Reader Question — How to Get a Reluctant Spouse on Board?

by Katy on December 13, 2011 · 28 comments

Reader, Jennifer posted this question on the Non-Consumer Advocate Facebook wall:

“I would love tips on how to get your spouse on board. Even when times are tough, my husband’s mind-set is to EARN MORE instead of SPEND LESS. <sigh> (He would rather take a second job than cut back our expenses.)”

This is a hard question, and there is certainly no simple answer. There in an inherent societal pressure on men to provide for their families, and to have to scrimp and save at home can easily be equated with failure as a financial provider.

My experience has been that a frugal lifestyle is more appealing when it’s presented as a means to an end, rather than a stand-alone goal:

“Yes, we are going without cable TV/an expensive vacation/gifts for one another, but look at the money we’ve put aside to pay off our mortgage/fund the kids’ college funds/erase all our student loans.

Right now, my family is putting every extra penny aside so that we can send the boys on their class trips to Japan without incurring any debt. (I also just found out that I was chosen to be one of three chaperones for the eighth grade trip, which is fantastic news, even though it means I suddenly need to come up with approximately $1500.) Altogether, it’s going to add up to around $7500. Needless to say, this is our main current financial goal.

Keep in mind, I would be totally fine with a frugal life without these goals, but for my husband Dale, the goals are key.

How about you, what advice do you have for Jennifer? What has and has not worked for your family? Please share your thoughts and 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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Non-Consumer Photo Essay — Decorating For The Holidays

by Katy on December 12, 2011 · 23 comments

We drove out yesterday to a Christmas tree farm that belongs to my husband's colleague. And the cost for our fresh noble fir? $20! (And that's not just a friends-and-family deal, it was the actual price!) It's a good thing I have such strapping boys, as our eight-foot tall Christmas tree was not easy to carry.

Decorating the tree is a job for the boys.

After years of using a vintage Christmas tablecloth as a tree skirt, I finally scored the real deal at an after-Xmas sale at the Seattle Goodwill. If memory serves correct, I paid around $1.17, as it was 75% off. I love how sweetly fuddy-duddy it is. There's just something about ball-fringe that melts my heart.

Of course, I had to try it on my sister's dog, Maggie.

At this point you may be saying to yourself, "But wait, aren't you Jewish?!" Yes, I am Jewish. However . . . we always had a tree when I was growing up, plus my husband is not Jewish. (Although frankly, I've been to church more times than he has!) I put together this Chanukah vignette in the entryway using Scrabble tiles. Yes, it's missing the "H" at the end, but my understanding is that there is no wrong way to spell Chanukah/Hannukah/Chanuka/Hah-nu-kah.

Not to be forgotten is a Scrabble-licious "Merry Xmas" on the mantle.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Non-Consumer Mish-Mash — Links from The Non-Consumer Advocate Facebook Group

by Katy on December 11, 2011 · 6 comments

Photo from MightyGirl.com

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

Looking for Green Gift Wrap Ideas?

The Non-Consumer Advocate Facebook group is a great source for story ideas, as members will often post links to interesting articles. And frankly, lazy ol’ me, (at this point you are free to picture me smoking a corncob pipe) loves clicking over and finding easy source material for the blog.

Lisa recently posted a link to an article titled Ten Simple Ideas for Gift Wrapping that went beyond the tired “Use the funny pages” tip. (Not to malign using your newspaper’s funny pages as wrapping paper, but it’s hardly even close to an ah-hah idea.) The beautifully photographed gifts may even inspire me to look beyond my raggedy-looking gift bags for this year’s holiday gifts.

Click HERE to read the article.

 

Looking for Crazy Cheap Craft Supplies? 

Reader Laura posted a link about foraging for craft supplies at the Goodwill Outlet. Because paying by the pound, as an awesome deal when yarn is in question. The article, which chronicles the author Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood’s first visit to her Goodwill Outlet is a great read, as she hadn’t realized the intense culture of the place:

“In addition to being a great way to keep supply costs low for recycled crafting, I find shopping the outlet is always an adventure, although definitely not for the faint of heart.”

Not for the faint of heart? That’s putting it mildly!

Click HERE to read the article.

 

Garage Sale Tips

Vanessa of Thrift Core linked to her own article, (yes, this is allowed and encouraged!) titled “My Top Five Yard Sale Tips.” This may seem unseasonable, but Vanessa lives in Florida, land of the year-round garage sale season. A reseller, Vanessa is a garage sale/flea market pro, so her tips are worth a look.

Click HERE to read the article.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their links, they are always appreciated!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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I Choose “The Wilder Life”

by Katy on December 9, 2011 · 12 comments

You already know about how I am embarrassingly in love with the Multnomah County Library’s Lucky Day program, so it will come as no surprise that my last few days have been brightened by the addition of Wendy McClure’s The Wilder Life: My Adventure in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie. Because that book, (which I had been pining after) magically showed up on the Lucky Day shelf.

