Help a Reader — Ideas for Lowering Kids’ Gift Expectations When Money is Tight

by Katy on November 1, 2012 · 61 comments

The day after Halloween has replaced the day after Thanksgiving as the official start to the holiday shopping season. Sad, but true.

However, just because we’re into the holiday season, doesn’t mean we’re obligated to head to the mall and open a vein.

Non-Consumer Advocate reader Penny recently asked this question on our Facebook Group: 

“We are living on one income this year, like so many. Can I please have some ideas on how to make my 17 and 10 year olds not feel deprived this Christmas when it comes to gifts. My ideas are so lame.”

I’m glad Peggy brought this question to light, as I doubt there are many of us who aren’t trying to figure out how to give our kids a great holiday without breaking the bank.

I’ve always thought that buying for older kids is at once both harder and easier than for little kids. Babies could care less about gift giving, toddlers are happy with hand-me-downs presented as gifts, school age kids are flexible and teens have the ability to see the big picture.

However, teens are also prone to wild mood swings from sweet to insane, so you just never know.

Here’s what I would suggest to Penny:

  • Look around the house to see if you have unused stuff to sell. Remember, crap out, money in!
  • If you’re wanting to give a big ticket item, ask family members if they’d be interested in chipping in. Better to get the one gift you want rather than a bunch of small stuff you don’t.
  • Make or craft a gift by hand. One Non-Consumer Advocate reader responded by writing that she was sewing a quilt for her daughter made from her meaningful old T-shirts.
  • And most importantly, have an honest conversation with the kids about your money situation. They might be less gift-centric than you think. They might even be a source for some great holiday ideas!

Now you, what ideas do you have for Penny? Please share your ideas in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Live in the Moment, Cherish the Past and Dream About the Future

by Katy on October 31, 2012 · 9 comments

This photo of my sons both dressed as “Link” from Legend of Zelda stops me in my tracks. Now 14 and 17, my sons do still dress up for Halloween, but I want nothing more than to jump into this picture and hang out with these young guys for a day or two.

There’s just something about young boys that melts my heart.

I’m sure I’ll feel this way about the current time four years from now when they’re off on their own.

Live in the moment, cherish the past and dream about the future. ♥

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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How to Buy Used

by Katy on October 30, 2012 · 16 comments

I just finished filming a local news segment at the house about the best ways to buy used stuff. (Their title will most likely be more eloquent.) And, as I always do before an interview, I wrote up a chicken-scratchy page of notes. (It helps to focus my thoughts past the cloud of mascara and eyeliner fumes.) Points I want to make, swear words to avoid and an overall theme to my message.

I always end up forgetting the main point, yet can be counted on to babble on about weird and random tangents.

I do like what I wrote out this morning, so I thought I would share the main points with you.

How to Buy Used:

  • Be patient. You will not be able to run into a store and find exactly the thing you were looking for. However, this lag time will help you figure out alternate solutions to the initial need.

  • Use social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) to put the word out. A friend or family member might have an unused whatevermacallit to lend or give you.

  • Peruse Craigslist for specific and bigger items. Just be sure to be safe and employ your street smarts.

  • Think beyond thrift shops. Different consignment shops specialize in teens, women’s wear, men’s wear, baby stuff and household items. Even better, bring unwanted stuff from home and get store credit for your purchases!

  • You can both buy used and give great gifts. Consider giving things you already own to friends and family. Books you’ve loved, family keepsakes and a previously admired item all make great gifts!

  • Consider sharing ownership of rarely used items. My mother and I share a rug shampooer, which works great for us. (Of course, I bought it from Craigslist!)

  • Still squeamish about used stuff? Consider these used things that you use without a second thought. Restaurant napkins, silver wear and dishes; hotel sheets and towels; bowling shoes, your hairstylist’s drape. Then, get over yourself.

  • Simply don’t get that thing you think you wanted in the first place. When you give that purchase some breathing room, you may likely lose interest.

See? And I didn’t even swear!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Organization Porn

by Katy on October 29, 2012 · 26 comments

If you’re like me, nothing gets you hotter than taking a previous organizational disaster and transforming it into a haven of order. Desk drawers, linen cupboards, basements. It’s all good.

Wait, organization does not get you hot? Right . . . I never said that, that would be weird to say. Moving along now . . .

I like to browse Ikea for ideas, and I really like the free coffee that you get when you join their free Ikea Family program. However, the Portland Ikea is nowhere near my house, although it is dab smack next to the airport. So when I drop friends and family at the airport I take it as an opportunity to paw over fabric and drink their rich smooth coffee.

And of course I peruse their As-Is section. I rarely buy anything, but I’ve found the wiring for a globe lamp project, as well as wooden shelves to expand my pantry.

This visit? I found two sets of their Skubb storage boxes. (Seriously, could this word be any more disturbing? It’s skunk + stub + schlub!) I have two sets of these which have been a huge success in organizing our underwear/sock drawers. One set I received as a gift from my sister, the other was from their As-Is department. My Ikea sells these for $9.99 per set, but these floor models were priced at $5.00 apiece, so I snapped them up.

This is what I’m talking about:

I am somehow okay with buying scratch and dent stuff, as they usually come packaging free and their purchase does not trigger the manufacture of a new item.

Can you see why I was unable to resist the siren song of these drawer organizers? However many times we I refold my husband’s T-shirts, they always revert to this configuration:

Better, no? And the best part is that my husband took one look at his freshly organized drawer and spontaneously started talking about he needed to get rid of a few of his shirts.

And that, my dear readers is better than a fine recording of Bolero to my ears. 😉

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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You Know You’re a Non-Consumer When . . .

by Katy on October 28, 2012 · 125 comments

You know you’re a Non-Consumer when . . .

