Recently, I’ve been reviewing previous postings on Frugal, Wealthy and Wise. I’ve identified a handful of articles that sharply focus on the essential elements required to become Frugal, Wealthy and Wise. These particular articles sum up the mindset and actions required to live below your means and build wealth over time.
I present you: the Essential Frugal, Wealthy and Wise:
In many neighborhoods, you can find some great stuff put out at the curb.
Sometimes a particular possession has been replaced with a newer, spiffier one. And the owner just wants get rid of the item being replaced.
…Or a house has recently been sold and there’s in a lot of stuff not getting moved – it’s just getting thrown out
…Or It’s end of the month move-out time for apartment dwellers
…Or it’s end of the spring semester move-out at local colleges.
…Or maybe something gets thrown out but it just needs a bit of tinkering, some elbow grease or replacement parts
Where to look:
Your local neighborhood
Nearby affluent neighborhoods
Anywhere you are driving
Near college campuses. At the University of Pennsylvania, they have a name for all the stuff left behind when the students move out in May: ‘Penn Christmas’
Apartment complexes
Houses listed for sale or being vacated
When to look:
Weekends
The day/evening before trash pickup or very early the following morning
End of the month, especially in May/June
End of the spring semester near college campuses
Anytime
How to look:
Always be on the lookout.
Get a dog; walking a pooch makes a great cover for trash pickers.
Have a plan for getting you new-found treasures home.
Be careful – there might be something really nasty lurking in that trash pile. Or dangerous. Or very heavy to lift. (Self-inflicted visits to the ER are neither Frugal nor Wise!)
Don’t trespass. And make sure the owner intended to get rid of the item(s) at the curb.
Beware of bed bugs – pass on upholstered furniture.
The Trash-Picker Mindset:
Be discerning. 98% of trash at the curb is just that: trash that needs to be discarded. Focus on the 2% that is worthy of your consideration.
But don’t overlook broken items that may have a simple fix. Or need a replacement part. Or just need to be cleaned up.
‘Rescue’ perfectly good items that you don’t want/need. Donate them to the Salvation Army of Goodwill for a tax deduction or sell at a yard sale, CraigsList or Ebay.
Give back – when we have stuff that is not good enough to donate but too good to throw out, we put it out for ‘curbside adoption’. Most of the time, our ‘offerings’ disappear on the their own.
Don’t hoard junk just because you think might come in handy someday. Keep clutter in your life to a minimum.
Here are some of our better trash pick finds over the years.
(Not one but TWO) Weber gas grills!
Several sets of dishes in good condition – a number of sets we gave away
Pair of table lamps in the family room
Emerson dehumidifier – I trash picked it over 20 years ago. It’s still going strong in my son’s apartment (he was 6 years old when I ‘rescued’ it.)
How about you? What are your found treasures? Please let me know. Send pictures if you can (via posting below, email or tweeting @FugralWealthYz).
