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Have you ever been dumpster diving?

Have you ever done any dumpster diving?

  • I have found lots of goodies in trash and dumpsters.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    35
I was once driving through a ritzy neighborhood where my brother lives, and saw a practically new toilet by the side of the road waiting for the trash guys to pick it up, and made my kids help me put it in the trunk. My boyfriend was rehabbing his ghetto shack* and toilets are expensive.



*he refers to it as an investment property.

The nicer the neighborhood, the better the findings....
In the Phoenix area, most nice areas have HOA rules that limit yard sales to once or twice a year, and all the residents have to do it on those days or not at all. So a lot of nice stuff gets put out for sale all at once. They don't need the money, just trying to clear out "junk", so prices are good...
 
The nicer the neighborhood, the better the findings....
In the Phoenix area, most nice areas have HOA rules that limit yard sales to once or twice a year, and all the residents have to do it on those days or not at all. So a lot of nice stuff gets put out for sale all at once. They don't need the money, just trying to clear out "junk", so prices are good...

That's exactly right. It's also why we prowl the goodwill in our area so frequently, you can't believe the stuff that the rich people around us throw away/donate. I've picked up a ton of furniture and repainted/refinished it. I see no reason to buy something new when I can get something used for a fraction of the price. Except mattresses. My grandma bought a mattress at a yard sale when she and my grandpa were first married during the depression. It was infested with bed bugs.
 
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I've never dumpster-dived, but I have snatched some discarded stuff from the curb that folks were tossing out. Like that small red metal kids wagon that was popular in the 50/60s. I restored it and it looks brand new now. Stuff like that.
 
My last job, before retiring, had me staging material for projects that involved removing old electronic communications stuff and putting in new.
I was told to haul the old equipment to the Surplus Dept of our company, but I did it my way. The racks were reuseable, so I saved them.
Later on, we had a sudden need for more racks than our supplier had on hand, and I just happened to have more than enough for the job.
The engineers I supported appreciate that kind of thinking.
More than once, while I am hauling stuff TO the Surplus Dept, I ended up hauling stuff back. Our storage area was well stocked, well enough to save a few thousand bucks a year.
 
Gary looks in the dumpsters when he delivers to businesses. That's how we got our canopy carport among other things. I've never actually dived into a dumpster although I've always loved shopping at estate/garage sales. I like the old stuff, antiques appeal to me.

The only thing I think we've ever bought new is our beds and our dining set. Mom recently gave me her antique dining set so I just got rid of our dining set. I love it!

We're going to buy our first *new* living room furniture this month. We've been out looking at different furniture stores and I think we've decided on a leather set that's a blend of cream/oyster in color. We have a few more places to hit before we decide on the one .
I do like finding bargains at garage sales but I'm really excited about getting something new.

:2wave:
 
IMO, the true crazy ones are those who live in fear.
Yeah, people who don't want lice, fleas, mites, bedbugs, or potentially toxic mold in their homes... *we're* the crazy ones. :roll:

Gary looks in the dumpsters when he delivers to businesses. That's how we got our canopy carport among other things. I've never actually dived into a dumpster although I've always loved shopping at estate/garage sales. I like the old stuff, antiques appeal to me.

The only thing I think we've ever bought new is our beds and our dining set. Mom recently gave me her antique dining set so I just got rid of our dining set. I love it!

We're going to buy our first *new* living room furniture this month. We've been out looking at different furniture stores and I think we've decided on a leather set that's a blend of cream/oyster in color. We have a few more places to hit before we decide on the one .
I do like finding bargains at garage sales but I'm really excited about getting something new.

:2wave:

I LOVE used stuff, and most especially antiques. The older it is, the better (as long as it still functions!). I routinely peruse estate auctions looking for cool used stuff. I got a $4000 bed for $300 that way. :) My Victorian, velvet couch and 'smoking' chair are used, as are my coffee tables, end tables, and settee. (and all of my pots and pans, dishes, and sliverware, most of my linens, and my vanity and bookcase) I bid on this really old desk at an auction and lost it, but I would have LOVED to have won it. It was so old and so used. So much character! I keep my eyes open on craigslist and auction sites for another old desk (since I'm in the market for one).

