Let’s Go Walkies for Freebies!
by Katy on May 30, 2025 · 66 comments
My friend Lise and I went for after dinner “walkies” last night; and as always, my hope was to come across a forgotten Picasso or some other treasure.
My first find was this “FREE” box, filled with plastic dishware. Nothing here tempted me, so I snapped a photo and continued walking.
This “FREE” pile actually included a decent midcentury dining table. Sure, it had been used as a craft table and was missing the leaf, but it’s still a sturdy classic design and most likely maple. It would be perfect for someone with a YouTube furniture refinishing channel, but sadly that person’s not me. I already have two furniture projects waiting for my attention, so I left it for someone else.
Lise and I then crossed the street to investigate another offering. I know it looks scrappy, but those piles often provide the best free things.
NOPE!
Not the best pile! Unless you’re looking for mangled boxes of vaginal douches!
So what came home with me by the end of our Summer’s Eve Spring’s Eve walk? A single drink bottle that I’ll return for ten whole cents. Cha-ching!
I can say that I’ll never forget last night’s walkies session!
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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{ 66 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you for sharing. You have more free “piles” than we do and obviously you won’t find great stuff all the time but I love your perseverance and also your moderation perspective (I already have two furniture projects waiting for my attention, so I left it for someone else).
Same here! The closest thing is when people post piles of stuff on my Buy Nothing group and say, “Come by and take whatever.”
You’ll see this phenomenon when you visit Portland this fall!
Alas, I will not be able to snag anything from your fabulous free piles because I have to fly back home!
@Kristen | The Frugal Girl never say never – it may very well behoove you to pay to ship items, free piles or not.
Oh yes, don’t want my house to fill up with best bulky intentions!
We don’t see many free piles around here (no idea why, we’re a military town and you’d think with people PCSing twice a year there’d be more). People may put out a large piece of furniture with a FREE sign, but that’s it. However, on my bike ride to the library yesterday I came across a garage sale and was happy to score a handmade (in North Carolina, I was assured) coffee mug for $1. It’s one of those “handle-less” mugs, and I’d never seen one before. A nice upgrade from my logo-scrubbed-off mug I had been using.
Then on the way home I spotted a discarded cloth on the curb, that had been run over several times and left for trash. When I got it home and soaked it and cleaned it up, it proved to be a nice Williams-Sonoma kitchen towel, no holes or rips anywhere. A little stained but perfect for my working kitchen, where things can be stained but clean and still do their job.
Really like your definition of your “working kitchen”
I learned long ago to relax about stained dishcloths. As long as they’re clean, and get sanitized on the regular, who’s to know?
I love finding what I call “road kill” fabric items to refurbish!
I am right now wearing my “road kill” sweatshirt–a perfectly good black hooded (zip up!) men’s sweatshirt. It is deceptively thin and very warm. Found it languishing in a sodden heap in a parking lot, and were it not for your blog, Katy, I wouldn’t have had the nerve to take a chance on it! 😉
I love the term “road kill” for fabric items. My favorite pullover sweater is semi-road kill. It was left in a large box full of clothes, by the trash dumpster at my apt. complex. It is a Dress Barn brand winter pullover, just my size, and I’ve worn it for years. The other stuff was too tight on me, but it fit my neighbor really well.
One time I was checking out a free curbside dresser. One of the drawers contained adult toys. That dresser did NOT come home with me lol.
Believe me or believe me not, I recently saw an article (I think it was in the NYT’s “Wirecutter” section) about sterilizing adult toys by running them through the dishwasher in the top rack. No thanks.
I recently saw an “adult toy” in a free pile. Not only did it go unclaimed, but everything else in the free pile went unclaimed. Tainted by proximity, I suppose!
I get that.
I suspect the adult toys were removed and other companion items found a new home.
Free piles are virtually nonexistent in my town. Back when my next-door neighbors were an elderly couple (may they rest in peace), the Mrs. sometimes put things on the curb — usually the area right by my yard– for people to take with them. But she never put a “free” sign with them, and often I would have passers-by knock on my door and ask me if I intended to leave the suitcase, or men’s shoes, or whatever it was, outside.
