Ariana Rodriguez, 35, has discovered a treasure trove of items valued at around $30,000 over the past six months, including a $500 piano and a Burberry coat.
Her journey began three years ago when she joined a local “Buy Nothing” group on Facebook, which sparked her interest in sourcing free items. She initially started by collecting toys and clothes found along the sidewalk, but about six months ago, she ventured into digging through dumpsters and trash bags for even more finds.
Ariana estimates that her haul includes a vintage Burberry coat worth $500, Prada shoes valued at $900, and a Sohmer & Co piano, which could be worth between $3,000 and $10,000. Not everything can make it home with her, so she donates items to a local church and also sells some for profit.
Alongside her, other moms participate in the treasure hunt, hoping to show others that “anyone can become a treasure seeker.” Ariana operates a vintage resale business in New York City and finds joy in the adventure of hunting for items, as she feels strongly about keeping things out of landfills.
“I love everything about it—that’s the thrill,” she shares, explaining how she dresses up for her outings, infusing her treasure-hunting trips with charm and style. She hopes to challenge the stigma around scavenging, noting that there’s nothing wrong with it.
After joining the “Buy Nothing” group in 2022, Ariana realized how much abundance was available for free just by looking around her neighborhood. She began to collect toys for her three young children, gradually “getting more into it,” and started exploring dumpsters for hidden treasures.
This month alone, she found a bag filled with game items worth around $200 and a Stokke High Chair valued at $397. Though she loves finds, she also prefers to redirect items to new homes rather than keeping everything herself.
“I’ll resell a lot of it,” Ariana states, mentioning that even small trinkets or furniture items are fair game for selling later. It surprises her what people discard—couches, mirrors, you name it. She notes that sometimes she’s found cash or even a vintage Barry briefcase in the trash.
Reflecting on her finds over the past six months, she estimates they could net thousands in value. “I’ve only started really diving into the trash recently,” she explains, but her excitement over each new discovery speaks volumes about her passion.
Ariana aims to dive into trash at least once a week, balancing this hobby with her responsibilities as a mom. “Quality over quantity,” she emphasizes, mentioning that about 80-90% of her life now revolves around this newfound source of free items.
While she occasionally faces skepticism, such as people warning about bed bugs, she brushes it off. “It’s way more embarrassing to overconsume and throw everything away,” she argues, encouraging others to explore the possibilities of trash digging.
With support from her husband, Eric, 35, Ariana is enthusiastic about sharing her passion. “When you dig through trash, you glimpse someone’s life—there’s a whole historical element to it,” she adds thoughtfully.
Her list of recent finds includes: a Sohmer & Co piano (valued from $3K to $10,000), tables worth between $750 and $3,500, a Jibbitz charm worth $50, a basketball hoop at $35, an Hermes box bag valued at $175, a glass lamp worth $150, and much more.
