Round Two of The “No Heat Challenge”

by Katy on March 1, 2010 · 30 comments

The No Heat Challenge officially ended on November 1st, although I continue to keep the thermostat set low. And I’m now starting to have a day here and there when I can turn the furnace completely off. (I even kept it off for a full 24-hours the other day!)

Granted, I live in Portland, Oregon, a city known for chilly dampness rather than wind chill factor. Our daffodils are in full bloom and the sunny days are starting to come in clumps of two or three.

Which means it’s time for round two of The No Heat Challenge:

How soon can you start to keep your furnace off?

We all live in different climates, so this will be regionally dependent. Live in Oregon? Start turning your furnace off pretty soon. Live in the Mid-Atlantic region? Gonna’ have to wait awhile.

So throw on a fleece, brew a cup of tea, grab some wool socks, throw open the blinds and ready yourself for part two of The No Heat Challenge.

Because there is light at the end of the tunnel. This winter will end. I’ve seen the daffodils and I tell you, warm weather is around the corner.

Are you in for round two of the No Heat Challenge? Please add your name to the comments section below, even if you have to shovel through the snow to get there.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Link-O-Rama Mama

by Katy on February 28, 2010 · 10 comments

Not a day goes by when I don’t hear/read/see something that makes me think I should include it in the blog. Unfortunately, not a day goes by when I don’t cook/clean/play with kids and run errands. (Literally, as I acvtually ran to the grocery store this evening to return a Redbox DVD by the 9:00 P.M. deadline!) Add the two circumstances together, and I don’t get to all the writing that I intend.

Which leads to today’s newly coined Link-O-Rama, a very special blog with lots of fantastic links that I’ve been wanting to share with The Non-Consumer Advocate Community.

  • The Oregonian’s FoodDay section ran an article a few weeks back specifically outlining how to buy enough food under the limitations of food stamps and WIC. Unlike most pieces of this nature, it was not about gimmicky couponing and grocery store hopping. It contained the most practical information I’ve ever read. My favorite advice is to have a few emergency meals tucked into the back of the pantry for those inevitable nights when meal prep is next-to-impossible, even if it’s just a box of macaroni and cheese. Click here to read Leslie Cole’s great article.
  • The Simple Living Network runs a website with tons of terrific simple living information, as well as an online newsletter that I am a frequent contributor to. Click here to read the current issue, which includes pieces by such simple living proponents as Duane Elgin and Dave Wampler.
  • There’s an interesting piece in Angela Barton’s My Year Without Spending about her 90% Rule, which is described as “a lot of people doing things at a 90% level makes a much bigger difference than a few people operating at 100%.”  It’s a though provoking piece, as 100% is an unattainable goal. I could explain it more, but I’ll just let you read it on your own.
  • Ashley English over at Small-Measures is coming out with a book titled Keeping Chickens, which is sure to be a great resource for all you wannabe poultry farmers. This is part of her series of Homemade Living books which also includes Canning and Preserving. Click here to catch a sneak peek at Ashley’s new book.
  • Kristen who goes by the moniker The Frugal Girl, was recently profiled on the Christian Broadcast Network, who put together a terrific piece about how she and her family are “cheerfully living on less.” Click here to watch the short video.
  • And last, (but definitely not least) is the bust-yer-gut funny SNL commercial for The Closet Organizer. A must watch for anyone who has struggled with keeping clutter under control. Click here to watch the hilarity.

Any links to share? Please post them in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Stuff to do? Let it Go

by Katy on February 28, 2010 · 10 comments

Today was a really busy day and I didn’t find the time to write anything. Usually I post a previously published column on days like this, but today I decided not to.

Instead, I’m using this mini-column to ask Non-Consumer Advocate readers to cut yourself some slack. Leave that laundry on the line an extra day, prepare a super easy dinner and hide that To-do list.

When my son asked after dinner if would play Bingo with him and a friend, I actually said yes, even though I hadn’t cleaned up from dinner yet. And you know what, we had a lot of fun. (I do like cranking that cage!)  Normally, I would have told him that I didn’t have time.

I still have laundry on the line, dinner was french toast with orange wedges and my To-do list is sadly neglected.

Eh, who cares? I highly doubt I’ll be on my deathbed wishing I’d been more efficient with household chores. Seriously, cut yourself some slack.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Non-Consumer Mish-Mash

by Katy on February 27, 2010 · 14 comments

It’s time again for Non-Consumer Mish-Mash, where I write a little bit about this and a little bit about that.

