A MUM-OF-FOUR has revealed some of the extreme lengths that she and her family go to save cash.
She revealed that she makes her kids go rooting in rat invested bins to look for things to salvage.
Rosanna Tran, 52 describes herself as the “Queen of frugalness” and said that despite living in a nice house and being able to afford to spend money, she doesn’t think it’s “necessary”.
Speaking on TLC’s So Freakin Cheap, she said: “Dumpster diving is a lifestyle.”
Dumpster diving refers to the practice of looking through bins for food or items of value.
It is not technically illegal in the UK, as rubbish isn’t seen as anyone’s property.
When the family go dumpster diving, they attach plastic bags to their feet and even bring a siren to scare rats away.
“We have had a few incidents with rats”, her daughter Elizabeth said.
The family find all sorts at the rubbish dump, including computer screens and TVs.
“Why would someone throw something like this away?” Elizabeth said.
They also root through their neighbours bins and take things home that they find lying at the side of the road.
Property manager Rosanna revealed that her parents are not frugal at all, and admitted that after seeing them end up with no money left after splashing the cash on fancy meals, she decide to live a cheapskate lifestyle.
Elizabeth said the when she was growing up she was embarrassed of her mother’s penny pinching techniques, not now, at 26 she is proud of her family’s money saving.
“it is kind of gross, but there’s so many things we’ve found, from jewellery, to furniture and trophies”, Elizabeth said.
The family say they have easily saved £8000 from the stuff they have found in the bins.
They store everything they collect in their garage and use DIY to fashion the things that they find into furniture for their house.
Thinking of trying your luck rummaging through bins? Here’s what you need to know
Dumpster diving is not illegal in the UK as any rubbish isn’t considered private property.
You are able to dumpster dive if the bins are out in the open and on public land while not being locked.
However, you may be asked to move along.
Rosanna turned an old door she found in a skip into a runway for her daughter charisma to use to practice for her beauty pageants and even made a dress for her using a bow she found in a bin.
“My favourite part about going into garbage is when I see something that has real potential”, Elizabeth said.
The family also love finding free food, and pinch fresh fruit of their neighbours trees.
They even take home sachets of mayonnaise and ketchup they find in the bin and say they can’t believe people would throw that stuff away.
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