How to fill a Shoebox for free

(or nearly fill one)

In addition to doing a £10.00 shoebox challenge for Link to Hope, I thought I’d see how close I could get to completing a shoebox with items obtained for free, mainly from re-use sites such as Freecycle and Freegle.  https://www.freecycle.org/   https://www.ilovefreegle.org/

I haven’t been able to do a complete shoebox with free items, but I’ve got fairly close, and hopefully the following will give you some ideas for filling a shoebox more cost effectively.

For the Family box Essentials, I added a scarf made from fleece fabric, and mittens and a beanie hat knitted from free wool from Freegle and Freecycle.  I don’t have any free toothbrushes so would need to buy these (potentially 2 packs of 2 toothbrushes from Tesco for 25p per pack) and I haven’t had any free sweets or chocolates so would need to buy these.  I’ve included tealights obtained from Freegle added into a GU style pot – also free – I’ve also received candles from Freegle.  For the soap and flannel, I’ve included a small bar of soap from a hotel, and some soap roses and body buff puff from Freecycle, and for the small game added snakes and ladders printed out from the internet. 

For the additional items I’ve included felt pens and the pencil case they came in from Freegle, and a small packet of wax crayons – free from a restaurant/pub (Some offer crayons and pictures for children to colour to keep them entertained).  Pencils, and biros from Freegle or from conferences, and some small white paper pads from a conference.  A pencil sharpener from Freegle, and a pencil case made from fabric from Freegle.

For the small toys I’ve added a toy digger and small car both from Freegle, and for a soft toy added a hand puppet knitted with free wool from Freegle.  I’ve included a couple of screwdrivers as DIY tools which were part of a haul of nearly 30 screwdrivers from Freegle and a sewing kit and small scissors also from Freegle.  A bar of solid Shampoo from Freecycle, and a shopping bag from a conference.

For the Elderly box Essentials, I’ve included some mittens knitted from free yarn.  I don’t have any free toothbrushes so would need to buy these (potentially a double pack of toothbrushes from Tesco for 25p per pack).  I haven’t had any free sweets or chocolates so would need to buy these.  I’ve included tealights obtained from Freegle added into a GU style pot – also free – I’ve also received candles from Freegle.  For the soap and flannel, I’ve included a small bar of soap from a hotel, and some soap roses and body buff puff from Freecycle, and for the small game added snakes and ladders printed out from the internet. 

For the additional items I’ve included reading glasses, a mug all from Freegle and biros from Freegle and conferences and a notebook from Freegle which was a misprint. A solid shampoo bar from Freecycle, along with nail scissors, shoelaces, a tie, sewing kit, general use scissors, and screwdrivers from Freegle, and a shopping bag from a conference.

The items from Freecycle and Freegle are all items that people have posted that they no longer need and want to pass on to someone else rather than them end up in landfill!  You might also find items for free on Gum Tree.