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I wanted black bean burgers for dinner, but didn’t have buns or interest in making them from scratch. Instead I mixed up a batch of black bean burgers and and spread them on corn tortillas. I then grilled them over thinly sliced onion in an oiled cast iron pan and served them with cheddar, sliced peperoncinis, ketchup, mustard and lettuce. I would’ve added tomatoes and pickles, but I didn’t have any on hand.
I’ve seen people making these “smash burgers” tacos with hamburger meat, but I thought I’d play around with the recipe. People, they were delicious and a huge hit at my house! Super cheap, (I cooked the beans in my Instant Pot) healthy and yummy. Definitely getting added to the rotation!
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My husband and I went out of town to celebrate our 31st anniversary and used points to pay for the hotel room. We chose to eat at home before leaving and to grab $1.50 Costco hotdogs for lunch. Dinner was taco cart burritos as we’re being very careful with money right now. It’s okay to be cheap.
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I picked blackberries at my secret spot in Portland and had enough for seven jars of jam and plus extra for the freezer.
There were tons (and tons) of wild blackberries growing next to our hotel, so I filled a gallon-size ziploc bag and brought them them home for another batch of jam. Have I mentioned that I love free food?
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• My step mother gave me a bag of fresh figs from her tree.
• I picked up another ponytail holder, which I’ll throw into the dishwasher to sanitize.
• I finally used up the 10¢ boxes of pectin that I bought on clearance at Fred Meyer a few years ago.
• Still rocking the dorky orange sunglasses that I pulled from a neighborhood free box last year.
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I didn’t buy a Lear Jet.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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The weather has been extra nice here in Portland, so I decided to go for an after-dinner walk. My friend Lise was busy and my husband was tired, so I took off on my own. I opened my free Libby app to cue up my current audiobook, (Yours Truly, by Abby Jimenez) and began my journey.
I left the house yelling over my shoulder that “I need fresh inventory,” which was a joke. Mostly, because it’s uncommon for me to return home without having picked up something or other that my area’s residents set out for free. Sometimes it’s something to keep, but lately it’s something to sell. Just yesterday I sold a small curb picked coffee maker locally for $7 and I also sold two freebie chairs while I was out of town, one for $40 and the other for $75!
Mostly though, I’m out to get a bit of exercise and clear my mind. That is, until I come across a free box/pile.
Like this box of downed apples and pears. I took four apples, which were in better condition than the ones I left behind in this photo. I didn’t take any pears as they do a number on my gut.
I passed by a few other free boxes without falling to temptation, like this one:
I was briefly excited by this array of free items, but I didn’t end up taking anything. In retrospect the push mower would’ve been a smart item to grab for resale, but instead I left it for some other lucky pedestrian.
Too bad I didn’t need hangers:
The one freebie that stopped me in my tracks was this trio of Rejuvenation light fixtures! Although Rejuvenation was sold to Williams Sonoma awhile back, they’re still a Portland based business in my mind and very popular with Portland buyers. Their quality stands out in a Home Depot world and is easily recognizable.
Even in the waning light I was able to confirm my suspicions.
I quickly called my “tired” husband, giving him directions to my specific location and then stood guard over my loot. And like the weirdo that I am, I even took a selfie:
My job now is to wash and shine them up and then list them for resale on Facebook Marketplace.
So in the end it turns out I was walking for fresh inventory!
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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I signed up for Portland General Electric’s Peak Time Rebates program, where you “earn rebates on your bill by reducing your energy use during these peak times.” I looked through the small print and it doesn’t seem like there’s a possibility of being charged extra, so it’s a slam dunk win. Especially since we don’t have central air conditioning and only use an individual AC unit at night to be able to sleep comfortably.
Discount on my electric bill? Yes, please!
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I decanted all the starts I’ve been propagating on the kitchen windowsill and got everything planted, mostly in outside flowerpots as there’s still so much warm weather left to the year. I now have extra monstera, fuzzy bunny, purple heart, pothos and mint plants to enjoy — without spending a penny! Needless to say, I scavenged the potting soil from various unused flowerpots.
