9 Ways to Get Furniture, Electronics, and More for $0 (2026 Guide)
The best price in Kingston is still free
Let's talk about the best word in the English language: free.
Not "almost free." Not "cheap." Not "good deal." FREE. As in $0. As in your wallet stays in your pocket. As in you walk away with stuff and the only thing you spent was gas money and dignity (depending on what you're picking up).
Kingston is surprisingly generous. Between students abandoning everything in April, homeowners cleaning out basements, and a community that actually believes in "pay it forward," there's free stuff everywhere if you know where to look.
I've furnished rooms, stocked kitchens, and built entire wardrobes for $0 in this city. Here's exactly how you do it in 2026.
First: The Golden Rules of Free Stuff
Rule #1: Free doesn't mean "no effort"
You'll need to pick it up. Usually same day. Sometimes up three flights of stairs. Free stuff requires hustle.
Rule #2: Be fast
The difference between "Is this still available?" and "I'll take it right now" is about 30 seconds. Free stuff moves at light speed.
Rule #3: Be polite
"Hi, I can pick this up anytime today if it's still available. Thanks for offering it!" works better than "is this free?"
Rule #4: Inspect before you commit
Free doesn't mean "bring home someone else's bed bug infestation." Look before you load.
Rule #5: Pay it forward
When you're done with stuff, give it away free too. The free cycle only works if everyone participates.
Method #1: Facebook Groups (The Heavy Hitter)
Best groups to join:
Free Stuff Kingston
- Facebook group with 15,000+ members
- Constantly active
- Everything from furniture to food to random oddities
- Search "Free Stuff Kingston" on Facebook
Buy Nothing Kingston
- Part of the international Buy Nothing Project
- Hyperlocal (multiple Kingston neighborhoods)
- Gifting economy mindset
- Search for your specific neighborhood group
Kingston Community Giveaway
- Smaller but active
- Good for household items
Queen's University Free & For Sale
- Student-focused
- April is CHAOS (in a good way)
- Great for dorm stuff
Must Read:-
How to Post Your First Ad on Fliku
10 Tips for Writing Effective Product Descriptions
How to Avoid Scams When Buying or Selling Online
Fanshawe Student Free Stuff (if applicable)
- College students also give away tons
Pro tip: Join 3-5 groups. Set notifications to "frequent." Check multiple times daily. The best stuff is claimed within minutes.
Method #2: Freecycle.org
Website: freecycle.org
How it works:
- Join the Kingston chapter
- Browse "offers" (people giving away)
- Post "wanted" (if you need something specific)
- Everything must be free
The 2026 reality: Freecycle is older than Facebook groups and less active, but the quality is often better. Older demographic = nicer stuff. Less competition = higher success rate.
Kingston Freecycle tips:
- Set up email alerts
- Reply quickly and politely
- Be specific about when you can pick up
Method #3: Curb Alerts
What is a curb alert?
Someone puts stuff on the curb with a "FREE" sign. They post in Facebook groups or on Kijiji with "CURB ALERT" and an address. You race there and hope it's still there.
Where to find curb alerts:
- "Free Stuff Kingston" Facebook group
- Kijiji (search "curb alert")
- Marketplace (filter to "free")
Best neighborhoods for curb shopping:
- Sydenham Ward (older homes, wealthier residents, good stuff)
- Williamsville (families, kids stuff, toys)
- Queen's student areas (April only, chaos)
- Alvin Heights (young families, baby stuff)
When to check:
- Spring cleaning season (April-May)
- Bulk garbage weeks (see below)
- Weekends (people clean on Saturdays)
- Evenings after work
What you might find:
- Furniture (dressers, tables, chairs)
- Electronics (old but sometimes works)
- Books (people dump boxes)
- Exercise equipment (January is peak)
- Kid stuff (toys, clothes, gear)
Method #4: Bulk Garbage Days (The Holy Grail)
City of Kingston Bulk Waste Collection
Schedule: Varies by neighborhood. Check the City of Kingston website for your area.
The 2026 update: Kingston still has bulk collection days where you can put large items on the curb. Smart residents post "curb alerts" before garbage day so stuff gets taken, not trashed.
How to play:
- Find your neighborhood's bulk garbage week
- Drive around the night before collection
- Look for furniture, appliances, etc.
