Walmart Paint

Walmart has a shelf hidden in the back of the paint section that contains half price new paint that was returned for one reason or another.  Whatever the original price was, you get 50% off at the register.  A great deal!!

Tons of Stuff at Habitat!

We made a trip up to Sarasota to the Habitat Resale store and I took some photos of what is currently available at great prices.  If you haven't visited this place, you are missing out on some incredible bargains on home improvement items.

Big Score!!

Found on the side of the road with a For Sale sign taped to it.  This is the biggest thing I've found.  I offered a few hundred dollars, hooked it up to my truck and pulled it the few miles to my back yard.  Completely paneled inside, with shelving in place and the stairs came with it!! 

On Buying Collectible Books

As a former on line book dealer, I can give you some hints about what to look for when searching bargain bins and Goodwill and yard sales for valuable books.  The first is something to look out for when buying a "first edition".  Book clubs will print their copies of the first edition and it may indeed say first edition on the inside cover.  But if you take off the dust jacket and turn the book over, look down at the bottom right hand side of the cover.  If there is a little indented dot there, this identifies the book as a book club edition.  There may be nothing else telling you this is not a first edition, (sometimes the print font will differ from a real FI) and a disreputable dealer may try to pass this off to an unsuspecting buyer.

Also, with regard to the dust jacket?  The condition of the dust jacket accounts for about 80% of the value of your book.  No dust jacket?  Don't pay collectible prices.

I found it in the Road!

Oh, I wish I could drive and take photos at the same time.  Yesterday I came upon a bunch of cars and a police officer blocking the road.  Since I am annoyed at having to wait, I surged past and almost ran over the head of a 5 foot alligator who was sunning himself (herself?) across both lanes of the road.  No news on what happened to him (her), but what a find in the road!

Expensive Item - But Free!

Out one day on a drive, we came across a house that was being gutted.  A mid-century home with these lovely beveled mirrored cabinets standing right out on the sidewalk.  Of course, we gently loaded them into the truck and home they went.  Then, coincidentally, I saw them in New York Magazine in an advertisement for an antique auction at a prestigious mid-century auction house! Estimated price:  $2,500 apiece.  I also have a larger table sized piece that's out in the laundry house.  Who throws away mid century jewels?

Tell Me Your Story

Let's share.  Tell a story about something cool you found on the side of the road or somebody gave you for free, or actually any story that you feel the need to get off your chest.

Cheap Appliances

Habitat for Humanity is a great place to look for new or slightly used appliances that have been tested by Habitat and pretty much guaranteed to work properly.  Several years ago I got this brand new electric water heater for $59.95!!  I believe they retail for between $250 and $350.  Its been running now for about 3 years with no problems.  Plus, your purchase price goes directly to Habitat to help people get a new home built by Habitat.

WIN THE "WHAT IN HELL IS THIS THING?" CONTEST!!

The first person to correctly identify this object will win a pot of delicious honey direct from my backyard beehives.  Some clues -- its old.  You can still use it.  Its cast iron.  It is marked "Art aseptible Furniture Co., St. Louis, Mo." (which tells you absolutely nothing about it).  You can guess as many times as you like and I'll be surprised if anyone guesses correctly.  Put on your thinking  caps!!

salvaging the caribbean

Some of the nicest salvage I have found was in the dump on a small island in the Bahamas.  The local people crave new items from the mainland and will often dump beautiful cast iron bed frames with elaborate scrollwork and replace the bed with something bought in Miami.  I remember when I packed up my shipping container, the locals were horrified at the "junk" I was taking home with me.  Lots of ancient ballast jars from 1800's ships, bed headboards, hand carved wooden doors -- I left most of my modern furniture in the house.

If you dare to venture into the local trash dump on your travels to unusual places, you can find some really beautiful treasures among the trash.  You will have to pick side by side with the poorest people on earth and there could be danger, but I guarantee you will find cool stuff.

Also, digging around old abandoned shacks will provide you with bottles from the 1800's and early 1900's that were thrown out the back window into the "dump" behind the house.

Favorite Salvage Items

Today I will reveal one of my fave side of the road salvage items.  It is a work in progress - I'm fixing the cracks and then will paint this horsie as a Paint!  Probably black and white, but any suggestions would be appreciated.  My boyfriend saw this put out with someone's trash and knew I needed it to adorn my back garden.  I can't believe someone would throw this out!! What were they thinking?

Winter Coats!

Race right down to the Goodwill store.  They have started putting out all their winter jackets and coats.  Yesterday I got a brand new (with a couple of spots which came right out) faux white sheepskin drapey jacket just like the ones shown in Vogue and Harper's Bazaar this month for $3.99!!  Most coats are priced at $3.99 or $6.99.  As you may know, stores now sell to Goodwill some of their overstock or last year's styles - some with tags still on.  Hurry up!!

Welcome!!

Just getting up and started on this new blog.  It will be about me and my eternal search for free or nearly free crap I find on the side of the road or in my favorite store "Goodwill" or at a garage sale or in someone's garbage.

My boyfriend and I have built two houses out of free stuff we found, so trust me when I say that this will be a valuable source for you in your search for clothing, home goods, cars, trucks, interior and exterior design junk and stuff with absolutely no value at all - I just had to have it.

Feel free to chime in on your favorites or tell me to apply for the Hoarders show.  All comments welcome.