Would you ever dumpster-dive for free goods?

Clark has been called a lot of things over the years -- from cheap to thrifty to frugal. But when he recently read about the "freegan" movement, he began thinking that he might actually be one of the last of the big time spenders! Freegans are people who live off society's castoffs and get all their possessions for nothing. Basically, they take what's considered trash and turn it into treasure. Some do it to further a political agenda and some just do it for the free discarded furniture, stereos, TVs and more.

The New York Times recently ran an article about freegans showing up at New York University when it was time for students to move out at the end of the school year. Some of the goods the freegans found in dumpsters included artwork, iPods and desk lamps. Wow! Now, don't get Clark wrong; some of the more extreme dumpster-diving (or "urban foraging," in freegan lingo) practices like getting discarded food behind the market or out of the garbage really gross him out. He only fesses up to having dumpster-dived once when his wife threw away a box from something he'd purchased. He dove right in when needed to get the UPC code in order to get a $100 rebate! Meanwhile, if you want to try being a virtual freegan, go to FreeCycle.org, where you can gift or receive free stuff from your computer.