The Non-Consumer Advocate

1. Someone left a cold seltzer can on my $25 thrifted coffee table, which left the above water mark. Luckily I noticed it the next morning and knew of a reversal method, which was mostly likely successful because the damage was fresh.

   That method? Running an iron on the lowest setting over a towel until the moisture steamed out of the wood. I was nervous that I’d further damage the table, but it worked like a charm!

   

   Better! Even 17-year-old Zelda approves.

   

2. It’s been weeks since I’ve done a proper grocery shop, so I added Winco Foods to today’s to-do list and will bring an impressively long and random shopping list. I always put off shopping at this bare bones store, as it’s a bit of a schlep and somehow emotionally draining. However, I’m always happy when I’ve gone as it’s so much cheaper than any of the traditional stores.

   Wish me emotional strength.

   

3. I cut my lotion bottle in half, which makes the entire product available for use. Easily a couple extra weeks! The manufacturers have zero motivation to make sure that consumers get their money’s worth, but I don’t let that stop me from hacking their packaging to bits!

   Come to think of it, I just added water to the bottom of my “empty” hair conditioner this morning.

4. I had a library book for so long that it prompted an email telling me that I was being charged the full retail price! Luckily the email also mentioned that the charge would be reversed if I brought the book back. My library system stopped charging late fees, (I think during the pandemic?) which is been fantastic. Perhaps I actually need a bit of a deadline every now and then.

   

5. I found a dime outside the credit union and then a penny later that day. So yes, I recently came into some money!

Now your turn, what frugal things have you been up to?

Katy Wolk-Stanley

{ 39 comments }

I was walking home yesterday from mailing a package to my sister, when I came across this tasty free pile. Mind you I’d just written a blog post about how I already have enough, but that didn’t stop me. Why? Because I’ve passively been keeping an eye out for a cake stand for a very long time. Plus yesterday was my daughter’s 30th birthday and I happened to have a cake cooling on the kitchen counter!

Perfectly timed and right on budget!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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1. I took some leftover scratch cooked black beans and combined them with a can of chili and extra spices to create a large batch of chili. The can itself was curb picked from when my neighbor was readying to move out of her house, which made this an extra frugal meal!

   Tasty, cheap and healthy!

2. I bought a a $10 bag of old and new marbles from a consignment store, which I’ll part out to sell on eBay. I bought a huge vase of antique marbles in 2005 or so, which led me to become knowledgable about marbles. I think I made a thousand or so dollars from that initial purchase and have sold marbles here and there ever since. Not sure how much I’ll make from this new find, but it’ll be fun to put the listings together.

3. My step-mother sent me home with a pound of carrots, as she’d picked them up forgetting that she already had a bag in her refrigerator.

4. My husband was able to get back most the money he’d already spent for the Las Vegas baseball tournament he’s now unable to attend due to his five broken ribs. Full refunds on the tournament fee, his share of the AirBnb and shared rental car. The flight unfortunately was non-refundable, but at least it’s now a credit we can use at a later date.

5. • We finished watching season three of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds through our free one-week subscription to Paramount+
   • I shared our family’s Spotify password with my sister so she can listen to music without commercials.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

{ 46 comments }

1. The avocado pit that I’m propagating in one of my free Habitat ReStore vases is absolutely thriving! Mind you, I only started this pit on August 25th! Time to plant it properly.

2. Another one of my husband’s friends brought by food, this time a Hawaiian takeout feast that’ll feed us for at least three days! We’ll have to figure out a way to thank everyone who stepped up to support my husband once he’s on the mend.

3. One of my husband’s co-workers celebrated a milestone number of years at the company, so I drove my husband to their headquarters so he could visit with friends and enjoy a burger. I never order hamburgers in restaurants, as they’re something I can easily make at home, yet . . . I never actually make burgers. This makes them a rare treat.

4. I sold a vintage Pokemon pillowcase* on eBay for $19 that was leftover from my mother shutting down her AirBnb business a few years ago. This was yet another sale from my stale inventory.

5. We’re just two episodes away from finishing the third Season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds through our free week of Paramount+.

Now your turn, what frugal things have you been up to?

Katy Wolk-Stanley

{ 42 comments }

1. My sister and I took our mother to the Goodwill Outlet “bins” as an early birthday treat, (this may sound odd, but “the bins” is her favorite place on earth!) and although I didn’t buy much, I did come home with a few items.