And books, omg I love old books. My mom and sister go to yard sales all the time and keep their eyes peeled for old books for me. One year for xmas, my sister packed a box full of old books as a gift for me. I LOVED it. She said I was the only person she knew that would be so tickled to get a box of old, musty books. :lol:

I used to LOVE going up into my grandmother, and great-grandparent's attics. I just adored looking around at all of their old ****. And thinking to myself, "someday, I'm going to get all this ****." LOL And it's not like any of it was expensive or worth anything. But I just love things that have a history behind them.
 
The nicer the neighborhood, the better the findings....
In the Phoenix area, most nice areas have HOA rules that limit yard sales to once or twice a year, and all the residents have to do it on those days or not at all. So a lot of nice stuff gets put out for sale all at once. They don't need the money, just trying to clear out "junk", so prices are good...

HOAs are Nazi organizations and a creation of the devil.
 
Yeah, people who don't want lice, fleas, mites, bedbugs, or potentially toxic mold in their homes... *we're* the crazy ones. :roll:

I LOVE used stuff, and most especially antiques. The older it is, the better (as long as it still functions!). I routinely peruse estate auctions looking for cool used stuff. I got a $4000 bed for $300 that way. :) My Victorian, velvet couch and 'smoking' chair are used, as are my coffee tables, end tables, and settee. (and all of my pots and pans, dishes, and sliverware, most of my linens, and my vanity and bookcase) I bid on this really old desk at an auction and lost it, but I would have LOVED to have won it. It was so old and so used. So much character! I keep my eyes open on craigslist and auction sites for another old desk (since I'm in the market for one).

And books, omg I love old books. My mom and sister go to yard sales all the time and keep their eyes peeled for old books for me. One year for xmas, my sister packed a box full of old books as a gift for me. I LOVED it. She said I was the only person she knew that would be so tickled to get a box of old, musty books. :lol:

I used to LOVE going up into my grandmother, and great-grandparent's attics. I just adored looking around at all of their old ****. And thinking to myself, "someday, I'm going to get all this ****." LOL And it's not like any of it was expensive or worth anything. But I just love things that have a history behind them.

Meaning??
To be willing to use discretion and dirty ones hands....
The fear thing is not to dive in the first place, even with a little common sense, it is "safe".
 
Yeah, people who don't want lice, fleas, mites, bedbugs, or potentially toxic mold in their homes... *we're* the crazy ones. :roll:



I LOVE used stuff, and most especially antiques. The older it is, the better (as long as it still functions!). I routinely peruse estate auctions looking for cool used stuff. I got a $4000 bed for $300 that way. :) My Victorian, velvet couch and 'smoking' chair are used, as are my coffee tables, end tables, and settee. (and all of my pots and pans, dishes, and sliverware, most of my linens, and my vanity and bookcase) I bid on this really old desk at an auction and lost it, but I would have LOVED to have won it. It was so old and so used. So much character! I keep my eyes open on craigslist and auction sites for another old desk (since I'm in the market for one).

And books, omg I love old books. My mom and sister go to yard sales all the time and keep their eyes peeled for old books for me. One year for xmas, my sister packed a box full of old books as a gift for me. I LOVED it. She said I was the only person she knew that would be so tickled to get a box of old, musty books. :lol:

I used to LOVE going up into my grandmother, and great-grandparent's attics. I just adored looking around at all of their old ****. And thinking to myself, "someday, I'm going to get all this ****." LOL And it's not like any of it was expensive or worth anything. But I just love things that have a history behind them.

But you can come home with mites, molds, lice, etc when buying used stuff too. Some of the stuff you find at estate sales is no cleaner than something you may find sitting out by the road or dumpster. lol.

This is what borax, hot water and soap is for:)

Oh and hate to tell ya this: but mites are verywhere and esp. in olde books:( Mites eat off our dead skin at night. I saw a show about this and no matter how clean the home? These little mites you cannot see are eating away at us.
 
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But you can come home with mites, molds, lice, etc when buying used stuff too. Some of the stuff you find at estate sales is no cleaner than something you may find sitting out by the road or dumpster. lol.

This is what borax, hot water and soap is for:)

Oh and hate to tell ya this: but mites are verywhere and esp. in olde books:( Mites eat off our dead skin at night. I saw a show about this and no matter how clean the home? These little mites you cannot see are eating away at us.

A lot less chance of something being ridden with fleas and lice when it doesn't contain any fabric. I don't BUY things second hand that can be infested with parasites unless I know the person. Like, mattresses, for example.
 
I would never in my life by a used matress:(
 
Mattresses: We spend a lot of money on our mattresses because getting good sleep is so important ;)

The one thing we've never even explored is those sleep number beds. I hear the commercials all of the time but I've never even looked into it. Anyone ever use one of those?
 
