I often have conversations with friends about the benefits and joys, and drawbacks, of frequenting garage sales. Treasure troves or collections of junk? Guilt-free shopping or waste of time? The opinions are polar opposites. But one thing can't easily be argued: garage sales are a great way to keep items out of landfills. Here is another option: freecycling. The Freecycle Network is a grassroots movement where people can offer and find items for free in their own cities. To take part all you need to do is become a member of your local group. The most important rule? You guessed it. Everything offered must be FREE. Search for your local group at: http://www.freecycle.org/ Oh, and one other word of advice: multi-familty or community garage sales give you the biggest bang for your buck. Time efficient and if you get there early, you can have the pick of the litter. If you're a seller, they are a nice way of earning some extra money on a sunny summer day. So go on. Ignore the urge to hit the shopping malls (again) then go meet your neighours while finding that perfect...something...with your name on it.
P.S. A special thanks to my friends Tara and Allison for introducing me to the wonderful world of garage sales.
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