Continuing with our collaboration with BloghersAct:Canada in our Eco Moms Act series, we're opening the discussion about how parents can reduce, reuse, and recycle when it comes to kid's gear and clothing as March is Eco-Fashion Month!
Most people that I talk to don't have a huge issue with accepting used gear or clothes. I've met the rare expectant mom who refused to let her friend's kids lay on her soon-to-be poop covered diaper changing table (I'm not kidding), but for the most part, if something is in decent condition (and sometimes, even that doesn't matter) people are happy to accept it.
So the question is, how do you find the stuff? And if you are a keeper or hoarder of stuff, where do you find someone to give it to?
Now there are the garage sales, consignment stores, and thrift shops, as well as the newly popular huge seasonal consignment sales. And then, there's eBay. Of course, parents have various different ways to get the best bang for your buck when it comes to those (and perhaps parents can share them on Friday for the PBN Blog Blast on this very topic).
How do you deal with remnant detergent from the previous user? How do know what's a good price for something? How do you make it so it's actually saving money (it's easy to drive around and try to find all these sales which = gas money!)?
So many people are using other avenues, like Freecycle or a new service Zwaggle.
Freecycle is a free service (duh!) that you join based on your location. It's an email list where you can offer items up for free. People find everything from old toys, to used socks, to glass baby food bottles.
The email listings can go from extremely helpful and cool, to downright annoying since people can actually post "wanted" emails. It's one thing when you want an exersaucer in any condition, but when you're looking for "a new computer that works," it gets a little frustrating. Here's my own take on it.
Also, there's really no rhyme or reason in terms of pick up. You email with the person, you set up the time, and then you hope they can come. No rating, no bad feedback, or anything of that matter.
Needless to say, people have positive experiences and swear by it.
Enter Zwaggle, a sort of organized Freecycle with an eBay twist. Similar to Freecycle, it's free to join (although you'll need to complete a bit of an application process since you will have the capability to print shipping labels off the site) and parents can list various items with pictures (for free!). You can decide if you are willing to ship (recipient pays) and/or if pick-up is an option.
And then, all transactions require "zoints" -- a point system that allows for some type of accountability. They are transferred over when the transaction is complete and they allow you to have some type of "say" in terms of who might be interested in receiving the item.
From what I can tell (I just signed up and disclosure, I'm working with them at Parent Bloggers Network), it seems to be a viable option. I will say it's nice when more people from your community are signed up because then you've got more pick-up options.
Those are just two of the many options that are out there to help parents save money, but also continue to "green" up their lives.
We're hoping parents will share with us (and Parent Bloggers) their tips about how they are saving, sharing, and simplifying as part of their Blog Blast this Friday. Not only can you win great prizes, but chances are, you'll really help someone else out!
*Sign up for Zwaggle via this link and you'll get 50 zoints to get you started. We'd love to hear your experience with the sites we mentioned or any others that you find useful!*
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