Latest news with #ArianaRodriguez
Indian Express
05-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
US woman finds 25 lakh worth of luxury items in dumpster
Ariana Rodriguez, a woman from NYC, discovered luxury items worth Rs 25 lakh by searching through dumpsters and trash bags. This began after joining a "buy nothing" Facebook group in 2022. She found Hermes boxes, Prada shoes, a vintage Burberry coat, and a Sohmer & Co piano. She runs a vintage resale business and shares or sells unwanted items. Her husband is supportive.
Indian Express
05-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
US woman finds 25 lakh worth of luxury items in dumpster, including Piano and Hermes boxes
Ariana Rodriguez, a 35-year-old woman from New York City, has discovered luxury items worth around Rs 25 lakh by digging through dumpsters and trash bags over the past six months. Her impressive finds include Hermes boxes, Prada shoes, a vintage Burberry coat, and a Sohmer & Co piano, with values ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Rodriguez, a mother of three, said she got into this habit after joining a local 'buy nothing' Facebook group in 2022. 'I started seeing people picking up things from the street. So I thought, why not try it myself?' she told the New York Post. She began by collecting toys and clothes from the pavement. About six months ago, she started checking inside bin bags and dumpsters to find more items. 'It's like a treasure hunt every time,' she said. 'I enjoy the process and I really want to stop good things from ending up in landfill.' Among her finds are a Burberry coat she says is worth £400 ($500, approximately ₹41,500), Prada shoes worth around £720 ($900, approximately ₹74,700), and a Sohmer & Co piano that could be worth between £2,400 and £8,000 ($3,000–$10,000, over ₹2.5 lakh to ₹8.3 lakh), she said. Rodriguez runs a small vintage resale business. Items she doesn't keep, she gives away or sells. 'I give things like food, clothes and blankets to my local church. I keep the arts and crafts for my kids,' she said. She added that she tries to go out looking at least once a week, but it depends on her parenting schedule. 'It's about quality over quantity,' she told the New York Post. Rodriguez said she tries not to keep too much for herself. 'Even if I find small things, I'll sell them. With furniture, I might use it for a bit and then sell it on,' she said. She also goes to apartment clear-outs. 'People get bored of their furniture and just throw it away,' she said. 'I've found mirrors, nightstands, even jewellery real gold. Once I found a Bally briefcase that might be from the 1960s.' Rodriguez says most of her life now is thrifted. 'I know I can get things for free. It makes you think about what you really need.' She's aware some people don't like what she does. 'People tell me I'll get bed bugs or say it's dirty. But I think it's worse to waste so much and keep buying new stuff.' Her husband Erick, a day trader, supports what she does. 'He's on board with it now,' she said.
NDTV
05-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- NDTV
US Woman Finds Piano, Prada, Hermes Items Worth Rs 25 Lakh In Dumpster
A New York woman has found over Rs 25 lakh worth of items by digging through dumpsters and trash bags in the last six months. Ariana Rodriguez's discoveries include Hermes boxes, Prada shoes, a vintage Burberry coat, and even a Sohmer & Co piano, with values ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars. A 35-year-old mother-of-three, Ms Rodriguez started thrifting three years ago when she joined her local 'buy nothing' Facebook group. There, she discovered the world of "stooping" - sourcing items left out on the street. She was drawn to the idea of finding free goods, particularly for her children, aged six, three, and two. Six months ago, Ms Rodriguez started digging through dumpsters and trash bags. She estimates that her finds could be worth anywhere from $10,000 (over Rs 8.4 lakh) to $30,000 (over Rs 25.3 lakh). While she keeps some items, including arts and crafts, for her children, others are given away or sold. Anything non-perishable, including clothes and blankets, goes to her local church to help those in need, The NY Post reported. In her quest for treasure, Ms Rodriguez heads out with full glam. She dresses up in her best outfits for her treasure hunts, hoping to challenge the stigma surrounding