Dumpster Diving Divas

My family went to the zoo once.  I don't remember how old I was, probably 9 or 10, but I remember the day itself fairly well.  The day was hot and the asphalt was sticky.  It was crowded, it was smelly, it was summer.

I think what made the day so memorable was that my mom, who was and still is very interested in saving money, kept fishing Kodak film packages out of the numerous garbage cans around the park.  Apparently there was a big refund for the UPCs, and my mom was taking advantage of the free supply.  I was so embarrassed!  My mom was digging through the garbage at the zoo!  And she compiled quite the collection, too, as she dodge ketchup splats and chewing gum.  We laugh about the experience now, but at the time I was mortified.  And disgusted--that garbage was gross.

Today, I noticed that the newspaper had a Kohl's coupon attached to the front of it.  $10 off of $20 is hard to pass up.  I swiped my ID card and retrieved my free papers.  I pulled off the coupons and went to throw the unneeded papers in the adjacent garbage-can-sized recycle bin.  As I opened the lid, I paused.  There on top was a stack of Salt Lake Tribunes, all new, all unread, and all with a coupon.  Holding up the large lid with one hand, I bent my top half into the big bin and used my free hand to snag the coupons and dig deeper for other hidden treasures. With my bum in the air and most of me in a giant green bin, I must have been quite the sight.

In all, I acquired 10 Kohl's coupons, most of which I gained from the waste paper basket.  It was a good, but not great effort.  You see, this wasn't my first time with my head first in the bin...  But with 10 coupons in hand, I'm going to have some great shopping.  All thanks to digging through the trash.

Like mother, like daughter, I guess.

(I may seem crazy, but at least my garbage was clean.  And recyclable.)