Freecycle - a Virtual Eco-Tightwad Paradise!

 Being a tightwad I would prefer not to pay for anything. Being green I want to reduce the drain of the Earths resources.

SOLUTION:  Freecycle (free recycling)  http://www.freecycle.org/

Welcome! The Freecycle Network™ is made up of 4,876 groups with 6,901,000 members across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer (them's good people). Membership is free.

 As the blurb from the website indicates it is a great forum for getting rid of 'stuff' you don't want and getting 'stuff' that you do want. It is an internet based community on Yahoo groups. Go to the main website and join a local group. You can list items you want to give away and also want. 

GENERAL BENEFITS: Being a tightwad isn't the same as being a scrooge. There is a warm fuzzy feeling you get when someone gratefully picks up an item you offered. I even do a special posting at Christmas of new-like items I don't want that can be re-gifted by someone without much money.

TIGHTWAD BENEFITS: Getting stuff for free. Some of the items we have picked up include - goldfish, a baby capsule, a desk, pumpkin seedlings, wiggles posters and an English power adapter. We have also given away mattresses which would have incurred a disposal fee at the tip.

GREEN BENEFITS: Keeping stuff out of landfill. Some of the items we have given away include - a freezer, 14 boxes of scrunched up packing paper, a lava lamp plus lots of other misc crap. You would be amazed at what some people want.

TIPS: Be super polite when asking for something (I am amazed how many people aren't). If listing something ask people to say when they can pick up when responding.