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When pushed to come up with a few holiday gift ideas, my daughter asked for a blender. I was able to find a Cuisinart Duet model on Facebook Marketplace for $15, which was much better than the $90 it would have cost new. I had to drive across town, but that was okay with me.
I have other gifts for her, which I’ll include separately in a future “what I gave for Christmas/Chanukah” post.
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I stopped at Safeway on the way home as my husband had grocery shopped for his work lunch supplies without using one of my 10%-off coupons. He’d spent sixty-some dollars, but that was enough for me to bring the receipt plus the coupon to customer service.
The clerk asked if I was sure I wanted to use the use the coupon for such a low purchase as “this coupon can get you 10% off $200!” I spent a moment wondering if he had a fair point, after all $20 is nothing to sneeze at. But then I realized that’s there’s no way I would ever spend $200 at Safeway, as all I ever buy there are sale items or last minute emergency ingredients. Spending $180 would get me dramatically less food, when compared to shopping at my beloved Winco. I took a deep breath and accepted $6.25 and walked over to the cheese aisle, where I picked up a pair of $6.49 sale priced Tillamook cheese blocks and nothing else.
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I sold the $7.99 thrifted needlepoint rooster for $75 through Facebook Marketplace. I’d had it up on eBay for almost a month with no interest, so I cross listed it locally. The photos were already taken and the description was pre-written, so there was no reason to not complete this extra step.
I think I’ll go through my eBay listings and find a few more items to list locally. People shop like crazy in the lead up to Christmas, so I might as well give them the opportunity to buy my stuff!
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• The 10%-off coupon was one of three that someone in my Buy Nothing group gifted to me. They’re given out when you get your vaccinations at Safeway.
• My neighbors dropped off a yummy looking can of peppermint cocoa, which’ll be great to have on hand, even though the ten-day forecast shows nothing but dreary rain. I tend to save cocoa for snowy days but it might be time to rethink this policy.
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I didn’t buy any vulgar gold plated apartments 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.
Click HERE to join The Non-Consumer Advocate Facebook group.
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In addition to this blog, I also run a companion Non-Consumer Advocate Facebook group, which is currently hovering around 79,000 members. New prospective members have to answer a simple question, which helps to weed out the ever present spammers. The answers are always interesting, so I’ve started saving them to share in blog posts.
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I’ve followed Katy’s blog since 2011 when I had to get frugal fast for nursing school. For some reason I’ve never joined the FB group! I came here from the post today 11/7.
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Thinking about doing a no buy year and also love the blog!
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I have been trying to move towards a zero-waste, low-buy lifestyle to set a better example for my children (and help all the world’s children have a future).
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Love Katy’s blog, and after this election feeling a strong desire to remove myself from consumer culture.
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I read your blog.
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Get frugality ideas.
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Love the blog and just learned there was a Facebook page. 🙂
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Cuz Katy is amazing and I love her blog.
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Very much enjoy the blog.
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To consume less.
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So tired of the mass consumerism and push.
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I have read your blog for years and find it entertaining and inspiring.
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I need the comfort of like-minded people in my life.
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Followed over from the blog. Right now I need like-minded people in this world gone crazy.
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Been recycling since 1976.
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Support on being more mindful on spending.
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I’ve been reading the blog for years, but tend to avoid Facebook. Because I think not spending money is a form of protest, I need some new skills.
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Looking for ways to reduce consumerism. Support for dealing with other people.
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I’m looking to make a big change in the way my family consumes!
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A big fan of the blog and want to learn more ways to save money.
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I’m not on board with fast fashion, fast furniture, and electronics/appliances that don’t last.
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Because I read the blog for years and want more inspiration.
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I’m circling back in that I was a member back at the start – 2008 I believe.
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I’m a non-consumer too.
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The earth is crying out – and I have children who need an earth to live on.
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I am a mum and I really wish I could do my part as best as I can to not destroy the planet my kid will grow up in.
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Want to minimize and declutter.
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Over-consumption and the waste it produces upset me. I am looking for things that I can do influence others to shop less.
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Because it resonates with me.
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I’m just starting to reduce my consumption and need inspiration.
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I have 3 little kids and feel like I am drowning in plastics. I need to do better.
