Freebies hailed as way to help Wiltshire with cost of living crisis
New research says half of people in the South West are worried about finances
People in Wiltshire are being urged to give away their old items, to help others with the rise in the cost of living.
Within our local communities, it’s believed each household stocks a significant amount of items that we’d happily part with for nothing, and amid the squeeze on individuals’ finances, the ‘freebie’ economy is set to grow further.
New research from Gumtree shows that over half of individuals (54%) in the South West are now experiencing regular anxiety when making any purchases, with over a third (37%) saying this has increased since last year.
Many are worrying daily about managing bills (41%), doing the food shop (30%), and staying financially stable (33%).
To combat this, people are embracing ‘freebies fever’, with more people than ever on the hunt for everyday items they can pick up at no cost. Two thirds of us have sought out and picked up something for free in the last six months, as each purchase becomes precious.
Not only are people seeking out these deals, they’re feeling proud of them as well. Attitudes towards freebies have shifted significantly, with almost half saying they like to show off these acquisitions to their friends and family.
Over a quarter also feel there is more creative freedom to add a personal touch to these items.
With the stigma around freebie hunting reducing significantly, many are doing so for the first time. Of those who have picked up an item for free in the last six months, almost a third (29%) were doing so for the first time, with economic pressure being the most common reason.
Almost half (44%) of people would like to see this phenomenon spread further and become more accessible within society – as a third (32%) believe they would benefit from getting items for free. People would like to see swap shops, freebie sites, and circular economy initiatives become more mainstream, and believe this would support people during the cost of living crisis.
Here to share her tips on how people can get the most out of their finances we have consumer champion Angelica Bell:
“Many of us are feeling the squeeze right now and are looking for ways to tighten our belts - exploring alternatives to buying new is a great place to start.
"Setting up online community groups and sifting through sites like Gumtree can turn up some great everyday items, which can help you save a lot and of course, help less go to waste.
"Working with Gumtree to bring its Freebies section to life, I hope it will show people how many fab things there are out there which may be no use to your neighbour but perfect for you.”