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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Do you ever get things for free or give away things for free

39 replies

Aummernight77777 · 01/02/2026 13:11

I do both

OP posts:
MsGreying · 01/02/2026 14:15

I'm currently trying to give away a load of printers.

FloofyKat · 01/02/2026 14:17

Yes, both. Quite often. I have had some lovely items via Freegle, and passed on lots of things via the same route.

Meadowfinch · 01/02/2026 14:19

Recently given an exercise bike which is great while the evenings are too dark to go running.

And some beautiful brass kitchen scales

Other than that, no not really. I don't give things away but I make a lot of food for the local youth club so I give time & ingredients.

Statsquestion2 · 01/02/2026 14:21

Yes, I have had jobs in my house done for free by family members
I get free yoga classes.
lots of other things too…
I give all my DCs old clothes to family members.
when I was moving I gave away the furniture i didn’t want/need anymore.

CuriousKangaroo · 01/02/2026 14:28

I gave away almost all our baby and child stuff - equipment as well as clothes. There is a great charity near us which distributes the items directly to families who need it. I prefer that to giving it to a charity shop because otherwise those in need are still having to pay and might not be able to afford them. I also recently gave away some children’s furniture to someone on a local parents’ Facebook group. Most charities won’t accept furniture and I didn’t want perfectly good furniture to end up in landfill.

I only recall taking free things a couple of times - something from a local FB group, which my DD has now outgrown so I gave away recently, and I accepted some baby clothes from friends - which again I have now given away. So good that things get re-used instead of chucked out after they are outgrown.

OttersMayHaveShifted · 01/02/2026 14:30

Mycroissant · 01/02/2026 13:50

All the time, and it's quite weird to think that anyone doesn't?

Really? I never get anything for free, but tbh I don't seek out free things. I occasionally give things to charity shops, though obviously the people who buy them won't be getting them for free.

Fgfgfg · 01/02/2026 14:36

Rarely buy new furniture and have been given loads
Bed, desk, cooker, sofas, kitchen table, rugs, chest of drawers, dining table and chairs. Was given a car when a friend was banned but gave it back when I bought a new one.
Have given away
Fridge, microwave, living room carpet, rugs, bookcases, curtains, sofas, books, CDs, clothes, computer, TV, chairs, pans.

Forgot to mention the most important things we've been given... Cats.
Neighbour gave us her cat which her children had been tormenting
Neighbours sister gave us her cat because it was boring

Createausername1970 · 01/02/2026 14:39

Yes and yes. Why wouldn't you?

Changedname9999 · 01/02/2026 14:48

I have given many things away free on gumtree. Most notable was a brand new cream leather sofa. I’d ordered a new suite. Massive big stony faced man arrived at the door said nothing. Had his son with him who was a bit more pleasant. They man handled it out the door without a word and a grumpy face like he was doing me a favour. I don’t expect thanks but i has put me off. Now I just put things on for 20 quid and people seem more appreciative when they’ve to pay nominal amount.

BlackCat14 · 01/02/2026 14:49

Yes?
When I had my baby I got SO much stuff from a friend. A cot, breast pumps, tommee tippee machine, bottles, clothes, all sorts. She wouldn’t accept any money and said it only would’ve gone to a baby bank.
Last week I over bought cured meats and cheeses for a lunch with friends and none of them would take leftovers home. Packets of unopened food. I was seeing another friend the following day and I text her beforehand to see if she had any use for cheese and pastrami. She was delighted!

Changedname9999 · 01/02/2026 14:54

Yes re cats. I was given a cat. He’s sweetest loveliest cat so I couldn’t understand why she was so keen to give me him. I soon found out he’s a massive predator! I have managed to get round the problem with a cat flap that lets him out but not back in again. He has a lovely house in garden. I let him back in as soon as I know he’s on his own. A solution that works well for us both - he has a lovely lake to go play around and can get out anytime he wants. He gets very anxious and upset if he’s locked in.

RandomUsernameHere · 01/02/2026 15:13

Yes to both. The last thing I got was a school jumper for DD and last thing I gave were some large pieces of oak panelling.

OxyGon · 01/02/2026 16:20

Yes and yes.
I live on a long street with an active Whattsapp group. I’ve given away furniture, TVs, theatre tickets and other random stuff and I’ve been given furniture, a bike, paint and kitchen stuff.
I’ve also got a lot of furniture from Facebook. I’ve occasionally offered money when someone has given away something valuable.

NoKidsSendDogs · 01/02/2026 16:49

Lots. At my old job in Dubai, I was gifted a lot of designer things, shoes, handbags etc. Since going vegan, I don't wear leather, so I have given the items to a friend who runs an animal rescue to auction off and raise funds for the animals. One bag raised 2k!

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