Buy nothing, get something useful: Project allows members to give, take and exchange goods

If buy nothing – as in free stuff – sounds appealing, some Spokane neighbors are doing just that.

Of course, “gifting” or “trading” rules apply under the Buy Nothing Project, created in 2013 between two friends as a hyperlocal gift economy on Bainbridge Island, Washington. It’s since gone global and has a website, buynothingproject.org.

If accepted into volunteer-administered small neighborhood groups – typically via private Facebook platforms – you can post items for free or make requests. A firm rule – you can’t buy, sell or barter. It’s a free exchange, and porch pickups are common.

“I can give an item that might have a story behind it to someone who will think it’s special. It just feels good,” said Spokane resident Debbie Olson, who is decluttering her home.

“It’s much better than something just sitting in a cabinet. Often, I’ll get freebies and they’re valuable, but I don’t need them. In the past, I might have kept them. It’s kind of freeing.”

Overall, the platform is used for a variety of offers, from plant starts and unused kitchen tools to magazines and the loan of a space heater.

Keri Elkins has participated in a Buy Nothing group for about two years in a South Hill area. It’s helped her family both receive and give away.

“We’ve received quite a few things from others,” Elkins said.

“We have five children, so I do regularly use it to declutter. There are toys or clothing, books, puzzles or things I don’t necessarily want to give to Goodwill but would love to see somebody take advantage of them within our neighborhood.”

Buy Nothing helped her get rid of large unused items because they don’t have a truck to deliver for donation.

Elkins previously tried some selling online but became frustrated because too often, people didn’t follow through and items sat. She sees an occasional no-show with Buy Nothing, but usually a reminder works.

“We really appreciate the food items we get,” Elkin added. “A lot of people go to Costco and maybe get a large box of granola bars, and their kids decide they tasted better in the store than at home, or maybe they’ve had a dietary change.”

Elkins also has an example of a beneficial trade.

“We went from a family of five to a family of seven very quickly,” said Elkins when twins were born two years ago.

“We needed a larger Instant Pot. I had a 6-quart one already, so I put a picture of it on Buy Nothing and said, ‘Are you a family that’s downsizing and would like a smaller Instant Pot because we need a larger one?’ Someone did.”

“We just did a trade. I was able to get a larger Instant Pot without going to the store and buying one.”

Hyper thrifting

Jasmine Kilpatrick joined the Manito Buy Nothing Group after moving to Spokane in June. For her, the platform has meant more gifting to others.

“When I have things I no longer want for many reasons, I could donate them, but when you donate, you’re not really sure what will happen to it at the thrift store, or maybe it will end up in the trash,” Kilpatrick said. “I like the opportunity to give it to someone who wants it.”

She’s also given away food that was close to a “best by” date, which she said food banks won’t take.

“A meal prep service company sent me an extra vegan meal by accident, and I gave that away to a person who was just moving toward becoming vegan.”

Elkins also said thrift stores have become more selective about accepted donations.

“I think about how you want something to go to a nice home, and you don’t necessarily need the money,” she said. “You don’t want to give it to a charity not knowing who is going to get it and whether the charity will even take it or not.

“Often, Goodwill and Value Village are picky now about what they’ll take.”

Some Buy Nothing users get creative selecting recipients after multiple responses such as posting for people to choose a number between one and 20.

Others select recipients based on their story, first-come-first-serve basis or randomly. That’s when the exchange of information often moves to a private Facebook message.

Many Buy Nothing groups encourage interaction to meet neighbors.

Elkins said what she most enjoys about the exchanges is the chance to meet a nearby resident and have conversations. But she also laughs about the frequent porch pickups that do happen.

“I hate to say this, but you almost feel a bit like a drug addict because you’re going to people’s houses and picking up these bags on the deck. I always feel awkward, especially in winter when it’s dark,” she said.

“I tell my neighbors, ‘Hey, those bags on my fence are for people who are going to pick them up.’ It’s this underground marketplace that goes on.”

For Elkins and others, some side conversations keep going.

“I have a son who is 10 years old and growing extremely fast, so sometimes he outgrows clothes in a couple of weeks,” Elkins said.

“I’ve met a mother of an 8-year-old also growing significantly, and we’ve been able to communicate privately. I’ll say, ‘I have another bag of clothes if you can use them before I post this on Buy Nothing.’ You kind of get to know them, and that communication happens offline.”

Finders, keepers, givers

Olson has connected with people through Buy Nothing after realizing mutual friends. “In some ways, it’s made me feel a little more connected to my neighborhood. I did before, but it makes it nice to use those connections to help each other out and consume less.”

Most of her giveaways work well for downsizing.

“I’ve posted old bedding, items of clothing I don’t wear anymore but they’re still of nice quality. I’ve given away foods from the freezer close to expiring and extra office supplies,” Olson said.

“I’m a teacher, so I gave away a whole physics curriculum that I’m not using anymore to a student studying for an advanced class. The other day, somebody requested small flower pots for seeds. I hadn’t hit that section of my decluttering yet, but I had some, and she was able to use them.”

Other items have included a hook for flipping meat, outgrown boots, coupons and teeth-cleaning materials for a dog that didn’t work out.

For Elkins, she’s had surprises about items she thought would sit.

“There was this horrific calender, a combination of Disney and Thomas Kinkade,” she said. “I posted it and said, ‘If this is your style, I won’t judge.’ I had like 12 people want it.”

She also can look around her living room to see decor and furniture her family enjoys that came from Buy Nothing such as a coffee table, two chairs and a painting.

“They are beautiful pieces,” she said. “We didn’t have to spend money on really nice things, and we’ve also given to our community.”

Kilpatrick said one motivation for using Buy Nothing includes her goal to live a more low-impact lifestyle of reducing, reusing and not purchasing as much. “For me, it’s just reducing overall.”

Buy Nothing isn’t in every neighborhood, she added.

“If you are interested and don’t have it in your community, you can start one,” Kilpatrick said. “You have to go through the project and learn about the policies listed in order to be an administrator. You can’t modify the guidelines.

“You have to take what they created and use it exactly that way.”