Budget Vogue: Side Of The Road Finds Summer

by SUSAN DROMEY HEETER, InDepthNH

Many summers have themes, The Summer of Love, The Summer I Turned Pretty, Hot Girl Summer. The Budget Vogue theme of Summer ‘25 Side of the Road Summer.

I live to collect and examine and find. It’s my passion to hunt, to search for treasures — while thrifting, driving, walking the dog. And this summer, as it’s been one of exploration, I’ve found a myriad of treasures others have tossed, embossed with FREE signs. Treasures have included a bag of Playskool figures, two side tables, three teak chairs, a mirror and a “Farewell Big Papi” collage, devoted to David Ortiz. I’ve also found a beach cruiser bike as well as an entire unopened box of plastic utensils.

And, what, pray tell, will I do with my treasures? Why, clean them up and sell them, of course. I’m a fan of Facebook Marketplace and recently met up with a woman who was so excited about the Playskool figurines, she paid me $75 bucks. And the wrought iron table? A quick $65 after I cleaned the glass top and touched up the iron with paint. I brought the bike to a shop to determine whether it was rideable and paid a mere $40 to upgrade it to as good as new. AND it has a basket and cup holder! Bonus!

I may keep the bike, I am still celebrating the Side of the Road Summer after all. And I’ll put the lovely shelf I just found on West 104th Street in Manhattan down in my basement to organize boxes and bags. I happened to be meeting friends at Central Park and spotted the lovely shelf. I’m open to any and all locales for the side of the road finds and mercifully, my VW wagon has fabulous space. It’s lovely to collect and find with purpose.

When I’ve asked friends of their side of the road finds, I’ve learned they, too, have scavenged and benefitted from eagle eyes. My friend, Erich, found 17th century chairs, exact ones he’d been coveting for years. My cousin Sarah’s son wore shorts found in a parking lot for several summers. Why not? There is joy in the find, savings in the find and yet another path to being budget AND vogue.

Do you have side of the road treasures? Oh, do tell. And if you salivate and slow down upon eying a “FREE” sign, you’re in the right place. Enjoy your own Side of the Road Summer. Celebrate the thrift and the hunt and do share your scores with Budget Vogue.

Susan Dromey Heeter writes from Newmarket and often from the road where she joyfully muses on life in the fast and slow lanes. She drives a stick shift, can also ride a unicycle and recently retired after 30+ years of teaching. Dromey Heeter finds joy primarily in Milk Duds and people who make her laugh, not necessarily in that order. Follow Susan @dromeyheeter on Instagram and/or @BudgetVogue63. She can also be reached at dromeyheeter@gmail.com.

This article first appeared on InDepthNH.org and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.