I have been in love with the books of Laura Ingalls Wilder since childhood. (The books, not the TV show!)

And when Lucky Day meets funny, yet scholarly memoir about obsessively researching Laura Ingalls Wilder?

Just slap a calico sunbonnet on me, cause I am in pioneer-girl heaven!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Boo Hiss Award — Amazon.com

by Katy on December 8, 2011 · 66 comments

 

Amazon.com. Cheaper than your local bookstore, easier than getting off the couch and yes, a killer of small businesses across our great nation. And now . . . Amazon.com wants you to go into a brick and mortar store, scan the barcode of the item you want to buy, and then walk empty handed out of that store. And to reward you for price checking their competition, Amazon will pay you $5 if you purchase that item through them within 24 hours.

So, let me get this straight . . . Amazon wants us to walk into a shop which employs our friends, families and neighbors, scan their merchandise and then walk out empty handed and then buy from an online store that’s putting them out of business?!

Sure, this special promotion can be utilized at big box stores as well, but at least they’re employing local people.

Amazon.com, you have been awarded a big fat Boo-Hiss Award.

Because you suck. Big time.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

This blog post contains no affiliate links. Because, you know, Amazon.com sucks!

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Today I am . . .

by Katy on December 7, 2011 · 29 comments

This $25 Pottery Barn rug is grubby, but without any significant stains or odors.

Waiting for my Ibuprofen to kick in. If I had to do it over again, I would not have fallen down my porch steps four years ago and broken my tailbone.

Itching to start vacuuming and shampooing the Pottery Barn Kids rug that I bought at the Goodwill Outlet yesterday for $25. I will list it on Craigslist for $200, as they sell for $599 on sale!

Enjoying my favorite fleece hat, as I washed it yesterday and it’s finally dry. It was all stretched out from constant wear, not to mention grubby. It is hands down the softest garment ever created.

Pleased with all the great stuff I picked up at the Goodwill Outlet yesterday, which includes:

  • The 8′ X 10′ Pottery Barn rug
  • A very nice cheese slicer, which unlike the one we currently use can actually go into the dishwasher.
  • A creepily realistic Folkmanis puppet of a rat that I will take to the kids’ consignment shop.
  • A Salton brand yogurt maker.
  • A soft-as-a-bunny pink J. Jill knit hat that reminds me of the pink kimono-style sweaters that ballet dancers wear. I always wanted one when I was in high school, (I went to a performing arts school) but this style of sweater only looks good on flat-chested girls.
  • A plug-in timer that I have already started using for the lamp in my entryway. (Our bedrooms are upstairs, yet our one bathroom in downstairs, so I keep this lamp on all night long.) Now I can set it to automatically shut off when it gets light and visa versa.
  • A tiny pair of Hanna Andersson brand cheeta-print footless tights, which I will also take to the kids’ consignment shop.

By the way, the grand total for everything was $32. I had hoped to find some Xmas presents, but finding a money making opportunity is even better, as I can then take that money and spend it I on the things I’m actually looking for, rather than the things I just happened to have come across.

Hoping that someone will want my huge chunks of styrofoam that I put on Freecycle. These came with the microwave we bought new last year, (another benefit of buying used!) and from a printer. There does not seem to a local recycler who wants them, and they would overfill our shared garbage service. It seems a long shot, but you just never know.

Going to tidy up the front porch, which is cluttered with soccer gear, sports stuff and some miscellaneous crap. My husband just pointed out that it looks like “a hoarder house.” And that, my friend are actionable words.

Not going to forget that my friend Dusti from Undefinable You is coming over tomorrow.

How about you, what are you doing today?

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Two Pairs of Pants?!

by Katy on December 6, 2011 · 22 comments

Somehow, my 16-year-old son got himself in the position where he was down to a single pair of pants that he was willing to wear. Sure, he had a few pairs in the closet that probably fit, but they weren’t to his liking. (What, you think you’re too good for vintage Sears Tuffskins?!) As can be imagined, this led to much morning drama, such as “Where are my pants?” and “Mom, why didn’t you wash my pair of pants?” I had given my son a $50 gift card to Buffalo Exchange, (a hipster clothing consignment shop) for his birthday,  but somehow he only bought a single pair of pants, which meant that his other pair immediately developed unmendable tears.

So yesterday, I picked my son son up from school and dropped him off at Buffalo Exchange with instructions to “buy some pants!” And miracle of all miracles, he did.

Now, my son has two, count ’em two pairs of pants — a pair of Levi’s black skinny jeans and a pair of corduroys.

So of course I have to tease him now about how he’s a “Spoiled American pig” and say stuff like “Ohhh . . . two pair of pants, eh? What do you think you are, some kind of crazy wealthy teenager?”

I just love being a parent.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Keeping An Eye Out

by Katy on December 5, 2011 · 37 comments

See this vintage aluminum pan? It's perfect for lasagnas, enchiladas, etc. No aluminum foil necessary! Why can't I find one?!

