One of the things I love about the great state of Maine, is that you can put something out in front of your yard and if it’s reasonably decent, it will be gone by the end of the day.
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, the saying goes and if you happen to have a window that faces out onto the street, well then you’re in for a treat. Because watching people happen upon your discarded items, well, it’s the best show on the telly.
At least I think it would be an award winning program anyway. We don’t actually own a tv anymore {it was included with the sale of our last place}. But if I DID have a tv, and there was a program “take my stuff”, I’d be glued to it 24/7.
I thought we did a pretty good job of decluttering before we moved {and the fact that we sold our last house furnished helped} but we still have too much stuff! On top of that, the house we bought came slightly furnished as well.
Basically it was filled with just enough things to keep us from having to sit in beach chairs, sleep on the floor or stare at blank walls.
Putting things out on the curb has been really sort of exciting and it’s been especially fun to guess how long something is going to sit out there before it gets snatched up.
The microwave was gone in an hour. The old saw horses that were left in the barn took all day and all the Hobby Lobby type canvases that we took off the walls and stuck out there were pretty much gone within 15 minutes of setting them outside.
An old suitcase? Less than 30 minutes. {The guy next door grabbed it!!}
A set of bar stools? Well… I didn’t even get the first one set down on the curb before someone called dibs on it. It was hilarious!
A couple of ladies in a farm truck were driving down the street and yelled out the window “Is that a free chair!?” and I yelled back {as I was carrying it to the curb} “Yes! Come and get it.”
And so they did!
The next day they drove by again and went home with a set of new yellow towels. {By this point I had set up a table out front with a bunch of “free” stuff on it}.
Not everything has been set on the curb though. Some of the smaller items, like the dishes that were left behind and bedding and some other odds and ends were taken to the church thrift store.
In the back of my bucket bike!! 🙂
Downsizing is so liberating! But the best part is watching people happen upon free stuff. Honest to goodness free stuff.
I love it when I find something good and unexpected on the side of the road, but I think it’s more fun to watch others get excited about it too.
Seriously, it’s the best show on the telly.
Keep those eyes peeled,
~Mavis
P.S. What is the best thing you’ve found on the side of the road for free?
Renee says
Massachusetts too! We play the same game. Most small items are gone within 30 minutes. Leather Chesterfield sofa (cosmetic damage) took 2 days. The only thing that we’ve put out and wasn’t taken was a children’s train table.
Dawn says
I found a mahogany dresser and tall chest on the curb in the Mt. Auburn area of Cambridge one night (that’s a great area for curb crawling, lot’s of big old mansions). Unfortunately, I could only fit the dresser in my car and by the time I went back for the tall chest it had already been claimed. That was 20 years ago and I still have the dresser in my bedroom.
Brianna says
I put out a fold down lifetime work bench, which my hubby insisted nobody wanted and needed to go to the dumpster. It was gone in an hour or so. I proved him wrong, now he won’t let me put anything out for free on the curb because we live in a nice ‘upscale’ neighborhood and he feels it draws in the wrong people and might be setting us all up for unwanted crime. I don’t think he understands some people just love a free treasure. I have a large stash of stuff we don’t need to donate or take to the next garage sale a nonprofit I am in has. I would rather put it to the curb and have it gone than wait for the garage sale to happen as a fundraiser. It drives me crazy as the pile grows and kids outgrow things.
Mavis Butterfield says
Husbands are weird. 🙂
Sue S. says
Agreed 100%!
Lori says
Things go pretty quickly here also. When I put our 2 old end tables out they were taken before I could carry out the glass inserts.
Julie V says
I found an old rocking chair that I fixed and reupholsteted back into a nice rocker which I still have.
Ashley Bananas says
I was out delivering for DoorDash in a nice neighborhood on trash night last year and happened upon someone giving away a ton of beautiful plants. I took them all home and later sold most at our neighborhood yard sale for about $60. Thank you!
Tammy says
We lived on a busier street in our old house (Michigan) and anything I put on the curb was gone very very quickly. Now, pretty much the only traffic by our house is people who live on our street (South Carolina) so I will do a Facebook “curb alert” post if I have things I want people to take. I also have several thrift stores that are convenient, so I only do this if the item is a larger item.
Dawn S says
My husband is a land surveyor and he finds random dishes on the side of the road. We have a small collection that includes Wedgewood, a really pretty British piece, and a cafeteria-style salad bowl. It’s a strange way to start a collection and we have no idea how dishes end up on the side of the road but we sure enjoy it!
Sandra says
I have had many such discoveries over the years. One favorite was a small saute pan that I used for ages. It was sticking out of a box at the curb and I snagged it. Another favorite that is still in use was a large stainless steel dinner fork under a picnic table in France. It was much longer and broader than forks we have here in the US and I use it for scrambling eggs, turning bacon, and so much more. Neither of those items have any great monetary value, but were so very useful…..the fork still is.
