Inspired by the "old furniture" thread... Have you ever trash picked?

[DISshopkeeper]

I do! I've gotten some great stuff. Most recently a perfectly good office chair!!

 

[Penny2]

I've never done it but my Dad used to do it all the time...drove my mom nuts! One time he picked up the weirdest round couch...white no less! It was the ugliest piece of furniture I ever saw in my life.

One of the saddest things I ever saw was when someone got evicted from an apartment near my office and people stopped to pick through their stuff. It wasn't bad enough that this person had all their stuff thrown in the street but then people were picking through it and stealing! Finally the police came and stopped it...I always felt so sorry for whoever it was.....SAD!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Not for many, many years, Dorothy, but as a kid, always. My folks used to 'kill' me with all the junk I brought home. My most prized find was an almost working condition (wiring mechanism was ripped out) bazooka a neighbor soldier brought home from Korea in the early 50's. Wish I still had that. Could you see bringing something like that home nowadays from like Iraq?

 

[Kallison]

Oh ya, we live next door to McMansions and it's amazing what they throw out. One of my fellow neighbors in the biggest McMansion called me last summer and said -- you've got to come down and get this, I can't because everyone will see me and talk about me. It was a practically brand new patio set. The cushions were faded and there was a little rust on one chair. I mean this was a set that wasn't a chain store (K-mart) brand. It was a nice one that cost at least $1K or more. I went down at 5am and loaded it all up. I was just telling DH I wanted a chaise lounge on our screened in porch. I use the lounge and just flipped the cushions over. The table and chairs and umbrella are all in our storage space, I guess I'll save it till my kids get a place of their own.

Also have gotten a real ugly orange computer chair that my kids love to use when they play PS2 down the basement. A black wrought iron log holder. DS and friends brought home four green plastic stacking chairs that still had the price tags on them. A wire shelf that holds all our shoes by the back door. Littley Tykes tool bench for my neighbors son.

 

[Mickey527]

I haven't done it in many years but when my friend and I were pregnant with our now almost 21 year olds we used to go out every night for what we called Pamper pick-up.
we would look for the huge boxes of pampers and rip off the little teddy bear that said "Pamper points" When you sent in 50 pamper points they would send you a $50 savings bond. There was no limit, you could send in as often as you wanted.
My son just cashed his $2000.00 worth of savings bonds to pay for his car. He bought a car with someones cast offs.
They make the Pamper boxes out of plastic now so people don't throw them out on the curb like they used to. Boy do I miss that.
Peggie

 

[momof3disneyholics]

Oh, I love doing this!!
When I lived in Germany, alot of people threw out good stuff when they were moving back overseas. Heck, when we moved back to the states, we threw out a crib, changing table, and a perfectly good microwave!
I have found some good items by looking on the side of the road. I found a dresser that I still have, I found a chair that I still have and the little odds and ends, but the best thing I found was 2 bags full of baby clothes which I then sold on Ebay!!

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

My neighbor was throwing away her 20 year old son's baby crib when she moved. I snagged it. I used a blue and white crackle paint technique on it and it is beautiful in my son's nursery.

I picked up a Little Tikes tractor out of someone's trash and called the co. and bought a replacement tire for $10.00. When we were done I sold it in a yard sale for $15.00.

Lori

 

[DISshopkeeper]

You guys are GOOD! I can't help but slow down when I see BIG stuff out for trash!

 

[Stepharoonie!]

I have never dug in the trash for anything, except maybe when my keys have fallen in

 

[Cruisin]

a guy that works for us does this kind of thing all of the time. He checks the garbage and he even goes to the recycle depot (where people bring their own recyling stuff to dump it off)

He finds some great stuff and turns around and sells it again. He found me a whole pile of license plates from different states, even Hawaii ... I collect license plates. He didn't make me pay for them though!!!!

Last week he found an old safe in the recycle dumpster. He hauled it out, figured out the combination and then he sold it today for $150.00...........

He paid for a trip to Australia with these kinds of finds and yard sales that he has at his house.

 

[missypie]

DH does it...drives me nuts...99% of the stuff belongs in the trash. The funniest thing he ever brought home was an almost full case of some off brand of beer...it's still in our fridge, so if you come to our house and DH offers you a beer, DON'T DRINK IT!

 

[Nutsy]

Nope, never done it, but I've seen plenty of others doing it tho.

 

[HauntedMansionGeek]

Ohhhh mama mama mama I hate to admit how much trash diggin' I've done in this lifetime.

We've found some great things, some we repair and sell at rummage sales, other things we use. Toys, furniture, pottery, other old stuff not to mention historic community artifacts and odd things like that.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Originally posted by Kallison

Also have gotten a real ugly orange computer chair that my kids love to use when they play PS2 down the basement.

So that is where is went! We used to have *that* chair!

I picked up an old school desk once. I had one as a kid and loved it! My kids couldn't care less and it took me 3 garage sales before I sold it for .25 cents...I practically begged the guy to take it.

 

[Cindy B]

We call it curbside shopping at our home. We got a patio set this way, and kids toys, and a weed wacker, fertilizer spreader, you name it... we have gotten it.

I have also sold my curbside shopping on Ebay as well.

 

[Lars624]

Yep..............a pack-n-play in great condition! I was pregnant at the time & it was in my best friend's neighborhood.
I just couldn't imagine who would throw this away when you could just donate it to a day care or church. Seems like a big waste to me.

 

[pjlla]

Yes..... all the time! But we call it "treasure hunting". Drives my kids (and DH) nuts when I suddenly pull over to the side of the road without warning..... but they don't seem to mind the stuff I find for them! I will take anything that is in good condition that I can save for a yard sale or Ebay. But we use plenty of my "finds" also. Mostly kids toys the more I think about it. DS and I saw a Little Tykes (or Step One) lighted drawing table one day. I wasn't gonna stop but he wanted it. So in the van it went. Took it home, cleaned it well, and put it in his room. But the light didn't work and the drawers were missing. DH was at the dump a few weeks later, saw the same table with working light and drawers, but the table itself was in bad shape. He brought it home, took off the good parts (lights, drawer), put them on the table in DS's room, and took the rest back to the dump. VOILA! A great table for FREE! My DS loves it, we labeled all the drawers and cubbies for his craft stuff. And when he is done with it I expect I will be able to get at least $10 at a yard sale for it!

I could go on and on, but I won't. I love my "treasure hunting"! I'm not embarrassed. I think of it as recycling to save the planet and keep the landfills from overflowing! I'd love to hear more stories about the great finds that people have gotten for free!!................................P

 

[C.Ann]

Guilty as charged...............LOL

So much "trash", so little time.... All kinds of Little Tykes toys (the large items like country kitchen set, picnic table, etc.) - recliner for at the lake (actually my son-in-law picked that up for us and the following week he went through the same neighborhood and got one for himself - LOL) - bikes - lawn mower - 8 white lawn chairs (the folks said they were "dirty" and they didn't "feel" like washing them) - doll cradle/bath tub set - crates of books - and on and on..

Another hint for all of you "trash pickers" - go out on Sunday afternoon - around 4:15 or so.. Most people who have held a weekend garage sale put everything out at the curb that they haven't sold! I just LOOOOOVE the "free" garage sales!

 

[BHFan25]

I haven't but DH does it all the time. I cringe if we drive by and someone has set something out on the side of the road. He has furnished his garage (3 car) with these types of finds.