As you already know, I am a thrift store/garage sale junkie so I am always bringing home used items. Today was no exception. Buddy got to accompany me on this trip. It was such a lovely day I decided we needed a long walk so went out of our normal route onto different streets about 10 blocks away from our house. I came across a home that had a sold sign out front with a large selection of free items. Many were in perfect condition. I am sure if times were different they would have had a garage sale or taken the items to a thrift store but those are all closed now. I only took one item, a small cute clay pot that is right up my alley and will fit in perfectly with our patio.
I am sure there will be more "free" piles cropping up, heck, I am likely to start my own if we come across something we want to get rid of.
Our recycle centres have closed so we had 3 large bags of deposit bottles waiting to be taken in but nowhere to put them. As it may be a few months before they reopen hubby and I were deciding (arguing) where to put them. Fortunately I had joined a "Free" group on facebook where you can give or ask for things. In the past I have only given away stuff there in hopes of preventing things from being thrown out - like an old used BBQ that was rusting out but someone wanted. Anyway, a lady was posting that she was collecting bottles and cans so that when the recycle centers open up she can hopefully pay some of her bills that she is getting behind on due to an unexpected loss of income. I was happy to oblige and she picked them up in our yard 2 hours later, zero contact between us other than an extreme thank you on facebook.
These are new times for us all....
I love those free libraries that can be found around the place now. I worked in libraries so I think books can definitely be sanitised effectively like you are doing. Looking forward to reading more about your thrifty ways which is so essential in these difficult times. Best wishes, Pauline
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Pauline, welcome.
DeleteI love curb shopping for plant pots or anything. I need a place to get books now that I tried to get into the used bookstore and was met by a very angry Akita wanting to eat me.
ReplyDeleteMy friend has books in her junk store, but they are too musty to deal with, the kind of must that is on every page and through to the spine.
We have a used bookstore that is delivering but on our reduced salaries any price except thrift store or free is out of the budget (we have savings, no need to ever feel sorry for us, we just don't want to access them unless we absolutely have to for us or our family). At $8 for a used book I will not shop there...but the free library thing is great. I made sure to take good ones too!
DeleteYay to freebies! That pot was a great find especially now we're all hunting for plant containers now the garden centres are closed.
ReplyDeleteOne of my friends has put a basket outside on their drive filled with magazines and books and a sign encouraging passers-by to swap or take - so far they've got rid off all their books and have acquired rhubarb, a couple of pot plants and some packets of seeds. I think we might do the same!
Have you seen these ideas? I'm tempted to start drinking more wine! https://homesthetics.net/19-spectacular-sustainable-diy-wine-bottle-outdoor-decorating-ideas/
Yes, it was almost like a great day at a thrift store, I am sure you completely understand that. Our garden centres are reopening, at first they were only doing deliveries but now have reworked their interiors so safe for the public and staff. My friend is going back part time to the one she works at. Thank you for that link! Since we make our wine and reuse the bottles that wouldn't work but really really love the ideas....maybe some of our other bottles would though!
DeleteThat's great to be able to help someone out with your recyclables! My neighbor had a garage sale of sorts and put things out on her driveway with a donation jar. She posted on our neighborhood Facebook page and people came around to buy things or take from the free pile. I have seen so many piles of junk as well as yard debris put out on the curbs. I think it's great that people are focused on their homes, both inside and out, clearing out all the clutter. It's a good thing really.
ReplyDeleteYes, that is a good thing, I am sure home maintenance that has been put off for years has now been started on for many households.
DeleteSuch strange and difficult times. I hope that woman gets back on her feet when this is all over. Smart of her to collect recycling. Helping others while helping herself.
ReplyDeleteYes, helping herself and thinking ahead, especially of she has a place to store them. I also see now a local brain injury charity is offering to pick them up as well, another option for us.
DeleteThat's a good community spirit way to help each other out. Sad that bottles and cans will be needed to pay bills.
ReplyDeleteIt was about $10 -$15 worth, our deposits for a 2 litre of pop here is .25 cents so she could easily pay for a few bills once they reopen again.
DeleteLove the creative can donation. Sounds great, makes sense, and helps someone out!
ReplyDeleteYes, now I want to spread it around so next time I will make sure the bottles go to another individual or organization, some charities are starting to collect them as well
DeleteVery kind of you to donate the bottles to this person. It's sad how many people are so close to the edge.
ReplyDeleteLove the pot. I'm looking for to seeing (virtually) your patio decked out in the flowers and plants.
Take care and stay well!
Yes, I am looking forward to planting some things. They say it is still a bit early for some things...peas are in the ground. I did buy spikes but most flowers need to wait a few more weeks except early season flowers (and I don't want to rebuy so will wait)
DeleteWell that was a fun walk. Guess you will have to go in a variety of different directions over the next few weeks to see if you can find any more treasures. Certainly wish that I could find someone in need of our wine bottles who needs to pay bills. We are running out of space to store them.
ReplyDeleteThere is a "free stuff/buy and sell" group for Kelowna you might want to join on facebook, I am sure there are people collecting bottles that would post there. That was our issue, where to store them.
DeleteI think the woman who I collecting and storing bottles and cans to help her out later is brilliant. Lovely that you were willing to help her.
ReplyDeleteYes, you know what they say about those who help themselves, even in these impossible times.
DeleteI love that you did that to help someone with the cans and fun on the books, too.
ReplyDeleteIt really helped both of us, I am sure there will be more need by the time I need to get rid of bottles again, will try and spread it around
DeleteCurb shopping is not that popular here. Perhaps now that the thrift stores are closed and people are cleaning their homes it will become so. Love the little pot.
ReplyDeleteGreat way of getting rid of something taking up valuable space and helping someone out.
God bless.
Curb, garage sale and thrift store shopping is huge here, partly because we can do it almost any time of the year if it is not pouring down. I am so glad, because those are all my hobbies lol
DeleteI have started curb shopping the more affluent neighborhoods, but I try not to let TBG know I'm doing it. That would make him a little crazy, but I'm an upcycling addict!
ReplyDeleteSome folks here are stocking their library boxes with food and other supplies. It was nice of you to leave the sanitizer!
At first it weirded out hubby too, but not now. He knows I am super picky and careful about cleanliness/disinfecting things. He also has started to tag along to the thrift stores (before Covid) so obviously is more understanding now.
DeleteThe free library was where I found the Carl Hiassen book that so tickled me, which was all the more surprising since it was in English. And Jonathan Kellerman - yep love his books too!
ReplyDeleteYes, we usually read mysteries but the one about the witch looks very interesting and is highly rated on Goodreads. I've only ever used the same free library once but I am going to use it all the time now :) Even after Covid
DeleteThere are lots of Facebook pages in Powell River for things to buy, sell and swap. I see lots of posts for "free" at the end of the driveway. There is even a site for face mask sharing and mutual support. While some people are becoming a bit crazy about the current situation, others are showing the best that people can be. - Margy
ReplyDeleteWe are currently on quarantine, after getting back from our cancelled world cruise...they cancelled it when we were parked outside Indonesia, so it took a month to get back to London. Then another week, until we got a plane ticket to Colorado. It's good to be home, but a little weird to know we need to stay put for now.
ReplyDeleteI am soooo looking forward to visiting the thrift shop again! We did in Darwin, Australia -- and I got a beautiful yellow silk Italian shirt for 3 dollars Australian. Plus a brass collar necklace I got compliments on, all through the cruise. (That was 5 Aussie dollars.)
I read some back posts, and can literally "hear" you starting to perk up again. I'm glad.