by Perry Cox

Created on: February 11, 2007   Last Updated: May 03, 2007

Six months ago I discovered my Internet version of Shangri-La. That place is freecycle. Freecycle is such a simple concept. If you have stuff you no longer need, you give it away to those who have need of it. Freecycle's rather grandiose claim of, "changing the world one gift at a time" is a bold one however, broadly speaking it is also accurate. The Freecycle Network was originally started in May 2003 to promote waste reduction in Tucson's downtown and help save desert landscape from being taken over by landfills. As the idea became more popular sites were set up across America and there are now sites all around the world. This certainly proves the organisations theory that, "one man's trash is another man's treasure".

Joining a freecycle group near you is incredibly straightforward. From the main site you navigate to the Country you live via the menu on the left and then find your county from the list presented. Within each county is a number of groups in more local areas and clicking on one of these allows you to join. Joining is a simple matter of filling in an online email registration form and replying to the confirmation email. You are then sent instructions on how to access the group and the terms and conditions of freecycling. Do not think you are limited to one group either. I live in an area central to Liverpool, Wigan and Southport so have joined all three groups. This means I have access to more free stuff! And if there is not a group local for you then you can always start your own.

The groups that I have joined are all run by the yahoogroups system. This means that each group has access to a yahoogroups webpage that acts as a gateway for members emails. These emails are shared with all the members of the group and are the way in which free stuff is shared. You simply post the item up that you want to get rid of and members then have access to that offer and email you offering to take it off your hands. For example, I have posted a, "OFFERED: Rabbit Hutch" email and received several replies offering to collect. It was gone within the same day after I replied to a member to collect. Of course, this can lead to disappointment for the members who miss out so it is always polite to reply telling them the item has been taken.

Once you have offered something to the group you are then able to post "WANTED" ads. I have found this a great way to get the stuff that I need, but do not want to pay for. Recent examples of this include a folding table with four

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