I am wondering if anyone here "dumpster dives"? If so, what types of things have you found?

Carrie

Carrie, I do! I go every Sunday night and the things I find...well...too many to list. All nice stuff, no junk ;) Lots of clothing, furniture and anything else you can think of!
~Michele~

I haven't gone dumpster diving, but I have found a lot of curbside finds.

Mostly 50's patio furniture. They just needed to be repainted and are pretty collectible now.

Walletgirl

Walletgirl,
I do better with what I call the "Curbside Mall" than Dumpster diving. Though I must admit that almost 90% of the clothing for me I find (Liz Claiborne mostly) is in the dumpster of the Goodwill. Why they throw these donations away is beyond me. I once found a whole bag of baby Carter clothes right after I had my daughter. Must have been 60 extremely nice outfits in there. I have collected so many girls clothes (I have a 3 yo girl and 3 month old girl) that Ive had to divide them by size and store them in Rubbermaid containers. I have about 9 containers and counting. And I need to buy aleast 2 more for things that need to be stored away! I keep only the things that arent stained, torn or missing something (buttons I can replace, zippers I cant lol).
My house is mostly furnished with things I found along side of the road. And no I dont have a Harvest yellow recliner and a plaid couch LOL I actually have a less than 2 year old Broyhill couch that was tossed out due to some nasty ink stains on the 2 seat cushions. I turned them over and its fixed!! I also have a beautiful huge hunter green/natural top farm table that seats 8. Plus the matching chairs. The problem was a leg came off the table. I had my Dh put the leg back on and with 2 small screws (they left the orginal bolt to it so it was an easy fix, he just bolted it back in ) to double secure it I have a beautiful table & chairs! I also have a yard full of Little Tikes toys that was tossed. Example: 2 country cottage playhouses and a 2 story Little Tikes Castle with slide (retails for $450 at Toys R Us!!). I could list forever the things Ive found!
~Michele~

I don't extensively dumpster dive (dh is against it) but I won't pass up a great deal if I find it...I mean, seriously, if you were passing by, and saw a $100 bill sitting on top of the junk in the dumpster wouldn't you grab it??? what about a a $20? okay, now, a $5? a $1??? Now, would you bother with a quarter? LOL...it's all a matter of decided how "good" it has to be to grab it...

A couple of my "bargains"

two large wooden outdoor chairs (perfect for my yard and I NEEDED outdoor chairs too...just had one white plastic one that kept blowing away, lol)

a dollie (for moving furniture) broken badly but still sold it for $10 (duh, it wasn't easily repairable...but if they had welding tools maybe...) It was not a heavy duty one, just a cheapie...

an antique quilt (hand made) Damaged and stained...but it still sold locally for enough to have been worth the trouble, the same with a plant stand I found...

A nice bathroom rug, quilted bed pad, and sheet set the other day...all on top of the dumspter...washed it with LOTS of pine sol (needed some "boyish" sheets for my son's bed too! though he hasn't complained about flowers yet...)

Saw a little tykes basketball set but couldn't get it...too much stuff on top of it and I'm not strong...saw a NICE bed frame too, but had no way to haul it, sigh....

My Dh at first was against it. Until I hauled home a lawn mower LOL He is just as hooked as I am :) I sat down about 4 months into my trash picking venture and figured we saved over $1500 from it! I replace things that in my house really need replacing (like microwave, couch, TV stand etc.) this way. I rarely buy anything to do with furniture new anymore ! I agree with what you said Patricia about passing up money, cause thats its exactly what it is! :angel2:
~Michele~

My dh introduced me to it 10 years ago when we first got married. One day he brings home this vacuum cleaner...it was a little old, but all it needed was a new bag!! Worked great. (he worked for an apartment complex at the time and people would just leave stuff sitting by the compactor) Well, that hooked me!! Also, people moving out of apartments would leave stuff....clothes, furniture, household stuff....you wouldn't believe what people just leave!!!

