Joys of Curb Shopping

At a time when many people are looking for ways to make the home more attractive without saving a lot of money, using a time honored method known as curb shopping may be your best bet.

Curb shopping is simply the process of coming across treasures that have been placed along the roadside by their owners, and taking them home with you. In some cases, the items may need a little fixing up, such as re-staining or a paint job. At other times, there is nothing wrong with the items at all, other than someone grew tired of them.

The idea of curb shopping has its origins in the practice of spring cleaning that was once very popular in the New England region of the United States. Each spring, people who open all the doors and windows to let in fresh air. Mattresses were sunned, rugs were beaten on clotheslines out back, and any furniture or knick-knacks that were no longer wanted were deposited by the road. Anyone who wanted the items could have them for free; all they had to do was haul them away.

Even though spring-cleaning is not much of a tradition anymore, people do still sometimes place unwanted items by the side of the road. The understanding is that the previous owner does not want anything in return, other than to have the items disappear as soon as possible.

To get into the true spirit of curb shopping, having a small pickup truck is very helpful. This makes it easier to pick up sofas, tables, or overstuff chairs with relative ease. However, don't be discouraged if a truck is not available. Ingenious curb shoppers often keep rope in the glove compartment so they can strap a roadside find to the top of the car and haul it home.

Along with furniture, you may also find other treasures such as lamps, picture frames, books, slip covers, draperies and area rugs. Often, all these items need is a quick cleaning and they are ready to press back into use somewhere in your home.

People who are handy with tools may find that curb shopping leads to a means of generating some extra revenue for the household. If you can repair and restore tables, rocking chairs, or electronic equipment, it may be possible to put the items up for sale in the classified section of the local newspaper and make a nice return on your investment. Alternatively, you can use the repaired items in your own home, making the household cozier and more inviting.

In a society where one person's trash is another person's treasure, curb shopping is a great way to get what you want honestly and without spending any money at all. Next time you are out driving, take some time to notice what is setting by the roadside; it may be just what you have been looking for.