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I find myself have too much stuff, want to downsize and use what I have instead of buying new.
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I’m a minimalist, I don’t believe stuff will make you happy.
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I’d like to see ideas for consuming less and support others who do the same.
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I have followed your blog for years and would love to be part of this group.
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Interested in ways to decrease consumption and be more environmentally friendly.
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I’m waking up and want to get inspiration and ideas for living a lower-consumption life.
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I like your email posts. I also read The Frugal Girl, which is how I found your blog.
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I discovered your blog and I love it (I also love libraries!) and I’m interested in decluttering and making an effort to save more money in 2025.
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For information on how to be better. Recommended from arrival group member.
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I want to help the environment and stop being persuaded to spend money on things I don’t need
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To find ways to fight consumerism in my family’s life.
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I’d like to do a better job with my consumption.
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I’d like to learn more about how to consume less.
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Ideas for consuming less.
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Because I’m a big believer in being a non-consumer.
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To get inspired to reuse items and purchase less.
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Interested in this topic.
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Looking for like- minded people.
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I don’t want to spend money.
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I’ve been living a simple uncomplicated life based on mindful consumption which runs contrary to Western society’s hyper consumerism. The sharing of ideas would be fruitful.
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For inspiration.
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To learn.
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I’m interested in consuming less and sustainability.
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Trying to be more minimalist.
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I’m learning to not spend much and would love to see what other people do or use to not consume as much.
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It’s time for a change in my life – I want to become a frugal non-consumer!
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I’m tired of consuming so much stuff.
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I’ve been a super saver for a number of years, saved up to 50% of my salary at times, but it’s always bothered me that I haven’t worked on the other end of the pipeline: spending. I want to get better at controlling spending.
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Recently retired.
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I want to unlearn hyper consumption habits and get comfortable using what I have – ideas would be great.
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Want to do better for this planet.
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Love the frugal lifestyle.
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Tired of seeing so many “influencers” sharing links of things that no one actually needs, esp around Christmas time.
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Need to save money.
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To learn more!
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I have enjoyed your blog for years and share a desire to live more simply and consciously.
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Interested in alternative to consumerism.
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Have always been interested is pursuing a more frugal lifestyle and now that we have moved and are retired, this is the perfect opportunity.
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Sustainability.
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I want to prioritize sustainability and eco friendly practices in my life.
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Encouragement to not spend, in this society of buy it now.
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To learn and hopefully implement more frugality into my life.
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I’m just beginning my minimalist journey and want all the encouragement I can get.
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I’d like to collect people’s perspective in the fight against consumerism.
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I follow on Instagram and I need more inspiration.
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to get more ideas to help leave the planet a little better off.
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Because I’m an over consumer that wants to get back to the frugal roots of my parents and depression era grandparents who did what they could with what they have and I have plenty to start with.
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Trying to be more mindful of purchases, waste and using up, making do. husband retiring next week, so losing income, living on SS. PLUS I like a challenge and learning all things frugal.
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Recommended by friend.
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I like participating in alternative consumerism.
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I like the idea of finding better ways to make the most out of what we have.
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I have started to embrace more and more the ideas of minimalism, less waste, less is more, and responsible consumption.
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I want to spend less, re-use, reduce, recycle…
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To use less.
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I’ve always been a person that reuses/repurposes things – empty plastic and glass jars, plastic zip bags, etc. Old clothes and rarely used ones are made into bags for shopping, hats, cat toys, quilts, etc.
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Because I am also a frugal person.
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I am sick of our consumerism in this country. I am looking for ways to cut back, reuse, and recycle.
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Because we ARE citizens. Not consumers!! I’m so sick of pervasive consumerism. So I want to join others who feel the same way. It seems to go with my ethos – I’m interested.
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I try to conserve resources in every decision I make. Finding new ways to accomplish that and save money too is win in every sense of the word.
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Conserve resources.
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My mom grew up during the Depression and she handed down many of the practices she grew up with. I still practice make do, don’t need it, repurpose it, don’t follow the trends, etc. It’s supportive to read what others are doing in this regard.
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To learn how to reduce my carbon footprint.
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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I asked in my Buy Nothing group if anyone had an apron that I could give to my son as a holiday gift. It took a few days, but someone a couple blocks over had one to offer. I walked over this morning and left them a prettily tied handful of rosemary sprigs as a thank you.
