We have all heard the old adage, "One man's trash is another man's treasure." That statement is as true today as it was the day it originated. We the people of these United States have spent too many years with the incredible "good life" of materialism and now the high fuel costs we are experiencing in 2008, the possibility of a serious recession, global warming, the high cost of goods and materials it is now time to seriously consider turning trash into treasure.
I am one person who bought a new car every year for 22 years until I finally woke up in 1987 and asked the question, "Why"? These cars sometimes did not even have 12,000 miles on them. Since then I buy pre-owned cars, good ones, and keep them going until they become an embarrassment to me and my family.
I try to do the same thing with other things I feel I want or need. To me this would not apply to a computer or a monitor, but it might apply to many other things.
Suppose I want an outdoor table for my garden or patio. I no longer am prepared to go out and buy a new one. I will keep my eye open for a used one. I found a nice wrought iron table one time with a broken and missing glass top on the side of the road ready for trash pickup. Well, I picked it up, took it home, found a piece of wood big enough to fit in the circular top, cut the wood, fitted it in and proceeded to make a mosaic top on it out of broken pieces of colored glass that I bought for $1.00 a pound at a stained glass store. Now that we own a stained glass school and studio I do not even have to spend the $1.00 a pound as we have tons of it around should I ever want to do another one. This table, with the new paint job, piece of old wood, tile cement and small can of mosaic sealer cost me under $14.00 to refurbish and I really did have a nice table.
When I needed new furniture for a home we were building I went to the nearby town where a lot of very rich people live on the ocean. I went to the thrift shops there and you would be astonished to find what I found. Really great furniture for a sale at not even 1/10 th of what I would have had to pay for it new. We used this for 2 years until I found some really great upholstery fabric I liked on sale and I made some slip covers for it.
Last year my sister-in-law wanted a wing back living room chair and so did I. She bought one for $499.00 and I bought one for $50.00. Both exactly the same style and condition except her chair is new and is blue and my chair is probably 4 years old and is green.
The next time you need or want something, check out the trash you might find a treasure.
