Happy Wednesday

by Katy on June 13, 2012 · 4 comments

Today is the last day of school for Portland students, which means it’s the last day of middle school for my youngest and the last day of 10th grade for my oldest.

Instead of blogging, (which takes an hour or two) I am going to spend my time planning a celebratory dinner and enjoying my last day of a quiet house.

Have a great Wednesday, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Free This, Free That, Free Everything

by Katy on June 12, 2012 · 21 comments

Although it may seem like all my days are frugal days, I’m actually just as prone as anyone else to occasionally buy my work lunch or to succumb to groceries that would never have made the list. However, yesterday was frugal from start to finish, in a way that’s actually kind of funny.

Here’s how my day went:

  • Breakfast was instant oatmeal from The Grocery Outlet. Cheap breakfast.
  • I puttered around the house for awhile while listening to a library audiobook. Free entertainment.
  • My mother drove over to my house, and brought me a tub of raw chocolate chip cookie dough. Free cookie dough.
  • We decided we wanted to go to the main Goodwill, (I know, shocker!) and to eat lunch at one of the many nearby restaurants. My mother was treating, but my meal ended up being free because my catfish was served very undercooked, and then tough as nails after they cooked it some more. Yuck. Free lunch.
  • We then browsed Goodwill for awhile. All I bought was a lovely $3 vintage frame. I paid for it using a store credit, as I had returned something a few weeks ago. My mother had actually been the one to buy the original item, so the frame ended up being free. Free frame.
  • Dinner was burritos, with tortillas made from scratch. I already had leftover refried beans as well as ground beef, salsa, sour cream and lettuce. So all I needed was a tomato. I walked to New Seasons, where I ran into my next door neighbor. I was self disciplined, choosing only a single small tomato. However, this meant my bill only added up to 30¢. I felt bad using my debit card for such a paltry sum, so my neighbor paid for my tomato. Free tomato.
  • I’ve been meaning to deal with a low hanging branch or two that have been bothering the pedestrians in front of my house, so I borrowed my other next door neighbor’s loppers to address the issue. (They current have our post hole digger, so it’s all equal.) Free use of loppers.
  • I finally found a Craigslist buyer for my $12.99 oriental rug. I sold it for $100. Free $87.01.
  • My younger son had soccer practice from 6:30 – 8:00 in the evening. Instead of driving there-and-back twice, instead I hung out at my father’s house, which is pretty close to the soccer field. I was served a glass of ice tea, and was given a large bag of organic salad greens and garlic chives from my farmer sister. I saved gas and got to spend some quality time with my family. Free beverage and vegetables.
  • This week is finals week for my 10th grader, and I told him that if he did his studies in a timely manner, I would fix him a treat. So I baked up a batch of nice warm chocolate chip cookies. Free treat.

Nothing that I did yesterday was designed to get something for nothing. But my non-consumer lifestyle puts me in these situations on a daily basis. There will be days When I’m the lender instead of the lender, so I’m not worried that I’m becoming a inexcusable mooch.

I’m simply a non-consumer.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Craptasic Gardening with Katy

by Katy on June 11, 2012 · 37 comments

Portland, Oregon has already exceeded the average annual rainfall for the current year. As in, it could not rain a single drop between now and October 1st, (when the weather year restarts) and we would still be above average.

A dubious honor.

This means that there have been very few sunny days that have inspired me to go outside and put my garden in order. It also means that my yard looks, well . . . rather craptastic. My friend Sasha was kind and called it “cottage-y.” But let’s face it, it’s starting to make us look like a family of creepy old men. Luckily, there is no neighborhood association breathing down our necks, so the problem is aesthetic rather than pricey. (Would hate to get fined for my garden!)

Think I’m exaggerating? Take a look:

My one sunny "plot" is filled with weeds and volunteer Valerian as well as a broken down wheelbarrow, which is filled with wintered over beets.

 

My side yard has been taken over by over-reaching raspberries, as well as more volunteer Valerian plants.

 

This area is supposedly where I'll be planting my tomatoes, but is so full of too-thick day-lilies and euphorbia to be available.

 

My front yard needs a serious thinning out. The Japanese Iris have mounted an all-out offensive that keeps any other plants from even thinking about thriving.

