This past Christmas, partly as an experiment in avoiding the commerce of the holidays, I got my entire extended family — 14 people — thoughtful, personal gifts that fellow Buy Nothing-ers bestowed upon me. (I did this over a period of 6 months.) I got a Beyblade [spinning-top toy] set with an arena for my 8-year-old nephew, and a bunch of car toys for my 5-year-old niece and nephew. I got my sister a lovely handbag.

I love that we can upcycle, recycle and gift to neighbors what we no longer have use for ourselves. This is one of the best uses of the internet/social media that I know of.— Liisa Spink, Seattle

Buy Nothing has been such a blessing as a single mom with young kids. It has saved my dollars and the environment. From bouncers to high chairs, toys to swing sets and playhouses, my kids have enjoyed so many wonderful gifts. As soon as my kids outgrow them, we have passed them on to others in the community.— Stephanie Edwards, Seattle

I live in a co-op and we have a community room where we house kids toys and games. A donation pickup of other things in the community room was scheduled to be picked up and all the kids’ toys and games were accidentally taken. We could never recover any of it. A neighbor suggested I post the need for replacing some of the toys/games on Buy Nothing.  Within a few days, the community gifted so many things. The kids, of course, had been heartbroken when the toys went missing but were overjoyed with the gifted items.— Yvonne Anthony-Lopez, Bothell