7 Find freebies

Websites such as freecycle.org have created online communities that exchange or just give away unwanted goods – from dishwashers to CDs.

The site puts you in touch with people in your local area who want to give away items rather than dump them in landfills.

You have to sign up to one of over 4,300 communities around the world, but there are plenty in the UK. In London’s Hammer-smith and Fulham, for example, there are 4,799 active members giving away everything from bikes to greenhouses.

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