- Take before the trucks come
Pro tips:
- Go the night before (by 8 PM, stuff is out)
- Bring a truck or SUV
- Bring a friend for heavy items
- Check for bed bugs (I cannot stress this enough)
- Avoid upholstered items unless they look clean
Best neighborhoods for bulk garbage hunting:
- Alvington Court area (homes with families)
- Polson Park (established neighborhood)
- Rideau Heights (mixed, sometimes good finds)
- Kingscourt (older homes, older stuff)
Method #5: University Move-Out (The Gold Rush)
When: April (after exams) and August (end of summer term)
Where: Student neighborhoods near Queen's
The scene:
Thousands of students leaving town. They can't take their stuff. Landlords require apartments empty. Everything must go.
What you'll find on the curb:
- Furniture (desks, chairs, bed frames, mattresses - be careful)
- Lamps and lighting
- Kitchen stuff (pots, pans, dishes)
- Textbooks (free if you want heavy reading)
- Mini fridges (the holy grail)
- Electronics (speakers, monitors, cables)
- Clothing (sometimes)
- Rugs (inspect carefully)
Pro tips:
- Go the week after exams (usually mid-April)
- Target streets near campus (University, Albert, Earl, Barrie)
- Go early morning (students put stuff out overnight)
- Bring a truck and friends
- Inspect EVERYTHING for bed bugs
- Be prepared for chaos (it's a free-for-all)
Best streets:
- Albert Street
- Barrie Street
- Earl Street
- Johnson Street
- William Street
- Division Street (student housing areas)
Method #6: "Free" Section on Marketplace and Kijiji
Facebook Marketplace:
- Filter by price: $0
- Check daily
- Sort by "newest first"
- Message immediately
Kijiji:
- Go to "buy and sell"
- Select "free stuff" category
- Kingston has a decent free section
- Older demographic = sometimes nicer stuff
Fliku:
- Fliku has a free section
- Verified users = less sketchy pickups
- Growing quickly in Kingston
Method #7: Community Fridges and Pantries
Kingston Community Fridge locations:
617 Princess Street (behind the building)
- Mutual aid fridge
- Take what you need, leave what you can
- Food, not furniture
155 Bagot Street (Skeleton Park)
- Second location
- Same concept
What's available:
- Fresh produce (when donated)
- Non-perishable foods
- Personal care items
- Sometimes household goods
The 2026 reality: These fridges are well-used. Check regularly. Donate if you can.
Method #8: "Everything Free" on Moving Day
When people move, they get desperate.
If someone is moving and posted "moving sale" but it's the last day, message them: "If you have anything left at the end of the day, I'll take it for free and haul it away."
Why this works:
- Moving is stressful
- Hauling stuff costs money
- They'd rather you take it than pay to dump it
How to find moving sales:
- Search "moving sale" on Facebook
- Look for posts that are 3+ days old
- Message politely offering hauling services
Method #9: The Re-Use Centre (Almost Free)
Address: 196 Lappan's Lane, Kingston, ON K7K 6X2
Why it's in a "free" guide:
Technically it costs money. But $5 for a dresser is basically free. $2 for a lamp is free energy. $1 for books is free knowledge.
The prices are so low it's practically free. And the money supports the city's waste reduction programs.
Best for: When you need something specific and can't wait for free stuff to appear
What You Can Actually Get for Free
Furniture (often):
- Dressers
- Nightstands
- Desks
- Chairs
- Bookshelves
- Tables (dining, coffee, side)
Electronics (sometimes):
- Old TVs (tube TVs = free, flat screens = rare)
- Speakers
- Computer monitors
- Cables and cords (always)
- Printers (brings its own set of problems)
Kitchen stuff (always):
- Pots and pans
- Dishes and cups
- Utensils
- Small appliances (toasters, kettles)
Household:
- Lamps
- Frames
- Decor
- Curtains
- Rugs (inspect carefully)
Books (always):
- Textbooks (dated but free)
- Novels
- Children's books
The "be careful" list:
- Mattresses (bed bugs, stains, just... no)
- Upholstered furniture (inspect THOROUGHLY)
- Baby gear (check expiry dates, recalls)
- Electronics (test if possible)
- Anything with fabric (bugs love fabric)
The Free Stuff Toolkit
Always bring:
- Truck or large vehicle
- Moving blankets (protect your vehicle)
- Rope or straps (tie down)
- Hand truck or dolly (for heavy items)
- Flashlight (for evening curb alerts)
- Gloves (free stuff is often dirty)
- Hand sanitizer (always)
- Friend (second set of eyes, second set of muscles)
On your phone:
- Facebook groups notifications ON
- Marketplace saved search "free"
- Fliku app with alerts
- Map of today's curb alert addresses
The "Inspect Before You Take" Checklist
For furniture:
- Check for bed bugs (tiny dark spots, musty smell, blood stains)
- Check for structural damage (wiggle test)
- Check drawers (do they slide?)