The Reincarnation of a Roasted Chicken

Believe in reincarnation? How about meal reincarnation? Because, this week our meals went a little something like this:

Tuesday – Roasted chicken, served with roasted new potatoes and a salad.

Wednesday — Yakisoba noodles with chicken pulled from the chicken leftovers. Mixed with leftover cauliflower from last week and broccoli.

Thursday — Mexi-bowls, which were layers of rice, beans, carmelized onions, leftover potatoes, broccoli, cheese, avocado, tomatoes leftover from last week’s tacos, salsa and sour cream.

Friday — Chicken soup made from the last of the chicken, stock was homemade, and leftover rice from the Mexi-bowls was added.

My favorite part of all these meals was that one chicken was able to be stretched into three separate meals. And I spent $3.88 to buy it.

Unlike Kristen over at The Frugal Girl, I do not schedule out a meal plan. Instead I stock the cupboards and buy a few ingredients here and there to supplement. However, I might be singing a different song if I had to pack up four small children every time I went grocery shopping. We both are doing what works best for our individual situations. ♥ her.

Motivation

I have a hard time staying motivated with the stupor inducing more routine tasks of daily life. Putting laundry away, doing dishes and keeping on top of paper clutter just don’t hold my attention. I’ve found that motivational tricks have a very short lifespan, and I have to constantly be on the lookout for fresh ideas.

I was going about my household routine the other day when it occurred to me that I would be much more likely to jump on my chores if I got a small chocolate at the end. Right then and there, I came up with the idea of a paper wrapped chocolate printed with the words “To-Do.”

Finish an item on your to-do list, get a treat. Very behavioral therapy, very Pavlovian. This, I decided was my million dollar idea.

So I bought a bag of Peppermint Patties at the store today fulling intending to put my idea into action.

But first I needed to check my e-mail to see if there were any blog comments to moderate, and while I was at it, I should probably have a chocolate mint to get the ball rolling. Mmm . . . maybe one more, and perhaps another?

The boys came home from school and descended on the bag like hyenas on a particularly tasty rotten zebra.

I put the bag into the freezer to try and salvage my original plan. And guess what? Frozen Peppermint Patties are really delicious!

At this point, there were so few candies left that it wasn’t even worth trying out my original plan. *Urp*

So what did I learn from this experience? That the kind of person who needs candy as inspiration to get the laundry put away is not the kind of person who can be trusted with a bag of candy. Period.

So much for that million dollar idea. I guess I’ll have to stick with scratch-off lottery tickets.

As a complete aside, check out my mother’s revamped laundry room. As the owner of three guest cottages, my mom does more laundry than your average former beauty queen grandmother. So she turned her awful laundry room into a thing of beauty, with bright colors and even a motivational poster. Who among us could resist the motivation to run yet another load of laundry if this was lurking in our basement?!

Doesn’t it look like Peter Max might be tossing in a load of  wash?

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Farewell Dear Bagels — A “Dear John” Letter

by Katy on February 25, 2010 · 21 comments


Dear Bagels,

I can’t believe I’m having to write this letter. Where once we were inseparable, we’ve grown distant, apart, without the love that once defined us.

I suppose I should start from the beginning. The very beginning.

When I was a little girl you were deceptively simple. A dusting of poppy or sesame seeds adorned your warm rounded top. Portland had no bagel shops, so my east coast Jewish father would bake you himself. It was an all day endeavor, but worth every minute.  Your yeasty scent would seep through the entire house, permeating our skin and relaxing our souls. Ahh . . . .

Fast forward 35 years, and your presence is now known throughout the nation. From convenience stores to upscale bakeries, you’ve snuck into our daily lives. No longer a rare treat, no longer a special event. But you were still special to me.

And sesame and poppy seeds were your only embellishment. Like Baskin-Robbins, your flavors are now endless.

I took all these changes in stride. I know that a relationship that cannot evolve is essentially doomed. But then you blind-sided me with changes that have ripped us apart and stomped my already fragile heart.

I all started last week when my dear sister brought over two bags of day-old bagels. This should not have been disastrous, yet it was. Disastrous, offensive and downright jarring to the soul.

Why so awful?

Two words — Pepper. Bagels.

Huge chunks of whole peppers dotted your innards, making each bite like a challenge on a reality TV show. And I knew then and there that our love affair was over. No longer could I have faith or trust in you. No longer could I offer you my unconditional love.

