Living on SNAP benefits and making do on less is a way of life for most people. I feel for many folks who are hurting. So if my site can help you find free food, that could also subsidize your SNAP benefits along with couponing.
You can dumpster dive for coupons. Many stores like Walmart, will actually give you money back if you use a coupon to offset a clearance or close out item. For example, closeout item is $1.00, coupon is $1.25. Money back your total shopping. What’s not to like about that?
A few weeks ago I had coupons for toothpaste. With the coupon offsetting the closeout prices, the toothpaste was free. The only thing I paid was sales tax.
Yes I troll closeout and clearance aisles. I wait patiently until the items get really cheap. If I can use a coupon, great, if not, I still get a great bargain. So many times I’ve purchased good shampoo, conditioner and shower gel for next to nothing. It’s a great item to store and it doesn’t go bad.
If you’re a mom and receiving WIC, please note that in most stores (if you don’t already know) many items are eligible for this now. Many fruits and vegetables are WIC eligible. If you’re receiving SNAP, I’d spend your WIC first and stock up on the fresh fruits and veggies I could.
I alluded to in another article that I wasn’t feeling well. I just couldn’t shake what was going on with me. I’ve spent exhaustive research and realized I had a serious candida problem, which creates all sorts of issues. This is what I did.
My husband purchased a collodial silver generator on Amazon for $40. You literally plug the silver rods in the water for about 3 hours and voila, your own collodial silver water. Ladies and gentleman, it has worked like a charm. I feel MUCH better. Not 100% but much better. I know $40 is a lot of money for a lot of people, but save up a little bit each month. And buy one, I guarantee you, you’ll feel better.
I’m taking 1000 to 5000 milligrams of vitamin C each day. I’ve found that taking Vitamin C has helped my joint pain tremendously.
I’m a big fan of Braggs Organic Apple Cider Vinegar. At least twice a day I put in 1 teaspoon baking soda, 2 tablespoons ACV and room temperature water. It acts as a anti-viral and natural antibiotic. I thought it would taste hideous, but it’s really not that bad.
But back to diving. Now that it’s colder and less chance of meat or any other food spoiling in the hot sun, it’s back to diving behind the stores!
Urbandumpsterdiver's Blog 
Hey it’s Rob I lost your phone number again. call me ***. By the way, would you want to be on a radio show with me? Ever heard of Red Ice Radio? I want you to introduce Dumpster Diving to the up and coming generation of fascists.
This guy, and gal.
http://redicecreations.com/
They are a very cute married couple in their 20’s. I met them in Washington DC about a month ago. Maybe you’ve met them. I think dumpster diving needs to be publicized. The newbie kids might not realize this is a real way to source free food and free consumer goods.
Comment by mindweapon — November 28, 2015 @ 1:32 pm
Rob I deleted your number for privacy and safety reasons. I have to think about being on a radio show. If you publicize diving, stores and chains start to lock their dumpsters. I hear what you’re trying to accomplish and I appreciate that.
The BEST thing they could do is read my blog. I’m working on getting a 800# on free conferencing.com to have a roundtable discussion on diving in the very near future. Once that is done, I can receive 1,000 calls. We can brainstorm ideas for diving and self-reliance.
I will email you or call you with the details.
Comment by urbandumpsterdiver — November 28, 2015 @ 3:48 pm
Brandon, my apologies for the delay.
Was this dude an actual law enforcement officer or a security guard? The reason I asked is that many times security guards are trying to chase you off so they get the good stuff.
California vs. Greenwood is the court case that was used in California to justify dumpster diving. Once the property is in the dumpster it’s really the property of the dumpster company NOT the store, so that’s incorrect what the cop/security guard told you.
If it’s a cop or a security guard, I would lie low in that area until he gets sick of trying to harrass you OR he gets a different beat. A friend of mine carries a hand held scanner with him. That way he always know when the cops are around. If they’re out busting someone, they’re not going to be near you.
If you approach the manager, do it very cautiously. And make sure please when you do contact him in person, you are well groomed and clean shaven. You want to look like a clean cut college student ok?
Chain stores vs. independent stores are about the same. No difference really.
It would be a good idea to take someone with you as a spotter. That way they can be the lookout for you. Have some sort of signal, like a whistle, etc…distinct noise, that means hit the ground running and leave.
Comment by urbandumpsterdiver — November 23, 2015 @ 10:00 pm
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brandonLA@mail.com
don’t worry about the delay. i waited for an email alert, then checked when it didn’t come.
first off, i am 45yo, which is going to make the clean cut college student rather difficult. this place is just 2 blocks down from where i live. yes, i have tried other places, for various reasons this is the only one that is really practical. i am on a bicycle, i am not going to drive half-way across town at night. even if i did, i would face the same getting caught problem.
i have been going to this place for years, regular shopping i mean. i started diving there almost by accident. it is very small, the cashiers know me by name. maybe i should point out that i don’t really need to dive. i am long-term unemployed, it stretches my food-stamps, i find useful items a lot. toiletries and such. being broke, this is one of the few things i can do as a hobby. however i have never been arrested for anything and am not going to screw that up.
about 6 months ago, the loading door opened up. an older man came out, i guess he was a manager doing some paper-work. i recognized him, i don’t think he recognized me. he asked what i was doing. i was startled and didn’t dare lie. i said dumpster-diving. he said- “that’s not allowed, you have to go”. i did, i waited a week before i started again. this time i did it even later, but when i got there, the bins were locked.
a month later i came again, they were now unlocked and they didn’t bother to again. there were no security guards. just cops. one drove by and nodded, one stopped and was blase- “getting the good stuff?”. he told me about “theft of services”, and drove off. finally a young female cop stopped and gave me a speech. she is the one i would worry about getting arrested by. she was definitly warning me off. i said the other cops just drove by, she said- “that was them”.
i doubt a scanner would be much use, would i really hear “checking grocery outlet” everytime when they are just cruising? i would probably need 2 spotters to cover both entrances. would i put an ad on craigslist?
i want this to be legal or i won’t do it.
i do collect cans and recycle them. would that excuse work if my bag has none of them, but 5 packages of bacon? what if i contact the dumpster company. would there name be on the bins? what is generally their policy? in the extreme case i suppose i could write to some regional manager for permission, but that is going to be my last resort. after all, he has no reason to yes, and that would be the end of the matter.
thanks for helping.
have a great christmas, brandon
Comment by Anonymous — November 30, 2015 @ 6:50 pm
Brandon, you said you had problems getting on my site. I’m sure you mean the comment didn’t show up. Sometimes my askimet settings put things to spam they shouldn’t.
Brandon, many times cops are a little too over zealous for me. Just lie low for a while. I wouldn’t take my bike, I’d just walk there and dive. Can you carry a backpack or a gym bag? Or maybe one of those shopping carts people use in the cities (the ones you buy personally that are upright)?
Just for the record, I never ever engage with the store personnel, ever. If I see one come out, I immediately leave. I don’t want them to know I’m even alive. Same thing with the cops. I’m usually in and out in about 5-15 minutes.
The cops and the store managers usually don’t know dumpster diving laws. I think they’re more worried you’ll leave a mess or you’re just some druggie that’s scrounging around. OR you’re taking the stuff they wanna take when they get home. The female cop sounds like a modern day version of Barney Five that’s a little too much. She’d be better fighting real crime than to be hassling you. This is why cops are disliked.
I don’t know if I’d put a Craig’s List ad on or not. Too many crazies on there. It’s like the wild wild west. Staying solo or with a trusted friend or family member is a good idea.
Comment by urbandumpsterdiver — December 14, 2015 @ 9:22 pm