Posted on 09/20/2011 4:53:01 PM PDT by EBH
one year he concentrated on mountain bikes,
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police auctions are LOADED with bicycles , you can buy a lot of 20 or so bikes for $5 ,, nobody wants them... many times charities buy and fix them for gifts...
Hair dryers and clock radios behind the girls’ dorm.
I applaud your ingenuity and your industriousness. And I’m really glad you’re doing well now! Keep the faith!
I’ve read through most of the posts, and HOW FASCINATING! I don’t fault ANYONE for dumpster diving. If you’re making it on your own, without becoming dependent on the government, I say more power to ya! This is why I love Free Republic, seems I learn something new everyday. I’m not so proud I wouldn’t do the same if it meant feeding my boys. Heck, just going to garage sales is rewarding, think of all the people who don’t even bother, and just throw stuff in the garbage!
Just another great, wonderful day in Obama’s fundamentally transformed America.
What a lovely story (and home!). I’m proud of you!!
Thank You kimmie7
The people who throw this stuff out know there are people who dumpster dive and usually they do not mind it. But there are times when the food is thrown out for good reason. Usually they will get a lockable dumpster to dispose of this stuff but locks can be broken. So they pour gallons of bleach over everything. That is your warning sign. Bleach does not mean they are clean freaks. Bleach is BAD NEWS.
I have found the FR responses interesting too. What I see as fascinating, is that most of those who have done this have gone on to become successful and frugal folks.
It also demonstrates a key difference in attitudes of ‘down on their luck’ FReepers(conservatives) verses liberals.
The liberals in this story and many of the videos on dumpster diving see this as a new lifestyle, protest against capitalism, etc.
The conservatives posting this past evening see it as a stepping stone, a means to acheiving something better, survival without government assistance, and from their tone it seems that they never considered themselves out of their class. Hard-up, pushed to the brink....but never out of their class.
Which brings us to the idea of ‘class warfare.’ Is class a matter of things or a matter of attitude about things?
As the beltway elites and 0bama keep beating that drum about the classes and attempting to instigate class warfare, I will come back to this thread and consider that class is often determined by a person’s attitude first.
Have I ever dumpster dived for food? Yes. And it was a strong consideration last holiday season. Last year was the gift of food on the table, not from the dumpster, but from an Angel food purchase.
Living like no one else! ;-)
Thanks Diana for the ping.
Dave Ramsey Fan Ping List.
If you would like to be added to the Live like no one else, so that you can LIVE like no one else list, feel free to Freepmail me.
Many college students dive into dumpsters to get furniture for their rooms. I have done some to get lumber at construction sites to build stuff at home. I found enough pressure treated lumber at one site to rebuild a three step set of outside steps for the patio.
Very impressive! You have good reason to be proud of yourself!
I just love it. It’s not dumpster diving, it’s recycling. LOL
“Hair dryers and clock radios behind the girls dorm.”
Like new alarm clocks!
I found two solid oak cabinet doors when I was needing some 2X4 lumber. My neighbor basically built his workshop. Every time he needed and extra board or two, he would go to a construction site.
The contractor told him that the building codes stated if a board had nail or screw holes in them, the holes had to be cut off if they wanted to use the boards. We found a lot of 8’ 2X4 and 2X6 with a few holes in the ends.
When I was working at a grocery store, it always disturbed me to see 3 grocery carts full of bread and pastries being thrown out every single morning. We were banned from using it ourselves, and as I recall the dumpster was locked. It wasn’t spoiled at all but it was definately wasted.
Sad, ain’t it? When I worked on Monroe Street there was an artisan bakery a few doors down - I got all sorts of awesome stuff out of their dumpster at the end of the day. The Cinnamon Raisin loaves were to DIE for - day old or NOT!
St. Vinnie’s USED to put out day old stuff from the local bakeries, but some idiot in city government changed the rules on that, and they no longer do so...
I’m glad to hear of your resourcefullness, I’m always happier to hear of people who find a way rather than wait for government handouts :)
There’s a park nearby that has all kinds of fruits and nuts growing wild, and it always amazes me to see someone a block away from that park with a sign saying “Hungry - please help”. I can understand being desperate, but when free food is right there for the taking, why beg?
Hmmmm, husband is restoring my mother’s house. We found windows on the side of the road a few years back and my husband used them in several area’s of the house. Also, visit Buffalo Reuse every now and then and it’s incredible the architectual bargains that are available for restoration. Love junk as long as it’s stored somewhere else. Can’t stand clutter.
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