I found my Christmas presents in the BIN – I’ve saved nearly £16k on TK Maxx buys & even got my tree from a skip
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For Melanie Diaz, the magic of Christmas doesn't come from shop shelves or even online - it's found in bins. The scavenger has saved around £15,800 by retrieving gifts and decor from skips - including Christmas wreaths and toys from TK Maxx. The 22-year-old Florida resident has spent the past two years "dumpster diving" in December and January - uncovering discarded festive treasures which would otherwise go to waste.
![[Melanie Diaz has scavenged everything from Christmas decorations to gifts from shop skips]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024-melanie-diaz-magic-christmas-957831232.jpg?strip=all&w=578)
"It is my favourite time going dumpster diving because they start throwing out a lot of Christmas stuff," Melanie explained. "I love saving everything so I can put it in my house and decorate it for the next year.". She regularly frequents the bins behind popular retailers, including TK Maxx, where she has uncovered a jackpot of Christmas items.
![[The Florida resident revealed that she has saved significantly on gifts for her friends and family]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/d91fb184-3097-42ba-87e0-1b12619b7056.jpg?strip=all&w=667)
Some of her best discoveries happen in January, when shops begin clearing out their leftover festive inventory. "My biggest finds are in January," Melanie revealed. "I went dumpster diving to the TK Maxx store, and I found a lot - the dumpster was full to the top.".
![[Melanie explained that January is the best time to find festive decor since shops often get rid of it after Christmas]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/d37d8d96-dc51-4081-960b-636f5942b1a5.jpg?strip=all&w=709)
She has curated an extensive festive collection, which includes 10 wreaths she salvaged from a homeware shop - worth approximately £315. Melanie has also scavenged Christmas trees worth approximately £395. She's even retrieved puzzles and dog toys from TK Maxx, saving around £160 each, and countless other festive staples, including ornaments and stockings.
