So how many people have gone to the extent and level of those extreme coupon-ing shows and been dumpster diving for coupons? I often consider giving it a try myself, since I don't live far from the local recycling unit. However, is this considered legal still, I would assume so because it is implied that as recycling they are giving it away as "waste." I have seen a couple of other people in my neighborhood doing so. At first I was astonished as I walked by the recycling bins, I had assumed at first someone dropped something in. I was prepared to offer to help, however I soon realized they were looking at each individual sheet and discussing what coupons they saw. I was astonished! I will admit, I haven't quite gone that far but I do dig around in the small bin for mail recycling in my apartment complex mail room. Usually I take a couple extra pamphlets off the top just in case I find a good coupon for something I purchase regularly. For example, I love to look for the coupons for $0.75 off of spices etc by McCormick in the fall. Perfect opportunity to wait for the vanilla extract and other expensive spices to go on sale and stock up! Anyone else have any dumpster diving hints or success stories?
I haven't gone dumpster diving for coupons but I did find a coupon section in a newspaper that had been left on a table at McDonald's. I don't have the guts to go dumpster diving. The farthest I'll go is to pick up a piece of furniture that's left on the curb at trash day.
I have never gone dumpster diving for coupons. I like using coupons and saving money but no to that extent. The most I have done is what we call alley shopping. Not for coupons but for good stuff people are tossing out or when someone is getting evicted.
Well huh. This is definitely a new one for me. I never would've even considered it as an option, but it does make sense! So no, I've never done it, nor do I intend to, but I can see how it works for other people.
It's interesting that most of you mentioned the closest you got to dumpster diving for coupons is taking items left near the curbside bins or in alleyway abandoned as trash. I never considered digging through recycling bins for coupons to be similar, but I suppose it is. Either way you take advantage of the "one man's trash is another man's treasure" ordeal. I do like going by university campuses and seeing what students (especially exchange students) are tossing away. I almost never purchase hangars now because often times I can get a good bucketful just waiting for students to toss their things near the trash. I know friends and family who've acquired small refrigerators to keep in the basement that way!
There's no way I'm digging in the trash to save money that's just taking it too far. I do admire the people who are willing to get down and dirty just to save a couple of bucks. I tip my hat off to them, but as for me I couldn't do that for any type of savings. Just the thought of what you might be facing digging into garbage for a coupon that might not be in good condition is crazy. Remember if you do go dumpster diving wash your hands.
When I used to do work study in college cleaning up the dorms after students had moved out, I did find a lot of nice discarded things like toasters. Some of the students are from out of the state or other countries, so they don't need to take a toaster back to Texas or Argentina. If you live near a college, you can find some useable stuff when school's out.
Well from the sounds of it, they're not actually dumpster diving. They're 'recycling bin' diving. Because of that, it's not really trash they're even digging through, but rather, lots of papers instead. It won't get very messy.
Yes, yes indeed. That is why I'm not willing to quite to the extent of roaming through the large industrial sized recycling bins, because I never know if someone has taken as much care as I have to only place clean (not containing food etc) papers in. However, the much smaller 18 gallon trash bin used for recycling mail in our mail room is usually fairly safe. Most of the time it's safe and sanitary to just pick from the top (of course it's a good idea to wash your hands after either way, who knows who has been touching them after all). If there appears to be trash inside (usually McDonald's wrappers stand out pretty good amongst a bunch of mail and coupon booklets) then I just leave it alone for the day. No harm, no foul. I don't think it's any more unsanitary and dangerous than picking up the newspaper that someone left behind at a booth in a restaurant or coffee shoppe.
I guess a recycle bin wouldn't be so bad, but I would be pissed if I saw someone digging through my trash - it's not about the coupons, i'd be more concerned by identity theft.
I have not gone dumpster diving for coupons. However, lately I've become fascinated by people who go dumpster diving to rescue all the food waste being thrown away. I'm not speaking about homeless people either. It is absurd how much food gets thrown out daily by grocery stores, restaurants, stores, etc. Although, I'm not quite brave enough to do this myself. But my dad often finds amazing things people are throwing away. The other day he bought home two pretty lovely paintings someone was throwing our with their garbage.
I don't dumpster dive, but I have found some coupons in free newspapers on foreclosed homes in my neighborhood. The papers are just piling up so I scoop them up, take the coupons and recycle them. It's not like I am stealing a subscription. This is our free, local city paper.
I think dumpster diving for coupons requires way more dedication than I am willing to have. Unless those coupons practically meant my groceries would be free, I wouldn't go through the trouble. they are putting a lot of coupons online. Any coupon you need, you can probably print it out.
Yes, I do this as well. People leave stuff quite close to our place, so I always grab anything that is still usable. My husband's kitted out his workshop with trashed cupboards, tables and shelving, and we have a patio set of glass topped table and aluminium folding chairs. There was nothing wrong with it that soap and water didn't cure. If we don't need the stuff ourselves, I'll sell it on at a car boot sale.
I have been dumpster diving for food quite a few times and am always shocked to discover what super markets throw away. It's pretty atrocious and really makes you wonder why so many people go hungry every day yet these huge companies can afford to chuck away tons and tons of edible goods every single day. I have never gone dumpster diving for coupons though? This sounds interesting. There is a documentary for every one to watch called "Dive" if interested in finding out more about this way of life..
I don't think that going through people's trash is legal on account of the whole identity theft thing. But even if it was, I cannot imagine that anyone saves enough money from coupons to justify the effort it would take to dig through all that trash for it.
You know, after seeing that Extreme Coupon show I can see why people would dive into a dumpster to get coupons. One woman on that show was saving her family 60,000 a year in groceries. You really have to applaud such an amazing effort. It shows you how resourceful people can be.