However, once when walking my dog on trash pickup day, I saw a brass headboard by someone’s trash can on the street. It was obviously intended for the garbage collection. Since it was super early in the morning, I just grabbed it and we walked home with it. I later took it to the furniture consignment place and made a few bucks off its sale. Talk about 100% profit!
I’ve done that as well with the neighborhood consignment store, although nothing as big as a bed!
Katy, It was only a headboard, easy to carry.
I once screeched to a cartoon-worthy stop on big pickup day in our town. Two faaaaabulous–they may be among the nicest I”ve ever seen—midcentury modern bedside tables. Luckily I still had my minivan then and I loaded them in. Gave them to my sister who loves MCM in her house.
Rose, that was an awesome find! You NEVER see MCM *anything* on a curb around where I live. Ever. Everyone tries to sell it for big $$, even if it’s not in good condition. Estate sales are not a bargain hunters dream around here, either.
I do remember on some Facebook page or another – this is years ago – a member found an entire “Brazilia” MCM bedroom suite at the side of the road; she got home as quick as she could, and took their truck to go pick it up. Lucky!
Yes! I found a Broyhill Brasilia suite for practically nothing on FB Marketplace once. I think it was $200 for the whole bedroom. I turned on one of my local friends to buy it. Brasilia is fab. I still don’t know what the cabinets I got my sister are. I’ve still never seen anything else like them, and while I’m an Arts and Crafts girl, I’m still pretty good at identifying all antiques. Then again I told my sister to research and she probably didn’t.
@Rose, while I am glad you snagged the tables, a minivan?? I put my foot down 40 years ago – no way was I going to drive a stinkin’ minivan – I’d have shot myself first. Own or borrow a pick-up truck for hauling.
I can’t fit half an ice hockey team and their bags in a pickup. Plus my son played travel hockey so we often went away for the weekend.
I loved that minivan. It could hold practically anything. I mean, I was a suburban mom. I spent a lot of time hauling kids and dogs. I didn’t need to pretend I was something else with an inappropriate car.
Ooh yay! I love a good free pile.
I’ll be looking for free piles for the next few days since it’s a magical time when the last day of the month lands on a Saturday! I went out yesterday and, like you, came home with something for my bag of redeemables.
I always take a small tote bag with me when I go for evening walks.
I was horrified by how many returnable bottles and cans were strewn all over Seattle a couple weeks ago until I learned that Washington doesn’t have a bottle bill.
Katy, it’s the same here in my part of Ohio. You see all kinds of cans and bottles around.
Oh, my. I probably would have filled my trunk and smuggled them over the border!
Katy, you may have inspired me to take a nostalgic drive through the party-school university area this weekend. As the widow of a landlord in that area, I know that student leases generally run June 1 to June 1. So there may be some treasures on the curbs.
Ooh . . . please let us know what you find!
Came across this article on thrifting which I thought may be of interest to those of you who thrift for clothes. Unfortunately, in my area, I have trouble finding thrift store clothes that fit. I am ++++.
https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/vacation-method-thrift-shopping-37486037
Had a nostalgic moment yesterday. If you’re old, like me, you’ll remember the days of mail-in rebates (actually snail-mailing in UPC codes, box tops, etc to get a rebate.) My mom’s sister and brother-in-law religiously showed up at our house early every Saturday morning in the 70’s (so early, the rooster wasn’t even awake yet) to collect a paper grocery bag full of box tops, labels, UPC codes, etc that mom saved for them every week. Couponing at it’s “finest.” So grateful for the ability to do so much online these days and not have to deal with all the clutter!
Going on my biweekly trip to take my sister for groceries and errands tomorrow. Today is her birthday. Said the other week she wanted a hanging basket, but couldn’t find one she liked. Bought her one for her birthday at a reasonable price. There is a church rummage sale across from Walmart. Going to check that out before the errands begin.
