piano before
We have several bigger ticket items that we got because we were either listening for people who wanted to get rid of those items or we at least let it be known that we were the kinds of people that would accept things like that.
This doesn’t mean that we go up and tell people, “We’ll take any of your old stuff,” but when people might say something like, “Would you ever want some of Susie’s old clothes,” we always say, “Yeah, that would be great! Thanks for thinking of us.”
Besides second hand clothes (which we have been blessed to receive a lot of, especially for Molly), we have received a number of great things from people we know. We received not one, but two large wooden playsets for the backyard. We got one from a neighbor who was moving, since we let them know that we were interested in it. It had a fort-type top and then a slide. Then, a couple of years later, someone from church whose children are getting older asked if we would like theirs that had a similar top (but smaller) and then a set of three swings and a hanging bar. We now have the two sets attached to one another.
Another time, at a church function, people were talking about alterations on clothes and a woman I knew said, “Does anyone know someone who might want my old sewing machine?” Sure thing, I do! Hello, sturdy older Singer machine.
Then, there was the well documented time that I sent out emails to friends
piano after
and family, as well as on FreeCycle, that we were in the market for a piano, just in case someone had one they wanted to get rid of. It did cost us the time in refinishing it, as well as the cost of a small UHaul to move it, but it saved us the $30/month we were going to pay to rent a piano.
Not only is this a great help on our budget, it is also a very green alternative for those we are receiving these items from (rather than them heading to the curb). It’s also a great reminder to us when we no longer need something that there is probably someone we know that could use it.
This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday and Frugal Fridays.
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
What a great reminder to all of us to be willing to share what we no longer need (or take the time to find someone who could use it) and also to be willing to accept (without shame) what someone else has to offer!
I love the idea, and it feels just as good to give things away to people who can use them! Thanks for the reminder!
Thank you for sharing this! I really need to talk more about our want for a piano. We have a keyboard, but we would love to have a piano. WE have been blessed with clothes for both my children so we try to do the same and pass their clothes on to people in church.
I adore freecycle! We have given away and gotten so many great things on there. It’s especially good for those things that the goodwill stores won’t take- strange things like “please tear down my garage and take the wood” or “free dog!” Your piano is beautiful!
We got a piano this same way! And sometimes, being wiling totake other people’s junk can be a huge blessing. You never know when they have something you might need.
we have been blessed as well and very thankful to receive
I did this not long ago. There was a lady from church cleaning out her attic and she had a yogurt maker she was getting rid of. I happily told her I would love to take that off her hands!
That piano is stunning! Great work!!