 

The sod we planted in April was not able to handle the combination of record rainfall and complete lack of sunlight and has been failing to thrive. However, the extreme pruning of the maple tree along with a reseed and fertilizing seems to be reviving it. However, on a positive note, my hydrangeas have a ton of new growth and are better than ever!

 

The dark wet weather has rewarded us with a bumper crop of moss, which covers the brick patio, as well as the retaining wall. My next-door-neighbors just bought a power sprayer, which we'll use on the wall, but it'll take manual scraping to remove the brick moss. (The bricks are set in sand, so I can't power wash it.) However, do you like my outdoor loveseat? I bought it for $25 at Goodwill!

My plan is to pot up all the volunteer plants, as well as those that need thinning and set them out to sell. I might as well make a buck or two for my efforts. Plus, I’ll need some money to purchase the almost mature tomatoes that I’ll need to be buying this late in the season.

Has nasty weather kept you from getting your garden going this year? Please share how your garden is growing in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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The Frugal Oxymoron

by Katy on June 9, 2012 · 25 comments

You all know that I groove on preparing cheap and easy meals for my family. I guess you could say I’m on Team Lentil Soup. (It’s like Team Edward, but gassier better.) But sometimes, I revel in a pricey meal that defies my supposed frugality. Just yesterday I picked up a $20 package of chuck roast for my family, which could hardly be categorized as frugal.

$20 package of meat = not frugal. Right?

However, I was comparing this meal to a restaurant meal, not a bowl of lentil soup. And my family has taken to The Pioneer Woman’s Perfect Pot Roast as our special occasion food faster than Speedy Gonzalez on meth. So pot roast we did eat, and then tonight I prepared french dip sandwiches on homemade rolls, having saved some of the broth from last night. I melted provolone cheese on top and sautéed onions, which may have been a bit of overkill, but damn was it delicious!

So . . .  That $20 package of meat ended up making eight individual meals over a two night period. Two fancy meals, meals that balance out the lentil soup nights. It may seem like an oxymoron, but preparing semi-regular expensive meals at home keeps us from feeling the need to dine out and spend beyond our budget.

Spending money ends up saving us money.

As clear as mud, right? 😉

Do you find yourself preparing restaurant worthy meals to save yourself the expense of eating in restaurants? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Bettering The Bedding

by Katy on June 9, 2012 · 62 comments

I am in the enviable position of having a $100 J.C. Penny gift card that’s majorly burning a hole in my pocket. Yes, me. The woman who “Buys Nothing New.”

Okay, let me start at the beginning. I shared a link on my personal Facebook page a few weeks back about how the retailer J.C. Penney is currently running a Father’s Day ad that features a real life gay couple and their kids. I had written that “Maybe I should make an exception to my ‘Buy Nothing New’ rule.” And next thing you know, my aunt and uncle in Nebraska had sent me a $100 J.C. Penney gift card. 

Simply for having shared a link on Facebook that they respected.

Gulp, thanks!

So what does the woman who buys nothing new do with a $100 gift card? First of all, I don’t think that I’ve stepped foot into a J.C. Penney since I was a kid, mostly because there isn’t one within the Portland city limits. However, there seems to be one at Clackamas Town Center Mall, which isn’t too far from Portland.

I’ve been keeping an eye out for a new comforter for our bedroom for a looong time. The one we have is a down comforter with duvet cover, and frankly I’m sick and tired of the whole lots of blanket over there, hardly any blanket over here thing. I also want this single unit comforter to have a contemporary design. Of course, my first choice is always to hit the Goodwills, but that just doesn’t seem to be happening. A quick look through the J.C. Penney website shows me that I can easily fulfill this wish. (And most likely have money leftover.) However, bedding and I are on a need to touch basis, so the purchase needs to be made in person.

However, I hate going to the mall with a passion that burns brighter than a room full of Harvard scholarship students. (Get it? Because they’re bright!) So I wanted to bring a friend who I could bounce design ideas off of. Unfortunately, my friends either hate going to mall as much as I do, or are internet friends whose 3000 mile proximity make this endeavor not too workable.

Sasha was sick, Chelsea was on her way to a hot springs weekend retreat, my mother was working on her graduate studies, Lise thought I was joking and my sister selfishly moved to NYC.

