The Freecycle movement is growing in momentum all the time, and there’s no better time to get involved than at the start of a new year, when many people are trying to turn over a new leaf somewhere in their life.
Freecycle is based on a simple enough premise – the notion that reusing furniture and other such items is better than sending them to landfill.
But it’s not just about the environment, as you can also often get exactly what you need without having to pay for it.
Online swap shops allow you to offer unwanted items of your own in exchange for goods that would be useful to you.
Likewise, if you’re listing an item that you want to get rid of, online swap shops will often give you the opportunity to request something you need in exchange – although there’s no guarantee that an exact match will be waiting out there for you to find.
Whatever your reasons for joining in with the Freecycle trend, the start of a new year can be a good time to do so.
However, you should consider making a year-round commitment to swapping items for free online too, to benefit in the long term from the financial savings, and to further increase the good you do for the environment.
As the springtime approaches, for instance, Freecycle sites can supply you with the items you need to spruce up your interiors once your spring cleaning’s out of the way.
You may be able to find garden furniture in the summertime – although again, to get the best items you might want to look for them ahead of time when seasonal demand is lower.
In the autumn, treating yourself to some new Freecycled items could prove to be the perfect antidote to the shorter days and lack of bank holidays.
And finally, in the run-up to Christmas, online swap shops can be a treasure trove of unique gifts that show you care enough to go the extra mile in finding something that suits the recipient’s tastes.
Overall, this is a trend that’s here to stay – and once you get involved in Freecycling as a hobby, you could soon find you’re hooked too.
Buy Swap Sell offers a Freecycle service where you can list your unwanted items for people to take off your hands for free.