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I offered up the leftover Christmas tree boughs on my Buy Nothing group. These are the ones I got for free from a Christmas tree lot a few days ago and am happy to share the extras. I also offered up a box of maple flavor Cream of Wheat packets that had been too sweet for my palate. I’d used a coupon to get them for free, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay for them to go to waste.
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My neighbor across the street gave us a box of Christmas cookies and mini-cakes, which were top tier amazing as she’s a trained chef. We were somehow able to make them last over the course of multiple days and even shared some with our son. I’m not doing any holiday baking, (so far at least) but I did bake up a loaf of no-knead artisan bread to return the favor.
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My son wanted to hit IKEA after work to pick up a specific kitchen wastebasket and asked me to accompany him on his adventure. Although my first instinct was to say “no,” (The 4:29 P.M. sunset is far from invigorating) I did assent, as quality time with my adult kids is increasingly rare.
I did grab a few gourmet goodies to give as gifts, but otherwise kept my wallet in the closed and locked position.
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• I’m picking up mail for a neighbor who’s out of town for a few days.
• I tied the rosemary sprigs with leftover bakery twine from Zeppieri & Sons, my favorite Bronx, NY bakery.
• I stopped into the CVS that’s near my father’s house to pick up the medication for my husband’s upcoming colonoscopy. This saves us from driving across town for a single errand and is a favor to future us.
• I cut out gift labels from the paper cookie box for next week’s Chrismukkah-palooza.
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I didn’t buy any vulgar gold plated apartments 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.
Click HERE to join The Non-Consumer Advocate Facebook group.
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I sold a Shiny Brite tree topper* on eBay for $20 and packaged it up in the ugliest but most functional Frankenbox. I also used two inside out Amazon bubble mailers as bubble wrap. I was able to get it out for the mail carrier maybe ten minutes before he came by the house this morning, which is great as I imagine the buyer wants it before Christmas.
Maybe it do, baby. Make it do!
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I used my minivan to help my step mother pick up a mattress she was buying from Facebook Marketplace. It didn’t exactly fit, so we drove a mile or so with the mattress sticking out of the back of the car. Luckily, it wasn’t raining.
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I stopped by the Goodwill in my father’s neighborhood and although I didn’t find anything worth buying, I did find a dime on the ground.
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I wanted to buy a multi-bit screwdriver for my daughter’s stocking and chose to buy it from a locally owned hardware store. Wink’s Hardware, which touts themselves as an “old fashioned hardware store” has been in business since 1909 and is a breath of fresh air in the era of Amazon and Home Depot. The store really does feel like stepping back in time, which is my favorite kind of shopping experience.
My father gave me a similar screwdriver maybe 25 years ago and I swear that I’ve used twice a week ever since. It’s not an easy thing to find used, but I still feel good about this purchase.
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I didn’t buy any vulgar gold plated apartments 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.
Click HERE to join The Non-Consumer Advocate Facebook group.
* Referral link
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I drove 45 minutes in the pouring rain to pick up a pair of Facebook Marketplace gifts for my mother. (I can’t be any more specific as she reads the blog more than I do!) I then decided to hit a juicy suburban Goodwill since I was in already the area, but accidentally programmed the GPS to take me to a “Boutique Goodwill.” (Boo!) I normally avoid these stores as they’re stocked with dull designer name clothing, which is totally not my thang. However, I figured that I might as well give it a look see.
I browsed the store and ended up buying a cute pair of earrings for my daughter’s girlfriend that were priced at a reasonable $7.99. I also used their bathroom, so I’ll call it a win.
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I boxed up my sister’s Chanukah/birthday gifts by creating a Frankenbox from a package that my husband got in today’s mail. I’m really hoping that he doesn’t need to return his purchase, as he’ll be up a creek.
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I used Pirateship.com to prepay for the USPS label, which saved me a bit over two dollars. I could’ve saved a lot more had I chosen UPS, but the package would’ve taken four extra days in transit and my sister’s birthday was yesterday.
