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mommy4ever
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| Posted: June 02 2014 at 2:37pm | IP Logged
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Dh and I are always on the look out for free items we could use. Sometime it's books, some times chairs. We have collected an assortment over the years. One time I picked up a dresser on the corner, and it was huge, I sold it the same night for $25. It had a sign 'free for pick up'. And is was beginning to rain. All that was wrong with it, is it needed some bolts tightened. It never fails to sadden me at what people throw away.
Over the last week we have picked up 3 vacuum cleaners, all that was needed was to be cleaned, a huge shop vacuum, essentially new, the uses had plugged the hose and decided it was broken, a like new lawnmower where the previous owner had the wrong blade on it, dh replaced it with one from another tossed mower, it runs like a champ. A mountain bike for FIL, needed new bearings, repurposed from another found bike and he loves it.
But this is my favorite find:
It was on the curb for garbage pick up. So sad. There was a pretty bad stain on the top. So I sanded it, and stained it nearly black on top...
And now the damage looks like knots in the wood. So it was nearly free...$25 in supplies to fix it up. These pics are in my craft area. Isn't it a great desk? It would have retailed for $1500. Some one is trying to sell the identical one for $500. $25 is a steal.
So many things are thrown out, and it's sad. The little bikes, cribs, high chairs that end up in the land fill...devastating. All people need to do is advertise it to give away, some one would pick it up... but it's too much work.
Anyway, what has been your favorite find?
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Mom to 4,
1 graduated June 2012
1 in Catholic school
2 homeschooled(one considering art school!)
ardently praying for a new addition to our family.
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Kelly
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| Posted: June 02 2014 at 3:55pm | IP Logged
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I hear u! I always feel so sad seeing things just tossed-especially kids' things (of course, some of OUR best toys andfavorite stuffed animals have been rescued from curbside-just before a rain, too (since u mentioned that) and have gone on to be much loved:-)
However, for GREAT FINDS i think an award should go to my little brother... He heard of a local restaurant that was being demolishd-it had sat vacant for years but he knew it had had a huge beautiful custom wooden bar. He asked the owners what they were doing w it-nothing-so he asked if he cd have it. They told him it was his 4 the taking as long as he had it out by x day and x time.
Well, it gets better. My decidedly UNhandy brother CAN manage a tapemeasure and camera. He took detailed measurements and photos, posted it on ebay w the stipulation that buyer was responsable for removal and shipping by x day & x time.... And sold it for $16,000 dollars! Not bad for a couple hours work, huh? And this beautiful bar got a new life in a ballroom dance studio!
One of my all-time favorite subscriptions was The Tightwad Gazette... Dont know if anyone else remembers that one:-) I used to give copies of the book to my nieces and nephews for graduation presents -with a $20 check inside so id know if they ever learned anything from it ROFL I always liked her premise that it wasnt @being stingy, but @ being a good steward, about being creative & frugal so you wd have $ for what u needed, when u needed it----& it wd also allow u afford to be open handed with others when it was needed.
Kelly in FL
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Aagot
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| Posted: June 02 2014 at 4:12pm | IP Logged
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Love the desk!
Wow Kelly, your brother is one good businessman!
Not that he did anything wrong, but I would have felt the need to go to confession over that one. I can't even get up the nerve to sell clothing that has been given to us. I just figure if something has been given to me, I should pass it on for free. $16,000, now that was amazing!
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mommy4ever
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| Posted: June 02 2014 at 4:21pm | IP Logged
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That is awesome
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Mom to 4,
1 graduated June 2012
1 in Catholic school
2 homeschooled(one considering art school!)
ardently praying for a new addition to our family.
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Kelly
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| Posted: June 02 2014 at 5:42pm | IP Logged
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Hmmm i never thought of that aspect-except they were demolishing the building (and contents) and he never dreamed he wd get that high a bid for the piece! He's not Catholic tho-so tho a need for confession might be there, the desire for it wdnt be felt:-0
Has any1 out there read the Tightwad Gazette i mentioned? The lady who started it said the idea arose from her desire to be a stay at home mom w her (i think) 6 kids on her dh's moderate government income. She found they COULD do it by being frugal-found a lovely farmhouse on 15 acres that was in foreclosure, made their dream a reality by erasing debt and living creatively. Really intereting little book-lots of it common sense but in this day and age, sadly less common, common sense:-(
Kelly in FL
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Aagot
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| Posted: June 02 2014 at 5:53pm | IP Logged
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Oh, I don't think he did anything wrong. He asked permission and it would have just been destroyed any way. I am just a wimp when it comes to stuff like that .