dumpster diving. "Anyone can do it," she tells the NY Post. "I hope the stigmas are removed, there's nothing wrong with it." Some of her recent findings include a Stokke high chair worth $397 (around Rs 33,000), a bag of games valued at $200 (almost Rs 17,000), and a glass vanity worth $2,500 (almost Rs 2.1 lakh). Ms Rodriguez often resells furniture, or in the case of small trinkets, puts them up for sale. She said her efforts also contribute to reducing waste. "The biggest part of it is my profound desire to keep things out of the landfill," she shared. Ms Rodrguez also frequently visits apartment cleanouts where people toss out unwanted furniture. She has uncovered everything from mirrors and nightstands to real gold jewellery and even money. Her most significant find was a Bally briefcase, which she believes dates back to the 1960s. "I've found incredible pieces," she said, "People get sick of furniture and just dump it." She faces criticism from people who say her trash diving is unsanitary, but she remains unbothered. "It's more embarrassing to be over-consuming and throwing everything out," she said. Her husband, a day trader, has even joined her in the adventure, showing that this is a family affair. Ms Rodriguez's most recent treasure includes a table worth $750 to $3,500 (Rs 62,500 to Rs 2,91,500), Jibbitz charms valued at $50 (Rs 4,100), a basketball hoop worth $35 (Rs 2,900), a bag of Hermes boxes valued at $175 (Rs 14,500), a glass lamp worth $150 (Rs 12,500), a bag of games valued at $200 (Rs 16,700), a glass vanity worth $2,500 (Rs 2,08,000), and a bedside table valued at $949 (Rs 78,800). She believes dumpster diving is like digging for gold. "You never know what you're going to find," she said. "When you're out doing a trash dig, you'll see someone's whole life. There is a whole historical component."
Hindustan Times
05-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Hindustan Times
Woman finds ₹25 lakh worth of luxury items in trash, including Burberry coats and Prada shoes
In a surprising tale of glamour and grit, Ariana Rodriguez, a 35-year-old mother of three, has found over $30,000 (over ₹25 lakh) worth of luxury items in the trash over the last six months, from a vintage Burberry coat to a piano that could be worth as much as $10,000 (over ₹8.3 lakh), according to a report by SWNS, as published in the New York Post. What started as a casual interest in thrifting turned serious when Rodriguez joined her local 'Buy Nothing' group on Facebook three years ago. Inspired by others in her neighbourhood who picked up discarded items from the streets, a practice known as 'stooping", she reportedly gave it a try and soon began finding clothes, toys, and household items. Six months ago, she began taking it a step further, diving into dumpsters and sifting through trash bags for hidden treasures. Among her most valuable finds are a vintage Burberry coat worth $500 (over ₹41,500), Prada shoes valued at $900 (over ₹74,700), and a Sohmer & Co piano that she estimates could be worth between $3,000 and $10,000 (overRs 2.5 lakh to ₹8.3 lakh), according to the SWNS report. 'It's like a treasure hunt every time,' Rodriguez said. '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.' Also read: 25-year-old woman rejects job over working Saturdays, but leaves HR impressed: 'Don't want a career that burns me out by Though she can't bring everything home, Ariana Rodriguez makes sure nothing goes to waste. She donates many of her finds, including food, blankets, and clothes, to her local church and resells some of the more valuable items through her vintage reselling business. 'I resell a lot of it. Even if I find small trinkets I'll sell them. If it's furniture I'll keep it for a while and then I put it up for sale,' she said. The woman, who always dresses in full glam when she heads out for a dig, said, '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.' Her weekly trash dives are carefully balanced with parenting her children, aged six, three, and two. Over time, she has sourced countless toys and essentials for them, including a Stokke high chair worth $397 (over ₹33,000) and a bin bag full of games valued at $200 (over ₹16,600). Rodriguez says she's stunned by the kinds of things people throw away, from high-end furniture to real gold jewellery and even money. 