One site to try is Justfortheloveofit.org. Simply register your location and anything you have to offer. Or if you need something on a more permanent basis, try Freecycle.com, an online community that matches people who have items they want to get rid of with people who can use them. Not only kind on the environment by reducing landfill, Freecycle is great for the pocket, too.

As one of the main rules of Freecycle is a “pick up yourself” policy, your local group is a handy way of getting rid of large items you would normally have to pay to have removed, such as garden furniture and sheds.

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Q – I have just moved into my new home and managed to get an Ikea Klippan sofa for nothing from the Freecycle website. However, the cover needs to be replaced. Do Ikea still sell replacements or do you have any other ideas on how I could make it as good as new?

Stephen Lam, Woking, Surrey

ZENA SAYS: Lucky you! And you’ll be pleased to hear you can still get a replacement from Ikea. Covers cost from £24.99 and they have some funky designs as well as plain colours. If you want something completely different, take a look at www.bemz.com where you can buy covers for all Ikea furniture. Klippan covers start at £95. Alternatively, if it’s not too badly worn you could dye your existing cover or hide it with a throw and cushions.

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Source any equipment you need for free through Freecycle (freecycle.org), a community website on which people can recycle unwanted items, or the freebie section of listings sites such as Gumtree (gumtree.com) and Craigslist (craigslist.co.uk). Right now, for example, someone is offering a free office table in London and free catering equipment in Edgbaston.

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