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I’m not putting up a Christmas tree this year, which is my small protest against right wing Christian nationalists forcing their religion into secular government agencies and policy. (Also, it’s an unpleasantly scratchy endeavor.) I did grow up with a Christmas tree, as did my father, although he tells a funny story of how his family spied his religious grandfather slowly walking to the house on a Saturday. (He didn’t drive on Shabbat.) My dad and uncle then hurriedly yeeted threw their fully decorated tree out the window and their Jewish grandfather was none the wiser.
Instead I stopped at a Christmas tree lot and grabbed an armful of free cut branches and arranged them in a vase for winter solstice. I’m content with my wintery blue and white decor, especially since William Shatner made the cut.
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I didn’t buy any vulgar gold plated apartments 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.
Click HERE to join The Non-Consumer Advocate Facebook group.
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I wrote the other day about how my daughter and I went to Cost Plus World Market to shop for international treats. This was my inaugural World Market experience and was overwhelmed by the enormity of the store. One thing I noticed while corralled in line was how I hadn’t spied even a single Chanukah item, but chalked it up to having ignored most of the store. I did notice some silver packaged gelt, but they had Christmas theme graphics, so I didn’t grab any.
Their merchandise was generally pretty cute, so I wondered if I’d maybe missed out their Chanukah section and made a note to check their website when I got home. Umm . . . the above photo is what came up under their “Hanukkah” category. They do sell Chanukah gelt and a single box of menorah candles, but otherwise everything was white, blue or clear housewares. No wrapping paper, no gift boxes, no cute menorahs, just Bubkis!
This doesn’t upset me, as it’s more absurd than anything else. I can clearly picture everyone gathered around their special PLAIN WHITE dish ware for the festival of lights!
“Happy Chanukah kids, I put out the special plates!”
Of course, World Market is better than Hobby Lobby who full on stopped selling Chanukah merchandise last year. So . . . well done World Market?
Of course, I do my best to buy used whenever possible, so it’s not like I was going to load up a cart. Although I might’ve grabbed a box of candles, had they been in my eyeline. I do look out for elusive Chanukah items when perusing Goodwill’s Christmas aisles. This method has turned up a myriad of lovely items through the years, as well as some especially tacky things.
Like this plastic light up menorah:
Although it’s not all plastic tchotchkes, as this $2.99 silver menorah did come home with me:
I’m able to stock up on cheap menorah candles whenever I come across them while thrifting:
I was tempted to buy this “Joy” piece and slice off the “J,” but it was priced at $4.99 and that’s too much money for a stupid joke.
Ya’ll know that I’ve been thrifting for the elusive “V” stocking holder to complete the formal (and oh so traditional) “OY VEY” for my mantle. Someday it’ll happen, but until then I thrive off the thrill of the hunt.
Nice try, ho!
Finding cute, not tacky Chanukah decor is like the proverbial needle in a haystack, although it makes it all the more satisfying when I do find a gem. And that special item? It’s absolutely not a plain white plate!
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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I’ll be picking up a pair of brand new Apple EarPods from someone in my Buy Nothing group. These’ll serve a stocking stuffer for my daughter who doesn’t read the blog.
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My daughter and I went to Cost Plus World Market to pick up yummy treats for people on my gift list. I try my best to not buy anything new, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t buy edible gifts. (No used food for my loved ones!) I can’t share what I bought as my sister does read the blog.
I signed up for their membership, as it you 15%-off all purchases, although I immediately hit “unsubscribe” as my inbox is cluttered enough as is.
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I walked down to a neighborhood consignment shop as my sister’s birthday is today and I wanted to send something besides the aforementioned food items. My first thought was something small like earrings, but instead I scored a $8 kitchenware item that I know she’s been wanting. Again, I can’t share what I bought, but I think she’ll be very happy with her gift.
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• I sold a Land’s End needlepointed Christmas stocking on eBay for $40.
• I sold a trio of tiny die cast Alaska Airline toys for $15.
• I made a big pot of homemade chicken noodle soup as my husband is fighting an upset stomach.
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I’m not gifting any vulgar gold plated apartments 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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I sold the KLM ceramic Amsterdam houses for $50 a couple hours after listing them on eBay. This may sound like a win, but it’s actually a sign that I underpriced them. Oh well, still not too shabby considering that I paid $4.58 for the pair of them.
Of course I packaged them in a random used box, complete with scavenged bubble wrap.
