Archives for : February 2014

KGBT-TV:Money Talks News: The Best Ways to Get Free Stuff

“One’s from the 80s and one’s from the 70s as far as I can make out and they sound beautiful.”

Meet Peter Warner, aka “Freebie Pete.” When he wanted a guitar, and didn’t have the money to buy one, he turned to “Freecycle,” a site connecting people giving things away with those looking for free stuff.

“What’s somebody’s trash, someone else can use, that’s a beautiful thing.”

But Pete also pays it forward. He’s given away baby gear on “Freecycle.”

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Gladstone Observer:Life a little easier for girl in wheelchair thanks to help

THANKS to the kindness of a CQ Frames and Trusses employee, and Facebook, Joanne Mison will experience a little less back strain from now on.

Joanne’s seven-year-old daughter Kassidy Ashworth has cerebral palsy so uses a wheelchair.

Suffering from a spinal infection, Joanne had difficulty lifting the wheelchair over the step at the front door of their home.

On Saturday, February 1, Joanne created a post on the Facebook page Freecycle Gladstone.

The page allows group members to post items they no longer want or need, for another group member to take off their hands.

Members also make posts regarding items they need for projects.

Joanne asked for ideas on how to make a ramp at the front door to give easier access for Kassidy’s wheelchair.

CQ Frames and Trusses hardware manager Darrin Bradbury offered his assistance for the task by supplying the timber and handiwork.

“It’s just a small part of our material and a friend (Wayne Price) came to help and fit it too,” Darrin said.

Joanne said she had not been expecting the help she received.

“I’m doing the biggest clean-out of the house at the moment, which is the only reason I’m on the group (Freecycle Gladstone),” she said.

“Darrin’s response was a bit of a shock to me.”

Darrin said he was happy to help.

“As long as it can make Joanne and Kass’ life a little easier, it’s put a smile on my face,” he said.

Darrin and Wayne spent more than an hour last Wednesday morning building and fitting the ramp.

“The majority of things you do these days cost money, so I am very thankful,” Joanne said.

Darrin said it was a pleasure to be there when Kassidy arrived home from school, to see the difference he and Wayne had made.

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Killeen Daily Herald: Winter a great time to purge unneeded items at home

FURNITURE

Selling furniture that is not antique, a brand name or in great condition is not that easy, according to Sally Reinholdt, a professional organizer with Commonwealth Organizing Solutions in Alexandria, Va. You can generally find someone to come and take away something in decent shape for free on Craigslist or Freecycle or your neighborhood e-mail list. Today, an army of chalk painters are looking for beat-up tables and chests to rehab. But Reinholdt said clients often have an inflated view of what their used furniture is worth.

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Indiana Gazette: EVERYDAY CHEAPSKATE

FIND FREE STUFF: The website Free Cycle.org is a great resource to find free furniture and all kinds of items in your local area. If you have usable items that you don’t want or need anymore, instead of filling up the landfills, post them on FreeCycle and let someone else take the item for free! Anyone is welcome to sign up and post or to take free items. —

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Mail Online: Too much stuff? Ditch your junk before paying big storage fees

A lack of space and need to declutter has created a boom in self- storage. More than a quarter of a million people rent space with a specialist company to look after their possessions.

But these high-tech lock-ups, with their surveillance cameras and range of room sizes, are a costly way to store clutter you no longer need.

The first step to saving money on storage is to be ruthless with what you own. Throw out stuff you can live without or sell items using online sites such as eBay. Charity shops may benefit from a clear-out while you can also give away or swap items on website Freecycle.

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Royston Crow 24: Volunteers ready to launch Royston repair cafe

Royston Freecycle group will launch the café as it celebrates its 10th year of keeping old items in use in the town.

Volunteer repairers will be helping people to mend broken items at a free event at The Meridian School, in Garden Walk, on Sunday, February 9.

Anyone with something that needs mending – bikes, toys, clothes, tools, small items of furniture, electrical equipment including IT hardware – can bring their item to Meridian School between 10am-3pm.

The broken item will be assessed and, if it can be mended immediately, the owner will be shown how to do it. If the repair is more major, organisers will refer people to local professional repairers.

The Repair Café is free, but advance booking is required so organisers know what items will be arriving. Online booking is at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/royston-repair-cafe-tickets- 9844376796

For local updates and other information about repair and re-use go to www.facebook.com/RoystonRepairCafe or call Chris Lee on 07962 157589.

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