Dammit!

Luckily, there is no actual hurry with this errand, so I think I’m going to wait out my friend Sasha’s viral invasion. And don’t worry, I’ll make sure to bring my camera. Because The Non-Consumer Advocate shopping at the mall needs to be documented.

Do you have an aversion to mall shopping, or is it your secret pleasure? Please share your thoughts in the comments action below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Badass or Cranky? You Make The Call!

by Katy on June 8, 2012 · 5 comments

I had an almost completed blog post written this morning, but then my blog crashed. When I tried to save it, it simply went away. Rather than start from scratch, (those posts always come across as stale) I am giving up and getting on with my day. Instead, I will post tomorrow. (I usually take a break on Saturdays.)

As a consolation, I give you an outtake from my Japan trip, in which I am trying to look like a badass warrior, and instead come across as unpleasant and cranky:

See you tomorrow!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Getting Older is a Privilege!

by Katy on June 7, 2012 · 46 comments

The business of aging in America is beyond ridiculous. Botox, fillers, and Spanx are considered the norm, and letting your hair go grey? Fuggedaboutit! And in case you thought these extreme age-defying measures were only for the Real Housewives of Metropolis, a number of women I work with right here in Portland, Oregon go regularly for their Botox injections. And the worst part is that they’re all younger than I am. Women in their early forties, thirties and even their twenties.

Ack!

I always considered getting older to be an accomplishment and a privilege. Because it means that I didn’t die at an early age.

Selling anti-aging products is a multi-bajillion dollar industry, (It’s true, I have the stats to back that up) yet there’s actually nothing wrong with looking older. Life generally gets better as you age. You become more comfortable with yourself and no longer have to devote mental energy towards teenage trivialities. Sure, you’re still tempted by that cute pair of shoes, but you’re now smart enough to know that multiple pairs of expensive shoes will not better your life.

Right, right?

So just say no to Botox, fillers and feeling bad about no longer being 21-years-old.

Getting older is a privilege!

17 years old and full of life! (That's me on the far left!)

44 years old and still full of life.

Agedly yours,

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Non-Consumer Photo Essay — Japan Edition

by Katy on June 6, 2012 · 40 comments

Although I’ve been back from Japan for almost a month, I hadn’t really shared photos yet, so here goes!

My trip to Japan was as a chaperone for my son’s eighth grade “Research Residency” class trip. The students had to survey 50 Japanese people, as well as conduct a number of videotaped in-depth interviews. Keep in mind, this was all in Japanese, and it was in addition to daily school assignments.

The first leg of our trip was to Hiroshima. We were honored to attend a talk from atomic bomb survivor Kejiro Matsushima, whose teenage life was forever changed on August 6, 1945. His harrowing, yet uplifting speech was unbearably moving. Sitting in his classroom, he clearly remembers The Enola Gay flying over the city. His words to describe the plane were “It looked like ice candy to this hungry boy. Who knew they were messengers from hell.”

I had really looked forward to trying all the local cuisine. Some foods were utterly heavenly. Others, less so. Japanese people seem to really like hot dogs, which appear to be served as breakfast food. I snapped this picture in a bakery case. Umm . . . no thank you.

 

And the most bizarre food I encountered was hot dog sushi. Apparently a favorite of Kyoko, my host family sister. Again, no thank you.

 

I did politely eat everything that was put in front of me, with an “Arigato gozaimasu” and a “Gochisosama deshita.”

 

Clotheslines were everywhere!

When everyone has a clothesline, it makes sense to have fun with it. And while I’m no fan of plastic, these rainbow-hued clothespins tickled my fancy.

One element of Japanese culture that surprised me was how utterly entertaining their advertising is. Bright and fun, I enjoyed the ever present commercials on my host family’s television. I have no idea what this commercial was for, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

This commercial speaks for itself.

 

It was hard being functionally illiterate. I wanted to independently wash my own clothing, but could not even begin to figure out what buttons to push.

Thank goodness the bathroom signs at the zoo were . . .

self explanatory!

 

I liked these mesh soap holders from a middle school that we visited. I love the simplicity of design that uses up every last sliver from a bar of soap. Also, bar soap uses so much less packaging than liquid soap, as well as being less costly to ship. I could *totally* make one of these from some spare wire and mesh.

