Yes, Buy Nothing groups work for back-to-school savings on supplies, clothing, and shoes. A Buy Nothing group is a hyperlocal network where neighbors give and lend items for free. Savings add up because kid gear costs a lot. According to the National Retail Federation, K-12 families budgeted $249.36 for clothing and accessories, $169.13 for shoes, and $143.77 for supplies in its July 2025 back-to-school release.
Table of Contents
- What can you get for free?
- How do you post a strong ASK?
- Where do you join?
- When should you still plan to buy?
What can you get for free?
The Buy Nothing Project says members use three post types — GIVE, ASK, and GRATITUDE — to offer items, request items, and thank neighbors in its Community Guidelines. All gifts must be free, with no selling, trading, or expected return. Common school wins include backpacks, lunch boxes, water bottles, binders, crayons, and calculators.
Clothing, shoes, sports gear, books, and dorm-style storage bins also move often between families. Gratitude posts keep the loop going. A quick thank-you with a photo of packed supplies shows what helped and encourages more gives.
How do you post a strong ASK?
Be specific about size, grade, and pickup speed. A vague request gets skipped, while a clear request gets matched. Write one ASK per group of items.
List acceptable colors, sizes, and condition, plus your cross streets and pickup window. Check the app often and reply fast. Popular supplies go within hours during August.
- Need: 2 binders, youth-medium uniform pants, size 1 sneakers
- Can pick up: evenings near Maple and 5th
- Will borrow or keep: calculator for fall semester
Where do you join?
Start with the worldwide Buy Nothing app, then check Facebook. Anyone can join and post immediately on the app with a self-set sharing radius, while Facebook groups exist only where a local volunteer steps forward to administer them, according to the Buy Nothing Project Help Center in its guide to finding a group. Set a radius you can actually drive or walk.
A wider radius shows more backpacks and clothes, but pickup must stay cheap and quick. If no Facebook group covers your block, use the app alone. You do not need to wait for a volunteer to open a new group to start asking and giving.
When should you still plan to buy?
Matches are hyperlocal, inventory-dependent, and time-sensitive. Post ASKs two to three weeks before school starts and check daily. Keep a short must-buy list for new-only items.
Think specific shoe sizes, required electronics, and brand-mandated supplies no neighbor has offered. Use free items to shrink the store trip, not replace it. Take the free binders and pants, then spend store money only on the gaps.