  • You fix yourself a snack that includes the last of three different boxes of cereal.
  • You get more excited about a free pile than the Nordstrom Half-Yearly sale.
  • You know your branch’s library hours by heart.
  • You think nothing of mending, even though your friends think it’s weird.
  • You take pride in your awesome leftover containers.
  • You get excited by pennies on the ground, and overly excited about quarters.
  • Your home is furnished with other people’s discards, and it looks awesome.
  • You gladly accept hand-me-downs from family, friends, co-workers, neighbors.
  • You throw on a sweater instead on turning up the heat.
  • You consider a canning jar to be the quintessential perfect object.
  • You take pride in how old your clothing is.
  • You home is peppered with clothing racks in the winter and you think your summer backyard clothesline looks cute.
  • You get super excited to learn new frugality tricks.
  • You think store bought wrapping paper is a waste of money.
  • You eat out infrequently enough that it’s a wonderful treat when you do.
  • You read Non-Consumer Advocate.

Okay, what did I miss?

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Overspend Here, Underspend There

by Katy on October 25, 2012 · 46 comments

As I sit here drinking my Red Rose tea and eating my bulk purchased oatmeal, I ponder at my surroundings and the last 24 hours. I am wearing thrifted pants and T-shirt, as well as a cozy long sleeve top given to me by a friend who was recently widowed and wanted me to look through her wife’s closet to see if there was anything I could use. (I took two shirts.) I’m wearing my wool lined $37.50 Keen boots from two years ago, yet I’m wearing no socks as my supply is low and I need to start darning.

I gassed up my mini-van yesterday to the tune of $73.78 and have already driven almost 60 miles to my sons’ cross-country track meet which was out of town. I pay extra for sustainably raised eggs and milk, yet I balk at the price of organic milk. I shell out the cash for private tutoring, yet I try to eke out one more year from my winter coat. The heat is off, although we’ve cranked it up a time or two when we’ve had guests.

My life is a mixture of over and underspending.

Are you noticing a pattern here? I overspend on big picture stuff, which is generally for others, especially my kids. Yet I underspend on myself. But there is zero negative consequence of underspending on myself. I have what I need.

I rarely, if ever overspend on stuff. You know, material objects, things, clutter. Crap.

And what I consider to be stuff, you might view as worth it. When I have a single pair of cute winter boots, I’m set. I don’t need a second pair. Same goes for coats, travel mugs and the like.

One and done. Kind of.

Life is not black or white, and to expect complete consistency would be unrealistic.

So next time you’re feeling bad about the inconsistencies in your life, remember that that you are not alone. No one is perfect, and we all choose where to put our energies.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Live Modestly and Dream Big

by Katy on October 24, 2012 · 12 comments

I read a lot of blogs, (okay, okay, I skim a lot of blogs) one of which is Retro Renovation, whose homage to older houses is a perfect fit for my new-isn’t-better mindset.

Yesterday’s blog post highlighted the home of novelist Bonnie Jo Campbell, whose midcentury kitchen would be considered outdated by some, but luckily not her. But it wasn’t her house that caught my attention, rather her attitude.

Here, read for yourself:

“I call it a swamp house, and my husband and I bought it in 1987 for $24,500. I always tell my students that if they are serious about writing that they should live in a very modest house and try to keep expenses low so that they don’t have to work themselves too hard to pay the mortgage. They think I’m kidding, but I’m not. It’s very hard to make time to write in any case, and so if there’s a way to spend less time earning a living, then follow that way…”

This is incredible succinct advice, and not just for writers! Live below your means and you can follow your passions.

I think I’m in love.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Giveaway — You Can Buy Happiness and it’s Cheap

by Katy on October 23, 2012 · 334 comments

Today is a lucky day, as you have the opportunity to win one of two copies of Tammy Strobel’s You Can Buy Happiness And it’s Cheap) How One Woman Radically Simplified Her Life and How You Can Too.

You may know Strobel from her blog, Rowdy Kittens, where she writes about downsizing, (or “smart sizing” as she terms it) minimalism, happiness, photography and her tiny house. She and I are friends in real life, although she recently moved away from Portland, so I guess we’ll have to start up on a false friendship. 😉

You Can Buy Happiness is Tammy’s personal story of how she went from a cluttered apartment and a mind numbing office job to living with very few possessions in her tiny house.

To enter to win this book, share in the comments section the last book that you read. Here, I’ll start. “The Man in The High Castle” by Philip K. Dick.

Please enter one time only, U.S. residents only. I will choose a winner Friday, October 26 at 9:00 P.M. PST.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Jewels on Loan and Some Thrifty Goodness

by Katy on October 22, 2012 · 13 comments

I just dropped my sister Jessica at the airport, and although her visit to Portland from New York was rather whirlwind, we jam packed it with hearty goodness. And you know whenever Wolk-Stanley sisters congregate, there will be nifty thrifty goodness.

Vintage maps from The pay-by-the-pound Goodwill outlet. (Maybe 25¢?)

A nice lined basket from a regular Goodwill thrift shop. $2.99

An American Girl Mia Bedroom Set from 2008. My cost was $7.99. Amazon is selling a new one for $399.00! (I’ll sell mine on Craigslist for $50 or so.)

Canning jars for 25¢ apiece.

And a loaner tiara for free. Because all the important celebrities get their jewelry loaned to them for red carpet events.

I love my sister and I love thrift stores. But combine the two and I am in heaven.

Can you tell? 😉

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Happy 70th Birthday, Grandma Susan!

by Katy on October 21, 2012 · 53 comments

Today is my mother’s, Susan Stanley’s 70th birthday. Let’s all wish her a happy birthday in the comments section!

And that tiara? It’s a loaner from a neighbor. Because I’m frugal like that.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

Click HERE to follow The Non-Consumer Advocate on Twitter.

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