- Check for smoke smell
- Check for pet damage/hair/smell
For electronics:
- Can you test it? (ask to plug in)
- Cords included? (cords cost money)
- Physical damage? (cracks, missing parts)
- Is it worth fixing? (some things aren't)
For anything fabric:
- Hold up to light (see through = thin spots)
- Smell test (musty = mold)
- Stain check
- Zippers work?
Free Stuff Scams to Avoid
Yes, there are scams on FREE stuff.
The "free but shipping" scam:
- Post says "free [expensive item]"
- You message, they say "just pay shipping"
- You pay, nothing arrives
- Real free stuff is local pickup only
The "free" that becomes "pay me":
- You arrive, they say "oh I meant $50"
- Walk away. Immediately.
The "free" with strings:
- "Free couch if you also take this broken TV and my ex-husband's bowling trophies"
- You can say no. Take only what you want.
The dangerous pickup:
- "Free TV, come to this isolated address at night"
- Use safe meetup rules even for free stuff
- Bring a friend. Meet in public when possible.
Free Stuff Etiquette
DO:
- Respond quickly
- Be polite
- Show up when you say you will
- Take only what you agreed to
- Say thank you
- Pay it forward someday
DON'T:
- Ask for delivery (pick up or pass)
- Show up late (stuff gets re-offered)
- Haggle on free stuff (it's free)
- Complain about condition (it's free)
- Take more than offered without asking
The "I Have Stuff to Give Away" Guide
When you're the one giving:
Best places to offer:
- Free Stuff Kingston Facebook group
- Buy Nothing group (your neighborhood)
- "Curb alert" with address and photo
- Put on curb with "FREE" sign (post in groups)
What to write:
"FREE: Wooden dresser, good condition, 3 drawers. Some wear but solid. Pick up at [address] today only. First come takes it. No holds."
Pro tips for givers:
- Put "no holds" in the post (first person who shows up gets it)
- Leave on porch or curb (no need to meet strangers)
- Delete post when gone
- Consider donating if it's actually valuable
Free Stuff by Season
Spring (March-May):
- PEAK FREE STUFF SEASON
- Spring cleaning
- Student move-out (April)
- Bulk garbage weeks
- Garage sale leftovers
Summer (June-August):
- People moving
- Yard sale leftovers
- Students leaving in August
Fall (September-November):
- Pre-winter cleaning
- People upgrading before holidays
Winter (December-February):
- Slowest season
- Post-holiday cleanout (January)
- Curb alerts are cold and snowy
The 2026 Free Stuff Strategy
Daily:
- Check Free Stuff Kingston FB group (morning)
- Check Marketplace free filter (afternoon)
- Check Fliku free section (evening)
Weekly:
- Scan Kijiji free section
- Check Freecycle emails
- Drive through student areas
Seasonal:
- April: STUDENT MOVE-OUT (mark your calendar)
- Spring: Bulk garbage weeks (check schedule)
- Summer: Watch for moving sales
Always:
- Keep your vehicle ready
- Have cash for gas
- Tell friends you're looking (they'll tag you in posts)
- Pay it forward
Why Fliku Belongs in Your Free Stuff Strategy
Fliku isn't just for selling. The free section is growing fast.
Why Fliku free stuff is better:
- Verified users (less sketchy than anonymous FB profiles)
- In-app messaging (records everything)
- User ratings (see if givers are reliable)
- Less competition (for now)
The move: Check Fliku daily. Set notifications. Be ready to pickup.
[Join Fliku Kingston - free stuff section included]
Your Free Stuff Manifesto
You don't need to buy everything new.
That dresser on the curb? It might be your new dresser.
Those dishes at the community fridge? They might be your new dishes.
That free couch from a student moving out? Maybe not the couch (inspect carefully), but you get the idea.
Kingston gives away thousands of dollars worth of stuff every single day. The only thing standing between you and free stuff is knowing where to look and being willing to go get it.
Now get out there and find something free.
Found something amazing for free in Kingston? Drop it in the comments. We love a good brag.
