Summer has hit and the hordes are descending on Mission Beach. A funny thing happens when people start to know what you are doing… stuff just starts to show up on your doorstep. A bag of clothing (like I need this!) 2 Basil plants (have already killed 2) a shelf (sold $1.00). It just goes to show you, that many people don’t want to throw away stuff or are too lazy to take to donate. But fortunately have great neighbors and while they understand and are shocked about the amount of beach trash, they are very supportive of what I am trying to achieve.
That said.. June was a better month financially. Am finding that ‘canning’ is getting addictive, but if I want to live off beach trash, I must be out around 3:30 am before the other canners. I know… that is early and yes, by 3 p.m. am so over this! If if want to collect from the beach, not the trash cans, have to be there before 4 am! The beach cleaners come between 4-4:30 am and the garbage guys guys try to get there before 6 am (Seagull Time).
The results for June and lost data: 2 days and did not clean for 2 days. Averaging 244 pieces per day in 1 mile of beach in South Mission Beach. Please note how much plastic. The number of cigarettes butts, the number 1 most cleaned item in beach is very low. This is due to the fact it is still dark when I go out and cannot see them. The truth is I miss many items due to being dark.
Inventory: This is how much stuff I get: June 15 did a textile inventory and had 204, towels, sheets, blankets, linens and clothing. As of June 30 I had 214 assorted towels, sheets, blankets, linens and clothing. That is after the June 23 Beach Clean Find sale!
That doesn’t count the 20+ reusable bottles, various BBQ utensils, lighter fluid, beach toys, electronics, purses, jewelry and more.
Income: Feeling very greedy here, as this month did not give away recyclables except glass. Now have a shopping cart in the back of the house in which all non-CRV plastic and glass are placed. Cleared out everyday from the pickers. There are some recycling center that will take non-CRV glass and plastic. Probably gave away $10.00. There is no money in this unless you are recycling alot.
Beach Trash Find Sales will be running every Saturday through the end of summer. Had a total of 3 Yard sales, 2 at my house and 1 at my sisters. What a difference in demographics. Then again, here at the beach, must rely on locals, not Craigslist. At my sisters, I sold Blankets, here, I will sit on them. Surprisingly I sold 2 side tables (rescued from the alley) repainted them and sold them. Sorry no picture, as was going to keep them but put them out and voila they sold. Will continue to cruise the alleys and pick up items.
Income
Recycling Center: $225. 46
Garage Sales (3) $21o.00
Total: $435.46
Not enough to live on that is for sure!
Cost: I estimate it cost $1.00 per item to wash. This is a lost leader. The biggest problem is towels. For instance on Saturday, I picked up 9 towels and sold 10. As you can see, it is a losing proposition. Many of the towels are stained or ragged. Selling for $.25 does not make any money. To top it off, the towel collectors, despite the fact they are using for rags, want ‘clean’ almost new towels! I can understand it, if they are going to the swap meets to resale, but not selling a like new $15 beach towel for $.25. Would rather take the donation.
- Laundry: $110
Plants, which I won’t even count!
Net Income
$325.46
Donations- Gives-Keeps And Gifts
- Donated about 100 ‘Rag’ Items to Goodwill
- Donated 200 beach toys to Community Resource Center
- Donated 51 Single shoes to Community Resource Center
- Gave about 50 items, toys, clothing, towels, hats to friends and family
- Gave 9 bottles of unopened soda to recycling guys
- Kept 10 great towels for 4th of July party. (To be sold after 4th)
- Kept 3 boogie boards for the summer. (To be sold after the 4th)
- Kept 2 Swim Fins for the summer
- Kept 1 Skimboard for 4th of July party.
- Kept 2 camping chairs for 4th of July party.
- Kept 2 BBQ’s which made into planters.
- Gift: 2 great new gloves for beach cleaning!
- Gift: 24 bottles of unopened beer from beach! What a score!
- Gift: 1 package unopened red plates which gave to neighbor for 4th of July party
- Gift: 2 packages of unopened plastic eating utensils for 4th of July party. I hate to do this.. but when you have 30 people coming over and no dishwasher and little eating utensils, what else am I going to do? Throw them in the trash?
There is no doubt, I am selling things too cheap, sold a new pair of UGG sandals for $1.00. They retail for $90 online. Like new kids Sanuk sandas ( $23 online) A Yeti coffee bottle (I kept after a neighbor told me) retails for $39.00 online. Earbuds I sold for $.50 and they worked. Must get better at looking at prices before put these out. Sometimes, I just want to move merchandise, at least I didn’t have to wash them!
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