Over the past week I have done a bit of dumpster diving.1 You can judge me outright for sticking my hand into other peoples garbage, or you can withhold judgment just long enough to see what cool stuff I got.2
1. A Free Chick-Fil-A Sandwich
Of my long list of unwholesome obsessions, Chick-Fil-A3 is near if not at the top. I could and probably will write an entire post about the irony of a gay guy loving Chick-Fil-A, but what is immediately important to know is that on every couple of receipts is printed an invitation to take an online survey. In return for giving feedback, you get a free chicken sandwich.4 For years I’ve gotten a free sandwich for every four or five meals I’ve had at Chick-Fil-A, but only recently have I stooped to a new low. You guessed it, two days ago I rifled through the Chick-Fil-A trashcan and found a receipt with a survey on it.5 Basically I now have unlimited free Chick-Fil-A sandwiches. And the dumpster diving doesn’t end there.
2. Four Mannequins
I pick up chicks. From the dumpster.
After Chick-Fil-A, I drove to the mall.6 After the mall, I drove past the dumpster outside the mall. Long story short, I saw a single mannequin breast7 sticking out of the dumpster, and five minutes later I drove away with four mannequins in my trunk. I looked online, and comparable mannequins are going for anywhere from $60 to $200. So basically I’m cool.
3. The Bohemian Lifestyle
Here we come to confession time: I only dumpster dove for two things, but the title “Two Things Worth Dumpster Diving” sounds horrible.8 So I forced myself to realize that I dumpster dive for another important reason: I don’t want to take myself too seriously. I want to be the kind of person who can, when necessary9 get his hands dirty.
On top of that, I have a free chicken sandwich and four mannequins. Do you? Didn’t think so. That being said, I’d love hear you comment about anything you’ve managed to get for free be it from a yard sale or a landfill.
1Primarily for my dignity.
2Because who doesn’t like cool stuff?
3An surprisingly good fast food restaurant, for those of you who are unfamiliar.
4No purchase necessary
5Is that legal? Someone on the internet told me it was…
6After all I am a cliché American teenager.
7That’s another word for boobs, right?
8Yes, I’m just making up a third, totally unreal item to complete the list.
9Or when totally unnecessary
Not Ours To Change 
At the end of the semester I used to go around to the dumpsters to pick up things other students left behind—cheap lamps, for the most part. But also books…lots of books. You’d think they’d trade them in, but alas, they were idiots.
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That’s brilliant. Profiting from those less intelligent than me is one of my favorite pastimes; I’ve got to try that sometime.
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I’ve gone through people’s trash they set out because I noticed they had a ton of books that they were throwing away. So I took a few. Growing up my parents would always set things on the side of the road they didn’t want, and 9 times out of 10 someone would want it and take it. So “dumpster diving” is a good idea. Waste not, want not!
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That’s awesome. When I was a kid my parents scored a beat up piano that someone had set out on the curb; someone was thrilled to get rid of it, and we were thrilled to have it!
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that’s nice! i have a few friends who refurbish old furniture they find on the sides of the streets… very cool your family found a piano!
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I got my favourite paring knife out of a dumpster. It just needed a good sharpening.
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Welcome to the community, i’ve living in dumpsters many years, now right it’s the hunt and the cool shit you just may find…
You can also make money if need be!
Yes, it is trespassing, and the people who own what’s in the dumpster, is the companies who’s name on the side…….
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I have no judgement to give you. I use to do it a lot: found some pretty awesome stuff. In fact the coffee table in my house came from a dumpster over 20 years ago. Keep diving, just look out for the sharks.
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Well played on the Chik-Fil-A receipt. I don’t know if it’s legal, but I do keep in touch with some law school professors who would love this scenario as a final exam question.
And I’ve gone dumpster diving for cancer sticks (read: cigarettes) before. I thought I threw them away, and a friend of mine took my picture rifling through some rest area garbage can in New Jersey. In retrospect, at that time I should have realized I had an addiction when I was willing to stick my hand in a place that could have had used condoms just for a pack of smokes…
Oh yeah, now I’m going to go to Chik-Fil-A to get some receipts…er, sandwiches.
