Jolie Rouge
01-13-2010, 08:49 PM
Freegans: There's Cash in That Trash
By Tim Chan
They gather in packs at night, usually just past dusk, and assemble behind buildings and alleyways. Empty bags in hand, they move at a steady pace, stalking large dumpsters and garbage cans for food, clothing and other treasures to be found. Often, they take home enough to sustain them for weeks on end.
Meet the freegans: a group of crusaders dedicated to saving the environment and saving money at the same time. They may have started as an underground community, but these days the group could include your next-door neighbor, roommate, or your boss. Their cost-cutting approach may be unconventional, but experts say it’s paying off and catching on.
“The whole idea of ‘green economics’ and cheap living has led to a renewed interest in freeganism,” says Jeff Ferrell, a professor of sociology at Texas Christian University and author of the book Empire of Scrounge. “It’s a great way to decrease harm on the environment while also keeping your costs down.”
What Is Freeganism?
A freegan is someone who avoids using money to acquire food and other goods. Spun out of the anti-globalization movement of the mid '90s, freeganism began as a reactionary lifestyle to consumerism, gluttony and greed. Freegans believed they could obtain food and other necessities for free, thereby avoiding big businesses and reducing their consumption of resources.
The word “freegan” takes its name from the word “vegan,” as members support a "cruelty-free” agenda that avoids meat and dairy. Today, freeganism also extends to non-vegetarians, as well as non-edible things like clothing, books and furniture.
Most freegans find things by dumpster diving or gathering outside a store and sorting through the trash. Others use a barter system to obtain goods and services, while some rely on collectives that promote the sharing of things like bicycles and cars.
Become a Freegan
If you want to do form your own group, Ferrell says it’s important to understand how your city works. “Before you go out, educate yourself about the rhythm and timing of your neighborhood,” he says. “Find out when the college dorms are being cleaned out, or when the donut shop throws out its food.”
Of course, a simple Google search can connect you with freegan groups in your city.
New York resident Peter Lee always had bread to eat in college, thanks to the local sandwich shop. The shop baked fresh loaves daily, and whatever didn’t sell would be thrown out. Lee spoke to the manager and found out what time each day a new batch of bread was taken out. He would then head over to the shop and bring home all the bread from the day before. “It was basically day-old bread,” recalls Lee, “so it was still fresher than what we bought at the grocery store.”
Common Myths
Although most people would find the idea of foraging for items in a dumpster unsanitary and unsafe, Ferrell says it’s important to remember that grocery stores have plenty of reasons to throw away food that is perfectly fresh, clean and edible. Ferrell says he often takes home bags of oranges that are thrown out simply because one of the oranges was damaged. Other times, grocery stores are clearing their shelves to make room for a newer shipment of a product.
Will Parson, a San Diego-based photographer, became a freegan after documenting a group of dumpster divers in the city. He says it's easy to find sealed food with an expiration date that is months away. “I've found dozens of gallons of milk one night, and dozens of bags of chips another,” he says, adding: “The excessive packaging around many foods makes it very easy to pick them from the dumpster unscathed.”
Another myth: Dumpster diving doesn’t really involve diving anymore. Ferrell says it’s easier to sort through boxes and garbage bags along the curb. But if he’s drawn to a particular dumpster, he’ll always bring along a long pole to help him reach what he wants. He notes that he always asks permission before sorting through someone’s trash. “Sometimes a homeowner will actually bring me other things from their house, once they find out what I’m doing,” he says.
Saving Money
Freeganism may have started as an anti-consumerist subculture but these days, its principles can be applied to the general public. “Once you get the hang of it, you can find just about anything in the dumpster,” says Parson, “so it's a good idea to think before buying something brand new that you might find used from a friend or discarded in the trash.”
“We’re like modern-day treasure hunters,” adds Ferrell. And as the saying goes, one man’s trash is another man's treasure.
http://www.mainstreet.com/article/lifestyle/meet-freegans
5 Ways to Be a Better Barterer
By Farnoosh Torabi
Editor's Note: MainStreet's Farnoosh Torabi went on the Today show this morning to discuss the ins and outs of bartering. Here’s her take:
As bartering becomes more commonplace during this recession here are some key tips to help you make a favorable trade.