More than any other time of year, I shop in December. Yes, I try to buy my holiday gifts ahead of time, but a plethora of before-Christmas birthdays in my family kind of deplete my gift stash. Of course, I’m not parking myself down at the mall, as thrift shops are my not-so-guilty pleasure.

But my favorite part of the bonus shopping is that I put myself in the position of finding some of the items that I routinely keep an eye out for. Because I know from past experience that if I’m patient enough, I can find used versions of everything I want and need.

Right now I am keeping an eye out for:

  • A super cheap lamp that I can cannibalize for parts in order to rewire the mid-century lamp that I bought last week.
  • An individual one-cup measure. I keep mine in my flour bin, and simply need an extra one.
  • A vintage aluminum casserole dish with a reusable sliding lid. I am sick and tired of reusing foil, which never works all that well. I know these exist, but have never come across one in a thrift shop before.
Of course there’s other stuff I keep an eye out for, but for the most part I pretty much have everything I want and need in hand. I may have time to pop into the Goodwill Outlet today, but it all depends on how messy my mother’s tenants left their guest cottage. Wish me luck!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Can I Talk You Into Trying The Compact?

by Katy on December 3, 2011 · 45 comments

December is upon us, which means holiday shopping, holiday decorating and holiday cooking.

Or . . . it means working on your new year’s resolution. Because if you wait until December 31st to figure out your 2012 goals, it might end up being nothing less than a depressingly self-serving to-do list:

  • Lose weight

  • Learn French

  • Exercise more

  • Stop watching The Kardashians

But I have a new year’s resolution for you to ponder:

Buy nothing new for a year. It’s called The Compact, and it’s a world-wide movement where people make a one year commitment to stop buying new stuff. There are no official rules, and everyone puts their own twists and exceptions in their compact. (For example, I allow purchases of new underwear and socks.) Because I have been  participating in The Compact since 2007, my rules have relaxed and I do buy a few new things every now and then, but for the most part it’s a rarity.

Everyone brings their own personal motivation to the project, and for some the choice to avoid new stuff is purely environmental, while for others it’s a financial decision. Doesn’t matter, as it’s your decision, and the result is the same. Over manufacturing of unnecessary and overly packaged stuff is a huge global issue, and The Compact is a great way to take a personal stand.

So, what do you say . . . can I talk you into trying The Compact?

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

P.S. Please stop watching The Kardashians. I beg of you!

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Goodwill Success, Minimalism Fail

by Katy on December 1, 2011 · 52 comments

Portland, Oregon is the proud home to a huge Goodwill Outlet, which is a warehouse sized store that sells Stuff/crap/treasures/oddities/weird slimy stuff by the pound. (Furniture and a few other items are priced individually.) The Bins, as they are affectionately called is a bargain hunter’s dream, because at $1.59 per pound, (39¢ per pound for glass items) there are some criminally great deals to be scored.

However, it is also intensively cutthroat as dealers are not beyond pushing you aside; and sanitary, it ain’t. In other words,  it’s not for the faint of heart.

But I was feeling courageous yesterday, and convinced my mother that before we cleaned her rental cottage, we should pop on over. (Not a hard sell, as my mother love, love loves the bins!)

Here’s what I bought:

Two wrought iron outdoor chairs that will nicely complement the two I already own. The cushions are faded, but I plan on dyeing them back to life. Five bucks apiece.

Because my neighbors and I share garbage service, we were only given a single official "Portland Composts" bucket. Although I already compost at home, the curbside composting program accepts all types of rotten food, as well as animal bones and food soiled paper. The bucket was brand new.

Eight canning jars. I did so much canning this year, and ended up running out of empty jars. They set me back 39¢ per pound.

 

An issue of "American Bungalow,"magazine which normally costs $8.99. For me, it was 25¢. And as an added bonus, the magazine featured a long piece about a house in my father's neighborhood that is the mirror of the house I grew up in. Very cool.

My 16-year-old son has recently usurped his father's beloved ski hat. As his hat has been with my 46-year-old husband since high school, he's been worried that it'll get lost. This hat is an almost exact replica, and will roll up nicely into a Christmas stocking. The Iron Giant was my younger son's favorite movie for a very long time. However, there was hardly any merchandising, so this small action figure was a lucky find.

This midcentury lamp will be a "project lamp" for me. I'm thinking about spray painting it something wild like metallic apple green or something similar. Of course I'll rewire it using parts from some future scored-for-free ugly new lamp with perfectly good electrical components.

 

The soft, muted color of these Pottery Barn quilted velvet pillow shams are the perfect addition to my spare bedroom. Without any stains or extraneous stank, all it took was a quick run through the washer and dryer to put them into their rightful place.

Can you see how the texture of the quilted velvet on these pillow shams is to die for?

So, at this point, you may be wondering how much money I dropped on all these fantastic items. I won’t leave you in suspense any longer, as the grand total for everything, (including two drinking glasses that my mother bought) was:

$20.59

I think I may have to schedule another trip for next week. After all, it will give me something to look forward to.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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