   • Two 100% cotton dish towels.
   • Seven or so thin velvet hangers.
   • An empty Altoids tins, which I’ll add to my collection of overly organized office supplies.
   • A silicone cast iron skillet handle, which I’ve wanted to own for a long time as I use our cast iron on a daily basis. Mind you, not enough to go out and buy one, but enough to grab one from a pay-by-the-pound bin.

   Total cost: $4.74

   Click HERE to read my “Love Letter to my Cast Iron Skillet!”

2. I clicked on the library’s website at precisely midnight on October 1st to get first crack at newly available “Cultural Passes,” which scored me two passes to the Portland Art Museum, (normally $25 apiece) and as well as the Oregon Jewish Museum, which charges $10 for admission. My admission days aren’t until December, so I’ll file this under “Doing a favor for future Katy.”

3. We had a small knock on the door from a local elementary school student, selling pie orders to help fund their 5th grade trip to Japan. My kids also went on this cultural exchange and I chose to write a $50 check instead of placing a pie order. Otherwise they would’ve received maybe half of the money.

   I was PTA president for one horrific year and there are an endless number of companies that prey on schools in the name of “fundraising.” Not that a local pie company necessarily falls under this umbrella, but I’d still prefer to directly donate to whatever cause.

4. My daughter dropped her iPhone and broke the screen off, so I took it to a local repair shop and paid $80 for them to repair the phone and keep it in circulation. This phone is already nine-years-old, but there’s no reason to not buy a bit more time before it needs to be fully replaced.

5. I continue to drive all around “war ravaged” Portland, Oregon without witnessing even a single signs of conflict. I guess it’s just a way to get us to stop talking about the Epstein files. Oops . . . didn’t work!

Now your turn, what frugal things have you been up to?

Katy Wolk-Stanley

{ 26 comments }

1. I signed up for a free week of ad-free Paramount+ through my Roku box and immediately programmed the subscription to not auto-renew! We’ll spending the week watching Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, but have no interest afterwards for this streaming service.

   

2. My sister is visiting from NYC and we briefly hit a Goodwill this afternoon and I picked up a pristine version of our 35-year-old waffle iron for only $7.99. Ours works as well as the day we bought it, so I figured this gleaming vintage appliance would do well on eBay. I’ll list it for around $50 and see how it does.

   I also picked up a 99¢ miniature silicone spatula and was planning on buying the Mondrian MOMA gift shop mug, but instead knocked it to the ground and watched it shatter it into countless pieces. Crap!

3. My husband is a well liked guy and has been hosting a steady stream of well wishers as he recovers from his five rib fractures. (We thought it was four, but it turned out to be five!) I’d never recommend this method to be on the receiving end of people’s generosity, but it certainly brings out people’s kindness! Just today someone brought by a home smoked salmon feast, complete with crackers, fruit and brie!

4. I had my annual medical exam yesterday and was able to decline the standard A1C diabetes test, as I’d been tested over the summer when I donated platelets at the American Red Cross.

5. My sister and I ran errands across town here in Portland, Oregon, yet found zero signs of war ravaging. So weird, right?

Now your turn, what frugal things have you been up to?

Katy Wolk-Stanley

{ 46 comments }

1. I picked up a “What Do You Meme? The Office” game for $2.50 at Goodwill, as both me and my youngest’s partner are big fans of The Office. I love board games and am always looking for people who’ll play with me. It helped that the game was the 50%-off color tag.

   

2. I came across this amazing pair of $30 heavy duty wrought iron chairs, which I didn’t actually buy as I hadn’t driven my bigger car. This’ll haunt me forever, as they were top tier quality and incredibly comfortable. Please respect my privacy during this difficult time.

   

3. This table was likely from the same donation, as it was heavy cast iron and gorgeous. Priced at $7.99, it would have easily fit into my car, but I have zero need for an outdoor coffee table. Very cool though.

   

4. My husband came home from the hospital with the standard “Patient Belongings” bag, which works perfectly as a kitchen bin liner. Sure, it cost $30,000, but nothing’s too fine for my schmancy kitchen!

5. I continue to live in peaceful quirky Portland, Oregon which has no need for military intervention.

Now your turn, what frugal things have you been up to?

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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