Yes, I have read the Tightwad Gazette and found a few helpful things. I love your idea of sticking in the $20. Once found, that would motivate me to read whatever you sent. Lol
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Kelly
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| Posted: June 02 2014 at 8:14pm | IP Logged
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Haha well now im gonna ask little Bro...(u can say things like that to little brothers, afterall!) because now that i reflect on it i do think he DID mention the bar to the owners-in amazement that they demolishing it-& was further amazed they still didnt want it @ gave him the green light . But im gonna check out of curiosity. But As mommy4ever said-it is amazing what people throw out! Makes me want to go into the house fixtures and "relics" business!
Unfortunately I dont have the know how of mommy4ever and that clever DH! But i Love those amazing finds u resurrected-and the desk! Wow!
Kelly in FL
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guitarnan
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| Posted: June 02 2014 at 9:55pm | IP Logged
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I read The Tightwad Gazette's three volumes cover-to-cover; then I (stupidly) lent the books to one of my daycare moms and never got them back. (Note to self: Don't lend out books you want back; refer friends to the library instead.) I still use a lot of the money-saving tips from those books (wash and re-use zip-lock bags, for example).
Our neighbors were evicted recently, and they left behind bicycles, vacuums, etc. that I know were perfectly good. Unfortunately, the owner of the duplex brought in a dumpster, and once the items were thrown in there I felt that it would be unethical to just take them...and by the time she turned up (while I was home, anyway), the dumpster was gone. Sigh. I am sure the renters' children are sad not to have their bikes, and there was really no reason to send the bikes to the dump, either.
In the U. S., we have really fallen into the throwaway trap. I used to be able to have broken microwaves repaired. My current microwave died this week and I know I can't have it fixed - where would I take it? So, it will go to the dump (boo) and since I need to have a microwave available for one of my daughter's allergy treatments, I must buy a new one ASAP. 20 years ago, my colleague at National Airport fixed my microwave a few times, and another colleague repaired my VCR. (I still have a working VCR, by the way...I have so many VHS tapes that weren't converted to DVD, so I need it!)
People really do deliberately throw out items they know they could sell. It happens all the time. Kelly, I think your brother's situation is an example of extreme good luck - he had permission to take out the bar, and someone happened to need a bar at the same time.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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mommy4ever
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| Posted: June 02 2014 at 10:07pm | IP Logged
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I don't have much know how, but I run google like a champ :) I am more crafty, so if it involves paint, I can figure it out..lol. Dh on the other hand is extremely handy :) He is actually a mechanic, but has learned to do just about anything. As he likes to say, he's just not another pretty face.  I have learned so much from him 
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1 in Catholic school
2 homeschooled(one considering art school!)
ardently praying for a new addition to our family.
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: June 03 2014 at 6:01am | IP Logged
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We have pulled several things off the roadside over the years. Our outdoor wicker couch has probably seen the most use. The cushions were garbage, but for years, we put a couple of chaise lounge cushions (inexpensive yard sale finds) along the bottom and eventually got some "real" cushions on clearance for it. We also have a nice Drexel Hill cabinet we got, which has been very versatile. It is a great piece!
Just this week, we happened to visit the local bike project shop just as they were moving and got a free tricycle and bicycle. The tricycle is Cinderella, and the big boys are mortified, but it is blue (with pink handles, lol), and we pulled most of the stickers off, so whatever. My three year old finally has a trike that isn't a wreck (yk, from those other free or $5 yard sale finds that finally bit the dust after 7 years in the elements with boys). We also got a bike for my 5 year old that just needed pedals, so we were able to pull them off an older bike that doesn't fit anyone right now. We still need a new bike for my 8 year old, but we won't have any qualms about giving them our business for his one they reopen in a few weeks!
Actually, one of the things I miss most from city living is trolling through the nicer neighborhoods on garbage day! Lots of treasures to be had! My feeling is that most people expect the worthwhile things to be taken and used, not junked. There are even scrappers who come through with trucks to get anything of value, even scrap metal.
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Favorite free or almost free finds?