Our latest find.....at the landfill.....an antique school desk!! Saw one just like it at the local antique store for $75!!


:eek:

Ladies (And any doubters out there)..........give me a bit of time maybe by tonight I can post some pictures of my "finds". And see if you would pass these things up? Im a one woman campaign to make all frugal mamas avid dumpster or curbside shoppers! :D
:angel2:
~Michele~

Ok better late than never LOL Heres some pictures. This is my living room, the couch , large painting, lamps and area rug were all trash picked! I have more picture!
~Michele~

Another pic, the TV stand was trash picked:)
~Michele~

Last one for now....the chair was trashpicked. It is a Futon chair. I had never seen one before. The frame is pine and beautiful (and heavy lol). I made the cover out of a twin sheet from Wal Mart that cost $2.89. The cushion was in great shape! I just covered so my kids wouldnt destroy it :D
~Michele~

I love the pictures. Thank you so much for posting them. You inspired me to open a new forum. :) Now we can post all of our great finds and talk about the adrenaline rushes at the flea markets, garage sales, and dumpsters.

Sara

Cool Sara! I just found this forum and I love it!! I will post my regular sunday night finds here as well :D Thanks!
~Michele~

Wow Michele, that is impressive. :thumb:

Christy

I have never been dumpster diving but after reading this thread I might give it a try. :D

I do go to second-hand stores and garage sales.

[SIZE=3][COLOR=indigo] well i can't say i have done the dumpster thing yet. There really isn't much here in this town to do it. I am not opposed to it though. Maybe when i get to the city i will though if something looks too good to pass up. :angel:

I haven't trashed picked, but my dad has screeched to a halt along busy highways to grab stuff off the sides of the roads! He found a heavy duty WOOL blanket years ago that my sister still has. I garage sale extensively and have even gotten furniture for free! When we bought our current house, the owners were moving to a smaller home. They couldn't take a lot of the old stuff with them, so we inherited a bunch of useable, decent stuff. No, Martha Stewart wouldn't approve, but we're not independatly wealthy like Martha is! :)

Oh I want to dumpster dive so bad,but I am a big chicken.Maybe I will get dh to go with me.He has dug threw his dumpster at work and found a diamond necklace,pack n play and some cable wire that his bosses daughter threw out.I need tips and words of encouragement,who knows maybe sunday I'll go too

GO FOR IT!!! The things I have found is just amazing!! Little Tikes playhouses for the kids, designer clothes for me, new bunk beds for the kids.....the list could go on and on. Just remeber once you start, its addicting LOL!
~Michele~

Ok so where do you dumpster dive and have you gotten caught and is it illegal.I need to convince dh to go with me,if you can post more of what you have found.

Amanda

I go to the Goodwills for the dumpsters. Ours is very wasteful. But I got most of my furntiure from the roadside. And yes Ive been caught, I just smile and say HI. Most of the time people dont know what to say either and just walk away LOL I was stopped by a cop one night who ended up wanting to know since I was obivously in the neighborhood for awhile that night if I had seen a van they were looking for, LOL Its not illegal. BUT it maybe illegal to go onto private property. Ive found that 100% of the time the police officers just ask you to leave.
~Michele~

OK....Ive decided im gonna do this even if the husband does not aprove......Ive always been a pack rat anyways...and my kids are the same..so I know Ill have plenty of help!!..
I started officially today..but im going back late at night!..LOL

today I found a HUGE Beanbag chair...that had one small hole in the bottom...its vinyl..so it was easily cleaned and sanitized...and the hole...:D..DUCK TAPE....( I LOVE duck tape:heartsm: )

I also snagged two pristine plywood boards....which James (tho he does not yet know it)...is going to use this weekend to build his dang dog a house!:cool:

woohooo Im on a roll...this is fun!!:D :smball: :D

Wooohooo Marcie!! Way to go girl! :)
Duck tape is the solver of most problems, isnt it?!?! :D
Tell us what you get tonight, Im so eager to hear what you fidn!
~Michele~

