They put out this shelf and I want it, but I don’t want to seem strange? It would make a nice plant shelf, but it’s not something I can scurry away with, so people would see me while I carried it. Is that a bad thing to do?
EDIT: Never mind. Someone beat me to it. 😭
I do that all the time. A thing is a thing, and it can be your thing now. I only try to ask myself two things:
- Do I really need that?
- Is it in a good condition? I have a lot of used stuff at home, so if I took something half-broken, it would look like a dumpster already.
Sidenote: I live in Denmark, where people overconsume, and then get rid of stuff which is still in good condition.
I recently moved to Denmark. A lot of my stuff is from the trash, including a huge old school full wood dinner table, TV, and my stereo system (works as a charm, sounds amazing). I also picked up an amazing old cast iron frying pan.
I make sure to check the big thrash (storeskrald) regularly. Things pop up there that I would never have afforded myself if I had to pay for it.
I think Denmark/Copenhagen is a bit crazy in this regard though.
About the craziness - yes absolutely. In most other places, you use a thing until nobody would use it, or sell it online. And here, people are just: “nah…”
Well, better for us. I also have a shitton of good stuff, including half of my clothes (I’m lucky to have size M, so a lot of stuff fits). Second hand stores look weird now: “Whoa, you need to pay for that?”
If I put something by the road, instead of in the bin, it is because I want someone to take it. Yes take it. If you are unsure, go up and let them know you want it,I can say with absolute confidence, they will say to take it.
I put out one of those big plastic storage units with like 30 little drawers recently, figuring although 2 were missing, someone could still use it. I stood it next to the dustbin, on trash day where it would be optimally visible for anyone who wanted to scrounge it.
The bloody HOA took a picture and sent a nastygram.
I have no HOA, I need no HOA,and want no HOA. I do not care if my neighbor puts his car on blocks. City code enforcement will eventually move on any outrageous lack of upkeep.
?
Brb, dropping the kids off
Once I was moving house and we set an old couch out on the sidewalk. It was very large and heavy so we were concerned that no one would take it. But we lived in a poorer area where most everything got taken, and sure enough it did disappear.
A few more days went by and we continued packing to move. The big day finally arrived and I went out that morning to greet the mover truck and found that whoever took the couch had come back and returned it during the night! I was like “you can’t do that!” LOL
This is totally kosher where I am and I’ve done it before, but if I think I’ll be observed I’ll ask my neighbor. They’ve always responded with some variation of “oh of course, I consider it trash” and sometimes explain reasons they’re getting rid of it that dissuaded me from taking it that weren’t immediately obvious.
And if you don’t know who owns it, leaving a note to ask is simple.
I’ve been the one to leave stuff out that I didn’t have space for anymore, with a note on that it’s free to take
One man’s garbage is another man person’s good un-garbage.
“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” exists exactly for this, I think.
Except in Germany. Anything put outside for refuse collection is considered property of the town or city.
Taking something from the pile is punished as theft, and if caught, you will be fined.
I was thinking that I could as well live in Germany, until this moment. Seriously.
this is quite literally how I get all of my furniture, extending the lifespan of consumer goods is a good thing.
now you know for next time!
its very normal to to do this in southeast asia
It’s only weird if the person who threw it away makes it weird by getting upset and calling the cops, which is their legal right for some damn reason.
I don’t mind people picking through my trash; just as long as they don’t make a mess throwing garbage out of the can and leaving it all over the place.
If you’re sure they don’t want it, take it.
If you aren’t sure, ask, if if they are there, and if they aren’t there, take it and ask later if they wanted it (return it if they did).
There’s no shame in re-using good or even repairable stuff: indeed, be proud.
It wouldn’t be weird, but talk to your neighbour first.
There’s a well established tradition of hand-me-down furniture being put out in alleys in East Vancouver. When you move and have no furniture, you can just tour the alleys and come away with a coffee table and a sofa or a couple of chairs. Did it a few times. You gotta know how to check for bed bugs though.
In my neighborhood taking stuff left at the curb is the norm. Sometimes we‘ll leave a sign to clarify something is free. There have been times when I’ve taken something, used it for a while, then put it back out in the curb for someone else to enjoy.
I’ve put at least 10 pieces of furniture out on the curb in the last 4 months and they’ve all been taken. It makes me glad that someone can use it.
The free pile is always available.
It may or.may not be weird depending on the situstion, your neighbor’s personality, your relationship with your neighbor, etc.
But weird != wrong.
Lmao, not at all. Check it for bugs, but trash is fair game. I live in a college town and there is good furniture out every semester if you like the look of it.
It’s technically illegal, but if cops aren’t pursuing stolen cars, they damn sure won’t care about trash bring stolen.
And, based on your edit, I’m not the only person who agrees.