I read the article you mentioned and find I follow the rule of “does this make me smile” before I buy. I do miss the days of shopping and finding two or more pieces that coordinate. Some of my favorite items of clothing were “coordinates “ and I wore them forever.
Interesting article on “would you pack this along for a vacation,” although I think the writer is going on a lot more vacations than I am!
I remember collecting “Scott’s” brand kleenex proofs of purchase to get a small stuffed scotty dog and my grandmother sent me hers. It took forever as my family bought whatever was cheapest.
My dad used to buy huge garbage bags of old bread from the bread store for super cheap to feed our pigs growing up. One time, they had an offer for a free box of 64 crayons (this was when these first came out). I think I ended up with 12 boxes and sold about half to my grade school art teacher! Good memories.
May I recommend the book The Prizewinner of Defiance, Ohio? It is about a mother of 12 in the 1940s and 1950s who entered contests, rebates, etc to basically raise her family as her husband was a semi-functioning alcoholic. Such a good book!
I second your endorsement of that book.
I third it. I just love it and I’ve read it at least twice.
It is one of my top 10 books.
It was made into a movie, that has the same title.
Woody Harelson portrays the husband. I think it was released in the 2000s.
I shall have to read it BUT it should scream long and loud to every woman in the world to not have to put up with a) breeding kids and b) a piece of excrement “husband”. I suspect there were signs he was *not* good husband/father material but hey, twas the era of women are doormats. Off soapbox.
Selena, I loved it and I was the kid who in first grade insisted my mother stop signing my school papers “Mrs. Rose’s Dad’s Name.” You have your own name, I told my mother.
And she wasn’t a doormat, either. The Prizewinner. My mom wasn’t either.
My friend, Picky Deviled Egg Guy*, texted me yesterday asking why there was a baby playpen on my front lawn on Google Street View. I’d forgotten I put one out with a free sign a year ago. Figures it was just then Google drove by.
*He’s also the type to check out Google Street Views of his friends.
And you stay friends with this guy?????????????????????????????
I kind of like that google attention. Does he look at state “unclaimed property” websites for you, too? I spent a fun evening doing that once, found a few hundred dollars for some colleagues.
When I was exector of an estate, I looked on our state’s unclaimed property website and have found literally thousands of dollars for friends. You have to do some legwork to provide documentation but it is so worth it to claim what is yours or a deceased relative’s. It is crazy how many dollars go unclaimed, even when someone is informed that it exists.
Lisa: he’s quirky but extremely smart and funny and we get along like a house on fire. Have done ever since we met 36 years ago.
Heidi: no, but I have! Come to think of it I think I’m owed some small amount (like $80) I haven’t claimed because the claim needs to be notarized. I should get off my butt and do it.
Lisa: years and years ago he needed to submit a bio for some speech he was giving and of course asked me to write it. I came up with, “In his spare time, Deviled Egg Guy enjoys Broadway musicals, collecting antiques, and the opera.” He said, “Oh god. Can you come up with a more butch bio?” I then wrote, “In his spare time Deviled Egg Guy enjoys Broadway musicals, dog fighting, and monster truck rallies.”
I still have no idea what he actually submitted.
https://thenonconsumeradvocate.com/go-get-your-money-on-missingmoney-com/
MissingMoney.com!!!
As the executor of my mother’s estate, I came across something in her house that led me to Unclaimed Money for our state. She had a savings account that was escheated to the state due to lack of activity…over $10,000! After submitting the claim with documentation, I settled in to wait. FINALLY I received a letter from the fund denying my claim. Oh NO, you don’t keep our money!
Luckily I had kept copies of everything I sent them, and I had documented the exact dates they were submitted, and I had even verified receipt with the names of who I spoke to. I phoned the office supervisor, who assured me they had not been received, and the claim was denied. Thank goodness I was able to give her document specifics, the dates they were submitted, and the names of who verified their receipt. She put me back on hold, and came back about five minutes later…”Oh, guess what, I found them. You are approved, and can expect to receive a check within ten days.”
Moral of the story: Keep good records of all steps in the submission process!
