Craigslist Freebie - Double Sided Desk

This double sided desk is massive and will take two people to move it.  But it's in great condition.  Wooden furniture like this will last forever and eventually, if you take good care of it, will be an antique.

Use some wood polish on a piece like this and people will be amazed to learn you got it for free. Of course, you might not tell anyone.

Live frugally by accepting other people's freebies.

Another Craigslist Freebie - Coffee Maker

A bit of bleach and vinegar is enough to make this coffee maker like new.  It's functional and free.  Live green, live frugal, and live cheap by accepting free stuff that is in great condition.

What is the secret formula for cleaning a coffee maker?  Fill the water tank with 1 part white vinegar and 2 parts water.  Turn the coffee maker on and let the mixture seep through.  (Caution: This will smell.)

Vinegar is cheap and water is free.  Nothing is better than that.

Freebies from Craigslist - Armoire

A piece of furniture like this is versatile and can be used to store anything from a television to clothing.  You might need two or more people to move it and likely that is why the owner is willing to get rid of it for no cost.

Living frugally means accepting other people's discarded furniture.  You may have to work for it.  This is the cheapest way to live and there is an unlimited supply of goods, if you aren't picky.

Another Freebie from Craigslist - Soccer Clock

The author of the post says that the clock runs fine and just needs batteries.  If you frequently check sites like Craigslist, you might stumble across something that would make a great gift for a child or friend.

Living frugally is about doing things that others might find odd.  Free is the cheapest price.

Craiglist Freebie - Simple Coffee Table

The post author wrote that they would leave this free coffee table on the street. It is solid wood, some marks but overall it is in good shape.

Being solid wood, any marks or scratches can easily be sanded out. The wood can be refinished. Other people's junk is your treasure if you live frugally. Needless to say, this is also the greenest way to live.

Craigslist Freebie - Dewalt Cordless Drill

The author of this post says that the drill is only a few years old and is in pretty good shape.  However, the batteries don't seem to hold a charge.  Sounds like he needs to take a trip to the battery store rather than giving away his drill for free.  Something like this is great for the non-professional home do-it-yourselfer.  Why buy a brand new drill that you will never use when you can get one that functions perfectly fine?

Using other people's give-aways will save you lots of money.

Another Craigslist Freebie - Wooden Desk

This wooden desk is ready to be picked up, already sitting outside.  The final price is free (or the cost of gas).  Some people might think the desk looks dated, but I would call it retro.  You can't beat the price, free!

This might end up being a regular thing here. People seem to be constantly giving things away on Craigslist.  That's not very frugal of them.

More Craigslist Freebies - Washer and Dryer

The author of this post says that they are in working condition. You just need to come pick them up. So, one wonders why someone would give up a perfectly good washer and dryer set. That's not very frugal.

Chances are that at least one of these two items could permanently break as soon as you get them home.  It's likely that one of the appliances is slightly broken or worn out. However, when that happens, you only need to worry about replacing the defective unit.  The remaining item will continue working.

If you own a rental property, something like this is a great find because it will allow you to save lots of money. You could even set these two in your garage or shed, waiting for the time they will be needed.

Free Stuff from Craigslist

Standard Definition Television
The person who posted this advertisement simply wants to get rid of their 36" Toshiba TV, which they say is in excellent condition.  This time of year, people upgrade their electronics and clear out the old stuff.  Sometimes charities get overwhelmed with the same types of products and do not accept them. In this case, the television needs a digital converter box.  These sell for about $25 on ebay, or your local cable company can provide one.  Several years ago, this television would have sold for over three hundred dollars easily.   This television would be a cheap alternative to a new one for a playroom, workroom, or other space.

Solid Wood; Dark Cherry Entertainment Center
The person listing this item describes it as solid wood and very heavy.  To me, that translates to valuable, durable, and versatile.  This item could be refinished to a different color and you could add new hardware.  For whatever reason, the owner has gotten tired of it.  Being frugal sometimes means that you must find value in things that other people are willing to discard. It may mean cleaning and refinishing a product like this to make it your own. Once you find a piece like this, it should last a long time, when treated with care.

Sell Things on eBay or Craigslist

One of the best money-makers for any household is a yard sale.  However, sometimes it pays to seek a larger audience when selling your stuff.  For instance, the typical yard sale buyer may not be looking to buy your M&M teapot with a Santa hat.  You may be able to unload such an item for $0.50 at a yard sale.

Lo and behold, on eBay, we can see that similar M&M teapots recently sold for between $9.00 and $41.00.

How do you find items to sell?

1. Time since it was last used.

Here's a decent rule of thumb, if you don't remember when was the last time you used something, you probably don't need it.  A friend of mine had a power washer that he bought for $200 and used once. He left it in his shed and squirrels chewed through the tubing on the bottom side of the compressor.  The whole thing became worthless.  Funny thing was that he didn't even know what happened until four or five years later when he was packing his things up to move to a new house.

2. Do I have more than one of these?

Let's say you've got two coffee pots.  One is practically brand-new and your older one works just fine.  Considering listing the like-new version on eBay.  Or, you've purchased a newer car and now you've got an extra, list the extra vehicle on Craigslist.

3. Is it small enough to ship?

EBay sells to a wide geographic area.  If you are selling on eBay, consider the cost of shipping the item.  You can easily ship coupons for the cost of a postage stamp, but if you want to sell a large microwave, it's going to cost you.

4. What is it selling for now?

It's pretty simple to see the market price for an item by searching for it.  However, if you want to know if an item is actually selling, do an advanced search on eBay.  Click the box that says "Completed Listings" and you will see if an item is selling and what price it is fetching.

By boosting your cash flow, you can use this money to pay down debt and increase your monthly free cash flow over time.  This is a great way to speed up a debt snowball.

Find Free Stuff on the Internet

If you aren't the pickiest person, you can find perfectly decent free stuff on sites like Craigslist.  The pictures on this page are items found for free in a local Craigslist page.

Why would someone give something away for free? People get tired of things like art work, it was a gift, or maybe it doesn't fit a new decorating scheme.  In any case, they don't want it and don't want to bother with a garage sale or listing it for money.  So, they give it away for free.

When deciding whether to take something for free off of someones hands, figure out the distance traveled and time required to pick up the item.  If a piece of furniture is sitting on the curb, it could be gone by the time you get there.  Or, the item may have already been claimed and the person listing it hasn't bothered to remove the ad.

You may be wondering why we've included a picture of some old bricks.  Who would want that?  There are some decent ideas for backyard fire pits that used reclaimed materials like this.   If done properly, a fire pit like this may add value to your yard, while adding minimal cost.