planetdan

Saturday, January 28, 2006 :::

Twenty Dollars

How much money would you have to accidentally throw away with the trash before it would be worth retrieving? This is not a metaphor; this is for real. Two days ago, I threw away some packaging for a digital memory card. The barcode on the packaging is required to redeem the twenty dollar mail-in rebate. The trash bag that contains the packaging that contains the barcode is currently in the trash bin out in the alley. Inside the trash bag is a hodge-podge of disgusting items that would need to be sifted through to find the packaging. I remember emptying the kitchen garbage, the bathroom garbage, my bedroom garbage, and about fifty pairs of K-Mack's old used panty hose into the Glad-bag before bringing it to the curb. So the prize may be buried deep within the refuse. I just can't decide if twenty dollars is worth it.

UPDATE: I retrieved the packaging. It wouldn't have been so bad if there hadn't been discarded spaghetti (with marinara) at the top of the bag. I'm not sure if it was worth it, but Best Buy will now get their spaghetti-stained barcode and I will get my twenty dollars. In six to eight weeks.

::: posted by dan at 11:07 AM :: [ link ] :: (8) comments

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8 previous comments:

I once dropped a ten in the trash at work. It was shortly after we had BBQ for lunch. The ten wasn't mine, I work for a bank, it was sooo the bank's ten. And I sooo left it there.

Maybe you could use the 20 dollars to buy K-mack some new pantyhose, I'm sure she'd appreciate it ;)

By

the other sarah, at 12:58 AM

those american corporations that force you to mail in to claim the discount are so cheeky! what ever happened to REAL sales, where you actually get the sale price IN the store?!? Luckily we still get real sales in England and don't have to mail off for the special offers.

By

Joshua, at 10:11 AM

My cheap ass husband sat on the porch and dug through trash to get 5 AA batteries, FOR SERIOUS. That was our low point of the marriage.

By

Anonymous, at 9:54 AM

I once (accidentally) ran an envelope with $26 dollars through a shredder. When I saw money coming out the other side, I picked out every piece, taped it together, took it to the bank, and they exchanged it for me. I was 15. That was a lot of money.

By

Anonymous, at 10:04 AM

Does throwing away a retainer count? Because my mother used to tell me that they cost quite a bit, and I was constantly "accidentally" throwing mine into any trash receptacle I could find.

By

Elle Marie, at 1:05 PM

Let's be honest, you have done more disgusting things for $20.

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Nate Dogg, at 4:49 PM

Does checking your plane ticket after reading the free newspaper outside your hotel room door and then tossing the whole pile into the recycling count as tossed cash?

I did.

The funny thing is that the schmuck at the next ticket counter was whining about a lost ticket too. Only when the agent typed in my name, my mucho frequent flyer miles were displayed and the ticket was replaced without charge.

I left said schmuck whining ever louder at the adjacent counter.

Pays to be me sometimes. Not often enough but sometimes...

By

JetCityOrange, at 7:05 PM

right before i left for my tropical vacation last week, my dog ate $260 in twenties out of my purse. thank god the little harlot ended up puking them up at 4 am. not so lucky for me, i was poor enough that i had to wash the money and then put it back together. the suckas at the bank actually took my shredded, dog eaten/puked up money back and exchanged it for me!

By

Anonymous, at 1:50 PM

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