I have had one *curbside shopping* success. Shortly after Christmas I noticed some baskets sitting on the top of one of the neighbors trash cans. I hoped they would still be there on my way home from Target and they were! I got a nice basket with a handle that has apple designs on it, 3 other nice baskets that will be great to give gifts in, two nice natural color woven baskets that I am using on my bathroom vanity to hold lotions, etc. and then underneath all of those was a brand new Anchor Hocking glass chip and dip set still in the box (never opened). It has a very pretty floral design on it. I keep my eyes open, but I never see anything really and dh is not fond of my going and looking around in an actual dumpster. :rolleyes:

wooooohooo ! lol....so far this weekend Ive scavenenged:

6 decoritive tins..which I collect ...3 of them large enough to actually use for storage
1 brand new box of 3 hankercheifs
almost all the lumber that james will need to frame his dog house
1 Crate and Barrel -type chair...complete with cushions (which I will re-cover) the chair looks great except the little wooden peg thingies that cover up where the screws go..a bunch of them are missing..(if I had bought this chair new...it would have taken my boys approximately 2 days to take out and missplace those lil wooden thingies anyway)

yeeehhaaaa Im smokin now...!!!:D

Marcie ... WOW You really found alot of great stuff.



I was not to sure about doing this but after reading this I plan on going. :D I can't wait.

I was going to pack up my boys in the van and take a drive all over. The boys will like it cause they get a drive in the car and who know's what I will find.

Wish Me Luck :smball:

One time I was driving behind kroger's and they were throwing out all the old flowers, about 20 big bouq. of roses, carnations, baby's breath, and so on. I took them home and was able to save alot of them. i gave lots of them away and kept some in the kitchen, bathroom , living room.
my house smelled like a garden for about 2 weeks.
:angel:

Originally posted by lec29
One time I was driving behind kroger's and they were throwing out all the old flowers, about 20 big bouq. of roses, carnations, baby's breath, and so on. I took them home and was able to save alot of them. i gave lots of them away and kept some in the kitchen, bathroom , living room.
my house smelled like a garden for about 2 weeks.
:angel:

Great timing Lori.:)

I've never had the nerve to do much dumpster diving but once I did fish out a set of track lights (complete with brackets and all) from our dumpster.

My Dh used to work for a trash company and he was always bringing home great things. My all time favorite is a green metal glider bench that was in the Wal Mart dumpster he was emptying, the only thing wrong with it was a small dent.

I miss the trash treasures he used to bring home.

I don't have the nerve to do it either. I sometimes wish that I did when I hear all the stuff that people find. I am too afraid that I will get arrested or something. Not to mention, I don't have anyone to go with. I will not do that type of stuff alone. I would take my son, but he hates when I shop at consignment shops let alone dig around in dumpsters:toothy:

Since I have been delivering the newspaper every morning, you should see what I find every week without *looking*! It's incredible!

I was even able to make over $100 in a garage sale with things in great condition, that I found.

Here's a list of what I found recently:

-fisherprice kitchenette with washer

-2 boxes of toys all in good condition

-3 beautiful weeved baskets

-4 garden hose things to roll your garden hose in it.

-a backyard swing

-another 3 bags of toys

-a box of snadbox toys

-a few lawn chairs in good condition

-a baby swing

-a table which I use as picnic table

-wiring for tomatoe plants-about 30 of them

-a very nice wooden desk and chair

-a Little turtle sandbox

-a few very nice laminated pictures frames.

....well, now I can't remember the rest but all I can say, I'm even starting to think I should *close my eyes* when I do my paper route...Actually I think it's sad to see all the very good things people put in the garabe in my town....and I find this all in the 10 streets I drive by---IMAGINE.

And here we have many close by churches who accept donations of used things and clothes and there is a few organisations that even pick your unwanted stuff....but I don't understand---people still throw it out....

I wonder how the landfills will look like in 10 years---where will we put all this when the space will be missing?....

Anyways--in the meantime, I find I'm lucky to find all these treasures, but still...