Recycling stations, in these times, should be a frugal-green b’s destination for fabulous finds. That’s right, the dump. Just like you should head over to your nearest Walmart or Target in the priciest zip nearby (for the best assortments), if you can enter without a sticker, check out the priciest garbage facility that has a take-it-or-leave-it near you. Be clever as you wait by the entrance for all those rich, or the once-rich forced to move and now cleaning out, to deliver their goodies. Restrain your Madame LaFarge like snickers, remember what goes around comes around, as you sort through their leftovers.
Repaint a desk and chair for Jimmy. Organize a new library for Grandma. Set the holiday table with oh-so-chic mismatched depression glass dishes.
A final word: Dignity. If you are picking through the garbage, at least be picky.
*Adapted from the book Bitches on a Budget
12 comments
Neka says:
Nov 28, 2010
My husband used to work for a trash company, in an area that provided service to the fairly well-to-do. Let me tell ya, the stuff he used to bring home!! All good, hardly used, awesome stuff. One Christmas the kids all received bikes, what did it cost us?? A bit of clean-up (they didn’t look dirty, but hey, they were in the trash) & a few new tire tubes.
Sigh, I miss that job for that reason alone.
Laura says:
Dec 9, 2010
When I was a young girl, the area we lived in had an annual clean-out-and-give-away week. Everyone cleaned out their houses, garages, storage units — and put all the usable things they did not want near the curb. And anyone could come by and pick up what they wanted for free. It worked extremely well because everyone was respectful of each other, did not make a mess, and only took what they could use (as opposed to people nowdays taking everything free and trying to sell it later). As children, my siblings and I found many toys, games, sports equipment, and sometimes even furniture. Nowdays, I donate any usable item that I don’t need/want to Goodwill, a homeless shelter, or the like. Just because someone is finished using an item, it does not automatically make that item “trash”; it may be very useful to someone else.
Naomi Norman via Facebook says:
Nov 3, 2011
What is a take-it-or-leave-it?
Christine Murray Smith via Facebook says:
Nov 3, 2011
Yes it was just featured on the Nate Berkus show. Its awesome!
Laura Laing via Facebook says:
Nov 3, 2011
Also try “Free-cycle” on the internet
Lois ..... says:
Nov 3, 2011
My town has a Swap-Shop located in the town dump. I have gotten bunkbedsfor my grandsons, bureaus, a microwave, a recliner, TVs, VCRs, DVD players, nick-nacks, books, dishes, a digital camera, coffee makers, yarn, a kitchen table, tools, and many more things, all of which I am using or have given to family members to use. I know there are a few people who just go there to get things to sell, but there are not many of them. I firmly believe every town or city should have one. Why waste something useful?
Lois Gibbs via Facebook says:
Nov 3, 2011
Craigslist also has a “free” category.
Lois Gibbs via Facebook says:
Nov 3, 2011
My town has a Swap-Shop located in the town dump. I have gotten beds, bureaus, a microwave, a recliner, TVs, VCRs, DVD players, nick-nacks, books, dishes, a digital camera, coffee makers, yarn, a kitchen table, tools, and many more things, all of which I am using or have given to family members to use. I know there are a few people who just go there to get things to sell, but there are not many of them. I firmly believe every town or city should have one. Why waste something useful?
Jane Ruby via Facebook says:
Nov 3, 2011
I am afraid of bed bugs. And negative energies embedded in solid furniture, paintings etc. Nate Berkus once said he would have to know the person very well-before taking something they ddin’t want. Also, Staph C=diff on tables etc.
Jodi Boecker via Facebook says:
Nov 3, 2011
Nope!
Sharon Sanders Poole via Facebook says:
Nov 3, 2011
I can’t name everything I have gotten from Freecycle and Craigslist plus at my storage unit where people clean out their units and just toss in the dumpster. Everything is cleaned with a clorox solution as soon as I get it home so I feel good about using it. I love recylcing and will do anything to keep bad stuff out of the earth.
Joanna Douglass via Facebook says:
Nov 4, 2011
No, but the unwritten rule in town is that if it’s on the curb by your house, it’s free to anyone who wants it.