Daily Non-Consumerism
by Katy on August 15, 2025 · 13 comments
My Non-Consumer Advocate posts are usually variations of “Five Frugal Things,” as I find this is the best way to impart how non-consumerism is made up of small choices. Of course there’s a fair amount of repetition, but I try to insert new ideas, resources and ways to reframe limitations in each blog post. You’d think that I’d have run out of fresh frugal/enviromental hacks after publishing 3,388 blog posts, but it turns out that there’s limitless inspiration in this wide wonderful world.
I’m going to share my story of yesterday, an uneventful yet non-consumery day.
• I began my day with tea and a pair of soft boiled eggs and a banana that was heading towards the softer side of Sears mushiness. In my family we called this “taking one for the team.” It wasn’t bad at all.
• We’re getting father and son house guests on Saturday, so I took a half hour or so to freshen up the kids’ old bedrooms. I pulled a pair of fancy towels from my eBay inventory and hung them in the rooms. One room needed a bedside lamp and I briefly thought about asking for one from my Buy Nothing group, but instead grabbed one from our downstairs spare bedroom. I’d already washed the bedding after my sister and nephew visited last month.
• My husband’s prepping our porch to be repainted and spent a couple hours sanding and repairing a couple trouble areas. We’ll share the job once it’s ready to be painted. Doing our own household maintenance saves us thousands of dollars per year.
• I threw a load of laundry into the wash and hung some of it on the clothesline. I washed just three out of four of our pillowcases, as I always throw one on the floor when I go to sleep. The floor is clean, no reason to wash this unused pillowcase.
• I knew I needed to do a big shop, so I worked on a grocery list. I then texted my friend Lise to ask if she wanted to join me or if I could pick anything up for her. Her answers were “too busy” and “no.”
• Winco Foods was pretty straightforward. I bought everything on my list, plus a few sale items such as the Tillamook cheese, cereal (in case the visiting teenager wants late a night snack) and the number of low price eggs that Winco allows you to buy. (They price their eggs lower for your first dozen or 18-pack.) I bagged everything into my reusable totes and helped myself to a floor nickel and three littered recipts to scan into the Fetch app.
• I came home and fixed myself a big green salad, topped with leftover fajita fixings, as I needed to use up some previous bought lettuce. It was delicious! Avoiding food waste is often about creative combinations. I also mixed up a fresh batch of my Tea Towel Salad dressing.
• I’m not someone who needs to be productive at all times, so I zoned out and watched a number of YouTube videos from Zac Rios, including one called Why Are People Spending Money They Don’t Have? I play solitaire whenever I watch YouTube, which is my happy place.
• My husband met up with some baseball teammates to try out a new batting cage that recently opened up in Vancouver, Washington. He carpooled with a friend as it’s a bit of a drive. (I’m really happy for my husband to support this business, as the owner is coincidentally my friend’s son!) My husband’s friend then treated him to a beer to thank him for driving. The shared batting cage cost was $15 apiece. Spent money on experiences not things.
• I finished my library book while my husband was away.
• I made a batch of Deviled eggs, half of which I brought to my daughter when I picked her up from work. She lives walking distance from her job, but she’s been sick and thought she might appreciate a ride home. It was nice to spend a bit of time together.
• My dinner was a sausage on a hoagie roll with piles of homemade sauerkraut. The sausages were a clearance item, five for $2.49. The rolls were from the Franz Bakery Outlet, $1 per bag. My husband came home and helped himself to one as well.
• I always walk meat trays to the outside garbage, as we don’t take our kitchen bin out all that frequently. I noticed that a neighbor had set some ceramic flowerpots on her curb, include a nice big glazed earthenware pot. I lugged it home without a moment’s hesitation. My entire garden is created from curb picked flowerpots!
• Lastly my husband and I watched a couple episodes from season four of The Bay through my sister’s Britbox account. She uses our Netflix.
This was fairly typical day for me. I didn’t do much outside stuff, but I enjoy time in my big comfy house. Today is different from yesterday, but that doesn’t mean I’ll be participating in any retail therapy or revenge spending. Yes, that’s a thing!