My favorite is the “purple heart,” which I combined with the “fuzzy bunny” and is now planted in a gorgeous flowerpot that I curb picked in early June. I really like the combination of deep rich colors.
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I accepted a pretty Venetian glass necklace from someone in my Buy Nothing group, that I’ll probably give to my niece for her upcoming birthday. It was perfect timing too, as I’ve been experiencing jet lag and it forced me to peel myself off the couch and go for an evening walk.
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• I did bring small gifts for my husband and kids from NYC, but they were simply unique Italian-food items from her grocery store. Inexpensive, tasty and didn’t add clutter into their lives.
• My son stopped by and the two of us walked to the library to return books.
• I baked a loaf of no-knead artisan bread, which costs maybe 25¢/loaf.
• My neighbors are off on an overseas adventure and they brought over a cucumber that would’ve gone to waste.
• I set a large ceramic flowerpot on the curb for someone else to enjoy. It was curb picked to begin with and I never truly liked it in the first place.
• My mother took me out to lunch and my meal was oddly greasy. I’ve ordered this specific dish in the past and knew this was an aberration, so I spoke to an employee and they agreed and remade the dish for me. I had them pack it to go, as I wasn’t actually all that hungry and then dropped it off for my lucky daughter to enjoy.
• I sold a Looney Toons Fiestaware plate* on eBay while I was away and I mailed it out using second hand supplies.
• I was out of bar soap, so stopped by Dollar Tree on my way back from lunch and picked up three $1.25 two-packs. I miss when they were 3/$1, but this is still cheaper than other places. I also grabbed a couple bottles of shampoo and conditioner since I was already there.
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No Lear Jet and no health issues from swimming in the Seine.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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I’m finally home from New York, complete with a handful of truly filthy coins for my Found Change Challenge jar. 95¢ in total, which is not too shabby.
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I broke the top and side handles on my suitcase during my arduous four-and-a-half hour journey from Newark airport to The Bronx. Luckily the telescoping handle still works, but you still need the handles to carry it up and down all those subway stairs. Luckily I packed an assortment of heavy duty zip ties from home, so I pulled out my sister’s needle-nose pliers and performed surgery to reattach the handles. Are the handles now perfect? No. Is this a forever repair? Very specifically no. But is this a “make it do” situation? Yes.
Update: My suitcase made it home with two, count ’em two intact handles, even though I chose to check my luggage!
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I pre-ordered an $11 salad for my 5-1/2 hour flight home as my suitcase was very full and I was already taking a city bus, two subways, a train and a tram to get from The Bronx to Newark airport. I did pick up a $3.99 box of five granola bars from my sister’s grocery store and ate a couple while waiting for my delayed flight. I didn’t pay the extra $8 for the wi-fi, but I did enjoy a free movie (Little Women) and another hundred pages of “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.”
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Did I mention that I took a city bus, two subways, a train and a tram to get from The Bronx to Newark airport? A Lyft was going to be $125 before the tip and taking public transportation cost $19.70. No tip necessary and frankly, it’s much better for people watching.
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No Lear Jet as I chose to fly commercial.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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I continue to cook from scratch while visiting with my sister in NYC, even though her neighborhood has multiple tempting restaurants. Tonight was a taco/tostada buffet using pinto beans cooked in her Instant Pot and yesterday was okonomiyaki, inspired by a single cabbage that I found in the back of her refrigerator.
Neither of us are rolling in dough, so this benefits both of us.
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My sister used her association with The American Museum of Natural History to arrange free tickets for my neighbor Laura and her son, (including a “special exhibit,” plus entrance to the Hadyn Planetarium!) This was a $63 value and I’m really pleased that I was able to arrange this benefit for my friend. She and I hung out a couple weeks ago and she happened to mention that she was taking her son to New York for a couple of days, so this worked out perfectly for them.
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Tonight was garbage night, so my sister and I took a slow stroll through her neighborhood and brought home a small metal shelving unit, (her) and two unused zip ties, (me.) Okay, the zip ties weren’t really a “garbage night” item, but I was still happy to tuck them into my purse for later usage.
