I joke with people all the time telling them I'm half scrounger on my father's side.

Truth of the matter , is I am a scrounger and not ashamed to admit it. Constantly on the look out for stuff that is discarded , lost with no way to find the owner and things I can get for free by just asking nicely. In my area there are a lot of people with money who discard some nice stuff. I sometimes look in dumpsters to see what is in there and found a few things that way , but I am not a serious dumpster diver , just select pickings here and there. For Free ads on Craigslist have gotten me some really good stuff. People here will put stuff at the end of their driveway with a 'free' sign on it. Gotten dozens of lawnmowers that way with just needing minor repairs to get them running again.

Even though I joke with people that I'm half scrounger on my father's side , my first bicycle was a 16" one my dad found it the woods , discarded. He fixed it back up with a new tire/tube. I loved that bicycle. I actually resisted moving up to a 20" bicycle years later because the 16" one was a bit lighter and more fun to ride. So I am truly half scrounger on my father's side ...lol


What kind of stuff have you found/gotten for free , etc ?

This was out with the trash and now it’s in the yurt!

Find all kinds of stuff, I don't bring as much home now as I don't need the yelling at, lol

As kids we didn't have much, if you saw something you wanted the old man would say " oh I can make that", sometimes he actually did!, lol
but it's amazing what people throw away...

I use a lot of throw stuff from other people. I have saved 1000's of dollars from others junk.

I'm a dumpster diver and a watcher for free signs.
I couldn't possibly list all the scrounged stuff I've brought home over the years
My latest find was a cedar chest loaded with camping stuff
Daughter got the chest and most of the camping stuff but I kept a very nice Kelty internal frame backpack that I'll use this winter

Sneaky Pete, Wayne, is a master scrounger.

Keith

))))))))(!!!

A few treasures this week. Every day is an adventure!!!!!!!

Thanks Keith!!!!! It is my calling))))))))!!!!

That stuff is cool Wayne and I think you should be able to get a lot for it. Hopefully I see you next month at the show. We have the same spot reserved as last time.

Keith

Scrounging is my life also. Pick things up here and there just knowing some day it can refurbished or used for something else.

When you need it and you have it because you saved it that feeling is priceless.

Fixed it for you.

Before I retired, a guy at work jokingly called me a "Gatherer". The plumbers would rip off an 18-20 inch piece of Emery Cloth from a roll to clean the ends of copper pipe to be soldered. Just a small section of it would be used and the remainder would be thrown in the trash.
I've got enough Emery Cloth to last a lifetime. Same with drill bits. When they became dull, into the trash they would go. Spent some quality time with my Drill Doctor sharpening them up. Should never have to buy another drill bit ever. "One man's trash is another man's treasure." Always on the lookout for useful discards that people throw out.

Yes sir!!

One man's trash is another man's treasure.

This is my kind of post. My lure hunting is essentially this every day. Yesterday, I went for a walk through an urban area and spotted four cans in the street. I went over to pick up the "trash" and they turned out to be full cans of alcohol! My wife was embarrassed but they came home with me.

I confess I too have been known to scroung. It's not really always scrounging as I see it. I consider scrounging when your searching for that one item you need to start or finish a project.
It could be scrapping, salvaging or even treasure hunting, seeing value in what others have lost. discarded or see no value in.
I have to admit that because of my current physical condition. I have had to tell myself just drive by don't stop try to load that.
It's hard to do. I'm not a hoarder but could easily find myself one. I have actually been getting rid of things.
My younger brother since retiring couple years ago. He has picked up quit a list of items scrapped or sold on MP or Craigslist. Seems like every other day he sending me a picture of something he picked off curb. He recently dropped off two lawn mowers and LP cooker with me. My son is now using the nice 6hp Pulon mower starts one pull.
Its an addiction.

Mac

My neighbor is master scrounger/dumpster diver. Last week he fixed 2 push mowers and 1 snowblower and sold them for $500 total.

I am all of the above. I will be in Urbana Keith. Will stop by.

Keith is my witness. After a huge flea market. And everyone has gone home. I pick the trash of the left over items that never sold. I am a volume seller!!!!

Keep scrounging everyone!!!!!

www.freecycle.org
Thank me later.