I choose to not live a consumer driven life, but that doesn’t equal deprivation. If you think about it, my day included acitivities that people look forward to doing while on a relaxing vacation. I read a book, played cards, ate delicious food, won some money and spent time with my huband. I even shopped for my garden!
Good day.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
1. Harvesting and processing garden produce. Our nighttime temperatures are in the mid 40s now so our first frosts will be coming possibly by the end of the month. If I don’t do the work now, we will lose edible foods and have to buy them at the grocery store.
2. Husband’s birthday was in July. We don’t have a lot of chains here, so not many food freebies on birthday months. However, inspired by other readers I signed us up for a few so this week we made sure to use up the three we did have. The A&W root beer float was even tastier for being free.
3. Cut husband’s hair.
4. Tried out a new zucchini sweet bread recipe and it was a real winner. It is also easier because you don’t drain the zuke, you use it as is. Made several loaves to give out to neighbors who don’t bake. We all trade and loan to each other and an unexpected sweet treat is always welcome. It is frugal to invest in neighborliness.
5. Accepted 8 eggs from our chicken raising neighbors.
Where did you find the zucchini recipe that doesn’t require draining, Lindsey? Curious minds who have a zucchini on the counter want to know…
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/6698/moms-zucchini-bread/
I used 2 heaping cups of zuke and it worked great. Only change I did was used brown sugar instead of white. Husband likes the stronger flavor of brown sugar is the only reason. Hope you like this as much as we do.
1) DH’s DS & DBIL have separated after 61 years of marriage. DS is in an assisted living facility. DBIL was in a separate assisted living facility. After 2 days, he signed himself out and went back to his house. Anyway, their DD#2 texted me and said her dad wanted us to have the canned goods from the basement. We loaded it all up and brought it home. Sadly much of it was outdated back as far as 2005! We kept the salvagable things and the rest went in the garbage. There was well over $1,000+ worth of food there. We probably saved $200 worth. I’m almost certain the garbage man will end up with a hernia.
2) Self-checkout at grocery store gave DH a 50-cent piece for change instead of a quarter. An extra $.25 back in our pocket.
3) Made 1 trip today to do all our errands…DH to dr appointment, stop at hospital pharmacy to properly dispose of outdated/no longer needed medications, take a mountain of recycling to the recycling center.
4) Baked a peach crisp with my late MIL’s apple crisp recipe substituting peaches for apples and nutmeg for cinnamon. DH said he’d be happy with just a dish of that for supper. Worked for me! No cooking!
5) Otherwise I’ve been lazy today. Having a lot of low back and hip pain on my right side. (Did manage to wash, hang outside, and put away 1 load of clothing though.) Spent much of the day in bed with my heating pad where needed.
Katy, I appreciate your limitless inspiration!
Your day seems like a perfect mix of doing restful activities and taking care of business.
I hadn’t heard the term revenge spending before so I found the video particularly fascinating. Such interesting psychology.
I am reading a library book titled No New Things by Ashlee Piper, a former shopaholic. Loving it so far. The chapter on how history, marketing and psychology converged to make us the perfect consumers is engrossing. I don’t know where I heard about the book; if it was from someone here, then thank you!
MB in MN,
Your comment about the “No New Things” book (which I have not read, but will BOLO for) reminds me of a section in one of the Tightwad Gazette books. In it, Amy Daczyczn (aka The Frugal Zealot) writes about frugal Christmases of days gone by, and tells how department stores and the advertising industry commercialized (and IMHO, ruined) the holiday season. Mainly, they convinced people that if they didn’t spend a wad of money on their loved ones, they just weren’t loving them enough. She goes into quite a bit of detail — it is definitely worth your time to read it before you go out on Black Friday and spend too much.
1. Found a car wash near my house which does not charge for using its car vacuums. You don’t have to buy a car wash; it’s just a freebie. I will be keeping my car well vacuumed for as long as this deal lasts.
2. I had two old lamps which were no longer working. Since I’m still very fond of both of them, I asked around and found a guy who repairs lamps. It turned out they each needed a new switch which he installed. I’m very happy with the results and glad I did not have to spend money for new lamps.
3. There are a few specific items I look for when I go to Goodwill. One is colorful dishes and mugs made by a pottery company in Ohio. Over the years, I’ve found various plates, bowls and mugs in a couple patterns which I like. I don’t find these very often, but last weekend, I found four salad plates. Price was $5 for all four. (They sell for much more on eBay). I will be using them almost daily.
