Finicky Frugal Maneuverings

by Katy on August 4, 2011 · 27 comments

I have been a frugality geek since I was a kid, and certainly throughout my adult life. When I lived the glamorous life in New York City, (note the sarcasm) I would always bring my own lunch (usually a peanut butter and jelly sandwich) to work, and when my husband and I would go out on the town with friends, I would order maybe a single drink throughout the evening. I earned a whopping $18,000 per year, but I would direct deposit money into my savings with every paycheck and always had more than enough funds for whatever I wanted.

Fast forward twenty-some years and not much has changed. Sure, I now earn more money, and I have many more expenses related to home ownership and parenting, but my frugal radar is still always scanning the horizon for new ways to save money. 

For example, this week I cancelled our home phone service, which will save us $38.42 per month, and I also arranged to share a weekly garbage pickup with our next-door-neighbors, which will save us $4.15 per month. (And will save them $10.20 per month!) A grand total of $42.57 per month, or if you want to look at it annually, $510.84 per year!

Neither of these changes involve any sacrifice whatsoever, and sharing garbage service will actually better our lives a bit, as the monthly garbage service pickup was revoltingly smelly. (The ammonia smell from the cat litter had the potential to wipe out entire civilizations.) The neighbors had been paying for a weekly 20-gallon can pickup, and the 32-gallon pickup we’ll now share will be more than adequate for both our families.

I know that Netflix is on the verge of doubling their rates for the streaming video + one DVD-at-a-time plan that we enjoy. So I researched when this change takes effect, (September first) and will go online to change our account settings on August 31st, and even added a reminder onto our family calendar. This will save us $7.99 per month.

These finicky frugal maneuverings (F.F.M.) don’t mean that I shy away from spending money on the things that matter in life. These frugal maneuverings mean that I especially have the money for the things that do matter. We’re about to spend $266 to spend a night at Great Wolf Lodge, money which I already set aside in a “vacation fund.” And we also have regular charitable contributions every month.

In other words, save money on the things that don’t matter so you money is available for the things that do matter!

Have you recently found Finicky Frugal Maneuverings to work into your life? 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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Being a Grown Up

by Katy on August 3, 2011 · 9 comments

I came to the realization a few years back that a large part of “being a grown up” was doing the things that need to get done, even though you don’t feel like it. (Washing dishes, going to work, waking early with little kids, staying calm when you want to scream, etc.) And of course, doing it all without having to be prodded by someone else.

A grim view of adulthood.

However, I have recently changed my mindset on what it means to be a grown up to include this:

Being a grown up means doing the stuff that has to get done, so that your time and energy are available to do the thing you want to do. 

A better viewpoint, which allows that adults have the right to do the things that give them satisfaction and pleasure.

This differing definition of adulthood was swirling around in my head yesterday, as I had dedicated the day to being productive so that I could goof around and play the rest of the week. I made dental appointment, (and then sadly, went to the dentist as they had a 2:00 P.M. cancellation) mailed things off at the post office, made yogurt, cleaned the house, dropped stuff off, picked stuff up, gardened, arranged to cancel our home phone, (which will save us $38.42 per month!) and generally crossed off task after task from my to-do list from sunup to sundown.

By day’s end, my feet were throbbing, but my to-do list was completed.

This does not mean that today is a repeat performance. Instead it means that today I will get together with a friend to chat blogging and eat lunch, hang out with my boys and start planning the fun details of our imminent vacation. And tomorrow? Maybe more of the same.

Because after all, doing the things I love is what my adulthood is all about.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Non-Consumer Mish-Mash — Happiness, Compost Tea and Declutter for Those You Love

by Katy on August 2, 2011 · 9 comments

My sister's "Boat Farm" CSA crew.

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

Vacation Anticipation

I am currently in the lovely mindset of vacation anticipation, where my upcoming trip around Oregon and Washington is swirling around in my head. I’m taking constant notes in a spiral notebook such as fishing permits? and audio books for car. And without spending a penny or even leaving the house, I’m already garnering happiness and relaxation from my trip. And of course, the after effects from said vacation will bring positive feelings far into the future.

Even though my actual trip will only last seven days, the surrounding positive effects are without limit.

So if you run into me today and I look like I’m gardening, running errands or madly scribbling notes, please note that I am already in vacation mode, and should not be bothered with mundane worries such as making dental appointments or scooping out the litter boxes.

Ahh . . .

 

A Spot of Tea, Compost Tea

I recently noticed that even though my next door neighbor and I both planted our fuschia baskets on the same day, hers were bushier and wow-ier than mine. So being the Nosy Parker that I am, I asked her about it. Turns out that she uses some kind of fish fertilizer on a regular basis. I am highly unlikely to use store bought gardening supplies, (I am a bit on the cheap side) so I decided to try making a batch of compost tea. After all, the only ingredients seemed to be compost and water. Both free and neither requiring a trip to the nursery.

However, making compost tea seemed more finicky than I prefer, (pour through cheesecloth? Again, that is store bought!) so I invented my own method.

Here’s how I made my compost tea:

  • Take two five buckets, one of which is drilled with not-too-tiny holes on the bottom, and the more holes the better. (I already possessed these items.)
  • Put a few scoops of compost into the top bucket.
  • Fit the two buckets together, holey one on top, intact one on bottom.
  • Fill with water.
  • Wait a few days.
  • Lift the top bucket and allow the water to drain into lower bucket.
  • Dump soaked wet compost back into your compost bin.

Ta-da! You now have five gallons of lovely rich compost tea for your garden. I’ve been doing this almost constantly over the past couple weeks, and I can already see that my fuschia baskets are more robust, not to mention the rest of my lucky plants.

