Penny Pinching Mom

Do You Freecycle?

I found out about Freecycle a few months ago. I’m not sure where I read about it, but I do know it was online. For those of you who have never heard of it, Freecycle is a network of local groups where members can give away stuff they don’t want or need. They make announcements through Yahoo groups, and other members can contact them to inquire about the items.

There are Freecycle groups just about everywhere. If I found one for my tiny little county, there must be. And if there happens to not be one in your area, you can apply to start one.

I have yet to snag anything for free yet, but maybe one of these days. I’ve seen offers for everything from bed frames to VHS movies to pets. It’s well worth joining, even if it’s just to get rid of your own clutter. It helps keep usable items out of the landfill and put them in the homes of people who need them.

Bundling Up

It can be tricky wearing the right amount and thickness of clothing during winter in the mountains. I have an awesomely warm down coat, but I wore it out in weather that was below freezing a couple of weeks ago and burned up. My lighter jackets are not quite enough, but if I double up on them it’s too much. I dunno, maybe it’s just me.

Most of the time I don’t have to worry about keeping my head, ears and neck warm, because my hair is long and thick. But when it’s windy out or I’m going to be outside for an extended period of time, I sometimes put on a toboggan and scarf. I use to have one of those adorable beaded beanies that I wore in the winter, but it must have gotten lost in transit in one of my many moves since I’ve worn it.

I guess I’m lucky to have warm clothes for the winter. I’ve been struggling to keep Pumpkin in the right size of coat, but I was able to buy her one a couple of weeks ago. Hubby needs new coveralls for work, but hopefully the ones he has now will hold out a little longer.

Still, my whole family is doing better than some. With the economy the way it is, more and more families are doing without basic necessities such as warm coats. So if you have any extra ones that you or your family can’t or won’t wear, please consider donating them. There’s some kind of coat drive going on in pretty much any community. And if you need one, don’t hesitate to get a donated one. There are plenty of us in the same boat, and everyone deserves to stay warm.