The Giving Stump

One of the biggest challenges for us when we got here was outfitting our apartment both with essentials and to make it feel homey – all on a student’s budget.  I have hit Craig’s List, Goodwill and other thrift stores, the clearance shelves at Target, IKEA and the discount fabric store and numerous garage sales.   However, the greatest source of furnishings and dishes for us has been the “giving stump”.

Freecyle is the technical term used around here for putting out the stuff you don’t want anymore, in your yard or on the curb for people to take.  All over Berkeley, a student town, you will find things that are interesting and useful. I got Phil’s desk chair and a variety of other things this way.  It’s funny when you spend your time driving down the street looking for free stuff.  And we have learned the hard way that you better grab it when you see it or it won’t be there after you go home and think about it.

The Giving Stump is the place where our apartment complex concentrates its freecycle.  We got our couch, a bookshelf, some beautiful pyrex baking dishes and a set of tools this way-among other things.  One of our favorite past times is to check out the stump each morning when we let the dog out. You never know what will magically appear!   It will be even more fun to give back to the stump when we leave next spring.