OK, I admit it.  I love getting a bargain.  A really, really great bargain.  And now that little adrenalin rush pops up in my email account. 

I joined freecycle.org.  Every day, the members offer multiple items they no longer want or need.  In return, other members offer to take the item - for free! You simply gotta love free! 

I have a couple of kids, and they seem to always need stuff - or worse, want stuff.  We consume videos, toys, bikes and art supplies in huge quantities.  And I always found it frustrating to by something only to have them play with it a couple of times.  (Yeah, I can hear my mom in my ear, "I spent good money on that!" Ugh.)

Here are some of the items I've picked up on freecycle:

Play sand (we ALWAYS need play sand)
Stroller (because no, I will not carry nearly 40 pounds the entire way)
Bike
Videos

And the best part is I can get rid of the stuff I no longer want without any hassle.  I just let people know what I have, and it's removed from my premises within hours.  As we're not big yard sale people, this is a dream come true.  We get rid of our big junk without a trip to the dump or any haggling over price.  It simply vanishes to take up space in someone else's house. 

If you haven't tried it, I suggest you do.  You'd be surprised by what some people want to give away - things you actually want.