Dumpster Diving

Okay, serious discussion time. What is the best thing you have ever gotten from dumpster diving?

I have told about many of my explorations here, but I have had a few great finds lately. One thing - I found an entire season of M*A*S*H on VHS that I was able to give to my parents! I guess someone tossed their VCR and needed to get rid of these tapes. Score! I have found bowls that I turned into planters, MyCokeReward points, coupons, magazines, etc etc! But look at this load I hauled off a few days ago:



Oh yeah, that's right. 75 Southern Living magazines. HAHAHA!! Isn't that insane!? There were more but this filled up my trunk! I love the recipes in Southern Living but I wonder how many years it will take me to read all these...

But then the other day I also found these:



Tons of packets of leftover VBS and Sunday School material!! I snagged it without looking at it but it's all stuff for preschoolers! I am still going through it but there are tons of games and crafts that Brianna and I are going to be able to do together! I am so excited about this!

So really, what kind of stuff do you nab at the dumpster?

Dumpster Diving

These are the days I really love dumpster diving.

Dumpster Diving

I've not blogged about dumpster diving in a long time, but trust me, it's still a huge part of my life! I try to go at least once a week.

I've been having great luck but one of my best runs came last week when I came across some of my favorite magazines!

• 2 Kraft Food & Family
• 2 Cooking
• 2 Everyday With Rachael Ray
• 2 Oprah
• 2 Martha Stewart Living
• 1 Bon Appetit
• 6 Food and Wine
• 1 Travel and Leisure
  

Unfortunately that was all I had room in the car for. I love runs like this though!

Dumpster Diving

Yesterday was a great day for dumpster diving! I figured everybody would be dumping because it wasn't raining and they had probably read their Sunday papers. I was right! I got a HUGE stack of coupons, plus 2 Better Homes and Gardens, 2 Good Housekeeping, 2 Woman's Day, 2 Southern Living, 2 Ladies Home Journal, and 10 Taste of Home! I am loving the person who recycles their Taste of Home magazines. They're my hero.

Dumpster Diving

Today was an okay at the dumpsters. When I got there they had just taken the magazines, so I wasn't able to get any of those at all. Like I need any more. But I did okay with coupons - got 8 Smartsource inserts, 5 P&G inserts, 1 Redplum and then a stash of miscellaneous. For free - I ain't complainin'!

Dumpster Diving

I went back to the recycling center today. Usually I go on Sundays. Do you know there are people who must read the newspaper first thing in the morning and then go straight to the recycling center??? By the time I get out of church I can usually find at least a few newspapers from that day already in the bin. If I didn't go to church I doubt I'd be out of my pajamas by then!! Anyway, got a few more great items!

3 Southern Livings, 2 Family Circles, 2 Bon Appetits, 2 Peoples (don't judge), 2 Cooking Lights, 2 Taste of Home Quick Cookings, 1 Everyday with Rachael Ray, 1 Gourmet and 1 Campbell's cookbook. And also that huge messy stack of coupons in the middle right. Works for me!

Dumpster Diving

Welcome to a little segment I like to call "Dumpster Diving" or "Don't Knock It Till You've Tried It." My dumpster diving days go back many years, back to when my sister was in college and other students were getting rid of perfectly useful items. Actually, it was instilled in me in a young age, when I wanted a CD player and dad just happened upon one at the dump. I used that CD player for many years. I'm not sure if it still works or not, but we certainly got our money's worth out of it! So to speak...

These days I dumpster dive mainly at the recycling centers around town for magazines and coupons. Every day is a new experience and you never know if you're going to get a haul or fail. I would love to enlighten you on the trips I take to the dumpsters. Look at the fat haul I got last Saturday!

This is: 5 Taste of Homes, 5 Taste of Homes Quick Cooking, 5 Kraft Food & Family, 3 Food and Wine, 2 Good Housekeeping, 2 Creative Cook's Kitchen, 1 Pampered Chef cookbook, 1 Taste of Home Healthy Cooking, 1 HomeBasics, 1 Better Homes and Gardens, 1 Ladies' Home Journal, 1 Southern Living, 1 P&G Brand Saver, and a partridge in a pear tree.

Love it!!