Some friends of ours are moving into an apartment, and had a lot of gardening fencing they no longer needed. We’re in the process of expanding our garden, and were happy to get free garden fencing, and they were happy to get rid of it. This is just one example of “freecycling.” We’ll use what we can, and then offer the rest of the fencing to friends and neighbors.

If you have stuff you no longer need, even cardboard boxes, ask around to see if anyone else could use your items instead of throwing them away. There are also several online sites where you can post free items, including Craigslist and Freecycle. The chance to receive free items can be especially useful for those that are experiencing a financial hardship.