4. Went to a neighborhood estate sale but did not feel the need to buy anything.
5. Believe it or not, I’m relieved that today is cool and rainy. I’m so used to the rainy weather here in the NW, I get a little nervous on hot, dry days.
Yes, I was so happy for the drizzly rain we had here in the pnw
I love your description of a normal day, Katy.
I am sick today – something came on suddenly last night and I had to cancel three commitments today. Am taking it really easy because every time I get up to be productive I get dizzy. Ugh. I’m coming to accept that today must be a do-nothing day.
1. After much avoidance on my part, I bowed to the inevitable and informed #2 son (26) that yes, yes, I WOULD cut all his hair off…It had grown into a wild mop that my best buddy observed had a “Welcome Back Kotter” vibe. IYKYK.
I did a bit of negotiation when I got him on the stool, and then ended up doing several passes with the clippers, starting with the highest clip on piece (#8) and working my way down. In the end, he agreed that the #1 depth was perhaps a bit too short for ALL over, so I was able to provide him with a bit more of a style, and HE was able to convince me to style it pretty short, even on top.
Cutting his hair is frugal for him and is something that we both enjoy, some literal hands=on for me and time hanging and chatting for half an hour or so.
He sets up and sweeps up afterward, as well as ensures the clippers are oiled regularly. I just provide the talent (ROTFL)
2. Ate two figs direct from the tree and fondled the remaining 6, however left them alone for another day. I prefer them very ripe. I also picked and taste tested two apples (SOUR!!) and two slightly damaged and therefor softening/ripening early Italian Prune plums. The plums are still a few days away, and the apples won’t be ready for another month, whoever planted apples here planted fall ripening keepers.
The other purple plum is LOADED with pingpong-sized fruit that are almost ready to pick – this tree sets fruit in clusters a foot long, they look like giant grape bundles wrapped around the branches. I have never seen anything like it! There are only 7 chickens in this section of the yard, so we will lose fewer fruits to them; it is a challenge as the branches are weighed down almost to the ground, chicken-eye height.
I picked another almost gallon of my blueberries, and a couple of cups of mixed blackberries and raspberries. My Raspberry patch is in disarray, taken over by blackberries, so there is going to be a major attack there once the ground gets wet enough to dig and pull.
I also managed to pick about 3 cups of very ripe gooseberries. That plant is so in need of pruning, and the thorns on it are so long and sharp that it is an exercise of slow and careful and a lot of muttering.
3. The item that I returned to the A folk has been credited to my account. I have decided that I can do without it for now. Frugal win!
4. I received my order for new underwear and promptly decided to return them, as they are extra large. Oops.
I was going to mail the package back but do have a planned trip to the big smoke where there is a bricks and mortar store, so I will drop it off before the celebration of life of my mom’s last ‘cohort’ buddy. It will be a sad yet celebratory event, he was 94 and in a home, however he led a wonderfully contributory life and we will focus on that, as well as (between mom and me) stories of the friendship between my parents and him and his wife.
It feels a bit weird to stack an errand onto this day, however the drive to this store is over an hour so I am donning my big girl panties to get the job done. (well, actually I guess I am returning them?)
5. I finally spent some time dealing with the fridge – made a shredded cabbage and celery salad, a shredded carrot salad, roasted yams, farro cooked with chicken broth, baked cod in an asian inspired marinade (think soya, ginger, sriracha, sesame oil), a greek salad (one bit without tomatoes for Daughter outlaw), a bean salad, and chicken food removed from the depths of the fridge and delivered to the chooks. I still have quite a bit of the dal I made in the Instant pot, as well as the remains of some rice, so there are lots of FOODS rather than just ingredients in the fridge.
Sounds like you’re living an idyllic non-consuming frugal life, Katy. Hope DD feels better by now.
Yesterday I substituted for a teacher’s aide in the afternoon; it was the first day of school but she had to go to the doc. I was able to get someone to help me program my cell phone to call up the subbie calendar, where we can book future jobs. That will help me get a lot more and better “gigs”.
Also ran some errands, writing checks for the upcoming dental work and my car payment.