In prepping our rental apartment for our next tenants, I came across a lot of random things that do not need to stay in the rental. I assembled what I thought might be an unappealing free pile on the side of the driveway. I was BEYOND thrilled that almost everything went including: a table umbrella missing a base, five cans of paint in various states of used, a box of half used cans of liter fluid for a grill and a grubby vacuum that none of the previous tenants identified as theirs. (The remaining stuff fit into a box (some housewares etc) and went to the thrift store drop off yesterday.) I cheered everytime I noticed that something else had been driven away from the pile.
I am easily entertained…
That is the best entertainment!!!
My best roadkill makeover was this knit cap, that I cleaned up and sold for $44 on eBay!
https://thenonconsumeradvocate.com/five-frugal-things-543/
Thank you for posting so frequently.
Some days I go for walks with our dogs and other days I go for a ride: they walk and I am in my power wheelchair. When walking, I can’t pick up much unless it fits in my pockets. However, when I ride, I have been known to use my lie back position, put something like a free table or chair on top of my body and ride home. There are times I have to fight our elderly lab, who sees my open lap as an invitation to lie on top of me for a ride home, not quite understanding that when I lie back in the chair it is for a reason. (Thank God the Dane does not seem interested in a ride!) I have also used the power of my chair to pull something heavy home, although that is a bit hard on the arm holding the item I am pulling.
Lindsey, if your life was ever made into a movie, the scene with your wheelchair in the lie back position hauling free furniture home would steal the show.
Lindsey, thank you for that description. It made me laugh and I really needed it.
I do have a story that will convince you there are good people left. In our 30s we both had extremely lucrative jobs in a village with only one store and that sold food downstairs and arctic clothing upstairs. Which means we spent for nothing beyond food, as his contract included paid housing, oil, and water delivery (no piped water, everyone lived on tanked water provided twice a week) so left there with plenty of money. My husband had a gorgeous shirt that used cuff links and every time he wore it when we went ballroom dancing in Fairbanks, he had wished for fancy cufflinks. In our late 40s, we were back in Fairbanks, and I had a jeweler make cufflinks from Alaskan gold nuggets, with a small diamond set in the center of each. It was the best $2,000 I ever spent, it brought the husband such joy. A few years later we had a garage sale, mostly office furniture. Two days after the sale, a woman knocks on the door and hands me the cuff links, saying she figured I had hidden them for safekeeping in the underside of a drawer in the filing cabinet and had mistakenly left them in there. My first thought, honestly, was who cleans the undersides of filing cabinet drawers?! She refused a reward and just told me to pay it forward. I think of her on occasion and hope she has had a great life.
There are loads of good people out there, thanks for reminding us of them!
That is amazing, Lindsey.
My son, Beau Brummel Junior, always wears formal French cuffs with gold cufflinks engraved “Dictum meum pactum” on them. I bought vintage Tiffany gold cufflinks and had them engraved with Son’s motto. He loves them of course.
Kayaked in neighborhood lake today and picked up lots of junk that doesn’t belong in the lake — a disintegrating styrofoam cooler, several plastic bottles (some will redeem for $0.10), and a perfectly good albeit very wet pair of XL youth UnderArmor shorts. Shorts are drying out in the sun, before being added to our 1 load a week laundry. Will fit kid #1 next summer & then sibling 4 years after. Not “road kill” fabric but . . . ?
Not much out and about for me right now but I did prune my collard tree and had enough leaves to dry a whole dehydrator full. Collard trees are so prolific that they sometimes feel like a free pile.
Glad to hear it about collards. Our seeds arrived on Friday, and I can’t wait to start harvesting!
I rarely see free piles around here, but people do set things out by the dumpsters in the alleys. Today I found a couple of things IN the dumpster, so I guess I have become a dumpster diver. A very nice, small laundry basket which is now in my storage closet, housing pet supplies. And a smaller wire mesh basket. Haven’t decided what to do with it yet but it will definitely serve in some organizational capacity.
Whoa, you are my hero!!!