'People get sick of furniture and just dump it. I've found incredible pieces, mirrors, night stands, you name it. I've found jewellery, people throw out real gold. I've even found money in the trash. I found a Bally briefcase; I think it's from the 1960s.' In the last six months alone, she estimates her finds to be worth anywhere between $10,000 to $30,000 (over ₹8.3 lakh to ₹25 lakh). Even her husband, Erick, a 35-year-old day trader, is now onboard. Despite occasional criticism from trolls who call the practice unhygienic, Rodriguez brushes it off. Also read: The 'broke' billionaire whose ₹524 crore house in Chennai was demolished 'It's more embarrassing to be over-consuming and throwing everything out,' she said. 'It's like diving for gold — you never know what you're going to find. When you're out doing a trash dig you'll see someone's whole life. There is a whole historical component.' Some of her most impressive recent discoveries reportedly include a Sohmer & Co piano valued between ₹2.5 lakh and ₹8.3 lakh, a glass vanity worth ₹2 lakh, and a bedside table priced at around ₹78,800. She also found a designer table estimated to be worth between ₹62,500 and ₹2.9 lakh, a Stokke high chair for her child worth ₹33,000, and a bag of Hermes boxes valued at ₹14,500. Among other finds were a glass lamp worth ₹12,400, a collection of games valued at ₹16,600, Jibbitz charms worth ₹4,100, and a basketball hoop estimated at ₹2,900.
New York Post
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
I'm a dumpster diver — I've 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. Advertisement 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. 3 Ariana Rodriguez, 35, has always loved thrifting but started sourcing free items three years ago after joining her neighborhood 'buy nothing' group on Facebook. Ariana Rodriguez / SWNS 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement '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. Advertisement '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. 3 She started to find toys and clothes on sidewalks and six months ago started digging through dumpsters and trash bags to find more treasure. Ariana Rodriguez / SWNS 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. Advertisement This month she found a whole bin bag of games — worth $200. She also found a Stokke high chair for her youngest — worth $397. But she doesn't like to keep too much herself – preferring to find it a new home. She said: 'I resell a lot of it. Advertisement 'Even if I find small trinkets I'll sell them. 'If it's furniture I'll keep it for a while and then I put it up for sale.' Ariana says she is amazed at what people throw out — and will also often go to apartment clean outs to dig through for items. She said: 'People get sick of furniture and just dump it. Advertisement 'I've found incredible pieces — mirrors, night stands, you name it. 'I've found jewelry – people throw out real gold. 'I've even found money in the trash. 'I found a Bally briefcase — I think it's from the 1960s.' Advertisement Ariana believes she has found thousands of pounds worth of items in the past six months. She said: 'It could be $10K, $20K, $30K worth. 'For everything I've seen it's hundreds of thousands. 'It's only the last six months I've been seriously doing trash digs.' 3 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. Ariana Rodriguez / SWNS Ariana tried to go dumpster diving at least once a week — but has to juggle this around parenting. She said: 'It's quality over quantity.' Ariana says 80 to 90 percent of her life is now thrifted. She said: 'I know I can find stuff for free. 'It makes you really conscious.' Ariana says some trolls say she will get 'bed bugs' and it's 'disgusting' digging through the trash but she doesn't care. She said: 'It's more embarrassing to be over-consuming and throwing everything out.' She hopes to inspire others to get out snooping or trash digging and says her husband, Erick, 35, a day trader, has even got on board. Ariana said: 'It's like diving for gold — you never know what you're going to find. 'When you're out doing a trash dig you'll see someone's whole life. 'There is a whole historical component.' Ariana's recent trash dig finds: Sohmer & Co piano – worth between $3k to $10k Table – worth $750 to $3.5k Jibbitz charms – worth $50 Basketball hoop – worth $35 Bag of Hermes boxes – worth $175 Glass lamp – worth $150 Bag of games – worth $200 Glass vanity – worth $2,500 Bedside table – worth $949
