The Non-Consumer Advocate

A Hodge-Podge of Knick-Knacks: What to Do With Unwanted Gifts?

by Katy on August 5, 2012 · 52 comments

Gift giving is a minefield.

You want to spend about the same amount as the person with whom you’re exchanging gifts, (or at least appear to spend the same amount.) You also want to spend the same amount as you did last year, but not more lest you escalate those vengeful gift giving gods.

Yup, a minefield. And what do you have when it’s all over?

A bunch of new stuff that you neither chose nor would have chosen.

Okay, okay, sometimes the gifts you receive are absolutely wonderful, the stuff of dreams. Luxury items you could not have afforded yourself, a gift card to your favorite store or theater tickets and a massage gift certificate. But what about the resin figurines, the awful DIY projects and for the love of all that is holy, what to do with all. The. Sweaters?!

Is it wrong to get rid of the gifts that others have kindly chosen for you? Because, let’s face it, it is very nice of people to buy things for us.

I know people who feel like they are required to keep a gift until the day they die, and their houses reflect this point of view. A hodge-podge of knick-knacks that do not enhance the recipient’s life.

When I receive a gift, I will often try to find a better owner. You know, a medium-sized person for that medium-sized sweater. I have worked very hard to declutter my house, (mind you, it’s far from a completed project) and I like to think that I’ve become more deliberate about what comes to live here. Not everyone is excited about this turn of events. (My older sister has told me she’s not buying me any more presents, although she has yet to make good on this threat.)

Although I have no solution for this matter, I do suggest that you choose your gifts carefully. And veer towards experiential gifts or consumables whenever possible. (I know I would love to receive a couple of movie tickets and a box of Junior Mints!) And there’s enough time between now and the holiday season to start that uncomfortable conversation about gift limitations with your loved ones.

And please, do not feel like to need to keep something just because it was a gift. And if that pisses off your friends and family, you have my permission to blame it on me, The Non-Consumer Advocate. I’m okay with being the bad guy.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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The Compact is Not About Buying Tons of Used Stuff

by Katy on August 2, 2012 · 45 comments

I’ve written and talked a lot about The buy-nothing-new Compact over the past five years, and people always want to know about what I do and don’t buy used. (For the record, I don’t buy used underwear, socks, personal care items and harmonicas. Yes, harmonicas, think about it. 😉 )

Yet I often feel like people kind of miss the point of The Compact, which is to drastically decrease your consumerism. The Compact is not about buying a bunch of used stuff.

The Compact is about putting a stop to never ending and mindless consumerism.

Borrowing instead of buying.
Keeping others from unnecessary purchases by lending out your stuff.
Deciding that what you already own might just do the trick.
Fixing and repairing instead of replacing.
Abstaining from replacements that are based on trend style instead of function. (Stainless steel appliances, I’m looking at you!)
Being content with owning less.
Defining yourself by who you are instead of what you own.
And yes, The Compact is also about buying used stuff. Just not too much.

Clear as mud? Good.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Non-Consumer Tidbits

by Katy on August 1, 2012 · 18 comments

Today . . .

• I was tasked with the chore of buying paper plates and disposable cutlery for a school picnic. My older son was helping to unpack the groceries and loudly exclaimed:

“Paper plates?! But you hate paper plates!”

Man, I love that kid!

• I visited with my friend Sarah when she came by to borrow a couple of roll-aboard suitcases for a family trip to Mexico. She and I always borrow luggage from each other, and it’s never been an issue that we vacation at the same time. What I love is that neither of us has to spend the money to own a large amount of luggage, and neither of us has to store large amounts of luggage.

Plus we get to hang out whenever we need luggage!

• I picked up a Japanese exchange middle school student who will stay with us for the week. I paid to park in the airport short term parking, but made a beeline for for the automatic payment machine on my way out of the garage rather than wait to pay at the kiosk as I drove out. And it totally paid off as I clocked out at 59 minutes! Had I clocked out at over an hour it would have cost an extra $3.

I know it outs me as a frugality geek, but I live for this stuff!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Amy Dacyczyn and Me

by Katy on July 31, 2012 · 47 comments

I started my journey of extreme frugality back in 1998 when I was on maternity leave with my younger son. I had gotten used to a couple years of great paychecks, (especially when compared to the nursing school years without paychecks) and had loosened my wallet as a result. My husband and I ordered takeout at least a couple times per week and I found great satisfaction in scooping up all the Baby Gap bargains from the mall.

But buying a fixer-upper house brought me back to a reality that did not include any extra nickels to well . . . rub together.