You know how I abhor food waste, which makes this situation that much more heartbreaking. You are garbage to me, not even good enough for bread crumbs or croutons.

Please do not attempt to contact me. I have said my piece and wish to spend some time reevaluating my tastes.

Forever yours, sincerely,

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

P.S. I saw you out with that shmear of a tart the other night, I hope you both burn in toaster!

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Dine-In Week — An Update

by Katy on February 25, 2010 · 8 comments

Day three of Dine-In Week went well and was especially easy, as back spasms kept me from wanting to venture out into the big wide world. (Really wish I hadn’t fallen down my porch steps two years ago!)

I did make a quick run to the grocery store, as I have an interview running in the current National Enquirer about the No Heat Challenge. Sadly, it does not appear to be online, so I bought three copies for my stash. Otherwise, I only bought the essentials, as next week will bring the $10 off $50 Safeway coupon that I depend on.

I had been to the Asian mega supermarket the day before looking for refrigerated flat rice noodles, as I’m trying to recreate a favorite dish from my favorite restaurant, but they were sold out. *Sob* Instead, I bought a packet of Yakisoba noodles which transformed the leftover chicken from Tuesday into a to die for delicious meal. (I added chunks of broccoli and cauliflower as well, and then drizzled in orange sauce at the last minute.)

I then boiled up the remains of the chicken carcass to make chicken stock, and will most likely assemble a chicken soup for tomorrow. I always make dumplings when chicken soup is on the menu, as it transforms the meal into a more satisfying/filling experience. Keep in my mind that my 11 and 14-year-old sons are at the age when they take thirds at dinner and still eat another mini-meal before bedtime. If nothing else, I have to make sure that dinner is filling!

Are you continuing with the Dine-In Challenge? Please share your updates in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Waste — Is it Inevitable?

by Katy on February 25, 2010 · 7 comments

The following is a reprint of a previously published post. Enjoy!

Waste.

We all do it. Food, fuel, money, time, and personal energy.

It’s close to impossible to live a completely waste-free life. I know, because I’m trying. Really hard.

I issued a “Waste No Food Challenge” for Non-Consumer Advocate readers in May because I was mortified with the amount of food I was buying, storing and then tossing. My home’s vegetable crisper had become nothing more than an air conditioned Slime-O-Tron 2000. (Patent pending at this time.)

The money spent, the resources wasted. Argh!!!

Even with my efforts at full-steam, I’m still wasting some food. Garlic that’s sprouted, food other people have brought to the house, cereal pushed to the back of the cupboard with little wiggling residents.

I compost, and madly tuck leftovers into new meals and freeze all I can. And yes, I’m even eating the frozen food. (I try hard to not delay waste by freezing food I have no intention of ever getting back to.)

So is it worth all my valiant efforts? If I’m trying my very best to not waste food, yet still doing it, should I give up?

Absolutely not!

I have gone from from thrice weekly grocery store trips to maybe once a week. Each trip that doesn’t happen translates to money saved, as the impulse food purchases are cut from the cycle.

We are wasting maybe 10% of what we were before the challenge, and eating healthier to boot.

I used to feel like I needed to buy more groceries when the fridge looked empty, but I realize that the cluttered fridge of the past was mostly leftovers that went to waste. I can now see what I have, so it’s easy to keep on top of eating up our food.

I have learned a lot about how to avoid food waste:

  • Put out smaller servings, especially for kids. It’s okay to have seconds.
  • It’s better to buy the specific amount of ingredients required for a meal. Even if that means paying a higher price per pound. There’s no savings if food gets thrown out.
  • Choose smaller fruit. The huge apples and pears are more than we need.
  • Post-ripe fruit can be frozen for yummy smoothies.
  • Clear leftover containers help me to remember what I have available. This has been key, as I apparently am a see-it-to-believe-it kind of gal.

The Waste-No-Food challenge was officially a 30 day project, but I have no intentions to revert back to my wasteful ways.

Come join the challenge. You’ll save money, time shopping and most likely eat better. C’mon, it’ll be fun!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Dine-In Challenge, An Update

by Katy on February 23, 2010 · 18 comments

Today is day two of the Dine-In Week Challenge, and already it’s affecting me.

Yesterday I worked, which made things pretty easy. I get a half-hour lunch break, and although other nurses do it, I don’t like to use up a huge chunk of my too short break grabbing food from the cafeteria. I bring simple food from home which always feels right, as a big lunch weighs me down and makes me feel sluggish for the rest of my shift.