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Haha loving reading this … good luck with future dives!
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Very interesting. :).
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Great post! Where we live, we have a dumpster room. Everyone throws out what they don’t want. Other people take it. What’s left is picked up by a recycling truck every Monday. I love how there’s this idea of passing on to others.
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Not just one mannequin, but FOUR! Hell, yeah! I’d dive for that.
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Thank you! Basically I have a full harem. I’d totally suggest getting one.
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I’b be drawing all over them, though. 🙂
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Oy. I’d tell you to just call me Dumb Donald, but you probably have no idea what I’m talking about. XD
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Fat Albert reference?
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YES!
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I love this. I’ve picked up a few things in my time, furniture and some little knick knacks (my favourite been a green glass penguin). 🙂
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I am racking my brain to think of something I’ve procured from a dumpster – oh, wait, I found a cigar box once. Oh, I’ve nabbed lots of those plastic storage bins, the ones meant for storing sweaters but equally good for storing anything too big to fit in a cigar box.
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I share your Chik-fil-a (sp?) shame… Homo-haters or not,those sandwiches are damn great!
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I remember finding a floor charcoal grill and speaker wire in the trash. I know I dug through my parents trash once to find they were tossing hundreds of dollars of quarters. Now that was exciting!!
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When I started reading, I thought you’d actually found the sandwich. Was relieved to see it was just the coupon.
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What’s a little God chicken if you are at BYU? If you didn’t pay for it, all the better! Bring them down by eating all the free sandwiches.
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When I lived in NYC in the 90s, I found a 12 foot wooden ladder that became a corner shelf & plant holder & cat jungle gym, and a beautiful silver ladle which is still in use.
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Hey! Thanks for the follow on my blog! Apologies for the previous comment, obvs wasn’t complete! Whoops!
#awkward
Love the mannequins, I always wish that I could find amazing things for free! Unfortunately, that time is still to come 🙂
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I omitted that comment; I hope that’s okay. Good luck finding a good dive!
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Yuck Chick Fil A….props on the dumpster dive!! I dive the dumpster of a printer near me they throw out a lot of cool paper ..all kinds …as long as you get it before it rains its good.
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My husband just recently picked up a wood closet that was dumped on the side of the street. We were in the market for a closet as our current closet is tiny and found out that we would have to pay over $400 for one that is made from cheap materials. In picking this real wood item he has then striped it down added a cover and is remodeling it to his liking. He has yet to spend $50 on the work he has done, and it’s looking pretty good.
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Always fun reading your posts! Keep it up!
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BYU ok…Chik-Fil-A? Me thinks you might be a closet Republican. JK. Best thing I ever found in a dumpster was my dog Wily, he was only 5 or 6 weeks old and covered with ticks but he turned out to be a great dog and companion.
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I’ve been wanting a mannequin this is my new mission
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I went to college in the same town as one of the big Ivy League schools. They always ended their semesters a week or 2 before us, so it became a tradition to go diving in their dumpsters during their move-out week. Since most of their students were from out of state or international (and probably better off financially than most), it made taking bigger items with them nearly impossible. Furniture, TVs, Game systems…pretty pricey, practically new things were considered trash.
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Chick-Fil-A rocks!
You’ve stumped me on why the mannequins were worthy of retrieval, but I guess the saying is true. “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.”
Yeah for awesome finds!
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I really love your blog, so I nominated you for the World Bloggers Award. Go on my latest post to check it out! 🙂
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I don’t actually dumpster dive, but I leave things on the curb for others and have picked up a few things the same way. One of my most prized possessions is a ceramic Christmas village set that someone left on the curb. I’ve had it for about 20 years now
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Hi there, I really like reading your blog and I wanted to show you my appreciation by nominating you for the One Lovely Blog Award. If you’re interested in accepting the award and nominating others, you can check out my latest post for the details: http://justinesusan.wordpress.com/2014/09/14/one-lovely-blog-award-and-nominations/. Keep up your lovely blog! 🙂
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