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• I used the last of some plum sauce from last week’s Indian takeout over the okonomiyaki and the last of some spicy green sauce for tonight’s tacos. (Thank you Greta for schlepping takeout all the way from Jackson Heights, Queens to The Bronx!) Asian fusion?
• My sister and I have been watching the Olympics through the Peacock app, which I get for free through my at home internet service.
• I found a filthy penny on the ground today, so yes . . . I did recently come into some money.
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Now your turn! What frugal things have you been up to?
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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I’m still visiting with my sister in New York City and we’re spending our time in the house that she bought in 2023. You may not aware of this, but my sister is a groovy and creative artist and her homes have always been a outlet for her personal style.
The previous owners of her house did not share her aesthetic. However, it’s all perfectly functional and like me, my sister forgot to be a trust fund baby.
Take her lampshade as an example. This antique floor lamp was a hand-me-down from a friend who moved to Germany and the standard lampshade was garbage picked. My crafty sister crocheted around it using yarn she already owned and then beaded the trim to create a unique and one of a kind shade.
This is my sister’s dining room light fixture and while it’s perfectly functional, it doesn’t match her style whatsoever. However, it’s functional and can work as a place holder until some random New Yorker sets an amazing vintage chandelier out on their front stoop.
It’s a “place holder” and place holders play an important role in frugality as they allow time to patiently source a second hand (and hopefully free) replacement. That process can take years, but since there’s no deadline, there’s no hurry.
My sister’s elaborate window treatments are another example of something in her home that are currently serving as a place holder. They came with the house and there’s nothing technically wrong with them, but they’re just not her style. Her plan is to sew less formal curtains, but she hasn’t had a chance to prioritize the project. Until then they’ll do.
These kitchen curtains are a better example of her personal style. She made them from a vintage tablecloth and even crocheted the cute trim onto the hem. Think HGTV Handmade Home instead of a ten-year-old Southern Living magazine.
Please note the lampshade, which she made using fabric from a garbage picked vintage flat sheet. Again, yes, my sister is both creative and groovy.
One of the key tenets of frugality is the art of patience. (Purchase in haste, repent in leisure?) This is because you rarely find a bargain when impulse shopping, plus it’s a more complicated process when your budget is “garbage picked” and your style is unique. I’m sure she’ll figure out cooler lighting and window treatments, but until then, she can “make it do.”
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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There’s a viral “underconsumption core” trend happening on Instagram and TikTok right now. It’s essentially non-consumerism, but rebranded for a savvy young audience. Buying fewer items, using up toiletries before buying new ones, repairing instead of replacing, buying used instead of new — essentially just being mindful of spending with an focus on sustainability.
It would be easy to dismiss underconsumption core as yet another superficial social media trend, but I see it as a reaction to the buy buy buy culture that so many were raised in. We’ve all witnessed recent examples of baffling overconsumption where people fight one another for Stanley cups, Trader Joe’s mini coolers or whatever else becomes the “it” thing to buy. It’s unsustainable and frankly, it’s crass and morally reprehensible to support this level of consumerism.
I made a decision in 2006 to stop buying anything new, and it’s about the best choice I’ve ever made. Not just financially, but also from a sustainability and minimalism standpoint. It forced me to critically think my own role as a consumer and how my personal choices effect the world I live in.
Whether you refer to it as underconsumption core, nonconsumerism or just minimalism, it’s a trend I can get behind.
#underconsumptioncore
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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I went for a brief stroll around my sister’s NYC neighborhood and came across a yard debris container filled with pruned scraps from someone’s Limelight Hydrangea shrub. I helped myself to a few and brought them home for a delightful bouquet of flowers.
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I also found a quarter and a penny while out and about, so I stuck my hand through a slightly nasty chain link fence to compose a pretty photo for the blog. If you look really carefully you can see the Manhattan skyline in the background. And not to brag, but I found another penny later that evening!
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I garbage picked a pair of outdoor side tables for my sister’s back deck. Not as nice as the patio chair I curb picked in Brooklyn last year, but they’ll work as place holders until her neighbors set out something nicer.