1. Reach out to local friends and family first. Scott Larsen and John Patton, co-founders of FriendlyFavor recommend first requesting barters from a trusted network of friends and family. It’s potentially safer than trading with someone you don’t know and more convenient since the trade can be local. It may also help eliminate costs like shipping and handling. “There’s something inherently a lot cooler to trade something with a friend or a friend of a friend,” says Larsen. In addition to FriendlyFavor, contacting friends on Facebook and sending emails out to your co-workers, friends and family is another way to reach your local network.
2. Search categorically online. After exhausting friends and family, turn to the web’s plethora of bartering outlets. Whether you’re looking to swap your electronics, books, old handbags or your house, there are a variety of free sites dedicated to specific barterers. For books, DVDs, music and video games there’s Swaptree. Your only cost is shipping your item. The site advises you use the post office's Media Mail service which lets you send almost everything for less than $2.50. If you want to swap un unused gift card for another one that’s more your taste, check out sites SwapAGift, TheGiftCardJungle and Plastic Jungle. For swapping clothes and accessories there’s SwapStyle and DigNSwap. And if you’re interested in staying in Europe for a week but don’t want to pay for housing, offer someone in Rome your place for theirs. Sites like HomeExchange, Homeswap and HomesForSwap are set up to facilitate the trade.
3. Be specific. The more specific and detailed your request, the better your chance of making a favorable trade. Don’t leave your request open-ended either. A posting on Craigslist has someone asking for “exercise equipment” but doesn’t say exactly what is requested. Be upfront about what you’re looking for. For example, if you want to trade your bicycle for some interior house painting, mention the make, model and condition of your bike with pictures, and then explain what kind of paint job you need. How many rooms? Are they providing the paint? Or are you just looking for labor?
4. Keep records. Have an agreement in writing in case anything goes wrong or doesn’t meet expectations. Also, a paper trail will come in handy during tax season.
5. File with the IRS. The IRS says individuals must file the fair market value of property or services received in a barter transaction. “Fair market value” is accepted as the value of the product or services you and the other party agreed upon before the transaction. This is recorded as income on Form 1040. If you engaged in bartering to benefit your business, and the value of the goods or services exchanged was more than $600, you need to report the exchange on form 1099, the “miscellaneous” form.
http://www.mainstreet.com/article/smart-spending/bargains/deals/5-ways-be-better-barterer
By Tim Chan
They gather in packs at night, usually just past dusk, and assemble behind buildings and alleyways. Empty bags in hand, they move at a steady pace, stalking large dumpsters and garbage cans for food, clothing and other treasures to be found. Often, they take home enough to sustain them for weeks on end.
Meet the freegans: a group of crusaders dedicated to saving the environment and saving money at the same time. They may have started as an underground community, but these days the group could include your next-door neighbor, roommate, or your boss. Their cost-cutting approach may be unconventional, but experts say it’s paying off and catching on.
“The whole idea of ‘green economics’ and cheap living has led to a renewed interest in freeganism,” says Jeff Ferrell, a professor of sociology at Texas Christian University and author of the book Empire of Scrounge. “It’s a great way to decrease harm on the environment while also keeping your costs down.”
What Is Freeganism?
A freegan is someone who avoids using money to acquire food and other goods. Spun out of the anti-globalization movement of the mid '90s, freeganism began as a reactionary lifestyle to consumerism, gluttony and greed. Freegans believed they could obtain food and other necessities for free, thereby avoiding big businesses and reducing their consumption of resources.
The word “freegan” takes its name from the word “vegan,” as members support a "cruelty-free” agenda that avoids meat and dairy. Today, freeganism also extends to non-vegetarians, as well as non-edible things like clothing, books and furniture.
Most freegans find things by dumpster diving or gathering outside a store and sorting through the trash. Others use a barter system to obtain goods and services, while some rely on collectives that promote the sharing of things like bicycles and cars.
Become a Freegan
If you want to do form your own group, Ferrell says it’s important to understand how your city works. “Before you go out, educate yourself about the rhythm and timing of your neighborhood,” he says. “Find out when the college dorms are being cleaned out, or when the donut shop throws out its food.”
Of course, a simple Google search can connect you with freegan groups in your city.
New York resident Peter Lee always had bread to eat in college, thanks to the local sandwich shop. The shop baked fresh loaves daily, and whatever didn’t sell would be thrown out. Lee spoke to the manager and found out what time each day a new batch of bread was taken out. He would then head over to the shop and bring home all the bread from the day before. “It was basically day-old bread,” recalls Lee, “so it was still fresher than what we bought at the grocery store.”
