Some of the things we hide in our closets and garages like tools and lawnmowers only see the light of day once a season. Why spend hundreds of dollars on things we need in a pinch but rarely—if ever—use?
Are you fortunate enough to be on good terms with your neighbors? Consider sharing the following items with them to save yourself—and them!—some cash.
1. Lawnmowers, leaf blowers, rakes. Asking for snow equipment in the wee hours of the morning on your neighbor’s day off isn’t an experience anyone wants to endure. Mowing lawns and raking leaves, however, isn’t exactly an urgent task. This makes sharing this kind of equipment significantly easier and cheaper for everyone. A lot of homeowners have only a little bit of grass to tend to, anyway. Even if you have a fairly vast yard, wouldn’t it be significantly cheaper to walk over to a neighbor’s house and ask to borrow the equipment? Offer to pay for the next repair if you agree on a partnership.
2. Tools. As a renter, I don’t need a whole shed full of tools to keep my space functional, but I also don’t feel justified in submitting a maintenance request over a few loose screws. I feel still less justified in buying a toolkit full of things that, 360 days out of the year, I have no use for. Lucky for me, my neighbor plays paintball, which means he’s only too eager to show off his huge collection of Allen Wrenches, screwdrivers, batteries, hammers, and whatever else he has that I still don’t know how to use.
3. Clothes. Go through your closet armed with a Hefty bag. Fill it with clothes and shoes you haven’t worn in 6 months. You’re not likely to wear them even semi-regularly in the next 6 months. Call up your friends in the neighborhood and organize a clothing swap. This works for books, baby clothes, toys the kids have stopped playing with, and more.
4. Magazines. The concept is the same as the clothing swap. Only one of two or three people really needs to subscribe to a magazine; agree to swap after a day.
5. Bulk foods and items. Find a great deal for dried pasta at the store? Split the cost with a neighbor. Alternatively, SplitStuff is an online community that helps you find people nearby looking to split costs of mutually beneficial items.
The practicality of splitting the cost and sharing items between families is really up to the individual. Sure, sharing calculators and pencils in high school was easy, but trying to share a snow shovel at 7:30 a.m. when everyone is trying to get to work isn’t realistic. You’ll have to give it a few shots before you can get a feel for what work and what doesn’t.
Bio: Lisa Shoreland is currently a resident blogger at Go College, where recently she’s been researching African American scholarships as well as education options. In her spare time, she enjoys creative writing, practicing martial arts, and taking weekend trips.
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I’d like to suggest sharing childcare as well. For “date night” you could do a monthly swap with a trusted neighbour and care for each others kids. Instead of paying for costly babysitting you can instead rent a DVD and buy ingredients for make-your-own-pizza (or make homemade burgers – whatever, as long as it’s kid food). You’ll save a bundle each year!
In our case, we do not have kids yet – but we do have a dog and 3 cats! So, we swap caring for our neighbours 2 dogs and 1 cat when they need to go away and they care for our furry ones when we go away!
Sustainable PF recently posted..Buying a Home
I love this idea. Although I like my neighborhood, most of the couples around me are in a different stage in life than I am. There are elderly people and single people and empty nesters. There aren’t that many that have young kids. I tend to hang with folks that don’t live near me.
I also think things like power washers, chainsaws, etc, are great sharing items.
I like SPF’s idea about sharing childcare. Genius. We share yard equipment with my parents- we just borrow what we need when we need it (especially the items we only use once in a while).
You can also car pool and share a car. Chances are some of your neighbours are going the same direction as you.
Miss T @ Prairie Eco-Thrifter recently posted..What is Green Energy
My mom and her neighbor share the garbage because neither can fill up the can on their own in a week.
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@Sustainable PF – Those are great tips to add. I don’t have kids yet either, but I love your “date night” tip. Thanks for sharing!
@Melissa – That’s a great idea. How do they split the cost? I know that on my old utility bill, the sewer and sanitation charges were combined in one section of the bill. Does one of them get billed for the trash and the other contribute to a portion of it? Interesting thought. Thanks for sharing!
Having good relationships really works well and one of the benefits is always being able to borrow stuff from them. Of course, you have to do something in return as well as this is really a give and take relationship.
Spruce Up Your Finances recently posted..Our Frugal Ways- Rent for a Few More Years Before Buying
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I hate to suggest sharing wireless Internet (since it’s kinda stealing from your ISP), but maybe just sharing passwords in case of emergencies. If one of you loses Internet, you could piggy back on the other’s network for a few hours.
Car Negotiation Coach recently posted..Beta Launch- Personalized Car Buying Advice App
Great idea! It’s tough to share though, people are so independent and nobody wants to share anything. Single child syndrome?
retirebyforty recently posted..Who Gets The Shaft In A Short Sale
Magazines and bulk food items I agree but tools is a no no. If your neighbour treats your tools roughly its going to upset you and put a strain on your relationship.
Sonya recently posted..More Homeowners Underwater With Mortgages
@Miss T @ Prairie Eco-Thrifter
Genius! Ha!
I have no idea what babysitters costs but i’m guessing that expense sure adds up over the course of a year.
Sustainable PF recently posted..How to Sell Your House Quickly
Great ideas–my friend and her brother in laws share a consumer reports subscription amongst themselves. They all benefit from the information, but pay 1/3 of the price!
Amanda L Grossman recently posted..5 Ways You Could Spend Your Tax Return
definitely on the lawn mower, snow blower etc. How many times do we use that a year. The neighborhood should chip in to buy one. And then store it at somebody’s shed. Then you can take turns using it.
For each family to buy their individual snow blower or lawn mover is just wasteful.
It’s wasteful economic growth and profits for home depot!
@Mr. Credit Card – Oh, I’d definitely say anything seasonal can be shared, like a snow blower (good thing I don’t ever need one of those.
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@YesIAmCheap – (I’m confused – I thought you were Sandy and your name came up as Sonya?) I agree that if your neighbor disrespects your tools, it will definitely strain your relationship. I know my husband lent out his pressure washer only to receive it a month later with some serious wear and tear. Thankfully, hard core tools usually can put up with some abuse.
While it looks good on paper, I’m afraid I have to disagree a bit. Big expensive tools have only so much life in them. And not everyone is prompt about returning borrowed items. I once lent my carpet shampooer. An unfortunate spill needed immediate attention. I called the borrower, only to find out that she wasn’t home. No problem, I had a key to her house. Except, SHE had lent the shampooer to someone else who hadn’t yet returned it. Upshot – my stain required professional attention after having sat for three days until I could retrieve my shampooer. Once the appliance leaves your garage, it also leaves your control.
Willie the Shake was on to something when he said, “Neither a borrower nor a lender be.”