Dumpster Diving Tool Kit

[littlereddeer1]

I used to have 2 places that had recycle bins. They looked like the big garbage dumpsters and they had the metal doors that slide back and forth. They were big enough to crawl into, but I never did. It would take about 2 weeks after they put the new one in that I could start reaching into and getting the papers. For some reason both places have removed their recycle dumpsters. :frown:

[kcrichton23]

I'm a little afraid to stick my head in. Can you imagine getting stuck and having to call for help to get out? I'm sure it would make the local newspapers.

I wonder if the whole country would rally behind you, like baby Jessica trapped in the well. You could draw attention to the struggles of hard-core couponers nationwide!

[Caya]

I am blessed in that in our town, we have a recycling center. What they do is they have a big shipping container, you know, the kind that gets loaded on ships & then they put it on semi's & it gets trucked all over the nation. People put their newspapers in paper grocery bags, and they walk in and the bags get stacked up to the ceiling. I just walk in, sit on a short stack, and go through the bags. (I make it nice & neat afterward of course). It's a true blessing, it makes up for the high prices & taxes & all the other craziness around here that I can't hardly stand.

As for getting odd looks- I don't know that I do. I quit thinking I'd ever fit in around here long ago, so I just do my own thing anyways, and don't much care what they think. When I am getting my coupons, people either ignore me, or they are friendly. Thankfully the guy that runs the transfer station is fine with my getting coupons.

[lisa89]

How would you feel??

I have a dumpster that I've been getting coupons out of for a few months now. I stopped today (I usually go on Monday's but couldn't yesterday) & they were gone. The papers were still there, just the coupons gone. So I had my son call family member to see if they took them. Sure enough they did. They only started couponing through me & me telling them about this website & the deals I get. I like helping them get the deals I get but felt a bit upset with what happened. I mean, they never would have been doing this if it wasn't for me telling them about it right? The worst was when he told my son "so now we are getting 14 of the scrubbing bubbles for FREE" That's fine if they need all of them, but I use the coupons/deals etc extras that I get & sell/trade to help w/ our family budget. I SAH w/ the 4 kids & it's very hard to get by on the one income so every little bit helps, KWIM??

I guess I'm better off keeping my mouth shut on where I got what, right?!

[Caya]

Did they know that you go there to that dumpster?

Maybe you could talk with them, and calmly explain how they just took all the coupons that you usually get. Maybe you can make an arrangement with them, to alternate nights that you go there. Hopefully they are the reasonable sort. If not, then maybe find out what day they go, and go the day before, or a few hours before.

[lisa89]

Did they know that you go there to that dumpster?

Maybe you could talk with them, and calmly explain how they just took all the coupons that you usually get. Maybe you can make an arrangement with them, to alternate nights that you go there. Hopefully they are the reasonable sort. If not, then maybe find out what day they go, and go the day before, or a few hours before.

Yes they know that is where I go. I've even told them about the SUn gas deal where if you fill up w/ 8 gallons of gas, you get a free paper (sun w/ coupons, so hold off on gas until then if you can).

THe part that upset me was why not offer to split them? Or the best would be to don't even tell me that you got there before me (like he was rubbing it in, KWIM?). Let me think that it was someone else. Another thing is when we were at the store one time there was a tearpad of coupons & I said we don't need this many, here you can have some. Well after that the item when on sale again & it would of been nice to have some coupons but I gave them all to him but did he offer some back to me? No.

[Jenna26]

I would either try to work out an arrangement with them to share the coupons, or go before they do. That stinks!

[pinknite1]

I would feel upset as well, since finding the "spot" is not easy and it sounds like your family member got the easy answer through you. You did tell that family member where you dumpster dive right? Well, instead of steaming by yourself, I think you should calmly express your frustration with that person, and see his reaction. Is it possible for you to find a new source as a backup plan? This one may be taken over by that person now...

[brixtonrileightaylor]

wow, that sucks..i'd be LIVID! don't you hate when you give an inch and they take a mile? very disrespectful to you and then rubbing it in how many frees they got!

[6months]

Here's what you should do.
Go to a thrift store and buy a boy doll. Take it home and mutilate it and put some creepy red paint on it. Next, take it to the dumpster and hang it on a tiny noose and write the words "Dump Diver" on a ripped up piece of paper, again in creepy red paint. Make sure you place it where he will see it.

The dumpster will be all yours again.