After seeing it mentioned on here, I went to check this out and think it's a fab idea.

I've already got (potentially) got rid of our old toaster, kettle and juicer

OH is really sceptical though, He reckons it'll be all drug addicts after stuff to sell on and traders. And he won't let anyone come the house.

I agree the system is open to abuse, but hope lots of genuine people (like me ) use it too.

What do you think?

http://www.freecycle.org/

I've been using freecycle for months and its great, i've got kids clothes, a highchair, and boots from it and also got rid of some stuff.
They are mainly genuine people and you can put on your ad 'no traders'

Its fine. just choose who you give stuff too.

What is it exactly?

I should mention that freecycle is actually no more. Although the website is still there the owners sold it out. Alot of the UK yahoo groups got closed down, the Glasgow one was almost closed down but the owners changed its name to Freeshare and managed to save ours.

It is a great idea and whilst it can be abused it can also be great for those who are genuine. Ive found on the Glasgow one alot of people have good instinct on who are car booters and not to give to those people.
I have given quite alot over freeshare and have gotten quite a few items back that ive needed or spotted and fancied giving a home too.

KX: its where you have an item that is too good to throw out, or you dont need anymore and you give it to somebody who needs it, saves space at the landfill and saves a needy person some money.

We've still got Freecycle here Arcanegirl. I use it regularly.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/leicestershire-freecycle/

I've got rid of loads of stuff that couldn't be resold, but was no good to me. Things like 3 pairs worn work trousers, a pile of bricks, a broken lamp, 2 saucepans from a set of 3, all the boxes from when we moved house. This would all have had to be taken to the tip, but some kind people came and took it from me!

I've also got some great stuff as well - a carrier bag of teenage paperbacks for Kayleigh, a car vaccuum, a fireplace surround, some hair straighteners.

As long as you are careful about who you give stuff to, it's great. I offered a Tommee Tippee electric steriliser a couple of weeks ago (I had switched to closer to nature bottles and they didn't fit), and gave it to a lovely couple. They were both on their second marriage - he had 3 teenage boys, she had teenage 2 boys, and their first baby together (also a boy) is due in February! They are all living in a 2 bedroom house and all their money is going on building an extension. So while they were here, I sorted out some baby clothes and blankets that I will never use for the next one, and they were so greatful. It felt lovely to be able to help someone.

And I always make sure that DH is home when I arrange for people to collect stuff from me.

That's a great tip, thanks!

Its quite confusing cause all the links are still up for all the groups but i know when you join the Glasgow one you will get sent a message with a link saying to go to it as they moved.

Definatley a good idea to have someone in with you when stuff gets picked up. I had an incident with a guy who tried chatting me up and inviting me out to coffee (he was at least 60!) his general behaviour made me feel really uncomfortable, ive blocked all his emaill addys (he had 4 different ones he contacted me with) and reported him to teh admins.

Freecycle is non profit making and is still going from strength to strength.

ther has been no news of it closing down?

Our gloucestershire group was closed but only to be split in in to smaller groups as it had got too big, so it has been split into 4 areas of gloucestershire.

Are you sure thats not what happened in your area?

Confused now, we got a few messages from our admin about the closure and move to a new group.

It still operates under the freecycle principles jsut its called freeshare instead

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/glasgowfreecycle/messages