 

This poster on appropriate school dress was up at the middle school. I find it interesting that the “What Not to Wear” boy is wrinkled and dirty, while the girl is simply slutty. There is a world of gender-role discussion here.

 

A large portion of the trip was spent at a “Nature House” outside of the small town of Santo. It was located at the top of a mountain, and the town was at the bottom. We rode bikes for transportation. The completely downhill portion was glorious, and the uphill part kicked my middle-aged tuchus. However, the scenery made it worth every minute! See the reusable water bottle in the basket? This last minute inclusion to my packing list was one of the best decisions ever!

 

Although Hemeiji Castle was under wraps for an extensive refurbishing, I couldn’t resist posing for a picture with this little cutie. Much better souvenir to pose with him than to buy any one of the million souvenirs in the gift shop.

It goes without saying that I had a fantastic time on my Japan trip. I got to see the eighth graders expertly navigate their way through a foreign country, yet still got a sizable amount of time to myself. I would love to visit again soon, but impending college costs plus my younger son’s high school trip will most likely bar any big expenses in the near future.

Sorry if the multitude of picture was overwhelming, but believe me I actually winnowed this post down!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Be Your Own Boss

by Katy on June 3, 2012 · 16 comments

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

I have a tendency to get caught up in the stressors of day-to-day life and can let myself get close to the edge. But the one idea that backs me up from the slippery precipice is the notion that I am my own boss. This is true with my blog, my family and my household duties. I don’t have to follow a strict set of rules, I can create my own routines, ethics and guidelines.

Some of the ideas that I’ve been rethinking lately:

  • I must blog on a daily basis.
  • I must serve dinner at 6:00. (If we’re hungry at 4:00 P.M., then we eat at 4:00 P.M.!)
  • I must do the dishes promptly after dinner.
  • I must go to bed and wake up early.
  • I must have washboard flat abdominal muscles.
  • I write about sustainability and simple living, therefor I must get rid of my cars and winnow my belongings down to 100 items.
  • I must live my life exactly like every else.

I am a 42-year-old woman who gets to make her own rules. I don’t live in an oppressive society and I celebrate the elastic waistband! Occasionally I choose Mad Men over a sink full of dishes and my life would be a million times more inconvenient if my cars went away.

I am my own boss, and I can live the life that feels right to me.

Go ahead and try it, it’s extremely liberating.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Summertime, and the Living is Frugal

by Katy on June 3, 2012 · 32 comments

I love summertime. I love being able to slip off the mantle of being a nagging mom.

“What do you have for homework? Do you have any tests to study for? How did you do on that quiz? Time to get up from school. Time to get for school! TIME TO GET UP FOR SCHOOL!”

Ahh . . .

Of course, all that wonderful free time can add up to a financial nightmare. Daycare for those who work, art camps, sports camps, computer camps, church camps, princess camps. (Okay, I made that one up, but I’m sure Disney has made sure there is such a thing.) And let’s not forget all the restaurant meals and takeout that result from being out and about all the time.

I somehow always forget how pricey the summer months can be. Although we are far from over-schedulers, there are always forgotten expenses that make me want to scream into a pillow.

My 14 and 16-year-old sons are at once both cheap to care for and staggeringly expensive. Neither of them expect to be handed money to go to first-run movies or the mall, but both of them are participating in research-based class trips to Japan this year. And despite fundraising and great support from the Japanese school organizations, the total cost for the three trips adds up to around $8000. (My older son will dip into his own savings from lifeguarding as spending money, which helps.)

$8000

So summer this year will be an exercise in creative frugality. My younger son is already involved in martial arts and club soccer, which will continue. But there will be no financial splurges, but that’s okay. There is a lot of free and almost free stuff to do in Portland. Bike rides, hikes, outdoor movies, plays and library events to name a few.

My husband has a week of approved vacation the week before school starts, and we’re going to have to be financially deliberate about any travel plans.

But I can handle the financial challenges of summer, as long as I get to sleep in. And sleep in I will.

Ahh . . .

How about you, does summertime throw your financial habits out of whack? Do you have any fantastic cheap tricks to share? Please share your tips in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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