The Non-Consumer Advocate

1. I watched a YouTube video from Uniquely Tish about 10 Ways to Save Money on Groceries in 2025 as I’m always looking for fresh ideas. One of her tips was to “root around your freezer” and use what you already have. (My phrasing, not hers.) It’s hardly a “fresh idea” to cook with food you already own, but it got me down to the basement to browse through my freezer.

   

   You may remember that I scored a $1 bag of clearance price zucchini in March, which I shredded and froze in these silicone ice cube trays. I decided it was time to fix myself a couple of zucchini fritters, which couldn’t have been easier as all it took was squeezed out zucchini shreds, an egg, flour, parmesan, salt, pepper; plus onion and garlic powder. The last scrapings from a carton of sour cream completed the dish. Thanks, Tish!

   

2. I’m still sick, but gathered enough energy to tart up my recently thrifted midcentury bookshelf. It took some elbow grease, but I was able to remove the scuffs using Bar Keeper’s Friend and some wood stain wiped over the areas where the original stain had been chipped away. I’ll post a full reveal in a day or two, but suffice it say that it already looks 110% better. I’ll need to buy a new gold paint pen for the rusted brass feet, but my plan is to support a local art supply store for this purchase.

   

   Seriously, the feet are a rusty mess!

3. I watched the first two episodes of Étoile through my sister’s Prime Video account and although I loved the dancing, I’m not sure how much I actually like the show. The two main characters are written as angry and scream half their lines, which is a pet peeve of mine. I’ll give it another episode or so as the dancing is sublime, but I might drift away. Good thing I mooch my Amazon access.*

   

4. I’m picking up the above green planter this afternoon from someone in my Buy Nothing group. I needed another flowerpot for one of my free tomato seedlings and this one should accommodate its potential growth.

5. I’m enjoying a very high approval rating.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

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*My sister uses our streaming services, so it’s reciprocal.

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1. Our toilet started running after flushing, requiring us to stick close to the bathroom after use to ensure that it stopped. I assumed that we needed to replace at least part of the innards, but my husband instead watched a short YouTube video, (like this one) and was able to adjust the “float cup” using nothing more than a screwdriver. However, I’m cringing for our next water bill, as the toilet did run throughout an entire night.

2. I’m sick with a cold right now, which means switching from my normal reusable handkerchiefs to rolls of toilet paper as I’m blowing my nose every few minutes. We do have Kleenex, but I save that kind of luxury for house guests. What am I, a Rockefeller?

3. I made myself a big green salad using the last of a pack of lettuce, the last tomato from my step-mother, chicken off my Costco rotisserie chicken and a generous sprinkling of Dollar Tree panko bread crumbs. Of course I topped it with my Tea Towel salad dressing!

   I cannot speak highly enough about Dollar Tree’s panko bread crumbs, which add the perfect crunch to salads. You just need to to add them at the very last second so they don’t get soggy.

   

4. I picked up a midcentury bookshelf at the Tillamook Goodwill for just $7.99. We have its exact twin at home, although I’ll probably sell this one as I have no need for it. It’s in a bit of rough condition, but it’s sturdy and I fear not the makeover. Fun fact — these shelves came with encyclopedias, which is why there are a lot of them around.

   Here’s an old blog post from 2013 where I showed how to bring the gold brass feet back to life. It’s been 12 years and they still look amazing!

5. I didn’t finance a Lear Jet.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

Click HERE to follow The Non-Consumer Advocate on Instagram.
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1. It worked to lower my eBay prices, as I made two sales just this morning! A mug for $15 and a single marble for $36! (I accepted an “offer” down from the $40 asking price.) I thrifted a florist’s vase full of antique marbles in 2005 or so and researched the subject so deeply, that I’m still able to identify valuable marbles when I see them. I think I made around a thousand dollars from that solitary vase of marbles. This marble was a more recent purchase.

   I packaged both items in secondhand supplies and set them out on my porch before the mail carrier hit the house.

2. I asked for fake plants on my Buy Nothing group, as I’m wanting to fill my built-in window box that perches outside my second story bedroom window. You may remember that I curb picked four fake plants last week and I’m still giddy with how real they look when viewed from the sidewalk. Let’s see if I can fill the window box without spending any money.

   I was actually behind someone donating a handful of fake plants to Goodwill the other day and it took every last bit of my self-discipline to not ask for them.

3. My step-mother had an excess of apples and tomatoes and sent me home with a baggie of free fruit. I then enjoyed an entire tomato in my breakfast burrito and have plans for a tomato-tastic salad this evening.

4. I drove a family member to a doctor’s appointment yesterday and brought along a library copy of The Berry Pickers to pass the time. I’m only about four chapters in so far, but it’s already so good!

5. I didn’t dismantle a government agency.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

Click HERE to follow The Non-Consumer Advocate on Instagram.
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1. I donated five colossally huge bins of books to Goodwill from my late in-law’s estate. They’d been stagnant in my basement since last summer and I finally convinced my husband that it was okay to let them go. We’re far from the finish line when it comes to dealing with the last of their stuff, but it was good to put their books back in circulation. Also, I relish having the free space back in the house. I’m no fan of clutter.

