two children. (that does include supplies). I also look for pencil cases and pencils and any other goodies I run across that are new looking and fall under school supplies.
I like to look for big toys my kids are wishing for and anything close to them. If I luck out and find the item new enough I save it for their birthday or Christmas, which ever is closest. I have found a Nintendo Game boy with a case and several games in the box. That was a great birthday present and unexpected since we normally don't buy such a big present. I have also found allot of games and cars with race tracks in boxes for our son. Radio control cars too. Those usually cost allot new. I have raised my kids this way so they are thrilled if they get the thing they are wishing for new or near new! The little ones don't even know the difference.
Other great buys are Tupperware. I love Tupperware. I will not buy it new though, it costs too much. Too much when I can buy it at the used store or at a garage sale. I just picked up a ten piece set of fridge containers for $5.00. This is a lot of containers that would run more than $50.00 and it is so new looking I would not be surprised if they never used it! Anyways, I also buy our drinking glasses and dishes. (the kids do dishes) We go through allot of glasses. Even at the dollar store you don't pay a quarter a glass.
The trick is to not just buy junk and stuff. Buy what you need. What is on your list of things to buy? Can you find them at a garage sale? If you're like me, the answer is likely yes.
Well my favorite time of the year is here... GARAGE SALES! This is the time of the year I find allot of things that can really run up a tab when bought new through the year.
I always keep track of which child needs summer clothes and keep their sizes jotted down. I look for like new items. Shoes, I usually find the kids sandals and swimsuits used. Summer toys too. pools and sprinklers, bikes and roller skates, I always look for these things.
On a bigger note I look for school clothes and back packs. I have all summer, so I hold out for the right style and newest looking clothes I can find. Allot of times I can find most of their clothes for the next year used. I often find their dress shoes used too. I will usually end up buying under garments, socks and sneakers new. That's quite a deal considering the under garments and other new purchases I mentioned add up to about $100.00 for my two children. (that does include supplies). I also look for pencil cases and pencils and any other goodies I run across that are new looking and fall under school supplies.
I like to look for big toys my kids are wishing for and anything close to them. If I luck out and find the item new enough I save it for their birthday or Christmas, which ever is closest. I have found a Nintendo Game boy with a case and several games in the box. That was a great birthday present and unexpected since we normally don't buy such a big present. I have also found allot of games and cars with race tracks in boxes for our son. Radio control cars too. Those usually cost allot new. I have raised my kids this way so they are thrilled if they get the thing they are wishing for new or near new! The little ones don't even know the difference.
Other great buys are Tupperware. I love Tupperware. I will not buy it new though, it costs too much. Too much when I can buy it at the used store or at a garage sale. I just picked up a ten piece set of fridge containers for $5.00. This is a lot of containers that would run more than $50.00 and it is so new looking I would not be surprised if they never used it! Anyways, I also buy our drinking glasses and dishes. (the kids do dishes) We go through allot of glasses. Even at the dollar store you don't pay a quarter a glass.
The trick is to not just buy junk and stuff. Buy what you need. What is on your list of things to buy? Can you find them at a garage sale? If you're like me, the answer is likely yes.
FRUGAL LIVING Garbage Picking Guide I LOVE BIG GARBAGE DAY!
With spring cleaning comes great big garbage piles chock full of finds. I love to garbage pick. This is the time I find every thing from toys to income potential.
There are so many possibilities when you're treasure hunting, but the three reoccuring finds are usually toys, furniture and stuff to sell.
TOYS: I look for big out door toys, ride-ons and furniture. Be sure they things you can thouroughly wash and disinfect. Also look for things that are sturdy still and not broken beyond repair. People are wastfull and lazy. You'd be suprised what you will find. My finds include a "Step 2" shopping cart, a handmade wooden kitchen hutch (children's) a "Little Tykes" picnic table, the list is really long so I'll stop now. But I am proud of my 6 yr. old son, this weekend he found a "Little Tykes" play yard set for his little sister. It is a slide with a small hid out and platform!
Cleaning is usually the biggest job with all of these finds. Some good spray cleaner or diluted bleach accompanied by a ruff plastic scrubbie and hose usually do the trick. I have gone as far as painting these plastic toys. The picnic bench and table for example. I covered the table with minnie mouse contact paper (shoving the ends down in the toy's seems. the rest of the table and benches were painted pink to match the contact paper.
I stay away from stuffed and cloth items. Too hard to be sure it's clean enough.
FURNITURE: I love to redecorate my home. I am always on the look out for furniture in the garbage. Often like finding toys, furniture is in pretty good condition. I am always leary of cloth and stuffed furniture. (it may smell or have gross stuff in it)
Shelves, dressers, bed frames, desks, lamps, pretty much you name it I have found it. Some items take more work to get into presentable condition, but they are free. Paint, nails, staple gun, hot glue gun are some things you should try to keep around for these jobs. Be creative and open minded. You need to look at finds as potentially finished products, and not nessicarily used for what they are intended. Think "Design on a Dime". Don't be afraid to use say a step ladder as a plant shelf. Or a bunch of miss-matched wood chairs in your kitchen (you could pick some coordinating colors and paint your chairs to match). Decopage is also a great great way to spruce up dressers, tables and even frames on mirrors and pictures. Or just keep the frames to ugly pictures in the trash too. They are always handy.
a beautiful key rack from an old rake head
HERE ARE SOME RESOURCES:
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/lv_budget_decorating/article/0,2041,DIY_14102_2268740,00.htmlthis is a cute way to utilize some finds such as a garden rake with no handle as a coat rack.