This morning, the roofing guy came by and, as promised, installed the remaining closet doorknobs. This has nothing to do with the roof, he was just helping me out. I’d gotten the knobs for $3 each from Habitat ReStore but we needed a drill to attach them to the bifold doors. He did 2 rooms the other day and he finished the other 2 rooms. The new knobs look like a million bucks!
Meanwhile, he picked up some boxes of roofing materials that had been left behind and toted them off. So his boss won’t question why he was over here now that the roof is done.
Gathered up the old, outdated doorknobs and put them in an empty dog food sack that was sturdy enough to handle the weight. There are 18 of them. Will take them to Habitat ReStore. Also will donate the Allen wrenches that came with each package.
This afternoon, worked a 5 hour shift at the store. Inquired why the break room soda machine has been out of drinks. Was told we’re drinking too many (they’re 35 cents each instead of the regular price….and that is our only employee discount we get.) 🙁
Called the Congressman’s ofc. in Washington to complain about the Moron in Chief’s martial law. His aide listened in silence, then thanked me. Nothing will be done, as they are Republicans. Congressman is known to have escorted the MAGAts around the Capitol building on Jan. 5, 2021, showing them where everything was located. So they could carry out their attack the next day. What a creep!
Was contacted by a neighbor: would I sign a petition supporting a Democrat wanting to run for State Representative? You betcha!
I appreciate your posts about your uneventful non-consumery days. Sometimes I feel like the only non-consumery person in this town. Your posts show me that this isn’t true. I think I’ve accidentally found myself in a very consumery, status-conscious neighborhood. I feel like I have to hide my non-consumery ways. We are talking about moving.
My non-consumery inaction of the day is that I stayed away from the grocery store, even though the cupboard is looking bare. Instead, we are finishing off leftovers! It’s a diverse assortment, but it’s a good way to save money.
Went to a friend’s mom’s living estate sale. She was an attorney for 50 yrs and has beautiful things. I bought a ’90s stool that flips up as a step stool. This will help with my cleaning/purging the top shelves stuff that I do not need. I also bought a gorilla cart for $75 that was just on sale @ Costco for $440. So happy!
I bought a bucket full of nice paint brushes, supplies for $4, we have begun painting the new fences around the house yard, next the barn yards and next month the house itself. It included a huge heavy canvas drop cloth.
Found my phone that went missing last weekend. Why do they make women’s pants pockets so shallow?!?
What a lovely and restful day. It’s wonderful that both you and your husband have the skills and energy to renovate / maintain your home. My husband worked as a plumber for 35 years – 40 to 55 hour weeks at a physically very demanding job. He had the skills to perform most of our home renovations and did (kitchen and bathroom remodels, installing ceramic, replacing floors, replacing sockets and outlets, drywall, painting and on an on). It saved us thousands of dollars and I deeply appreciated his contribution. He was often tired, but still had the motivation. I got thrown under the bus the last time I commented about this subject a few years ago. Although I chose my wording carefully, my comment was interpreted as though I was sexist – making a big deal about a male partner contributing to home maintenance / the family – so I will try again : ). Some partners (male or female) have the skills and the physical ability to make home repairs or improvements, but just don’t contribute in that way (though their family would benefit from the savings). I’m just recognizing what a gift it is when we contribute our time and skills/abilities/efforts for the benefit our family.
We spent the day at our daughter’s house (a home that she recently purchased on her own, as a single mom). My husband and son reinstalled the stairs on her front porch now that the cement slab (that my husband, son and daughter prepped and formed) has cured. I helped my daughter clean out her basement, and we hauled lots of debris (wood, cement, metal parts, old paint, oil and other chemicals) to our recycling center. We are returning tomorrow to deep clean her unfinished basement. Work was done on the foundation and the basement cement slab and there is cement dust everywhere! We have rented an air extractor, have our full protection wear ready (respirators and glasses), the shop-vac and the air compressor are in the car. We will vacuum and wipe everything down – including the foundation walls.
Her basement will be insulated in the coming weeks, and then we will move on to a more interesting phase of this huge project – finishing her basement. My husband, son, myself and our daughter will frame the walls, install the drywall and vinyl flooring, and her basement will be warm, clean and habitable.