If nothing else, the price was right. Plus, they follow the current “under consumption core” trend.
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I learned that The Multnomah County Library offers Book Club Kits, which allow patrons to check out tote bags filled with ten copies of a specific book. There are 141 options at the moment, including The Heart of Horses, by Molly Gloss and A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula LeGuin, both Portland authors.
As they explain it:
“Let us support your book club by providing 10 copies of a highly-discussable book on a six-week loan. We have titles in fiction, nonfiction, memoirs and large print available so you and your fellow readers can explore a variety of stories. “
I absolutely love this Pageturners To Go program, as it can be cost prohibitive to participate in a book club, especially as new releases have insanely long library wait lists. I looked it up and it appears that many other library systems offer the same or similar programs for their patrons, so hopefully this’ll help readers outside the Portland area.
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No Lear Jet. No Amazon Prime Day “deals.”
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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We made “nacho bean dip” for dinner last night, which was a big hit with everyone. This involved cooking up black beans in her Instant Pot and then layering it with Trader Joe’s soy chorizo, sautéed onions and peppers, Tillamook cheddar cheese (my hostess gift) and then baking it all together. We then topped it with tomato, avocado and sour cream. Needless to say, there were tortilla chips for scooping.
My sister’s family used to make this meal on the regular when her kids were growing up, so it was very much a sentimental hit. This was super duper yummy, plus healthy and frugal! I suppose it could also serve it with warmed corn tortillas, but the crunch of the tortilla chips really make the meal.
Fun fact: My sister didn’t realize that her microwave was also a convection oven. Now she does.
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My sister just got a free convection oven!
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My sister needed more washcloths, so she’s crocheting them from yarn she already owns.
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We haven’t gone anywhere or done anything outside the house since our single day in Manhattan. I have walked her dog around the neighborhood which resulted in me finding a single penny. Frugal?
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No delayed Lear Jet flights.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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I’m still in New York helping out my sister, which explains why my “frugal things” are all NYC based.
1) My adult nephew and I had an entire day to kill in the city, but needed to stay within a specific neighborhood. We’d already had coffee and free pastries at Paris Baguette, but we still needed a third space where we could park ourselves. Our first thought the NY Public Library for the Performing Arts, but my nephew had an online class, which would be too noisy for a library environment. Instead we chose to hang out in the Lincoln Center lobby.
They provided a climate controlled space, immaculate bathrooms, comfortable seating options and an infinite loop of digital interpretive dancers.
I kid you not.
My nephew also told me about NYC Privately Owned Public Spaces, which are:
“Privately owned public spaces, also known by the acronym POPS, are spaces dedicated to public use and enjoyment and which are owned and maintained by private property owners, in exchange for bonus floor area or waivers. More than 590 POPS provide a myriad of opportunities to sit, relax, people watch, eat, meet others – in other words, to partake and enjoy in urban life in one of the world’s greatest cities.”
You can find a “POPS” location by clicking HERE.
To clarify, I don’t think that the Lincoln Center lobby was an official “POPS” spot, but we were far from the only people using this beautiful space to hang out or meet up with friends.
2) I walked to the grocery store to pick up a couple nights of dinner ingredients. It’s always interesting shop at regional food stores when away from home, even when that travel is within your own country. My sister’s standard grocery store has frozen Arthur Avenue (“Little Italy in the Bronx”) frozen ravioli, fresh pickles and a permanent display of everything needed to make tiramisu. They also had fresh bagels, (duh!) and multiple non-corporate brands of ricotta.
My favorite souvenir to bring home from traveling is regionally specific food, as it makes a great gift and doesn’t contribute to clutter.
3) I might meet up with a couple of my NYC based friends while I’m here, but they’ll need come to me which’ll simplify my trip.
4) • I bought a bagel and cream cheese at the grocery store, but added my own tomato and cucumber at the house.
• My nephew and I picked up $9 halal cart lunches and brought them back to the Lincoln Center lobby.
• It rained with might and fury last night and I consequently didn’t need to water my sister’s extensive garden today.
5) I didn’t waste money on gauze for a non-existent injury.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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