Free stuff in Madison

Free furniture, free clothing, free appliances—even free art—can be found easily in Madison. No, I'm not talking about dumpster diving after the students leave town (although I admit, I've scored some great stereo speakers and small tables that way over the years). I am talking about our city's virtual exchanges.

Virtual exchanges are websites designed to help people find homes for still useful things they no longer need or want. Got a nice dresser but it no longer fits your decor? List it on one of these sites. Your trash might be my treasure.

Keep it out of the landfill
Reusing or repurposing is more environmentally friendly than recycling because no manufacturing or remanufacturing processes are involved. Virtual exchanges don't even require the storage or trucking necessary for a resale shop such as Goodwill.

Unlike a store, exchange sites offer opportunities to ask others for things we need. They can become exchange or trading communities.

Explore Madison Stuff Exchange
The Madison Stuff Exchange offers free and inexpensive (under $99) furniture, appliances, clothing, sports equipment and more. And, it's yours if you're willing to come and get it.

Items are listed as "available" or "wanted." Available items are those offered free or for sale up to $99. Want items are requests for an item.

Finding an item is easy.

• Search for an item using the search function.
• Browse through the newly listed items.
• Browse by category (type of item).

Not finding what you are looking for? Sign up on the site to list items you want as well as items you have available. You never know when someone has just the thing you need stuffed in a box in the attic.

Signing up is simple.

1. Register on the site.
2. Read the short list of sensible rules (such as no hazardous materials).
3. Fill out a form with the details of your item.
4. You can also list items you want on the form.

Join the Freecycle community
Freecycle is another exchange, and all items are free. Part of a national network, Madison Freecycle operates as a yahoo group. You must join to view or post free items, and members are notified of new items via email.

Items available are listed in the titles of the posts from newest to oldest. Members can post photos in the group photo area. Find helpful information in the documents area, including a rather extensive list of group guidelines and handy tip sheets such as "How to Transfer Vehicle Titles."

For more, check out Madison Magazine's August 2008 article, "Unused items get a new life on Freecycle.org."

Gotta run. Someone's offering a free table saw on the Exchange!

Illustration (1874) of a farmer bartering for a Podunk Weekly Bugle subscription is courtesy of shareware via Wikimedia Commons.