Mathom exchange

[lady_branwyn]

Freecycle is a network of messageboards where users in the US and parts of Europe can find new homes for stuff that is no longer needed but is too good to throw out. (valis2, maybe someone will want my Japanese dragon statues and the Teamsters carafe and sherry glasses?)

Comments

[just-ann-now.livejournal.com]

I think this group had something like a Yard Sale (Mathom exchange?) in my area a few months ago. Alas, I knew nothing about it until I read the article in the paper afterwards. I've got loads of mathom ready for new homes.

[lady-branwyn.livejournal.com]

Might have been, though you can post a list of your mathoms on their website any time. They should have a messageboard for your area--check that main site. I hate throwing out anything which isn't worn out or broken, so I love the idea of sending my mathoms to clutter up someone else's house. I am working my way around the kitchen, doing triage on the contents of the cabinets. Two garbage bags of Tupperware went to Goodwill this morning--the detritus of parties past, because I have never purchased a piece of Tupperware in my life. :-)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Yes, I have a friend who swears by it! She told me a very moving story recently about giving away all of her extra clothing to a woman who had absolutely no money and two kids, who owned only two pairs of pants and three shirts...the woman took the bags of clothing and then began to cry, and just couldn't stop, because she was so happy.

[lady-branwyn.livejournal.com]

Aw! And isn't it annoying when you see people putting perfectly good stuff out on the curb for the trash collector?
For some odd reason, I like the idea of knowing who my discarded stuff goes to. Since these are things I am desperately trying to get out of my house, that doesn't make much sense. :-D

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I adore eBay, because even though I've really taken a bath on a lot of items, I've managed to avoid adding a lot of stuff to landfills. I've even taken stuff from my sister/friends so that it wouldn't end up in the trash.

However, I have met my match. My parents just gave me their entire vinyl collection (four boxes!) and I have my own (one box). I need to get rid of them, but I see on eBay that vinyl is just not selling at all, even collections of 25,000 albums for $100, and I'm wincing, seriously.

I don't know what to do. The saddest part is that my family cherishes music, and these albums, with their well-worn sleeves and their oft-read jackets, are like a portal into my childhood, and it makes me sick to think of them in the trash. I can hardly bear thinking about selling them, honestly.

I'm just way too sentimental. Thank goodness I've become a little more ruthless, and sold a lot of stuff, and donated a lot more. But still, these boxes of albums are really upsetting me.

[lady-branwyn.livejournal.com]

You could justify keeping the vinyl that isn't likely to ever be released on CD. But I miss album covers! The artwork, the notes on the back. Hee, remember the Rolling Stones cover with the zipper?

[valis2.livejournal.com]

*snort* Who could forget that cover? ha!