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My father gave me a tour of the tool kit he received as a Jewish confirmation gift 75 years ago. I remember using these tools as a kid and my father continues to use them on a regular basis. (It’s quite ingenious, sort of like a precursor to the Leatherman.) Although the leather case is sadly now fragile, the tools themselves are still in excellent condition.
Imagine if all consumer goods were of this same quality.
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I’ve done essentially no Christmas shopping, although I do have some idea of what I want to get for the people on my gift list. We’ve winnowed down who we exchange gifts with through the years, which helps. Mostly I give consumables, which gets around my “buy nothing new” edict, plus I like that my gifts won’t clutter up people’s homes.
I did ask for one specific item on my Buy Nothing group and will be picking that up on Monday for my son. It rhymes with schmortar and schmestle and I think he’ll really enjoy having one to grind up his own spices.
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I’ve had two nights in a row of lumpia for dinner, thanks to my friend Rosalie. Mmm . . .
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I didn’t buy a vulgar gold 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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My friend Lise panic bought a bucket of black eyed peas at the beginning of the pandemic and has been slipping them to me ever since. I’ve worked my way through two (three?) jars since 2020 and yesterday was my day for a fresh batch. Luckily the two of us are constantly giving stuff to one another.
Just yesterday I caught Lise buying a brand new Christmas tin at Winco and I instructed her to “put it back,” as I had a trio of perfectly good tins gleaned from last summer’s after garage sale freebie fest. I then sent her this photo of my inventory and told her choose whichever one struck her fancy.
She picked the “wintery trees” tin, which fits as she’s soon to become a certified arborist. She recently reminded me how the two of us each grabbed things from a neighborhood free pile a few years back, only to swap our finds once we got them home. She was fresh off binging episodes of The Home Edit and coveted my lazy Susan and I wanted her square ceramic tray to corral my tea related clutter.
No surprise that I love spending as little as possible on consumer goods, but what I really love is helping other people keep their hard earned money! Add in providing a second hand alternative to a newly manufactured item and I’m in heaven!
The Christmas season and crass consumerism sadly go hand in hand, so it makes me extra happy when I can help someone not purchase a brand new item. Even if it’s just a single tin.
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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I stopped by Fred Meyer (Kroger) customer service and was refunded $1.55 by presenting a coupon that could’ve been used with something my husband bought yesterday. I was there for powdered dishwasher detergent anyway, so it wasn’t an extra trip.
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My friend Rosalie treated me to breakfast after having fed her at my house during our last get together. However I wanted to make sure she got the most for her money, so I looked over the restaurant’s online menu the night before and figured out that that it would be cheaper to order a few things à la carte than to order a pre-set plate of food. Cheesy grits, poached eggs and a biscuit added up to $12, as opposed to $14 for a “two eggs breakfast” that included things I didn’t want.
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My friend Lise and I teamed up to do our grocery shop, although we did sneak in a bit of 55+ senior discount day thrifting. Lise bought herself a brand new looking Saks Fifth Avenue merino wool sweater for $9 and I grabbed a $1.50 organizer bin and two $2.69 Royal Dutch Airlines KLM Delft ceramic houses to sell — which were still filled with gin! So yeah, I bought booze at Goodwill.
I then brought home four bags of groceries for just $65, because Winco is amazing that way.
Winco and Goodwill, not a bad afternoon.
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• Rosalie gifted me with a batch of her homemade lumpia and a container of pancit noodles.
• I gathered up all my library books and pulled out the overdue ones. I’m normally responsible about returning books on time, but life has been really busy and upside down lately. Luckily Portland no longer charges late fees, but that doesn’t mean I should take advantage of their lax policies. I then stopped by the library to return books and even picked up a couple new “Lucky Day” books.
• Powdered-effing-dishwasher-detergent! Just say “no” to gimmicky and expensive pods, which easily cost ten times what I spend on the powdered stuff. I buy a $5.99 box that’ll last for ages. I simply decant the powder into a container and then scoop out a tablespoon’s worth for each load. Works great! Save your money for something more interesting.
• The restaurant, library and Fred Meyer were all in the same neighborhood, so I saved gas by batching these errands.
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I didn’t buy a vulgar gold 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.
Click HERE to join The Non-Consumer Advocate Facebook group.
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