Having recently experienced a major downturn, I stumbled upon this post on A-b and wanted to share it with everyone.
I call it the 36 strategies of homeless people.
When scavenging, you first need to know the prices of garbage. Currently, our local recycling prices are: plastic bottles 0.10 yuan for 3, cardboard 0.65 yuan per kilogram, scrap iron varies by form. Here, iron wire is 0.60 yuan per kilogram, iron pieces are 1.30 yuan per kilogram, and aluminum cans are 0.55 yuan per kilogram.
Copper is relatively valuable, differentiated into yellow copper and purple copper. The purchase price for yellow copper here is 20 yuan per kilogram, and purple copper is 35 or 33 yuan. (These prices fluctuate by region.)
But I can't tell the difference with copper. Generally, ordinary people can't find this stuff; it's rare to find copper items in normal trash bins. From what I've seen, those who often sell brass in large quantities are either traffickers, factories, or thieves who dismantle cables and parts to get it.
Trash bins are a good thing, but scavenging is also a matter of faction. Many scavengers need to deal with the scheming of other trash pickers. Scavenging is territorial; if you are a newcomer, you can easily be bullied by the elderly. Be careful not to argue or fight with them; if they lash out, you won’t be able to handle it.
Do not fight. Once again, scavenging has its territories. I once saw a homeless person's bar friend occupying a trash bin in a community. If any elderly person dared to compete with him for the bin, he would urinate on their bike, becoming notorious in the homeless community, nicknamed the Hainan bully. Later, the Hainan bully gathered a group of thugs to rummage through trash daily, known as the Hainan thirteen protectors.
There are many things in trash bins that you wouldn't expect, like undamaged table lamps, intact apples, half a pack of cigarettes, a full bottle of liquor, a broken stainless steel bowl, and even KFC chicken wings or small brass statues. There’s nothing you can’t find in a trash bin.
So, the trash bin is also known as a treasure chest.
Many homeless people like to eat food from trash bins, which is a bad habit. Although much of the food in the bins is intact, there are also many harmful things in trash bins. If food comes into contact with them, consuming it can lead to diarrhea.
It's not that it’s too precious or that they fear illness, but during the time of wandering, one illness could cost you your life.
The three major gathering places for homeless people.
The homeless bar (this bar has few people, most of whom are tough individuals and skilled homeless people).
Vagabond (this group includes some homeless people, while the rest are artsy youth who don't like to work and roam around. Note that this group has many remnants of gambling addicts. If you see someone who suddenly pulls out three or five bottles, be careful of that person to avoid being scammed.)
This is the homebody bar (this bar has many future homeless people, so you can make some friends here).
However, be aware that there are many scammers in these three groups; you must be careful, and women must be especially cautious.
I once saw a post in the homeless bar where a poster shared a cooking post and revealed their hands painted with nail polish. Instantly, that post was pushed to hundreds of replies, with some wanting to sniff her feet and others wanting her socks. It shows the extent of desperation among the homeless, and women must be careful.
When wandering outside, if you run out of water, you can go to public restrooms or some government buildings (here, they are currently free to use).
When drinking water, be sure to pay attention. Do not drink untreated water; water quality varies by region. Some cities have good water quality, while many cities have poor water that needs to be boiled before consumption.
If you can't find a place to stay, look for some unfinished buildings, abandoned structures, or soon-to-be-demolished houses to stay in. Just cover the windows with cardboard.
When residing in unfinished buildings and bungalows, no matter what sounds you hear at midnight, do not rush out unless you are confident in your strength. If you hear a human scream, call the police immediately and do not make a sound.
If there is no stove in your residence, you can build a simple earthen stove with bricks. Stack a few bricks to form a circle, allowing for small gaps, and then surround it with another layer of bricks to prevent fire hazards.
But remember, after cooking, always ensure the embers are completely extinguished to avoid fires. The embers should be treated with water.
Keep items that are overly dry and prone to fire hazards stored safely, away from the stove. Additionally, ensure proper ventilation when cooking; do not block the windows.
Do not try to sleep in ATM rooms; they generally do not allow people to sleep there. Cleaners standing inside won't be driven away.
If you try to sleep in an ATM room, the loudspeaker will start to drive you away soon. If you don't leave, the police will come and apprehend you on the spot. Given your ragged clothing, they might send you to a shelter.
There are many mentally unstable maniacs in the shelter; if you get beaten, you won’t have a place to complain.
Never live on the rooftop; what if you sleepwalk and jump off? Moreover, there are many dangers on the rooftop that you cannot imagine.
Never live near water, and don’t go near water at night; it’s scarier than you think.
If you have no money for food, you can look for some vegetarian kitchens. Many of these kitchens are run by Buddhists, and there's usually a donation box at the entrance. You can enter and eat without giving money; the food is simple but filling.
Do not leave leftovers; when you enter someone else's territory, follow their rules. After eating, you can help them with some work.