Luckily, I discovered Amy Dacyczn and her Tightwad Gazette. (Like Josie and The Pussycats, but better!) At the time, the books were in three separate volumes and I read them over and over again. For content, for ideas and for inspiration. She presented frugality as a fun and creative endeavor. I wanted in.

I was done spending too much money.

I started cutting my kids’ hair, hitting Value Village on 99¢ days and cooking from scratch. I gave handmade gifts, hung laundry on the clothesline and bored my friends with my never ending talk about frugality.

I hooked my sister Jessica, and it was common for us to base our decisions based on “What would Amy do?”

Fast forward 14 years, and I no longer have that recent convert zeal, but I do still love her with all my heart.

Amy and me.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Front Porch Makeover — A Before and After

by Katy on July 30, 2012 · 63 comments

Although my front porch has always looked good from the front of the house, until recently it hid a a dirty little secret. The unseen left side was a dumping ground for gardening supplies, sports equipment and Stuff that other people needed to pick up.

It looked like crap.

But I recently came across an outdoor loveseat and chair for $25 and $20 at Goodwill. I bought the loveseat, but left the chair behind as I felt it was overpriced. But I changed my mind and went back the next day and scooped it up for a discounted $15.

Not crazy cheap, but also much less than buying new.

It was makeover time.

But first I had to clear the crap that was defining this space. The red jacket went to Goodwill, (I had asked the owner to pick it up last November, and have reminded him twice since then) skateboards went into the garage, plastic flowerpots got recycled and that red and white tote went to the curb and disappeared within a few hours.

With the porch thus decluttered, it was time to set up the new furniture. I styled the space using a few plants from another area, added some free pillows, neatly stashed the sports equipment underneath the furniture and even added a thrift store painting.

See, better:

Here’s a view from the side, where you can see how cute the plants look on my ~~crap-ass~~ shabby chic table, underneath the thrifted landscape.

This space has already become my go-to morning writing area, as I find it easier to focus when I’m not surrounded by my thousand-tasks-that-beg-for-my-attention home interior.

And for $40, I now have a lovely new space. And I am no longer greeted by chaos every time I enter my home.

Better.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Five Things That Make Me Happy and One Thing That’s Pissing Me Off

by Katy on July 29, 2012 · 22 comments

Five things that make me happy:

Having my son home from Japan. I am sad that his month-long adventure is over, but I just love having his energy back in the house again.
Rearranging furniture. I spent half an hour decluttering and rearranging the furniture on the front porch last night. The seating area is now so nice and inviting. I just love getting a fresh new look without spending a dime.
My step-father is downsizing his law office, and my mother has been crazy busy finding new homes for all his old office furniture and supplies. Most notable rehoming? A couch and chair that she sold to the TV show Grimm. They will used in the office of a new bad guy character. So cool!
My last two library audiobooks have been overwhelmingly fantastic. Girl in Translation, by Jean Kwok and Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell. I highly recommend both books.
All the attention that my first Huffington Post blog piece is attracting. I don’t want to count my chickens before they’re hatched, but it looks like I’m going to film a piece for a national morning talk show.

One thing that’s pissing me off:

I have noticed that I’m watching entirely too much TV lately. There is no way this is good for me, (unless of course I get to spy my step-father’s old law office furniture.)

Now you. What’s making you happy and pissed off lately?

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Enter to Win 400 Meals Donated to Your Local Food Bank!

by Katy on July 27, 2012 · 233 comments

Update: This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to Mary, whose Buffalo area food bank will be receiving 400 donated meals!

Food insecurity is a big issue in the United States, especially in summer when students don’t receive school lunches. In Oregon, 20% of our population is currently receiving SNAP (food stamp) benefits, penciling out to 814,460 people last month, a new record. And it’s not just Oregon, as 1 in 5 American children are food insecure.

However, in the midst of these dismal statistics are people and organizations trying to bridge the gap. And one of the those companies is Juicy Juice who has partnered with Feeding America with a Fruit for All Project.

Their goal? To get 35 million pieces of fruit into the hands of America’s children by the end of the summer. (They’re over 21 million so far!)

To spread the word about this program, Juicy Juice will be giving 400 meals to the closest food bank of one lucky Non-Consumer Advocate reader. (They will also be donating 400 meals to The Oregon Food Bank!)

To enter to win food for your local food bank, write your favorite kind of fruit in the comments section below. I will randomly choose a winner Saturday, August 11th at 5 P.M. Pacific Standard Time. Please enter one time, U.S. residents only.

And by the way, my favorite kind of fruit is blueberries.

