You know how it goes. Drive by any college campus as students pack up for summer, and you'll see them standing around the dumpster, tossing anything that doesn't fit in the car. Trash, certainly, but also area rugs, fans, ottomans and floor lamps. It's reached such proportions that some colleges have started retrieving re-usable furniture to give to charity. A few have launched campus Freecycle style programs. And California's Mills College has taken it a step further, by opening a Reuse Depot last semester that accepts virtually anything students or faculty are trying to unload, from school supplies to computer keyboards and dorm gear. Most leftovers will go to charity after the campus closes for the summer but depot organizer Sophie Leininger told the campus paper, "We want to keep as much school stuff so incoming students next year won't have to buy supplies. We even have a lot of stuff for dorms."Your kid may not have a Reuse Depot on his campus, but chances are there's a recycling and reuse facility or Freecycle network somewhere in your hometown, or other options for finding dorm decor freebies. Take a peek, post a notice and see what's out there. Thrifty's good, but free is even better.
Looking for more Thrifty Thursday tips? Here's more money-saving advice from About's Parenting Guides this week:
- 10 Practical Money Saving Prom Tips
- Tween Book Clubs - A Thrifty Extra-Curricular Activity
- Kids Earning Their Spending Money
- Are You a Coupon Clipper?
- Saving Money When Eating Out
- To Work Less, Spend Less
- Homemade Mother and Birth Mother Day Gifts
- Saving Money on Doulas
- Save Money at Your Public Library.
I love the idea of a Reuse Depot! Every college should have one.
Also another great site to use when looking for interesting pieces for dorm rooms is http://www.ecofreek.com! Try it out that is what I used to find my couch, a bookshelf and even my cat!