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/pac_ctnt_lnb_gutter/text/0,1783,HGTV_3938_5182,FF.htmla listing of projects to make outta trash
MONEY MAKERS: This could probably be a whole article in it's self, so I'll keep it brief. Well to start all of the above will get you money if you sold these "refurbished" items in garage sales or craig's list or ebay.
Scrap metaling is also a great option. I have not tried this YET. After my research for you guys, I will this season. Look for : copper, aluminum, brass, lead and iron. You can find these in airconditioners, piping, old door knobs, car batteries, gutters, storm and screen doors, soda cans, lawn furniture, catalitic converters (the big part of a muffler) anything metal.
Check homes that have been remodeling, esspecially rewiring, the wires are often copper.
Take the scrap to your local scrap yard or recycling center. They pay you on the spot. Do a local search online and call them first. Many people make a living doing this you can surely make some money too!
HERE ARE SOME RESOURCES:
http://www.xomba.com/how_to_make_money_recycling_scrap_metal detailed description of metals and where they can be found and how to process it and approximate pricing info.
Do a local search to get the dates of big garbage pick up in your's and surrounding areas.
Good luck and have fun treasure hunting.
There are so many possibilities when you're treasure hunting, but the three reoccuring finds are usually toys, furniture and stuff to sell.
TOYS: I look for big out door toys, ride-ons and furniture. Be sure they things you can thouroughly wash and disinfect. Also look for things that are sturdy still and not broken beyond repair. People are wastfull and lazy. You'd be suprised what you will find. My finds include a "Step 2" shopping cart, a handmade wooden kitchen hutch (children's) a "Little Tykes" picnic table, the list is really long so I'll stop now. But I am proud of my 6 yr. old son, this weekend he found a "Little Tykes" play yard set for his little sister. It is a slide with a small hid out and platform!
Cleaning is usually the biggest job with all of these finds. Some good spray cleaner or diluted bleach accompanied by a ruff plastic scrubbie and hose usually do the trick. I have gone as far as painting these plastic toys. The picnic bench and table for example. I covered the table with minnie mouse contact paper (shoving the ends down in the toy's seems. the rest of the table and benches were painted pink to match the contact paper.
I stay away from stuffed and cloth items. Too hard to be sure it's clean enough.
FURNITURE: I love to redecorate my home. I am always on the look out for furniture in the garbage. Often like finding toys, furniture is in pretty good condition. I am always leary of cloth and stuffed furniture. (it may smell or have gross stuff in it)
Shelves, dressers, bed frames, desks, lamps, pretty much you name it I have found it. Some items take more work to get into presentable condition, but they are free. Paint, nails, staple gun, hot glue gun are some things you should try to keep around for these jobs. Be creative and open minded. You need to look at finds as potentially finished products, and not nessicarily used for what they are intended. Think "Design on a Dime". Don't be afraid to use say a step ladder as a plant shelf. Or a bunch of miss-matched wood chairs in your kitchen (you could pick some coordinating colors and paint your chairs to match). Decopage is also a great great way to spruce up dressers, tables and even frames on mirrors and pictures. Or just keep the frames to ugly pictures in the trash too. They are always handy.
a beautiful key rack from an old rake headHERE ARE SOME RESOURCES:
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/lv_budget_decorating/article/0,2041,DIY_14102_2268740,00.htmlthis is a cute way to utilize some finds such as a garden rake with no handle as a coat rack.
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/pac_ctnt_lnb_gutter/text/0,1783,HGTV_3938_5182,FF.htmla listing of projects to make outta trash
MONEY MAKERS: This could probably be a whole article in it's self, so I'll keep it brief. Well to start all of the above will get you money if you sold these "refurbished" items in garage sales or craig's list or ebay.
Scrap metaling is also a great option. I have not tried this YET. After my research for you guys, I will this season. Look for : copper, aluminum, brass, lead and iron. You can find these in airconditioners, piping, old door knobs, car batteries, gutters, storm and screen doors, soda cans, lawn furniture, catalitic converters (the big part of a muffler) anything metal.
Check homes that have been remodeling, esspecially rewiring, the wires are often copper.
Take the scrap to your local scrap yard or recycling center. They pay you on the spot. Do a local search online and call them first. Many people make a living doing this you can surely make some money too!
HERE ARE SOME RESOURCES:
http://www.xomba.com/how_to_make_money_recycling_scrap_metal detailed description of metals and where they can be found and how to process it and approximate pricing info.
Do a local search to get the dates of big garbage pick up in your's and surrounding areas.
Good luck and have fun treasure hunting.
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