Dumpster Jackpot!

Today I took out my trash and saw a big long box sitting on top of the other trash in the dumpster. I peeked inside (yes, I'm weird) and it looked like someone emptied out their junk drawer in it. I pulled the box out of the dumpster to have a better look and found some keys, a bottle opener, a shoe horn, and three half dollars! 

There was lots more stuff in there, but I thought the stuff I nabbed was interesting, especially the money. Why do people throw money away? This seriously baffles me!

Then I spotted this dime on the ground. Yay!

Have you found any money lately?

This Found Money Facts:
Denomination:  1 dime, 3 half dollars
Year:  dime:  2012; half dollars:  1972, 1976, 1976
U.S. Mint:  all D
Condition:  shiny and a half dollar is a tad dirty
Total Found Money to Date in 2013:  $27.53

Found 17 Cents on a Walk

With today's beautiful weather, I decided to go take a walk during the day. I did wear a cap because the sun's hot even though the temperature is pleasant. I went a tad farther than usual and spotted 17 cents total. Here's where and what I found:

• 2 pennies by a dumpster
• 3 pennies and a dime in some rocks by the sidewalk
• 1 penny in the street
• 1 penny in a parking lot clipped to a pen cap

It was quite thrilling to just keep finding these coins! I also found the little silver lobster claw clasp in the parking lot here.

What about you, guys? Have you found anything good (money or otherwise) lately? I hope so!

This Found Money Facts:
Denomination:  7 pennies, 1 dime
Year:  pennies:  1992, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2013, ?; dime:  2004
U.S. Mint:  all D, but one is ?
Condition:  range from shiny to dirty to tarnished to dinged up good; dime:  shiny
Total Found Money to Date in 2013:  $25.82

Found Two Pennies in a Dumpster

Yes, you read that right. I found these two pennies today in a dumpster! That's a first! 

I went out to get my mail, took my trash out, and went on my way. I decided to walk around the parking lot to see if I spotted any money. Nope, but I did find some trash. So, I picked up a few things and took it to another dumpster to throw away. Inside the dumpster, right on top of what looked like a child's pull up (I know, a pull up!) were these two pennies! The pull up was folded so that nothing, er, unsightly was showing. Except these two pennies!

So, I reached in and couldn't reach. My armpit sort of hung up on the edge of the dumpster. Ugh. I went over to a pile of rocks, got one and set it in front of the dumpster. That did the trick! It raised me up enough to reach these bad boys!

I brought them home and gave them (and my hands) a bath. Isn't that weird that they were just sitting there? I wonder if someone threw them in with other trash or set them on top of the diaper (it could have been a diaper) or pull up (not sure??) to see if someone would find it. Nah, I doubt it. 

I set the pennies on my messy coffee table. I've been sewing stuff, in case you couldn't tell. I made this mug rug (coaster) for my sister last week. I'm still in the sewing mood so all my sewing junk is still out, everywhere.

Anyway, have you ever found money on top of trash?


This Found Money Facts:
Denomination:  2 pennies
Year:  1988, 1998
U.S. Mint:  D, D
Condition: tarnished
Total Found Money to Date in 2013:  $16.56

Who Says You Can't Get Paid Taking Out the Trash?

You can! You really can! 

Okay, you won't always get paid to take out the trash, but today I took out my little grocery bag full of trash and next to the dumpster, along the side, was this penny! (I posed it next to some incense my friend gave me from her recent trip to Japan.)

Sure, it's just a penny, you say, but it's not the first coin I've found when taking out my trash. I remember once finding a dime right next to the recycling dumpster. Score!

Getting paid to take out the trash isn't a given. It won't happen every time, and when it does, it probably won't be much. But try it for yourself. All you have to do it look. 

So the next time (and the next time, and the next) you take out the trash, scope out the ground around the dumpster. If you have a house and have your own garbage cans instead of a communal dumpster, check the street near where you place the cans for the garbage truck to pick them up. You never know what you might find until you look!

Have you ever found money while taking out the trash?

This Found Money Facts:
Denomination:  1 penny
Year:  1978
U.S. Mint:  D   
Condition:  shiny, just starting to tarnish a little
Total Found Money to Date in 2013:  $15.85