I've discovered a new frontier in simple ways to green my lifestyle. Craigslist. Why throw all your old stuff away everytime you move, and then run to Ikea to buy another round of disposable furniture? We recycle everything else, why not furniture? One man's trash is another man's treasure.When it came time for me to move cities and apartments, ONCE AGAIN, in my adult life, I, as always, threw out many things that simply didn't fit into my new place. For whatever reason, the dimensions didn't quite fit, or I was simply tired of certain things.
After throwing away those things I once paid full price for, I couldn't bring myself to drive to Ikea yet again and buy a whole new set of affordable, disposable crap for my new place.
So I embarked on a Craigslist adventure to furnish my new place within my means, but also keeping the world more green. Here's how...
It's truly amazing how much two people can accumulate over just two years, living in a one bedroom apartment. We tossed away clothes, old stereo speakers, old towels, random old electronic devices, an old computer desk. And by tossed away, I mean we left the goodies in a box out on the curb with a "FREE" sign attached. People came by slowly. After 24 hours our computer desk and my old boots had been taken. An older man decided he could make good use of my husband's old, but gently worn, hiking boots. Someone even took my old economics textbook.
Even though I have no idea what fate all my old things met, it felt good knowing they didn't go to (at least they didn't go straight to) the dump.
And of course, there were some things we then needed for our new, smaller place. We needed a kitchen table. I couldn't bring myself to run to Ikea, like I had so many times before, to buy a table we'd likely only keep while in this particular apartment. The idea of buying more disposable furniture didn't appeal to me.
So where did I turn? But of couse, to Craigslist! I'll admit, it wasn't instant gratification. I couldn't walk into a store and take something home that day. It took a bit of patience. I kept an eye on furniture postings in my neighborhood for 5 days until I saw the perfect table. Solid wood, small and round to fit our space, 4 sturdy chairs, the perfect color finish. And well below our budget for a new table. I also needed an office chair and found it the same way.
We all talk about recycling our food packaging and old electronics, but Craigslist takes it to another level. One man's trash is another man's treasure.
Rather than run out and buy something disposable, why don't we all make better use of the things we have, and be smarter about using what's already out there. Rather than run out and buy the latest "eco-chic" consumables, why not use what's already been produced? This especially makes sense, for people like me, who move every two years and are always throwing things away and buying them anew.
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