Make Frugal Hay While The Sun Shines

by Katy on April 23, 2014 · 9 comments

We native Oregonians know that you do not let an unseasonably sunny day go to waste. You mow your lawn, walk your errands and you sure as hell find any and all opportunities to soak up whatever vitamin D is raining shining down from the sky. So when Monday’s seven day forecast called for seven days of rain, I made sure to get my tuchus off the love seat and walking a nice long list of errands.

  • First off was the house two doors down, which had just put out a pretty concrete planter complete with potting soil. I heaved it onto my property and got on my way. (Holy crap, was it HEAVY!)

  • I then ran into my friend Lise, who was in front of her house. She and I enjoyed a nice chat and then made plans to get together Friday afternoon for a walk. (Yes, it’s possible to walk in the rain.)

  • I continued at a brisk pace on to my credit union, which is a convenient 1.2 miles from the house. I deposited a check from the children’s consignment shop, as well as checks my mother wrote to the kids for good grades. I focused my laser sharp gaze under the coin counting machine and was rewarded with 66¢. Yo, more free money for the found change challenge!

  • I then walked up to the library, where I picked up a novel I’d put on hold, as well as two DVDs from the shelf. (This is 40, and Remember Me.)

  • I used the water fountain both inside and outside the library.

  • All the while, I listened to the downloaded audiobook of Dan Brown’s Inferno, which is perfectly entertaining, yet untaxing to the brain. Perfect for a spring afternoon walk.

It was the perfect afternoon. I got stuff for free, (the planter, money and library materials) arranged a social event and enjoyed some free exercise. (No gym for me!) I didn’t need to bring a water bottle, as Portland actually supplies water fountains, and I actually checked a few things off my to-do list.

Sometimes, perfection doesn’t cost a penny. And occasionally it can even happen without rain.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }

Alane April 23, 2014 at 12:32 pm

I was just wondering if “Inferno” made you walk faster? 🙂

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Sandy April 23, 2014 at 2:16 pm

Ain’t that the truth! Suns out! (runs outside!) We do tend to lose our minds when the sun comes out here in Oregon. I went on vaca in December to visit a friend in Arizona. Every morning I’d get up, run to the window and announce that the sun was out! Then I would make coffee and run outside and sit by the pool. My friend was like, umm, the sun is always out. It will be out tomorrow. And the day after that. It really isn’t an occasion.

But it was for me! And I enjoyed every ray of it! So easily pleased, I am!

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Ann Leach April 23, 2014 at 4:06 pm

I’ve decided if the pain in my foot (plantar facitis) doesn’t heal up soon, I will splurge on (hopefully get for free) the bicycle my friend who is moving to NZ will be leaving behind so I can get back to errands without the car.

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Gina April 29, 2014 at 1:20 pm

Ann, not sure how long you have had your plantar fasciitis – but I had mine for 9 mos. Excruciating pain 24-7. None of the treatments or exercises worked for me. Until, I decided I had taken enough abuse from my boss and I quit…gave my notice and he told me not to bother coming back. On the ride home I noticed my pain was receding in my foot…and it kept getting better over the next few weeks, but was not completely gone. I researched and found that if I had actually tore my fascia, it would have healed much sooner. I was then introduced to a book by a physician, Dr. John E. Sarno, called “The Divided Mind” which touches on the fact that chronic pain illness has become an epidemic and it’s mostly our mind diverting the pain and stress that could not be tolerated psychologically into a physical manifestation. Many people would not allow themselves to believe this theory…but I did…and now I am totally cured of plantar fasciitis!

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JJ April 23, 2014 at 4:27 pm

Always enjoy your posts!

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Barb @ 1SentenceDiary April 23, 2014 at 7:13 pm

It was pouring here for most of the day, but we are on vacation this week (kids have no school, my dad is visiting, and I took the week off to hang out with them).
– Watched a movie (Netflix subscription)
– Finished a book (from library)
– Stopped by the thrift store, bought a few mugs for us and a beautiful set of dishes as a gift for my brother
– Made dinner from scratch
– Made brownies for dessert (still enjoying all the after-Passover treats!)
– Played silly board games

Very non-consumer and super fun day!

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Katy April 23, 2014 at 7:40 pm

I wish I could have been there with you!

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Dorf Diva April 24, 2014 at 12:18 am

This is forty is the most puerile, non-nonconsumeradvocate thing you could ever sentence yourself to watching. I checked it out from our library and couldn’t finish it. I even made myself try to finish it. There was one lovely moment in it–when the mum finds out she is expecting her third child, and they show her driving home, wordlessly accepting the pregnancy. That ALMOST made me not hate myself for trying to finish the DVD. Could you finish it?

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Diane April 24, 2014 at 4:10 am

Thanks for the DVD mentions. I’m getting my list in order for movie watching on our too hot summer afternoons in Austin.

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