Buy Nothing Facebook Groups: What are They & How to Make the Most of Them

Buy Nothing Facebook Groups are fantastic. They have so much to offer and can be an awesome resource. I have been a part of one for about a year and a half, and I have been able to give and receive so much wonderful stuff. However, not all things about the groups are great. I want to discuss the pros and cons, and what you can do about it to strike a balance so you can still gain the benefits of the group without falling into any of the pitfalls.

What Is A Buy Nothing Facebook Group?

Buy Nothing Facebook Groups are based off the Buy Nothing Project. The Buy Nothing Project is an organization that formed to help reuse and repurpose goods that were no longer useful to their owner. The goal is building a community with a mentality of abundance. Giving what you no longer need, getting stuff others no longer need that you find useful, and keeping stuff that can still be used and repurposed out of the landfill. It is a wonderful mission. In my experience, they typically carry out their mission through private Facebook groups. Often times, you have to live or work in the town or community in which the group has formed around. It is not possible to join just any Buy Nothing Facebook Group.

Why Should You Join a Buy Nothing Facebook Group?

There are so many benefits to being in a Buy Nothing Facebook group. For instance:

It saves you money.

Perhaps the most obvious reason: everything is free. Who doesn’t want free stuff? No money is allowed to exchange hands in the group, or even an exchange of goods. There is never any pressure to pay or give in order to take advantage of something that is offered. It’s nice to know there is an avenue to get what you need by not buying anything if money is tight.

It is not first come, first serve.

If you have ever been to part of a Facebook yard sale group, things can go really fast to the first bidder, before you have even had a chance to see it. While that is sometimes the case in these groups, it is often discouraged. It is up to the giver’s discretion, and they can use whatever criteria they want to choose a person interested in what they have to give. This gives someone who isn’t always on Facebook a chance to get something that interests them.

You can ask for items you need.

Sometimes people try to find something they need, and then turn to the group if that thing is out of stock (including food!). Other times they might be in a tight bind and not able to afford a critical item or be able to get themselves to the store. People within the community will have or be able to get it for them. Or maybe the condition is unimportant, so you ask to see if anyone has what you are looking for before you go out shopping. Anything is game. It all revolves around the buy nothing concept of re-purposing. They might not have it, but you can always ask for it.

Buy Nothing Facebook groups are resourceful.

They provide goods to meet your needs so you don’t buy anything or spend money.

They are sustainable.

Keeping reusable items out of the landfill and helping to protect the environment is important. By lessening the number of new products that are coming off the shelf, not to mention saving you money, these groups play their part.

It’s easy to get rid of stuff.

There is a level of trust that is not present with other Facebook yard sale groups or Marketplace, because it is based of community. Often times, givers list things as “porch pickup,” which means they literally just put it outside their house. Whomever is chosen to receive the item will come pick it up at a mutually agreed upon time. There is no need to leave your house, and stuff will disappear. The ultimate de-clutter’s dream!

Related reading: Tips to avoid impulse spending and stop buying stuff

Buy Nothing Facebook Group Sounds Great: What’s the Drawback?

The groups sound great because they are great, but they do come with some pretty significant drawbacks. Here’s the top 4 to be aware of:

Do you give or do you sell?

What I’ve noticed over time is that because stuff can be given so quickly and easily in a Buy Nothing Facebook group, it tends to be my first choice. However, some of my stuff is in really good condition and still worth money. It is against the rules to take from these groups with the purpose of making money (e.g. to resell or to use to make something that will be sold). Regardless, it also means that I might be giving up some potential income.

Stuff is tempting.

I hear you; I know. It can be so easy to just want to take so much stuff you never would have dreamed of bringing into your home just because it’s available and free. And if you are like me and love a good bargain, your brain will go into overtime to justify almost anything that gets posted, because hey, you’re not buying anything. When you are in the mind of de-cluttering and getting stuff out, it takes extra caution to make sure you aren’t just bringing more stuff in.

You might get stood up.

Just like any other Facebook Yard Sale Groups or Marketplace, there is always the chance that you might get stood up. Personally, considering the alternative is a trip to the donation facility anyways, I’m willing to put that errand off a few days to see if I can give it straight to someone who needs it first, rather than a company looking to turn a profit.

It can be time sucking.

This is perhaps the worst drawback and the one to be most cautious of. Groups with a lot of people and high traffic means things can move quickly. In order to get the notifications and the group on your feed, you need to be active in it. The group I am in has about 1600 members, and stuff can be gone in hours. While not everyone chooses first come first serve, many still do. Even if they don’t, many posts often have multiple interest within just a few hours giving the poster several people to choose from. It can entice the fear of missing out signal in your brain, and start to consume all of your time.

Related reading: You have too much stuff: The implications and what to do about it

Find a Balance

There is a way to strike a balance. My goal is to mitigate the negatives and take advantage of all the positives that Buy Nothing Facebook Groups have to offer. These are the things I attempt to do continually on a regular basis.

Set time limits.

I only allow myself to check twice a day. In addition, I try to set a time limit for how long I am on the page. This ensures that I am not wasting all day checking the group for new offers. Every time I am tempted to check outside of my time limits, I try to remind myself that if it is meant to be, the item will still be available by the time I see it. If you find yourself spending too much time on them, try tracking your time. Apps like Toggl, or Moment work well.

An alternative to time limits is to only check when you have something you need. If there is something that I’m thinking about getting, I might ask for it or keep a closer eye on the group to see if the item pops up.

Only take in stuff you are already looking for.

The other day I saw some craft stuff that really caught my eye, because I love me a good craft. But the reality is I rarely have time for crafts these days, and it is really something I don’t need. It would just create more clutter and get used about as frequently, if not less than, the giver who is gifting it. In contrast, I have been at a loss as to what to do for Halloween for my 3-year-old, without buying a full priced costume. Just the other day a Mickey Mouse Roadster costume was offered in his size. I was able to express interest with confidence that I knew it would get used, because it was something I was already looking for (and I know my son loves Mickey Mouse and racing!).

Institute a pause.

Your home should be a sacred place, so don’t let just anything into it. Even if it is a high traffic group you can express interest and change your mind. Sometimes I will express interest, and then if the item is offered to me, I might decline anyways. It might be because I changed my mind and no longer think the item will be of use to me. Or the item is not worth the time and effort because the person lives far enough away. Take a pause, both before you express interest, and then before you accept an item that is offered to you. Make sure it is really something you want to bring into your home. The key to this strategy is open communication. Tell the giver regardless of your decision, so they can move onto the next person if need be.

Designate a home for an item.

Make sure you actively have a place and use for it and/or you absolutely love it. I imagine what I am going to do with something, how it is going to be used, and where it is going to be stored, before I take anything into my home. This is true whether I am paying for it or not. If I cannot answer these questions, I either don’t love the item or it is not necessary. Therefore, it doesn’t desire to take my time and energy or be in my life.

Determine an item’s worth.

Especially with items you are giving, take a minute to reflect on what it is worth. What price would you list it for? How would you sell it (Marketplace, OfferUp or other sites, yard sale, etc.)? Would you consider shipping it? How much time and effort is that item worth to you? If I am only going to make $5, I’ll often choose to give it. If an item is more worth $20, I might be inclined to try to sell it first.

I hope this helps you understand some of the common pitfalls associated with Buy Nothing Facebook groups, and how to work through them. Buy Nothing Facebook groups are really great resources. They are fantastically frugal, resourceful, and help protect our environment while building community; however, if we aren’t careful, they can quickly derail our best of intentions. With these tips, you don’t have to let that happen to you.

Related reading: Is that expense really worth it?