Both my husband and I were kind of dragging come dinner time, so I asked him to repeat a meal he’d made just the night before. It was some sort of spicy chicken dish mixed with whole wheat spaghetti noodles that had been a huge hit with the four of us. (There had even been conflict about who would get the leftovers in their school lunch the next day!) When I asked him if we still had the ingredients on hand for a repeat performance, my husband laughed and replied that we always have the ingredients!

We later walked over to the Fred Meyer grocery store, as the unusual sunny weather was just too good to pass up, plus we needed to pick up lettuce for a salad. Whole roaster chickens were on sale for 69¢ a pound, so I bought one for tonight. I don’t often buy whole chickens as I have a nasty habit of meaning to make soup with the leftovers and then not getting around to it. (A large component of decreasing my food waste has been to recognize what foods I’m wasting, and then making changes based on that self-awareness.)

So tonight’s dinner will be roasted chicken with new potatoes. (Someone left the potatoes at one of my mother’s guest cottages, and I am the primo #1 gleaner of these rentals.)

Here’s how the Dine-In-Challenge has affected me so far. My husband and I went for a longish walk this morning, and passed a really nice coffee shop along the way. Normally I would have suggested that we go in for a treat, but today we just kept walking. Saved me both money and the empty calories I would have consumed.

Are you participating in the Dine-In Week Challenge, and if so, what’s for dinner tonight? Please share your yummy thoughts in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

P.S. Interesting in learning more about food waste? Make sure to take a look through Jonathan Bloom’s terrific wastedfood.com blog!

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Dine-In Week Challenge

by Katy on February 21, 2010 · 32 comments

Natalie McNeal, who blogs over at The Frugalista has put together a Dine-In Week challenge which runs from February 22-26th. This is a great idea, as restaurant meals not only drain your wallet, but have that evil tendency to expand the ol’ waistline.

For many of us, going five weekdays without eating out is not that difficult of a challenge, but McNeal is fabulous singleton; plus this week includes her birthday. She’ll be posting her meals, plus a tally of how much money she’s saving.

I would like to extend this challenge to the Non-Consumer Advocate community. This means no restaurant meals, no take-out and no fancy work lunches.

This is an opportunity to dust off your stove and plan some nice meals with friends and family. I have a tendency to prepare some pretty simple meals that often lack that wow factor, so I think I’ll plan a few fancier meals than normal. (Keep in mind that fancy does not necessarily mean expensive.)

Are you in? Would you like to take this week as an opportunity to polish up those home cooking skills? Please add your name in the comments section below to join the Dine-In Week challenge.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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When is it Worth it to Stock Up?

by Katy on February 20, 2010 · 22 comments

One of the basic tenets of frugality is to stock up on needed items when they’re on sale/cheap and then shop from your stash, instead of needing to run out to pay full price.

But this is not always practical or advisable. If your money is being spent stocking up on household supplies, then it’s not available for immediate needs such as paying bills, backup emergency funds or charitable giving. Plus, it takes up a lot of space to store all this stuff.

I am not someone who keeps a huge stash of sale items filling up my pantry. A) I have no pantry, and B) that’s just not my personality. But there are ways that I do stock up.

Items that I stock up on are those that have a long shelf life and are at a rock bottom price. Examples would be 2-pound blocks of Tillamook cheese for $3.99 or $1 jars of jam. Essentially though, it needs to be a loss leader or close to it for me to bother with buying much extras. I will not buy something just because it’s cheap or free. It has to be something I would normally buy. So no weird products, and minimal packaged food. Even if I have a coupon.

One method to efficiently stock up on groceries that I don’t take advantage of is to use a freezer. Yes, I have my above-the fridge freezer, but there’s only so much food that can fit in there. I try to simply not use it as frozen food storage, and it’s usually filled with extra loaves of bread, individually frozen chicken breasts and bits of this and that.

Another time that I stock up on food or household goods, is when the item is bought in a speciality store that I only visit infrequently. This can be the rice wine vinegar from the Asian market, or the three-packs of soap that I buy at the Dollar Tree store. Buying these items away from the traditional grocery store saves me a lot of money, so it’s worth it to stock up. Plus, it’s a pain in the tuchus to run out of these items, so I like knowing that I’m set for awhile.

Are you the type of shopper that keeps a deep stash of pantry staples, or do you buy food and other household items as you run out? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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