Dumpster Diving Is Back
Welcome back!
As a child I grew up in a home where we just managed to get by financially. Once a week my mom would pile us kids into the car to go “dumpster diving” in the wealthier neighborhoods in our area. I know this idea sounds repulsive to some, but it really isn’t. We would not go through the garbage bags, but instead keep an eye out for things set next to the rummage bin.
My sister and I used to love “dumpster diving night.” Believe it or not, we actually found some pretty cools stuff over the years, things that were in perfect condition. As I got older, we didn’t do dumpster dive nights anymore. However, I still do keep my eye out when I am driving. Once, I found a perfectly good Radio Flyer wagon in someone’s trash. It was old and a little rusty, but it worked just fine. I use it as a garden cart for when I am out working in my yard.
Recently I have been reading articles that say dumpster diving is back in a big way. This made me chuckle until the other night when I actually saw a guy doing it! I personally don’t care if someone wants to rummage through my trash, believe me all they’d find is coffee grounds and cat food tins. I am not condemning the man that I saw. Way to go for him, now that’s being resourceful.
However, like most things, dumpster diving has become more technologically advanced. Craig’s List has a free category on their website, the new modern dumpster dive. I have been amazed at the things people give away. I have seen beautiful furniture, appliances some working, and some for scrap, clothing. You name it, you’ll find it.
There are a few tricks to this modern dumpster dive. First, you must check often, especially on the weekends. Second, if you see something you want, contact the giver right away. Things can go very quickly on Craig’s List. It is okay to ask the giver a few questions about the item before you commit to taking it. This can be a great way to get what you need for free.
While Craig’s List is free, a word of caution, this type of dumpster dive can be dangerous. Most times when someone lists an item, they usually have you pick it up at their home. Please be cautious, take someone with you when you go. We have had two robberies in the area that lured people by using the free category on Craig’s List. The people showed up to pick up the items and instead, they were robbed and assaulted. So, please be careful when using Craig’s List. However, in giving this warning, I must say, I have used Craig’s List many times and I have never had any problems.
The One Question that will get you through the New Depression
What do I really NEED?
This should be the new attitude that will get people through the modern day depression. Americans are coming out of a time of enormous prosperity, and great waste. Sure the credit boom was fun, while you were on top, but at the bottom, it is no fun. Those plastic little cards are sneaky, its easier to spend money when you do not see the actual cash coming out of your hand.
Want is a four-letter word.
It’s a dangerous word that needs to be used sparingly. It is okay to want for things, but one must be thankful for what you do have. In our materialistic society it is ingrained in all of us from childhood. Those Saturday morning toy commercials are made to make children want. This disease of want continues into adulthood, but now a $10 toy does not satisfy the want, soon it’s cars and electronics or expensive designer clothing and accessories.
Want and the concept of reason do not coexist for many people. Often when want takes over, rationality flees in the opposite direction.
Now I am not saying that I do not want items that are not basic necessities at times, but I do not run out to the store to purchase that want. It is possible to have rationale in this matter. I must say that this was a long and hard lived trait.
If I really want something, I think long and hard about that purchase. I ask myself, will I really use that? How often will I use the product? What purpose does it really have in my life? Do I think the price is actually representative of the value of the item? Will it go on sale? After I take into account these questions, I discuss it with my husband. I am capable of making rational decisions on my own, but having someone to bounce ideas and thoughts off of is helpful.
When a big purchase comes along that my husband and want to make, it is always a joint decision. We save for what we want, and we pay cash. Recently, my husband said that he would like to upgrade our television to a new HD one. Our current television is old, buttons are broken on it, but the picture is still good. The remote has been lost for centuries.
After much debate, my husband and I decided that if we really wanted a new television, then we would save for it. A little money from each paycheck will go towards that television, into a specially designated savings account. We are grateful for the television we do have and we realize that we do not actually need a new one. But that doesn’t mean a new one wouldn’t be nice, after we’ve earned it.
NEED is the most important word in the English language. So many purchases are made with little to no regard of need. Most purchases are merely based on want. This idea of want is a dangerous one and it’s why the economy is in such trouble. There are many reasons why people shop, some actually need to, some use it as entertainment, therapy, or just a fun way to pass an afternoon.
Shopping is not an entertainment outlet, it is to get what you actually need. Need is a very basic concept, which is confused with want to many. There are 4 basic needs, water, clothing, shelter, and food.
That’s it.
An HD television is not a need, nor is the newest model of car or a designer pair of sunglasses. These basic needs do not have to be the best and most expensive, they have to sustain life, that’s all. I know that sounds harsh but, when you really think about it, it’s true.
Overall, I encourage all of you out there to think about purchases with your head, use rationale, don’t use your heart or emotion. I have to say that like any new way of thinking, this takes practice and time to learn. It took me a couple of years, and at first, I was miserable. I am guilty of being a shopper who enjoyed the entertainment of it. But I must say that I wish I would have been taught early on the difference between wants and needs. The sooner you start to separate these two words, the better and happier you’ll be.
SmartyPig Evil – Updated
When I first heard about SmartyPig, I was intrigued. It is a new way to have goal based saving. I’m a big proponent of setting goals and achieving them and especially tracking them.
The neat thing about SmartyPig is that is allows you to open your goal to the public and allow them to contribute to your goal. This sounds like a nice idea, if you see the world through rose colored glasses and think grass is made of sugar.
You won’t find many people out there who want friends or family to know what they are up to financially, especially if you have the type of family you need to keep that kind of information away from.
But these aren’t the true drawbacks of SmartyPig. The ultimate problem with SmartyPig is that it all it does is to promote consumerism; which is something we need to get away from.
Sure they let you save money, easily and with a high interest rate. But read the fine print. You cannot withdraw your money electronically. They give you a debit card that can be used at ATM’s and for purchases. They offer coupons for discounts at retailers when it’s time to make your purchase. That’s the only way you can access your money. ATM’s have limits. You can’t get at all your money at once. It’s not suited for an emergency fund.
I’m all for encouraging people to actually pay cash and save for the things they want. But the goal of this blog is to teach the world that you can go without. We should be saving to save money. Not to spend it.
People need to save to have a cushion for emergencies, to save for a house, to save to have kids, to save for the future. Not for a flat screen TV or the latest gadget from Apple.
So, in my opinion, SmartyPig is evil in that it encourages consumption that our society can no longer maintain.
As for saving money, I recommend ING Direct and HSBC Direct. Both are pretty good. ING Direct is by far the best.
Avoid SmartyPig in my opinion.
Updated 8-6: One of the founders of SmartyPig chimed in to let us know that SmartyPig now allows you to transfer your money out via ACH, the same way it goes in. So, you can easily get it to your bank account when the goal is finished. My wife and I want to build an emergency fund, maybe we’ll give it a try.
