I also like my buy nothing group and want more from it. I've successfully given a lot away, avoiding the trash and thrift store, but when I make asks they rarely get fulfilled.
I am very grateful for my Buy Nothing group. One thing I do find annoying though is the mental load to arrange pick ups. Some people ghost, some are more responsive than others, etc. The positive outweighs the bad for sure, but sometimes I do find myself asking if the labor that's involved in rehoming is worth it or should I just toss it?
Wendy, I agree with the mental load of posting and arranging pick ups! I know some people who do “free sales” to unload everything all at once— but of course, that too requires some effort and planning. 😂
I love the idea of a second life for our unused objects, and I relate 💯 on the joy of gifting! I have used these groups quite a lot at a time I was radically downsizing, and dang I met with so many hoarders… you could feel their despair from the inital message “I want it all” ; So the whole experience was really a mixed feeling, of “uf it’s gone and I am happy this person seems happy” and “damn, this thing will just pile up on an already overloaded home”. I wish we didn’t accumulated so much junk in the first place ☺️
Mathilde, I think you raise a great point about the bigger cultural issue of too much stuff! It does sometimes feel like we could shuffle our things around to others endlessly and still collectively have “too much.” (and I can absolutely relate to not wanting to pass items on just to become someone else’s clutter). I do think there are so many transition points— college students/ first houses, etc— where I am really curious if we could change the reach of fast furniture/ throwaway items with a wider Buy Nothing reach. Thanks so much for the thoughtful response!
Thanks for spreading the BNP gospel and for being an admin! 🙌🏽 As a member of the very first Buy Nothing group on Bainbridge Island, WA, for me the benefits far outweigh the inconveniences of arranging pick-ups, ghosting, etc. I used Buy Nothing groups to clear three elder's hoarder homes, gifting literally thousands of useful items that typically would be tossed in the landfill or donated to Goodwill. Massive joy 💗
I also like my buy nothing group and want more from it. I've successfully given a lot away, avoiding the trash and thrift store, but when I make asks they rarely get fulfilled.
I am very grateful for my Buy Nothing group. One thing I do find annoying though is the mental load to arrange pick ups. Some people ghost, some are more responsive than others, etc. The positive outweighs the bad for sure, but sometimes I do find myself asking if the labor that's involved in rehoming is worth it or should I just toss it?
Wendy, I agree with the mental load of posting and arranging pick ups! I know some people who do “free sales” to unload everything all at once— but of course, that too requires some effort and planning. 😂
I love the idea of a second life for our unused objects, and I relate 💯 on the joy of gifting! I have used these groups quite a lot at a time I was radically downsizing, and dang I met with so many hoarders… you could feel their despair from the inital message “I want it all” ; So the whole experience was really a mixed feeling, of “uf it’s gone and I am happy this person seems happy” and “damn, this thing will just pile up on an already overloaded home”. I wish we didn’t accumulated so much junk in the first place ☺️
Mathilde, I think you raise a great point about the bigger cultural issue of too much stuff! It does sometimes feel like we could shuffle our things around to others endlessly and still collectively have “too much.” (and I can absolutely relate to not wanting to pass items on just to become someone else’s clutter). I do think there are so many transition points— college students/ first houses, etc— where I am really curious if we could change the reach of fast furniture/ throwaway items with a wider Buy Nothing reach. Thanks so much for the thoughtful response!
Thanks for spreading the BNP gospel and for being an admin! 🙌🏽 As a member of the very first Buy Nothing group on Bainbridge Island, WA, for me the benefits far outweigh the inconveniences of arranging pick-ups, ghosting, etc. I used Buy Nothing groups to clear three elder's hoarder homes, gifting literally thousands of useful items that typically would be tossed in the landfill or donated to Goodwill. Massive joy 💗