It’s an unseasonably cold day in Seattle, and Rebecca is standing in her kitchen, preparing for her regular Sunday afternoon outing. As she gathers her backpack and grocery bags, her dog sniffs around excitedly, anticipating the long walk and treats that await.
In the course of their errands, Rebecca and her dog will visit several stores and coffee shops, a bakery and a chocolate factory. But instead of walking in the front door, she plans to head out back and go Dumpster diving.
Rebecca, 51, owns a small duplex and has a job running an art program for a health care organization. She’s also an artist in her own right whose accomplishments include a piece that hangs in the Seattle Art Museum.
And she gets 99 percent of her food from the Dumpster.“It’s so easy to eat for free,” she says. “The only things I buy are butter and milk.”
I read this article today in MSNBC and have been wondering about it,since then. Yes, who would not welcome the frugal lifestyle.Living better for less. I myself am a bargain hunter and I feel that I deserve a pat on my back for every penny I save through my bargain hunting. But, I was amused to read about Rebecca in this article (link to the article is given at the end of this post ).She is not a homeless person but owns a duplex in Seattle and yet she embraces a dumster diving lifestly? How far should one go to live a frugal life? Are you so obsessed with frugal living that it has taken you to dumster diving.
Rebecca, who asked that her real name not be used because she worries she could lose her job if her employer knew about her Dumpster diving, doesn’t need to get food for free.
She says she likes the thrill of the chase, and the surprising bounty of good food she finds. And despite holding a steady job and having grown up in an affluent family, she says she sometimes worries she won’t have enough money. She also likes to “save a little here, save a little there,” so she can afford splurges like a laptop computer and keep funding her art.
It is amazing how people go to extreme ways in order to live fruggally. Don’t you think such people are obsessed by the idea of getting stuff for free?
you can read the whole article here…
Filed under: Environment, Finance, Thoughts, culture, lifestyle, living | Tagged: frugal living
Hi msharma,
That was really an interesting read for me.
So absolutely true about the extravagance of the Americans – speaking in a generalised way.
I know of one American General Manager who once was my Boss. He is the only exception American (of Italian immigrants) whom I have known as miserly.
Much later, over drinks, he explained to me that the Great Depression changed his entire outlook on life and it stayed that way till this very day.
I met him again after 18 years in San Jose where he was working. Mind you, he did not even invite me out for a meal or drink although I do not make visits to America that often.
Oh heck, what am I rambling about. Ha ha ha.
Back to the article then. Perhaps the energy price crisis may lead more Americans to be thrifty.
Hi Windmill,
I am grateful for loyal reader like you
Meeting a friend after 18 years and not even willing to take him out for a drink…..c’mon….sounds like that co-worker of yours is a penny pincher..miserably!
Yes, the energy crisis is changing the people’s lifestyle and I think it has been a kind of blessing in disguise over here in the States. More people have stared to walk to work, take the public transportation or ride their bikes to work….giving them a chance to excercise, be healthy and reduce pollution
( that’s just me trying to be optimistic even in the hard times!)
was a deja vu for u, aint it?
Hello NA
totally , and you have great pictures in your blog!