Click here to read an online interview with me on the “Almost Frugal” blog.
Enjoy!
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”
Almost Frugal Interview
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Katy – your personality and satisfaction with life shine through in this interview, just as they do in your daily blog. Thanks!!
Katy,
I enjoy your blog and it’s the only one I follow daily. However, you hit a nerve with this interview. I don’t think it’s fair for people to comment on something, or activity that is frugal to only them. You specifically mention both the beach and the mountains. I live in the middle of America. No beach or mountains anywhere around. Not for hundreds and even a thousand + miles. You live in a very unique part of the US. I have been there once, my sis lives in Portland and we had to scrape and save for over a year to get there. I know your point was that you can enjoy your local area and have a great time for cheap. My family did that this weekend. Went to our state capitol, camped on a one free night weekend and went to a wonderful festival for all told $100. But no beach or mountains. Lots of rain and a cold tent but lots of fun.
Dave Ramsey used to do the same thing on his radio show. We used to live in Nashville, TN. I knew where he lived. He always harped on people that sent their kids to private school. “wasting their money”. However he lives in the wealthiest county in TN and one of the wealthiest in the US. Public schools in his neck of the words had Olympic size pools etc. This comment wasn’t fair because most kids in the US did not have that type of public school system. Do you see my point? I do agree that Disney is not something we would spend our money on. We just had to explain this to our daughter as one of her friends is going and I quote her mom “whether we can afford to or not”. gag.
I get your point, just wanted to say that the beautiful pacific northwest is not just down the road for most of us. 🙂
Namastemama,
Yes, I live in Portland, which is just a few hours away from either the beach or the mountains. I am pretty much satisfied to stay close to home for family vacations.
Having said that, the Oregon coast is hardly the relaxing destination that California or Hawaii would be. (The water at the Oregon coast is frigid year round!) I know of no one else who stays as close to home as my family does. (My sister goes to Greece for vacation, my neighbors go to Hawaii or Louisiana and my mother just got back from Florida.) When we go to the beach, we stay in a friend’s cabin where we have to bring all our own linens, towels, and bring all our own food from home. It’s kind of a lot of work. I would love to stay somewhere that wasn’t as much work for me, but it’s beyond our current budget. Of course, my choosing to work part-time is what keeps our budget so low, and I’m much happier than I would be if I worked a full time schedule.
I totally get what you’re saying, but life here in Portland is far from ideal. We had measurable rain 27 out of 30 days in April, and I may be starting to mildew.
Mildewly yours,
-Katy
Nice to meet you at Almost Frugal!
“There were even leftover drumsticks, which served as my older son’s pre-dinner meal, (he’s 14-year-old and eats like a freakin’ horse!)â€
Boy, can I relate! My 14 year old son regularly enjoys pre- dinner meals and after dinner meals that throw a real wrench into the food budget. I have found the best way of coping with this is an extra loaf of bread, a jar if peanut butter, and honey.
I recently heard that some local farmer’s markets (upstate NY) take food stamps. Although I have not seen this in practice, it is wonderful if accurate.