   You know I got a receipt for next year’s taxes!

2. My friend Lise and I went for an after dinner walk, even though it was raining. She’s jokingly texted “Should we do a free pile walk this evening?” earlier in the day, but alas there were no “free piles” due to the soggy state of affairs. However, the rain wasn’t heavy and you can’t be a true Oregonian if you hunker down every time there’s a bit of precipitation.

3. My husband went through some things in the basement and came across a pair of brand new smoke detectors that must’ve been from his parents’ estate, as ours are hard wired into the electrical system. He listed them in our Buy Nothing group and now someone’s coming to pick them tomorrow and that’s two more things out of the house and back in circulation!

4. • I renewed my Facebook marketplace listings. Patience . . . .
   • My outdoor plants enjoyed a proper watering from yesterday’s rain. I suppose the weeds did as well, but that’s a problem for another day.
   • I didn’t want to buy eggs at Fred Meyer as they were $6.50/dozen and told my husband I’d pick some up at Trader Joe’s for $3.50. Unfortunately Trader Joe’s had zero eggs, so I ran into Safeway and grabbed a dozen for just $5.50. You have seen how egg producers are enjoying triple profits, right? In other news, I had oatmeal for breakfast today.

5. I didn’t buy a egg plated apartment in the sky.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

Click HERE to follow The Non-Consumer Advocate on Instagram.
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1. My husband and I took a nice long walk through the neighborhood today, which included the library, Fred Meyer for work lunches supplies and H Mart for steamed bao. The weather was perfect and since my ideal date is “errands with a snacky ending” I really couldn’t have asked for anything more.

2. I scrolled though my stagnant eBay listings and lowered the prices on almost everything. I’m thisclose to donating everything back to Goodwill to in the name of getting my downstairs spare bedroom back, so hopefully this’ll prompt at least a couple of sales.

3. I hung out with my youngest at their apartment last night and treated us to takeout. However, I kept it on budget by choosing “kid’s meals” for both of us from a nearby burger restaurant, which brought each meal down from $13.20 to $7.95! It was probably fewer fries, but that’s probably for the best anyway. We then watched an episode of Black Mirror through my Netflix account to complete the evening.

   

4. I brought home a small carabiner that someone put out in front of their house. They’re very handy to keep on hand, but I’m pretty sure that I used the last of my stash of random carabiners when I hung my backyard string lights a couple years ago.

5. I didn’t buy a Lear Jet.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

Click HERE to follow The Non-Consumer Advocate on Instagram.
Click HERE to join The Non-Consumer Advocate Facebook group.

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1. My daughter and I hung out at the house yesterday, so I mixed up a depression-era Wacky Cake, but substituted gluten-free flour. I had my doubts as the texture was definitely off, but I put it in the oven with a “how bad can it be?” mindset. People . . . it was amazing! Like a chewy brownie, but somehow better!

   Cheap and gluten-free? Perfection.

2. I unzipped the cushion cover off my got-it-from-buy-nothing Joybird couch and gave it a wash in the bathtub. Their website is vague and risk averse about whether the cover is washable, but I figured I’d throw caution to the wind. I was pretty nervous that it would shrink it or I’d otherwise fuck it up, but it turned out great with just a gentle soapy swish and a couple hours on the clothesline. I also gave it a spin in the washing machine to remove excess water.

   The best part was the satisfyingly murky wash water, plus of course how nice and clean my couch now looks. Ahh . . .

   Reminder of the couch:

   

3. I cooked fresh batches of both rice and black beans to keep in the fridge. Both these ingredients can anchor an endless variety of meals and help to keep me from succumbing to Portland’s amazing food carts. Those who don’t live in Portland don’t understand how the temptation is ever present, especially as there’s a new “pod” that just opened up a couple blocks from the house!

   I fixed myself a bean and cheese quesadilla for lunch and we had taco salads for dinner.

   

4. I listed a pair of vintage “Jaru” ceramic bookends on eBay, as I’d recently learned the brand and that they sell for a pretty penny. Mind you, mine have a couple of tiny chips, so I listed them at just (ha!) $75 rather than the $135 they’d otherwise sell for. However, I picked them up for a buck maybe twenty years ago, so I’d be happy to get that amount. Can’t hurt to try!

5. I saw on Instagram that the new oval office “gold” trim is actually just $58 stock Home Depot polyurethane pieces (aka plastic!) with gold leaf, so I had to try and find it for myself.

   Oval office:

   

   Home Depot:

   

   If there’s a more on the nose “It looks like gold, but is actually plastic” metaphor about the current white house inhabitants, I don’t know what it could possibly be.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

Click HERE to follow The Non-Consumer Advocate on Instagram.
Click HERE to join The Non-Consumer Advocate Facebook group.

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