If there are no vegetarian kitchens, grab a stainless steel bowl or a tea mug, and go to street restaurants to ask for food. Say a few kind words to the owner and clarify your difficulties. Nowadays, there are many kind-hearted people; it's common for an owner to give you a pig trotter or pot-covered meat.
If we eat someone else's food, we must be sweet-tongued and say more good wishes to the owner, making sure to please them.
Scavenging is actually hard to make big money; there are too many people competing at each trash bin.
To put it bluntly, those who make money often take and steal, grabbing cardboard left at doorsteps.
We should never steal.
If you encounter other scavengers inviting you to make money together and telling you where valuable items are, do not go.
It's either stealing cables or dismantling parts, or stealing batteries; there’s nothing good about it.
If you meet someone who asks you to deliver something to someone else and offers you a high reward, don't even think about it.
That thing is not good; it’s either drugs or some illegal items. Just call the police.
If you are starving, you can go to KFC, McDonald's, or Pizza Hut, just sit there and watch others eat leftover burgers and fried chicken. Go over and start munching; don’t feel embarrassed.
Actually, KFC and McDonald's don’t compare to Pizza Hut. Due to the large pizzas at Pizza Hut, many people leave some clean and tidy pizza behind, so we can go and feast on pizza.
If a scavenger says he will take you to a secluded place where he found a lot of junk that can be sold, don't go.
Don't go! Three no-identity homeless people die without causing any stir; it’s dangerous.
If you are very hungry, you can go to the police station. Seek help from the police; many police stations now have instant noodles and convenience foods outside. When you go there, some generous officers will tell you to take what you need, but take only a little.
I once saw a homeless person directly take a box of instant noodles from the police, really thick-skinned. Just grab two bags to fill up and don’t be greedy.
If you really can't hold on anymore and are sick, there’s only one way, seek help from the police and go to the police station.
The police will take you to a shelter. Once you arrive, there is food and drink, and if you fall ill, there are medicines. If it’s serious, they will take you to the hospital.
When you leave, they might even give you travel expenses. If you want to go home, the shelter may buy you a ticket and give you some travel money.
However, be cautious once you enter a shelter; there are many mentally unstable individuals inside who might easily harm you.
Young people without mental illness cannot stay in shelters for long and will be chased away, but it’s still better than starving to death on the streets.
Rummaging through trash requires equipment: a pair of protective gloves to prevent injuries.
A big iron hook used to fish out garbage bags from the bottom of trash bins, a big piece of string (sack) used to hold the garbage.
If you're well-equipped, you can also carry a small hammer or axe to break off the rusty metal on old tables and chairs.
When rummaging through trash bins, never do it with empty hands. Trash bins can be more dangerous than you think, containing sharp glass, needles, and sharp metal pieces that can cause serious injuries. Try to use an iron hook to dig.
Do not wander out at night; it's very dangerous. Human eyes cannot see clearly in the dark, and we should just sleep at night.
Never sell your ID; many homeless people like to sell their IDs for 100 or 200 yuan.
Little do they know that the value of an ID far exceeds two hundred yuan. Without an ID, you can't move freely; you can only work under the table, and someone might use your ID for illegal activities. Absolutely do not sell your ID.
If you want to do daily work, absolutely do not listen to the nonsense of intermediaries. Intermediaries are all scammers; ask the nearby old brothers if there are any seasoned homeless veterans and find out which factories are shady; never go to shady factories.
If you can go home, then go home. Don't be a vagabond outside.
During the wandering period, it's inevitable to accept others' help; one must learn to be grateful. No matter how lowly your situation is, it’s not an excuse to be cold-blooded and heartless.
In my opinion, the homeless community can be divided into three factions.
The first faction is the northern homeless, who are generally strong and resilient and have strong survival skills.
The second faction is the southern homeless, who are hardworking and prefer to be paid daily.
The third faction is the Hainan faction of homeless people. In my mind, they are the most romantic; they are hardworking, physically strong, and love poetry and the distant horizon.
If you are a southern homeless person, you can drink alcohol in moderation.
For homeless people in Northeast China, Inner Mongolia, and other cold regions, heavy drinking is strictly prohibited. If you drink too much in winter, you will suffer terribly.
Remember one thing, squatting and wandering are inseparable; what does that mean?
Homeless people, squatting, and those who stay at home are all part of the same world. If you meet a higher-level bar friend on the road, you can walk together; cigarettes and alcohol are inseparable.
If you encounter a mentally unstable female homeless person, please call the police or inform a shelter so they can take her away.
It’s really dangerous for women to be wandering outside.
If swallows build nests and stray cats and dogs settle and give birth, do not chase them away or harm them.
If animals come around, it indicates that this place is not particularly remote and has some activity. Moreover, animals also have their uses, so give them some food.
Animals can hear sounds that humans cannot and see things that humans cannot see, acting as a warning system.
Lastly, I hope everyone can work hard and live well, and do not become a vagabond.