Common Myths
Although most people would find the idea of foraging for items in a dumpster unsanitary and unsafe, Ferrell says it’s important to remember that grocery stores have plenty of reasons to throw away food that is perfectly fresh, clean and edible. Ferrell says he often takes home bags of oranges that are thrown out simply because one of the oranges was damaged. Other times, grocery stores are clearing their shelves to make room for a newer shipment of a product.
Will Parson, a San Diego-based photographer, became a freegan after documenting a group of dumpster divers in the city. He says it's easy to find sealed food with an expiration date that is months away. “I've found dozens of gallons of milk one night, and dozens of bags of chips another,” he says, adding: “The excessive packaging around many foods makes it very easy to pick them from the dumpster unscathed.”
Another myth: Dumpster diving doesn’t really involve diving anymore. Ferrell says it’s easier to sort through boxes and garbage bags along the curb. But if he’s drawn to a particular dumpster, he’ll always bring along a long pole to help him reach what he wants. He notes that he always asks permission before sorting through someone’s trash. “Sometimes a homeowner will actually bring me other things from their house, once they find out what I’m doing,” he says.
Saving Money
Freeganism may have started as an anti-consumerist subculture but these days, its principles can be applied to the general public. “Once you get the hang of it, you can find just about anything in the dumpster,” says Parson, “so it's a good idea to think before buying something brand new that you might find used from a friend or discarded in the trash.”
“We’re like modern-day treasure hunters,” adds Ferrell. And as the saying goes, one man’s trash is another man's treasure.
http://www.mainstreet.com/article/lifestyle/meet-freegans
5 Ways to Be a Better Barterer
By Farnoosh Torabi
Editor's Note: MainStreet's Farnoosh Torabi went on the Today show this morning to discuss the ins and outs of bartering. Here’s her take:
As bartering becomes more commonplace during this recession here are some key tips to help you make a favorable trade.
1. Reach out to local friends and family first. Scott Larsen and John Patton, co-founders of FriendlyFavor recommend first requesting barters from a trusted network of friends and family. It’s potentially safer than trading with someone you don’t know and more convenient since the trade can be local. It may also help eliminate costs like shipping and handling. “There’s something inherently a lot cooler to trade something with a friend or a friend of a friend,” says Larsen. In addition to FriendlyFavor, contacting friends on Facebook and sending emails out to your co-workers, friends and family is another way to reach your local network.
2. Search categorically online. After exhausting friends and family, turn to the web’s plethora of bartering outlets. Whether you’re looking to swap your electronics, books, old handbags or your house, there are a variety of free sites dedicated to specific barterers. For books, DVDs, music and video games there’s Swaptree. Your only cost is shipping your item. The site advises you use the post office's Media Mail service which lets you send almost everything for less than $2.50. If you want to swap un unused gift card for another one that’s more your taste, check out sites SwapAGift, TheGiftCardJungle and Plastic Jungle. For swapping clothes and accessories there’s SwapStyle and DigNSwap. And if you’re interested in staying in Europe for a week but don’t want to pay for housing, offer someone in Rome your place for theirs. Sites like HomeExchange, Homeswap and HomesForSwap are set up to facilitate the trade.
3. Be specific. The more specific and detailed your request, the better your chance of making a favorable trade. Don’t leave your request open-ended either. A posting on Craigslist has someone asking for “exercise equipment” but doesn’t say exactly what is requested. Be upfront about what you’re looking for. For example, if you want to trade your bicycle for some interior house painting, mention the make, model and condition of your bike with pictures, and then explain what kind of paint job you need. How many rooms? Are they providing the paint? Or are you just looking for labor?
4. Keep records. Have an agreement in writing in case anything goes wrong or doesn’t meet expectations. Also, a paper trail will come in handy during tax season.
5. File with the IRS. The IRS says individuals must file the fair market value of property or services received in a barter transaction. “Fair market value” is accepted as the value of the product or services you and the other party agreed upon before the transaction. This is recorded as income on Form 1040. If you engaged in bartering to benefit your business, and the value of the goods or services exchanged was more than $600, you need to report the exchange on form 1099, the “miscellaneous” form.
http://www.mainstreet.com/article/smart-spending/bargains/deals/5-ways-be-better-barterer