Ah, ha! I have seen them several times at the beach while living in Tampa and Ft. Lauderdale! I didn't realize their value with the blowing sand. Thanks for sharing the info with me.
Buy Nothing
- Thread starter chic
- Start date
Sawfish
Member
- Location
- The bottom of the sea.
Here's a departure...
I now realize that one of the hardest things for my wife and me to get used to over the last 20 years or so is the now-common practice of people of all stamps expecting by default compliance--or at least acceptance--of what had formerly been completely outrageous and/or self-debasing requests or demands.
I mean, if I think asking for free stuff is beneath the dignity of a normal, competent adult, how does the added request to "bring it to me" sound?
.
It is like were are living in the Age of Chutzpah
Alligatorob
SF VIP
I went into our local quicky mart a few years back. The manager was quite drunk and things were scattered all around. He greeted me with "Huge sale today, every thing free, all you can carry." I managed to get out with more beer than I thought possible to carry. Soon the shop was empty and the manager disappeared. Turned out he owed lots of money as was going bankrupt.
My only "free store" experience.
Disgustedman
Senior Member
Incidents like that are so funny.
Sawfish
Member
- Location
- The bottom of the sea.
Hah!
Sounds like a documentary on primates I once saw, Jane Goodall, maybe, but probably not because it used bananas, and I'm not sure if wild chimps have access to native bananas.
Anyway...
The "researchers" wanted to film what would happen if they first introduced a band of wild chimps to bananas (Ummmm! Good!!!) and then put out a large surplus of them.
The chimps were pretty peaceful, at least so long as there were lots and lots. They tried to carry off as many as possible at each load. Some stuffed whole bunches in their mouth lengthwise, front to back, like a cluster of yellow cigars. To that the crammed as many under each arm as possible, then balanced some on one shoulder and put some between their legs, so they had to walk funny. Then grabbed as many with its hands as possible and sorta edged away clumsily into the brush.
One may have even attempted to carry on in its anus, not sure if this happened or I imagined it.
So, between the chimps and looters, you were in good company...
StarSong
Awkward is my Superpower
- Location
- Los Angeles Suburbs
My daughter-in-law is active with a buy nothing group. I think it's a wonderful concept that's particularly helpful to those with small children who move from one stage to the next in a matter of months. It's saved me a bundle - so many childcare supplies are needed when watching a little one three days a week. I would have bought them, but DIL found them on buy-nothing instead.
She's even told donors that the items are for her in-laws who watch her baby on a regular basis, and because of that she's won out over others who also requested it.
As our grandson outgrows his need for baby clothing, toys, carriers, etc., she passes them along to others in the group.
DH & I have two perfectly good flat screen TVs that weren't "smart" so we replaced them. We were going to give them to Good Will or Salvation Army but instead she'll post them on her group for us. I'm happy to reciprocate.
I don't understand how chutzpah comes into this, @Sawfish. Son or DIL always pick things up, thank the people, and donate them again when our grandson is done with them. This is so much wiser and financially prudent than what our generation largely did: everyone bought brand new baby stuff and tossed it six months later or begged pregnant friends to take it off our hands.
She's even told donors that the items are for her in-laws who watch her baby on a regular basis, and because of that she's won out over others who also requested it.
As our grandson outgrows his need for baby clothing, toys, carriers, etc., she passes them along to others in the group.
DH & I have two perfectly good flat screen TVs that weren't "smart" so we replaced them. We were going to give them to Good Will or Salvation Army but instead she'll post them on her group for us. I'm happy to reciprocate.
I don't understand how chutzpah comes into this, @Sawfish. Son or DIL always pick things up, thank the people, and donate them again when our grandson is done with them. This is so much wiser and financially prudent than what our generation largely did: everyone bought brand new baby stuff and tossed it six months later or begged pregnant friends to take it off our hands.
Sawfish
Member
- Location
- The bottom of the sea.
You saw this by Disgustedman, right?
Yes and frankly I've snoozed them 30 days. I'm seeing a lot of "Just got a new apartment, need (furniture, cooking stuff, food processor microwave)" and many are "You bring it to me"
Specifically, that's what I referred to in my post.
Where in LA? We used to live there. It was my favorite place to be unmarried. I really liked it there, in the mid-80s.
We lived in Playa del Rey, then Belmont Shore (LB), then San Pedro.
Was a very good place, even in the 80s.
But for kids, it may not be as good as other places, maybe.
StarSong
Awkward is my Superpower
- Location
- Los Angeles Suburbs
My kids love LA and are raising their own children here. I live in the San Fernando Valley now but moved around a lot in my younger years, BM&K (before marriage and kids). Rent was cheap and few landlords bothered with leases. Live somewhere for a while, find a new roommate or job and move six months later.
Re buy nothing - I'd wager most who want things delivered get few responses.
StarSong
Awkward is my Superpower
- Location
- Los Angeles Suburbs
I've given away a lot of stuff on Craigslist, too.
Disgustedman
Senior Member
Just to add, it's not always such. I have seen others who'd pickup at midnight if you said to. I guess it's an "ebb and flow" and I've just caught it at a bad time. I agree it's helpful at keeping stuff out of the landfill.
Sawfish
Member
- Location
- The bottom of the sea.
Really liked it, too!
At Buy Nothing nobody pays anything. It's all free, a sort of exchange system and people who get stuff can also contribute stuff they don't want. It sounds like a win / win situation and is also good as recycling instead of constantly throwing stuff away and buying new all the time.
Happy Heart
Member
Their political agenda is very, very one sided but they claim to be for local neighborhoods only.
Too many people on that site with lots of demands for free everything which annoying to those of who have always paid our own way.
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hearlady
Homebody
- Location
- N Carolina
I have a group of these in my backyard. I have to keep them in check or they overgrow. They have pretty flowers when they bloom.
Farrah Nuff
Senior Member
- Location
- East of the sun, West of the moon
You can see if there are participants near you - https://freecycle.org/
From the site -
Welcome to The Freecycle Network™! We are a grassroots & entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving and getting stuff for free in their own Towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Membership is free. And now you can also set up your own, smaller personal Friends Circle for gifting and lending of items with just your friends!
From the site -
Welcome to The Freecycle Network™! We are a grassroots & entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving and getting stuff for free in their own Towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Membership is free. And now you can also set up your own, smaller personal Friends Circle for gifting and lending of items with just your friends!
Remy
Well-known Member
- Location
- California, USA
I think it's a great idea. With all the stuff that gets thrown into dumpsters, often damaged first, by retailers and even thrift stores, it's an outrage. I've watched enough dumpster diving videos to realize this. I guess it's a tax write off for the retailers so they don't care what happens to the merchandise and it's a lot easier for them to put it in a dumpster than donate it or take it to a free place.
When I've watched some Freakin Frugal videos on YouTube, they will pick things up curbside. I guess in New Jersey, if you put it out, it's free for the taking. Usually around here, someone will put a 'free' sign on it.
When I've watched some Freakin Frugal videos on YouTube, they will pick things up curbside. I guess in New Jersey, if you put it out, it's free for the taking. Usually around here, someone will put a 'free' sign on it.
Yup. They do the same here.
Teacher Terry
Well-known Member
The only time I have gotten upset with giving stuff away is when people ask me to deliver. Then my response is not nice. I love it that things are being used and not thrown away.