40 Of The Luckiest “Curb Finds” That People Just Stumbled Upon

It’s safe to say that the 'Curbfind' group is changing people's attitudes toward giving new life to tossed furniture. The subreddit was originally launched in May 2020 and has gained over 12.6k devoted members sharing their unexpected finds with the community. It’s home to countless photos of people stumbling upon things people no longer need for others to enjoy.

So if you think there’s still a stigma around picking up discarded goods lying on the edge of the sidewalk, this page is getting rid of it one post at a time. A brief scroll through this list proves it’s virtually impossible to predict what will pop up on a curb in your city. In fact, these unlikely places seem to be treasure troves filled with exciting items ranging from beautiful furniture to electronics to the most insignificant things that are bound to bring their new owners joy.

It’s no secret that most people face an overwhelming accumulation of stuff, but members of this community are turning their unwanted valuables into money-saving treasures, grabbing unwanted pieces to decorate their homes and improve their lives. They obviously embrace the three Rs in environmental responsibility: reduce, reuse, and recycle.

See, stoopers contribute the environmental benefits of buying less new stuff and rescuing furniture, electronics, toys, and much more from a trip to the landfill. And as recent research has found out, they also feel a sense of satisfaction because of it.

A study by Sabrina Helm and her team at the University of Arizona looked at how consumer choices affect well-being. They found that reduced consumption — repairing or reusing things rather than buying replacements — is not only better for the planet but also makes people happier.

"Reduced consumption is more novel and probably more important from a sustainability perspective," Helm said, adding that it "has effects on increased well-being and decreased psychological distress."

According to Helm, having less and buying less can actually make people more satisfied. Because if you buy a lot of new objects, you also have a lot on your mind. "Maybe you have a lot of debt because you bought all that stuff, and now you have to manage all that stuff. It requires maintenance and being organized. It's not like you buy it and you're done with it," Helm said.

But if you’ve ever started putting random household items on the sidewalk in hopes they’d disappear, you must wonder about these passerby scavengers who are happy to bring your possessions home. Well, Blu Dot, a furniture maker based in Minneapolis, did a "Real Good Experiment" in 2009 to find out what would happen if they left 24 designer chairs equipped with GPS tracking technology on the streets of New York.

Although the experiment served as a marketing campaign for the chairs, the researchers delved deeper into the curb mining phenomenon by adding hidden notes and asking the takers to be interviewed. "The key to this idea was involvement," Michael Hart, founder of branding firm Mono, said. "Not just them taking the chairs, but the whole community with this notion of an experiment and 'Where will the chairs go?'"

So Jonathan Levine, a veteran curb miner, noticed the chair and said it was too good to be there. He and his son have been stooping for several years, and some of their valuable finds include a pay phone, keyboard, and a working printer. "We see fax machines and printers all the time," he said. "There's also more competition since the recession began."

Looking through other people’s trash and nabbing used objects isn’t new. But competition in the curb mining business has been fierce for quite some time now. Over the past few years, stooping has become so widespread that it has attracted thousands of aficionados who transformed what used to be a niche activity into a phenomenon.

But how does one become a good sidewalk sleuth? How can you know when you spot a quality piece before committing? The New York Times spoke with several expert stoopers who let curious readers into the nooks and crannies of their craft.

First, not only where you look, but also when is crucial. The end of the month as well as the weekends are always good times to go on a hunt, with people throwing out windfalls of unwanted stuff. For example, a writer and skilled scavenger P.J. Gach likes to pass luxury buildings in the early morning because exciting items usually land there before trucks come to collect them.

Then, it’s critical to investigate the quality of the piece. Bronwyn Tarboton, an actor with a dumpster-diving social media account, explained it’s best to pull out your phone and do a quick search if you’re unsure of the item’s state. "That way you can see how much something is worth, how much things are selling for," Tarboton said.

When it comes to furniture, "dovetail joinery on the drawers is a sign of real craftsmanship. A heavy item is likely better quality and sturdier than a light one. Check to see if it’s wobbly, and if the legs are in good condition." Most importantly, don’t forget to check for signs of bedbugs — "look along the seams for dark spots."

Moreover, she always comes equipped with a backpack or a tote bag and a screwdriver, "in case she needs to disassemble an item to get it home. A tape measure helps, too, so you don’t end up bringing home a dresser that won’t fit through the door or up the stairs."

And lastly, familiarize yourself with stooping etiquette (yes, it exists!) One thing to look out for is missing drawers, they may be a sign of someone coming back for the rest of the piece later. Then make sure the item is clearly on the curb, otherwise it’s off-limits. And if other enthusiasts are already exploring the object you stumbled upon, they have first dibs. But if you were the one to spot it yet no longer feel interested in pursuing it further, let other people know. "Remember, something else is going to be down the road," Gach said. "There are thousands of leaning bookcases begging to be adopted."