Environmentally conscious people across the United States are taking advantage of local online forums to give away and collect all kinds of weird and useful items for free.
Buy Nothing’s online pages have more than 7.5 million members worldwide and have created a new era in the digital gift economy. It was founded 10 years ago by two women from Washington State who wanted to create a platform for exchanging goods.
People use forums to give away anything they no longer need, including end tables, dryer lint, unused deodorant, chicken poop, and dishwashers.
Some exchange crystals, old clothes, and crutches to give them new homes. When searching for something specific, people use the acronym “ISO”.
People use forums to give away anything they no longer need, including end tables, dryer lint, unused deodorant, chicken poop, and dishwashers.
One of the reasons Buy Nothing groups have become so popular is because they allow users to connect directly to recipients in their neighborhood.
The used panties have been posted on various versions of Facebook, with people saying they “barely wear them.”
The group also helped get rid of unwanted items in the hopes that someone who needed them would make the most of them.
For example, one user said she would give away one of her portable double-sided grills because it was a gift from her ex-boyfriend.
One of the reasons Buy Nothing groups have become so popular is because they allow users to connect directly to recipients in their neighborhood.
Mary Kidd, a top contributor to the Buy Nothing group in Minneapolis, told the Star Tribune: “At first I was like, ‘Wow, this is amazing, I can get so much stuff for free.’ After that, it became more personal.”
Having grown up receiving hand-me-downs, she always makes sure to give back. She said, “It was like Christmas day for me, so I was very happy to be able to pass that on.”
Vi Tran, 25, needed a pen and a calculator. After posting them quickly, I was able to receive the items from a neighbor who offered them to me.
People might trade in old crop tops, crystals, and crutches to give them new homes. When searching for something specific, people use the acronym “ISO”.
Used panties have been posted in various versions of Facebook groups, with people saying they “barely wear them.”
She said, “We’re not necessarily friends, but we see each other at Buy Nothing and it’s like an agreement that we all care.”
“I would rather give back to the people around me because I was able to get what I needed through their generosity.”
Cheryl Wadkins from Georgia said she was homeless for four months and lost all her belongings in storage, so she relied on the goodwill of local residents.
she wrote: “I just moved in with someone last night, so I’m going to have to completely start over.” We lost everything in our house in a house fire in July, and what was salvageable is now at a storage auction. It’s gone. ”
Wadkins made a list of things she was looking for, including a hair dryer. pots, pans, plates, silverware, Cleaning supplies, size 32/30 men’s cargo pants.
She added, “I have a job, but the pay is not good, and all the money I get goes to gas and medicine.” We would appreciate your cooperation. ”
Gene Gehring-Newman of Evanston, Illinois, had a bunch of items she no longer needed, so she advertised them on a local page. Within hours she had 21 comments and the item was given a new home.
she The dehumidifier “isn’t necessary anymore because we don’t have a moldy house,” the Microsoft Surface headset “has been shoved in a cord compartment since 2020,” and the two cup holders for the car. It was given to me because I liked it. My wife was not. I lost this disagreement. ”
Among the free items are four iPhone charger cords, a digital TV antenna, an insignia TV remote without a back panel, and an Apple Watch charger because “I lost my watch two years ago.” Ta.