Click HERE to learn more about Juicy Juice’s Fruit for All Program.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Non-Consumer Mish-Mash — Huffington Post and Limits to Cheapness

by Katy on July 26, 2012 · 33 comments

It’s time again for Non-Consumer Mish-Mash, where I write a little bit about this and a little bit about that.

Can’t Get Enough of “The Huff” (ington Post)

Yesterday was a big day for The Non-Consumer Advocate. And no, I’m not referring to myself in the third person, I mean this here blog-a-mabob. Why? Because I just published my first piece as a regular blogger for The Huffington Post.

I wrote of course, about my buy-nothing-new Compact.

Needless to say, my blog got a lot of traffic yesterday. Today too, actually. And interesting offers are starting to trickle in. Photograph myself for seven days wearing only thrift store clothing for a fancy-looking British website? Sure, why not! (This will be a huge disappointment for them, as half the time I dress like I’m about to start a Jackson Pollock painting project.)

This is going to be fun.

It Turns Out I Have a Limit to My Cheapness

Even though my family hardly ever buys soda, we somehow still amass a fair number of returnable bottles and cans. That, plus the slow but steady accumulation of microbrew bottles means that I have perform the get-my-nickels–back routine every three months or so.

We always rinse out our bottles and cans so our back porch doesn’t smell like the morning after St. Patrick’s Day at Gamma-Delta-Whatever.

Isn’t this what normal non-frat boys do?

So there I was happily feeding my nice clean bottles and cans into the machines at New Season’s Market last week when another woman came up to perform the same task. Unfortunately, her machine needed some maintenance, which took an extra two minutes for an employee to sort out. However, this was apparently two minutes too many, so she lifted her sloshy, stinky bag of old beer bottles and cans and set them into my cart.

“Here, you can have these. There’s probably like a dollar’s worth in there.”

“Oh.”

“You want them, right?”

At this point I’m thinking “Hell, no!” But what I said was “Okay . . . thanks.” You know, because I’m polite.

I actually considered sticking my hand into this unfortunately clear bag of beer stank in order to earn a dollar. But instead, I set the bag onto the ground, and watched the woman drive away in her red convertible Saab.

I think I found the limit to my cheapness.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Repeat After Me — Crap out of the House, Money In

by Katy on July 25, 2012 · 7 comments

The following is a repeat of a previously published post. Enjoy!

I have been slowly, but steadily working to declutter my house, and as always, if I can combine an activity with income revenue, all the better.

I had sold a few big tickets on Craigslist (snowboard equipment, dress ups and a twin bed) over the past few weeks, which brought in $240. I’d also taken two laundry baskets full of kid books to Powell’s bookstore, which earned $10 for each of my sons. (They bought about a third of them.)

So today, I drank an extra shot of liquid courage, (Red Rose tea) and attacked the boys’ closets. My 14-year-old son has a huge closet in his room, which means that it doesn’t need to be gleaned all that often. This also means it can fill up with clothes he would not wear in a million years, which makes it hard for him to find the clothes he actually likes.

I pulled everything out from the closet and laid it across the bed. This included all the empty toddler size hangers as well as the hand me downs my son would rather die than be caught wearing, (Land’s End wide wale courduroy elastic waisted pants with extra fabric across the knees.) I decided which color hanger we had the most of (dark green) and set aside all the rest. I then ruthlessly culled the clothes that, while perfectly good, and often in like-new condition, would never get worn. This was at least 75% of the content of his closet.

I chatted with my Seattle sister while decluttering, and she begged and pleaded with me to set all the pants aside, (her ten-year-old son is not picky about clothes) but my goal here was to get this stuff out of the house. Out. Out! Not set aside — Out!

I then pulled all the clothes from my 11-year-old son’s closet and went through the same routine, (he got the blue hangers!)

I organized the clothes into bins for the consignment shop and Goodwill and even grabbed a few extra items like child size Harry Potter sleeping bags, the toddler size hangers, some toys from cleaning out my younger son’s room and the laundry basket of kid books that Powell’s had rejected.

I am excited (and frankly, surprised) to announce that the children’s consignment shop took almost all the clothes, all the hangers, about half of the books as well as the sleeping bags! I won’t realize any profit until the stuff sells, but I’m in no hurry.

And really, I have met my goal of Crap out of the house, money in!

And not to toot my own horn, but I batched a few errands since I was driving across town, and bought tons of yummy food at the Grocery Outlet, (including beautifully packaged salmon and organic chai chocolate bars for the Japanese host families) and hormone free milk at Trader Joe’s. I hung two loads of laundry to dry, and will be taking my older son to pick up his glasses, which are finally ready.

I will sleep well tonight.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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