I recently started reading a blog called ihavetriedit and found a bunch of stuff I really liked. I particularly liked her post about her recent trip to the mall, not just because she linked to me (although that helps…) but because her post really sums up the feelings I get when I end up at a mall nicely.
So just like I did back when I found out that Lindsay hit the blogosphere with some gutsy transparency (much gutsier than me), I wanted to point ”y’all” over to ihavetriedit and welcome her to the neighborhood.
(If you’ve started (or found) a new blog recently that touches on smart money issues make sure to leave a comment here and shoot me an e-mail letting me know that you’re new (or the blog is new) and I’ll check out the blog and highlight one of your posts with my thoughts, just like this post and the one for Lindsay.)
One post over at ihavetriedit that hit close to home was her dumpster diving success story. Sure she kicks herself for not grabbing the other three chairs (I would have too!). But she scored one great chair and a fantastic story. I’m a fan of dumpster diving for some things – mostly things like furniture (without cushions) or tools/equipment that either works or I can repair (Disclaimer: I can’t repair much). My wife hates it. As a result, we’ve been a dumpster-free household 
But multiple times in high school I remembered driving in the back of my parents’ mini-van when my dad would discover something really cool at the side of the road and slam on his breaks like he was about to hit a baby holding a puppy holding a kitten holding a bunny. Of course as a stupid high school kid I often secretly undid my seat belt so half the time I would crash into the back of his seat and practically soil myself. And then I’d hear my dad exclaim, in his thick Greek accent: “Oahh, looka wata thees peepal thowaway. Eesss prefact.” (For those of you who can’t read Gringlish, the English translation is “Oh, look at what these people threw away. It’s perfect.”).
He’d then pull over as fast as he could and one of us would run and grab “the loot,” rush back into the car and drive home. Good times. Ahhh the memories.
Friends of mine still sport a nice little dumpster find in the entryway of their new house. My buddy loves the table and story. His wife “has accepted” the table and hates the story… But the table rocks and there was nothing wrong with it – a perfect entry table. What’s your take? Anything you “just wouldn’t” pull from the side of the road? My wife’s away with the kids this week… maybe I’ll take a spin to some nice neighborhoods and see what I can find…
Until next time, put your credit card down and slowly step away from the mall! And when you have a few minutes, check out ihavetriedit.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for the link and post! I'm definitely still mourning the fact I didn't grab those other chairs
My recent post How Is the New Year Treating Your Resolutions?
No problem. I would definitely be kicking myself too.
I'm a fan of dumpster diving–nothing wrong with it! In the neighborhood where I grew up, there were certain days when the dump would make pick-ups (apart from regular garbage pick-up). On those mornings I made some great finds! I haven't done it in years though.
Dumpster as this can be prohibited by your local authority or your Renting Dumpster company. It’s better to ask your Renting Dumpster company about the size and type of waste materials you are allowed to dump into the dumpster that you have obtained on rent because every Renting Dumpster has a certain garbage collection capacity.
Renting Dumpster New York