Alaskan Thrifters

So everyone wants to save money right? That's clearly a global thing...everyone is always trying to find new and innovative ways to save a buck. Well I think Alaskans have everyone beat! Hands down they win up here.

First off in Fairbanks if you life a little outside of the city ( like I do) you have to take your garbage to the dump (or transfer stations as they call them up here). The first time I went I noticed a lot of people just kind of hanging out. I was like huh that's weird, but I just threw my trash away and just assumed these people just knew each other and were catching up. The next time there were even more people, and there were people standing in the dumpster!! Now in the lower 48 dumpster diving is kinda left to the homeless and the ultra hipster, but here it is almost part of the culture! Throw trash away and lets go see what we can find! People walk around with clothes that they have found, books furniture, used lumber whatever! It is amazing!! They even have a covered area for people to leave the stuff they think someone might want, and it is always swarming with people. I find this pretty awesome, and am pretty excited for the first time I score a good find ;)

Thrift stores are pretty popular here too. I went to one called Value Village and they have pretty much anything you can think of. There is an entire wall filled with bags that contain used pens and pencils, crayons, sewing stuff, little hotel bottles of shampoo, half used note pads, toy soldiers, thumbtacks, used lint from dryers, unicorn horns, utensils, band aids, ...the list goes on. Pretty much anything that you could think of they have, and they clearly never throw anything away.

Another way they show off their awesome thriftiness is by hosting not one but two free markets every year!! Thats right Free! Each year at the University they gather up everything that students have left behind or what people donate and you just walk through and take what you want! MIND BLOWN! I know its amazing! And they have a second one that is just for winter clothes! ugh stop I can't handle the bargains! Amazing!

Needless to say I am filling my cabin up with awesome thrift store decorations!!

P.S.- I recently found out that if you are planning on putting xmas lights up you have to do it early. like September early...because if you don't and try to move them around in December they will just freakin snap and break because it is so cold.  Yea that's really flippin cold!