Saving Money While Making Money Too!

I wrote recently about saving $ by recycling. I failed to mention something very important. There are some items that can be recycled and you can actually get paid for bringing them in. We have a county recycling center that will take many different items; there is no charge to bring the items and drop them off. There is also no financial incentive for bringing them in and dropping them off, except for the money saved through trash bags that didn't get purchased.

However, many metal items (particularly aluminum) can be recycled at a junk yard or specified metal recycling business. These businesses can sell the metal to companies that use it to make new products, and will pay you for bringing it in. Copper has been especially lucrative this past year. So much so that in our area there has even been a rash of thefts of metal items from peoples yards.

There are ways to get metal other than stealing it!
1) If you have a truck, a dolly and a strong back, you can post a notice on area bulletin boards stating that you would gladly haul away old appliances and other metals for free. You are offering a service to people who want to get rid of these items, but are unable or unwilling to drive them to the recycling center themselves. Most centers will purchase the metal based on weight, so the heavier the appliance, the bigger the payout.
NOTE: Call your local metal recycling center to ask about current rates (they are not all the same - if you have a couple of places to choose from, one may pay out better than another). Also, be sure to check on regulations for appliances that contain FREON, like refrigerators and freezers - you may have to do some additional work before these can be taken in.

2) Trash picking. We have not done this ourselves, but know a friend who has had some success at it. He regularly trash hunts for several types of items, but also carries a pair of wire cutters in his truck. When he comes across a trash pile that has old electrical items (like tvs, vcrs, lamps, etc), he cuts the cord from these, and puts them in the back of his van. When he has a large pile, he can take them to the recycling center (his local center will purchase the cords by weight; they take off a certain amount for the plastic outer). If metal prices are especially high, and he has the time, he will strip off the plastic outer and take in the wires for an even better payday.

Remember that like any commodity, metal prices fluctuate with the market. Call around and regularly check on the current rates. It may pay to take a small load when prices are high, or it might be better to store the items until you have a large amount if prices are low.

Corinne Johnson is a Christian homeschooling mother of six, and help meet to her husband Don. The Johnson family has lived without a steady paycheck for 15 months, and by the Grace of God continue to have all their needs met. This blog is to share the tips and tricks to making a living and supporting a family when no one has a job.