Can we talk about fashion for a bit ..?

serena

My elder son volunteered at Oxfam for a year, and so had first pick of all the stuff coming in. He got some fabulous bargains, especially in clothes, and also most of his Christmas shopping that year. I think I'll have to persuade him to do it again!

I also like freecycle. I have cleared out a lot of stuff this year, not necessarily very new, but in reasonable condition, and I was very happy that it was going to someone who would appreciate it. Things like nearly full tins of emulsion paint, or a bag of fabric scraps, whcih won't sell at a charity shop, but someone on freecycle will probabaly want them!

Olliebeak

I think some of today's young people are so wonderfully creative. We know that the majority are like sheep and will always want to follow the crowd - but there are many of them who have their own ideas and aren't afraid to stand out by wearing something completely individual - all power to them!

I've always loved how creative the 'punks' and 'goths' can be (but not always WHAT they create) - though I would never have had the nerve to be THAT creative!

mary43

Ive had a few strokes of luck with freecycle and dont dump that sites but not as much as I'd like. There's still stuff waiting for someone to want them but things like rolls of wallpaper I can take to the charity shop anyway.
Chap came from the freecycle site last week to collect two pairs of stereo speakers and went off leaving one behind. I;ve e mailed him but no reply so thats another thing that'll go back in the 'glory hole'

On the other hand a lady came in the week and was delighted with the old bike from our garage

skint_spice

beemuzed wrote: »

I wasn't criticising people for keeping up with fashion, rather thinking I'd never have enough money to think like that!

I think even if I had the money I would still think it too wasteful! as for the guy with the out house full of rotting stuff...
I think freecycle is great because some people are glad to receive things but others seem offended you've even offered. when I left home nearly twenty years ago (yikes!) we all took things we were offered and bought new stuff later after saving (or stuck with the cast offs) but these days young folk seem to expect to own new suites and the latest tvs IMMEDIATELY.

purpleivy

I had my first brush with Freecyle. I was pleased that someone came to take away our large larder fridge, about 3-4 years old and absolutely fine, just pleased someone wanted it, Had a lovely email from the lady who came, saying that she wouldn't have been able to afford such a nice one. DH is more cynical than I and said it was probably on Ebay by now. At least I didn't have topay for the council to collect it! BTW I didn't get tired of the colour, had an integrated one in the new kitchen.

What goes around comes around. When my friend moved in with her chap, she gave us a really nice larder fridge that had been given to her by a friend. Up till that point, we had only had a tiny one that belonged to my gran. Now I'm in a position to be generous it's nice to do.

MoaningMyrtle

I have given and received items from freecycle, ranging from breadmakers to sack of new knitting wool.

Some of my best bargains from Charity shops include:

Mulberry handbag for £6.00
Cast iron Le Creuset gratin dish for £1.00
Brand new Ice-cream maker for £5.00
Raleigh vintage ladies bike with wicker basket etc £25.00

purpleivy

The other thing that happens to furniture, curtains etc in our family is that it gets moved round. There was a set of bunk beds that my sis and I had when we were little, these moved twice with my parents, then to North Wales to my sis and then to us. We got another set of bunk beds, this time with pine frame, not metal, from a family down the road, so they were re-used as well. Cabin bed came from sis to us when the girls were small.

Just negotiated our next swap. We have a nice sideboard here that belonged to dh's gran, but not got anywhere to put it right now. it's in ds's room. Swapping it with MIL for FIL's organ (!!). DS will enjoy having that in his room. Has stopped piano lessons but still enjoys playing a bit. Is doing music GCSE, so handy for composition too. MIL will have somewhere to store all her craft stuff. I have another sideboard that belonged to my gran. THat's at my mum's at the moment!

buxtonrabbitgreen

A colleague at work gave me a perfectly good set of pans, red, as she was changing the colour scheme. Not of her house but her caravan !!!