Workplace Free Tables

Prior to beginning work at my current company, I had never been introduced to the concept of the "Free Table." This is a great way to clean your house of any junk you might have lying around, while at the same time reusing and reducing waste that might otherwise have gone to landfills.

If your place of work does not already have one, institute one! The free table works like this: a spot is designated (for us, a table, in case you had not already guessed). If you have any items that you no longer have need for (anything—within reason—goes: books, movies, mittens, clothing, lotion, coffee mugs, vases, ornaments, a computer keyboard), bring them in and leave them. It is then first come, first serve for picking. Finder's keepers! Any items left on the table for a week or more are then donated to Goodwill (or another charity of your choice).

The beauty is that you've now created a giant swap meet—for free! Items are given new homes, you can pick up things that interest you for which you either didn't have the money or on which you did not want to spend the money, and not a dime leaves your pocket.

I will freely admit that I am a Free Table whore (I keep an eye on ours several times daily—you never know when that special item will appear!). My favorite finds so far have been winter boots that I've worn daily for two years now (I felt like Cinderella when I slipped them on, since I'd been looking for a pair and these fit like a glove) and the pink wireless mouse that I use every day at work.

My favorite Free Table finds (and yes, someone put an almost full 12-pack
of Diet Coke on the Free Table this morning—a fabulous find!)