One person's trash could be your new treasure. Depending on the time of year, where you live, how much work you're willing to do, and how picky you are, you might be able to get perfectly usable stuff at no cost. Here are some fresh ideas on when to ramp up your search for freebies.
When to look for freebies
Before we get to the when, there are many resources where you can look for free stuff. Popular places include:
- Online marketplaces
- "Buy nothing" or recycling social media forums
- Crowdsourced "stooping" social media accounts, where passersby (or the offloaders themselves) alert others in the area when people leave discards on their stoops or curbside
- Recycling/reuse programs in your area
For example: "We encourage New Yorkers to visit Donate NYC to find items others are discarding or to list items so others might use them," says Vincent Gragnani, press secretary for the New York City Department of Sanitation. "By donating and reusing goods instead of discarding them, New Yorkers can greatly reduce waste, conserve energy and resources, and save money."
And there are certain times of year when those sources might be brimming with items.
By season
Spring cleaning: Warmer weather inspires a lot of people to deep clean and declutter, with some perhaps preferring to offload things for free to clear out the house quicker and with less effort than selling requires.
Free bin season: Jenna Richards, a front-of-house restaurant worker in Portland, Oregon, grew up a "free bin person," partly to save money and partly to avoid waste. "Free bins are boxes full of free stuff on the street that people put out," she explains. "Free bin season is spring/start of summer all the way through to when it starts raining [in the fall]."
Residential moves: "Many moves occur during June, July, and August," says Nadia Evangelou, senior economist, and director of real estate research for the National Association of Realtors. That's because people tend to move in warm weather, which makes moving easier, especially in areas with harsh winters. Another reason for summer moving timing: so relocating doesn't disrupt kids' school schedules.
Those making a move may be getting rid of things they don't want to pay to move or don't fit the aesthetic of their new home, like appliances, home décor, and furniture. Or they might be paring back on kitchen gadgets, books, and clothes.
Beginning or end of sports seasons: "There seems to be an increase in folks giving away shoes and equipment [during this time] as parents realize their kids have outgrown stuff or lost interest," says Joyce Bautista Ferrari, a magazine editor, who frequents online marketplaces and signed up for curb alerts in her New Jersey neighborhood. So far, she's found a pair of free roller skates for her daughter.
By day of week
Mondays: Browse online marketplaces and buy-nothing forums at the beginning of the week, as people may have more time to clean out over the weekend than midweek.
Sanitation collection and bulk drop-off days: Look around on garbage-collection day for things in good shape that appeal to you. Also research your city's bulk trash days, when people might be ditching bigger items, like furniture and appliances.
By occasion or event
College move-out weeks: Some colleges and universities promote sustainability when school lets out. So instead of trashing stuff, students hope to donate unwanted items like clothes, bedding, books, furniture, electronics, home goods, and school supplies. Chicago-area Fidelity financial advisor Randelle Lenoir recalls her state school "had a large international student population [who] abandoned their cars" rather than deal with the expense and trouble of shipping vehicles home. Check with local institutions (they might have an office of sustainability) to see if they have reuse programs that allow you to take castoffs—and for school-year schedules. You may score on city bulk trash days if you know when school's out.
Neighbor moves: If you live in an apartment building that has an online bulletin board for building or neighborhood news, sign up for alerts. Sometimes neighbors who are renovating or cleaning will post they're getting rid of furniture, clothing, kids' items, and home goods in a communal area like the basement or lobby. A community bulletin board may also alert you to units for sale in the building. Consider that your heads-up to keep an eye out for discards from those moving out.
End of the school year: Peruse your go-to online resources in May and June when families tend to get rid of school supplies, clothes, shoes, and sports equipment their kids have outgrown.
Post-holidays: Stay on the lookout for abandoned Halloween costumes, party goods, and decorations like trees, ornaments, and lights.
E-waste days: Check if your city has electronic waste days that allow you to pick up things like monitors, fax machines, scanners, printers, and the like.
National food holidays: Fast-food and fast-casual restaurants often give away free food on days that celebrate particular foods, such as National Hamburger Day or National Ice Cream Day. When the calendar isn't cooperating, check out places that serve items that could go stale. Think: bakeries, bagel spots, buffet restaurants, doughnut shops, and pizza places. At closing time, they might offer free food that would otherwise be thrown out.
Tips for freebie hunters
Follow the rules
If someone posts online about an item they're giving away and includes instructions (comment instead of direct message, for instance), follow them to increase your chances of getting what you want.
Offer to pick up ASAP
"I wanted to get rid of a pull-out couch, but I didn't have a truck to take it anywhere. I posted it online in the morning, and it was gone by 11 a.m.," says Rita Flannery, a Fidelity editorial director based in Norton, Massachusetts. "I like free sites because it's like donating but to my community, and I saved money by not having to pay someone to haul it away for me."
Volunteer
For example, volunteers at a community farm can get free vegetables during harvest time or free compost for home gardens. Volunteers at other kinds of places may also get perks, such as free admission or membership, so ask around.