Im a dumpster diver Ive found $30K in luxury goods from designer bags to pianos

A glam mom has found $30K worth of items digging through the trash for treasure in the last six months — including a piano and Burberry coat worth $500.Ariana Rodriguez, 35, has always loved thrifting but started sourcing free items three years ago after joining her neighborhood ‘buy nothing’ group on Facebook.There she spotted others who would go stooping — sourcing of items that have been left out on the street – and decided to give it a go herself.She started to find toys and clothes on sidewalks and six months ago started digging through dumpsters and trash bags to find more treasure.She estimates she’s found $30K worth of items – including a vintage Burberry coat worth $500, Prada shoes worth $900 and a Sohmer & Co piano worth anywhere between $3K to $10K.Ariana isn’t able to take it all home but what she doesn’t keep she either gives to the church for people in need or resells it on.The mom-of-three also hunts in full glam to show ‘anyone can be a trash digger’.Ariana, who owns a vintage reselling business, from New York City, said: “It’s like a treasure hunt every time.“I enjoy everything about it — it’s the thrill of it.“The biggest part of it is my profound desire to keep things out of landfill.“I always dress up to leave the house.“I hunt in full glam — with my full outfit on.“Anyone can do it.“I hope the stigmas are removed — there’s nothing wrong with it.”Ariana started realizing how much she could find for free and on the streets after joining her local neighborhood ‘buy nothing’ group in 2022.She started “stooping” around her area more – getting free toys for her kids – aged six, three, and two.She said: “I started getting really into it.”Six months ago she started going trash digging which entails “going through bin bags and finding treasure”.Ariana will give non-expired food, blankets and clothes she finds to her local church and keeps arts and crafts for her kids to play with....