Julie says
Not curb coasting, but dumpster diving -> My husband pulled out a Kitchen Aid from a dumpster. Just needed new beaters as the originals were bent. Used it for 15 years.
Annette says
Previous neighbors were getting divorced. She put her wedding dress in the wedding box on the curb with a ‘free’ sign on it. I took it to the thrift store. Other items I’ve found at CurbMart have been things to use in my garden (planters, plants, etc).
Pamela Sheppard says
The same type of thing happens where I live. A few months ago we put a treadmill out that I’m pretty sure didn’t even work and it was taken before dark. There is a guy that rides around with a truck to visit all the piles left out and takes alot. Luckily if it isn’t taken the township where I live picks up things like that every few weeks.
Elizabeth C Smith says
I used to use freecycle a lot- one time I scored a Miele vacuum cleaner- FREE!! I can not wait to see more of your new home!!!
SueD says
Back when half whiskey barrels were big for planting in, I came across 6 someone had put out to the kerb. All in great condition. Piled them all in the back of my Geo Spectrum. Gave 1 to my parents when they came out to visit us.
Pam says
Those are back in style. Just saw them at Lowes a few weeks ago.
Dianne Labadie says
When I first got an apartment (1978) I found an ironing board, kitchen table (1950’s) and misc bowls in a junk pile. I still have the ironing board. I wish I still had the table. Love junk picking.
Sue S. says
Isn’t it just comical. Although I don’t live on a main road so I have to advertise.
Peggy says
We live in a historic district in central Florida and have an alley behind our house. That is where we put things for others to pick up. My hubby and I place bets on how long they will last out there. He is better at guessing the time than I am . We love that someone else can take the things we put out there instead of them going to the landfill and hopefully it is something they can use!
Bonnie says
This a very fun subject. I have seen many free items that I have wanted to grab while driving my school bus, but I can’t do that on my route. Lol. I did get a stack of unused board games that a man was putting on the curb last year (while in my personal vehicle). They were good gifts for some children I know.
Faye F Lengenfelder says
We put out a set of tires a few years ago. They were an odd size and we didn’t have much hope that anyone would take them. A few hours later, a man pulls up and starts loading them in his car. He said he’d gotten lost, saw the tires, called a friend to see if he wanted them…he did! Sometimes you’re just in the right place at the right time!
Kippy says
Slate bits. A neighbor two blocks away put two Radio Flyer loads(I know because the next door neighbor kid hauled that much away, leaving the ones I couldn’t use. Some tiles had a bit of residual glue. The slate bits I brought home were shared with my bestie and she used hers on a garden path. I have used mine as coasters, under plants etc.
Kimberly Vassar says
My best find ever was an antique cupola with copper roof and weather vane. It was huge and a struggle to fit into the trunk of my Toyota Corolla. I drove home very slowly with it balanced precariously in my trunk, as the trunk wouldn’t close. That thing weighed so much, but I was determined it would be mine!
Linda Practical Parsimony says
I lived in an Historic Neighborhood in a small town. I now live in a neighborhood in a large town. My daughter lives in a nice neighborhood in NYC. Anything put on the curb disappears almost immediately. The neighbors take the stuff, maybe a next street neighbor. It does not draw a bad element. I pick up anything I can and take home. I have a nice set of ladderback chairs I stripped to upholster with new wood seats, too. I love curb shopping.
Laura says
I found a white KitchenAid mixer with all the attachments in a free pile one day when I lived in Portland, OR. It was heavy but I got it home, cleaned it up and discovered it worked perfectly. Who throws away a KitchenAid mixer? The bowl was the only thing missing, but I replaced it using Amazon gift cards from Swagbucks and sold it in a day for $150 since I already had a KitchenAid!
Annette says
What does the sticky note say?
Cindy Brick says
“Curb shopping” — I love that term!
Our best find ever: a black stove with a convection oven, found just when we needed to replace our old crappy only-one-burner-working stove. The neighbor said it didn’t match with the rest of their kitchen decor. (!!!) When the Brick mentioned the convection oven, Neighbor said, “What’s a convection oven??”
Mary says
Really pretty “Corning dishes”
Lisa Bernier says
Table with 4 chairs large couch across the street from me, simple desk I use as storage shelf in a closet,
leaf blower food processor. Ice cream maker crock pot 2 wing chairs ( I sat in the chairs on the side of the road till a friend showed up.) A couple of tool boxes, gas kitchen stove they even delivered it to my driveway a small grill . 3 other side chairs I live in NH I call my decorating style ‘side of the road ‘LOL
Lisa Bernier says
Large wicker basket, I know the lady with the couch so I trusted there was no bed bugs. beautiful blue wing chairs I mentioned before were before bed bugs where I thing here. I would be careful with upholstered pieces now. Dog crates, pet crates. Decorative glass
gail says
I LOVE CURB SHOPPING! My most memorable thing was an antique trunk – in perfect condition. My mother wanted it, so I gave it to her. When she passed, my daughter inherited it. It has brought us all so much JOY! I should write a post about this myself.