20 unusual ways to save money: Dumpster dive
Filed under: Bargains, Entrepreneurship, Extracurriculars, Home, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Charity
In a lot of ways, dumpster diving represents the ultimate battle between thrift and dignity. Dirty, smelly, and quasi-legal, it is also a great way to save money, get great stuff, and learn about your neighbors on a whole new level. Although "trash reclamation" has probably been around since the dawn of garbage heaps, movements such as Freeganism and Freecycle have blurred the line between waste and wealth creation, ushering in a new era of dumpster diving.When I was a college freshman, I was something of a preppy; consequently, random fate and poetic irony conspired to pair me with an inveterate dumpster diver. Much of my roommate Dan's possessions came from various trash piles around campus; those that didn't were generally the product of thrift store or discount bin scouring. Although I didn't join him on his scavenging hunts, I quickly became amazed at the incredible array of items that he brought back. From furniture to clothing to computer equipment, Dan had an almost preternatural ability to jump in a pile of trash and pull out a few pieces of treasure.
Part of Dan's luck came from our location. Between the fact that many students were still being supported by their parents and the fact that they often put off packing until the last moment, the dumpsters in and around campus were virtual wonderlands, filled with nearly new furniture, clothing, appliances, home furnishings and tons of other valuable items. Over the years, my friend Linda and I turned dumpster diving into a sort of business. We would load up on all the items that we wanted or needed, after which we would clean the rest and drop them off at the local thrift store. A homeowner, Linda found that the tax deductions were more than worth her time.
In the grand scheme of things, I was a pretty timid dumpster diver. After a few bad diaper episodes, I tended to be nervous about sealed bags, and I often turned my nose up at perfectly usable stuff. I also didn't bring home food, no matter how fresh it was. However, many dumpster divers are a lot less cowardly. Freegans, for example, are middle class people who dumpster dive for food. While I find the process a little too Manson family for my taste, I am nonetheless impressed by their devotion.
In the end, regardless of whether you just find yourself eyeing a coffee table that someone has dragged to the curb or regularly jump into trash cans in search of dinner, dumpster diving has the potential to save you tons of money while offering a lot of wonderful surprises. My best dumpster diving item was an oriental carpet (I'm still not sure how Linda conned me out of it), but I have also found tables, chairs, and more clothes than I can easily count. In fact, while I haven't done it in years, I recently pulled a bed out of a trash pile. It was in perfect shape, and retailed for $149; I knew, because I had been shopping for the same exact model. Needless to say, I've started paying much closer attention to the trash piles in my area!
Bruce Watson is a freelance writer, blogger, and all-around cheapskate. He recently contemplated a dining room set, but by the time he came back, it was gone. Damn you, random dumpster pirates!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-17-2008 @ 9:11AM
JL said...
I've been doing this for years and have no shame about pulling the car over and pulling something out of someone else's trash pile. On one trip, I snagged a perfectly usable lawn mower and a handy step-stool which I still have and use. About half of the furniture in my house was either pulled out of someone's trash or bought at a thrift store. I buy virtually all of my jeans at thrift stores because within a few weeks of wearing them to work they look exactly like the $60 "pre-worn" jeans from the mall - and mine are the real deal, not fake pre-worns for posers. My ex-wife would hunker down on the floor board when I'd pull the car over. My current step-son covers his head with his shirt. I don't care. My ex-wife was a mental case and my step-son is a fool. Before gas got so expensive, I used to drive around on "trash night" and look for stuff. One of my best tips is to salvage parts from broken furniture to repair, for example, the keyboard tray on my computer desk. I have a job, but if I ever find myself without one I'll survive. I just regret that this seems to be becoming trendy.
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12-17-2008 @ 9:15AM
MigThor said...
Your article reminds me of two things. While homeless in Ann Arbor, I dumpster dived for cans and bottles. I made about $10 per day (not counting the football games.)
As for your ""...many students ... and the fact that they often put off packing until the last moment..." comment. I worked in housing at an amusement park. At season's end many of the kids had never cleaned their rooms and thus when they had to leave in a hurry, they left lots of good stuff (especially behind the beds. So I know first hand, exactly, what you mean. I've also found a lot of pennies and other coins averaging about $60 per year ($220 tops.)
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12-18-2008 @ 11:18AM
POOR----MAN said...
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FILLING-OUT OFFERS, BILLINGS, SURVEYS, PANEL, INFO's.
''WHATEVER'' AS LONG AS THE SITES/COMPANIES ARE
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12-19-2008 @ 12:49AM
Jerry Dennis said...
College kids and military families that live on post. Both are extremely wasteful. When I was stationed in DC, I lived on Bolling AFB. Every Sunday night I would drive around the base and pick up every broken Big Wheel I could find. I'd take them apart, toss the broken pieces, save the good parts and for about a $1, put together a perfectly good Big WHeel for my kids. In fact, every kid on my block had one, free of charge!
Washers and dryers were the same. Most worked as they were. I just cleaned them up and sold them.
Now that I'm retired from the Navy I work as a maintenance supervisor in an Ivy League college town for an apartment complex. Yes, these rich kids pack their suitcases and drive away in their Daddy's BMWs, leaving all of the good stuff behind. You'd never know the economy was in the tank by the waste of these kids.
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12-23-2008 @ 1:12PM
Mary Lou said...
Sounds good, but here in Decatur, Ill. the stores will run you off. My friend re-carpet the house she had from carpets store. People will take up good carpet just cause they do not like the color. Store throw good stuff in the dumpster. It would help lot of friends I know to be able to to go throught them. Am I right you can be arrested for getting into dumpsters or is it only if you get in store dumpsters?
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12-23-2008 @ 6:26PM
Toriluve said...
I am a trash head - it is true - why let perfectly good furniture go to a dump?
I have gotten all kinds of very nice, usable ANTIQUES from the trash pile.
A gorgeous tiger oak chair with leather seat and claw feet - someone had spilled paint on the seat and threw it out - no problem, just treat the leather with petroleum jelly and as good a new!
I have a 1890's antique love seat that was thrown in the trash because the upholstery was stained - easy fix, just carefully removed the material, cut new material using the old for a pattern and viola! It appraised this year for over $2000
Thank you to all the people who needlessly throw out perfectly good usable items.
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1-02-2009 @ 4:18PM
wendygoerl said...
When I moved out of the dorms to an apartment, my loft ended up in the dumpster. Dad wanted to take some of the lumber home, but the car didn't have roof racks. After I finished college, I ended up back with my parents. Moving home I was forced to leave behind three shelving units and a couch (which I had rescued from a dumpster myself). Too much effort to transport, too little space at the destination. I see a lot of good stuff on the curb, but I have to pass it by for the same reason it's probably there in the first place: no room.
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1-02-2009 @ 5:10PM
Holly said...
I commend the bravery and dedication of people who can do this. However, you have to be careful! Old furniture and clothes can contain bedbugs (infestations are on the rise and creating BIG problems in dorms and hotels). Once they are in your home, they are VERY difficult to get out.
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