I would never in my life by a used matress:(

An $800 king size mattress from Sam's Club or Costco is very comfy, I can't imagine spending more unless you have serious back issues. I saw an ad for a "sleep number" mattress that was on sale at $799 off full price. So they must be really expensive.
 
HOAs are Nazi organizations and a creation of the devil.

and they are almost everywhere....I figure our AZ house is worth a lot more just because we don't have one, and the lot is big enough to have a 10 ft. RV gate on one side.

Our son's new house has about 5 ft. of yard on either side, maybe less. His HOA got after him to replant a bush that died. they actually count your bushes and plants !!!
 
But you can come home with mites, molds, lice, etc when buying used stuff too. Some of the stuff you find at estate sales is no cleaner than something you may find sitting out by the road or dumpster. lol.

This is what borax, hot water and soap is for:)

Oh and hate to tell ya this: but mites are verywhere and esp. in olde books:( Mites eat off our dead skin at night. I saw a show about this and no matter how clean the home? These little mites you cannot see are eating away at us.
I guess stranger mites are worse than our own home grown mites? IF you have wall to wall carpet in your house, it is worse. If you have a pet, it is worse.
If you live in a humid climate, it is worse.
I love the desert climates of AZ and Utah. Utah is high desert, it actually cools off at night. ANd there are less bugs than most parts of the country. We have never had a visible bug problem in our houses AZ, UT, or ID houses.
 
An $800 king size mattress from Sam's Club or Costco is very comfy, I can't imagine spending more unless you have serious back issues. I saw an ad for a "sleep number" mattress that was on sale at $799 off full price. So they must be really expensive.

Yeah, I figured they were pretty pricey but as someone who does have back issues, I would pay the price if it was worth it.

I just don't know anyone who has one. Neither the local DJ nor the bionic woman run in the same circles I do......but they sure do seem to like that bed a lot :lol:
 
and they are almost everywhere....I figure our AZ house is worth a lot more just because we don't have one, and the lot is big enough to have a 10 ft. RV gate on one side.

Our son's new house has about 5 ft. of yard on either side, maybe less. His HOA got after him to replant a bush that died. they actually count your bushes and plants !!!


The HOA rules from my old house say there can only be two trees in the front yard. :shock:

As for dumpster diving, I don't do it nor have I ever done it.




 
I guess stranger mites are worse than our own home grown mites? IF you have wall to wall carpet in your house, it is worse. If you have a pet, it is worse.
If you live in a humid climate, it is worse.
I love the desert climates of AZ and Utah. Utah is high desert, it actually cools off at night. ANd there are less bugs than most parts of the country. We have never had a visible bug problem in our houses AZ, UT, or ID houses.

Yeah. I love tile and hard wood floors but also love the feel of carpet:)

I keep hearing about how it is so much better out in places like AZ because it is a dry heat and even though it is hot does not feel so hot? Also they say it is better for people with allergies and this year is one of the worse in history in reguards to allergies.
 
Yeah, I figured they were pretty pricey but as someone who does have back issues, I would pay the price if it was worth it.

I just don't know anyone who has one. Neither the local DJ nor the bionic woman run in the same circles I do......but they sure do seem to like that bed a lot :lol:

I have heard mixed reviews on the Sleep Number beds. I want one too:)
 
Yeah. I love tile and hard wood floors but also love the feel of carpet:)

I keep hearing about how it is so much better out in places like AZ because it is a dry heat and even though it is hot does not feel so hot? Also they say it is better for people with allergies and this year is one of the worse in history in reguards to allergies.
There are a lot of plants in AZ that weren't there 40 years ago. People move here for their health, and then bring their favorite plants with them....AZ is no longer a good place for allergy sufferers....
 
There are a lot of plants in AZ that weren't there 40 years ago. People move here for their health, and then bring their favorite plants with them....AZ is no longer a good place for allergy sufferers....

Oh No! I am gonna have to break some bad news this to some.
 
I voted "never have" because dumpster diving, to me, means getting food only. Finding non-perishable items is recycling. I have stumbled upon usable non-food items many times that I've pack-ratted home with me.

Should I ever become destitute, Happy meal bags hold the most food. Suburban kids only eat 2 fries and one bite of the hamburger.
 
In some places the kids meals are a lot of food. I have even ordered one for me once or twice....
 
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