And for this girl, who really enjoyed making mud pies and Barbie doll swimming holes as a child, it’s secretly fun as well.

 

Move it Along

Although I am a big proponent of donating one’s unused goods, it can be a bit of an anonymous experience when it’s just taking a car load to Goodwill. This is why garage sales are kind of fun. You get to see the excitement in the eyes of a four-year-old boy when he spies a bin of Pokemon figures, (Mom, it’s Bulbasaur!) and the young woman who takes home your extra roasting pan, sharing how she can now host Thanksgiving meals for her family.

But even better than seeing your extraneous Stuff go to strangers, is to see your bounty go to someone you love. My little sister Sara, (She’s 16 years younger than I am) lives on a farm in an uber-cool converted school bus. And because she only recently set up this living arrangement, she was in need of a number of household goods. She had wanted to go to Goodwill yesterday, but instead I let her shop from my house. She took a lamp, clothesline and clothespins, a tool box, a knife, a can opener, and a down blanket.

But most importantly, I was able to pass along to her:

Fourteen Rubbermaid totes (with lids) for her CSA. These were leftovers from when my husband was the equipment manager for our local non-profit soccer league, and the board had specifically tasked my husband with getting rid of them.

Such a perfect solution! And maybe, just maybe one of those totes will come back to me filled with fresh eggs, fruit and veggies.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Frugal Joys

by Katy on August 1, 2011 · 24 comments

Today was an almost completely free day. I had no commitments other than ferrying my son to work and back. No responsibilities, no worries.

So what did I do? Did I book a pedicure and lunch? Did I go shopping?

No way! I luxuriated in a wash of enjoyable frugal activities, which means that I:

  • Washed two loads of laundry (in cold water using my homemade detergent) and hung them on the clothesline.
  • Sorted through my husband’s nine pairs of identical worn out jeans. He was allowed to keep five. (Seriously, dude. Get a grip!)
  • Donated the jeans to Goodwill. (They sell worn out jeans to companies that manufacture blue jean insulation.)
  • Picked up a free cookie for my hard working son from Grand Central Bakery. (Their Tweets for Treats program is worth following!)
  • Talked to my next-door-neighbor about combining our garbage service. (This would save us both a bunch of money!)
  • Talked to my husband about canceling our home phone and going to cel phone only. (Again, a big money saver!)
  • Dropped off library books and brought home a huge stack for our looming vacation. This includes audio books for the car and trashy novels for me!
  • Watched two DVD episodes of  HBO’s True Blood, which I have from the library. (Worry not, this was not with the kids.)
  • Watered plants with the cooled down leftover water from boiling corn on the cob.
  • Called my step-mother to ask if they still had my old desk from high school. They did, which means I found a free desk for my high schooler to use in his bedroom.
  • Made a reservation to stay one night at Great Wolf Lodge. This is not cheap, but I found an online code that gave us a 20% discount. Plus, we have the money saved up for it from our garage sales.

This was a fairly typical day for my family, puttering around and enjoying the process of our lives. And our frugal activities are so ingrained in our lives as to seem completely seamless.

Happy to have the freedom to live frugally. Happy to be me.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

 

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July Food Stamp Challenge — Day 31, The End

by Katy on July 31, 2011 · 8 comments

Today is the 31st and very last day of the July Food Stamp Challenge. In all, my family of four spent:

$389.96

Which is $14.04 less than the $404 that we were trying to stay under. (The average Oregon food stamp recipient gets $101 per month.) We would have had a wider margin, except that we’ve kind of let loose over the past few days. For example, I got my older son $10 of takeout after his lifeguard shift yesterday, since we’d eaten with the neighbors and subsequently had no leftovers. Also, my husband picked up takeout Mexican food on the last day that I worked. (For which I was grovelingly thankful!)

I will be making a $100 donation to The Oregon Food Bank, as this is approximately how much money we saved by conducting this social experiment. (Although in actuality it was probably more, as we tend to be out and about during July, which results in a lot of restaurant meals and takeout.)

One thing is for sure, which is that I am good and happy to see the start of August. I enjoy a good frugal challenge as much as the next non-consumer, but it is tiring to be constantly focusing (and writing) about food. If I had to do it over again, I think it would be smart to stockpile a number of frozen pre-made meals for those nights when the mere thought of dinner prep throws us for a loop.

We did have an extra adult on the house for one week of July, (the British soccer coach) and I chose to not mention the food stamp challenge to him. I didn’t want him to think that his presence was a financial burden for us, and I didn’t want him to get all weirded out. I didn’t think it would be very hospitable. We did get takeout pizza one night when we had a number of extra coaches at the house, but I used a free Groupon to feed all the lads.

I wrote exclusively about the issues related to food stamps this month, and frankly I’ll be happy to start varying my subject matter. In addition to food-stamping, I’ve been decluttering, making extra money, finding free entertainment, honing my simple living edicts, (ahem . . . sleeping in) and creating community with those around me.

It is from a place of privilege that I conduct this social experiment. My husband works full-time, and I work part-time, although as an RN I make more money than many full-time workers do. Food security is not just an issue for distant lands, but a crisis right here in the United States. And importantly, it is a challenge twelve months out of the year, not just a single month.

Thank you to everyone who participated in The July Food Stamp Challenge, and to those who simply read the posts and gave extra thought to the hungry amongst us.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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July Food Stamp Challenge — Day 30, Homemade Yogurt

by Katy on July 30, 2011 · 6 comments

Today is day 30 of the July Food Stamp Challenge and my family is good and ready to be done with this month long social experiment. Because despite cramming our refrigerator full of delicious food, they are dead sure that I am sacrificing their diet in the name of The Non-Consumer Advocate. 

Dinner last night was simple — grilled chicken with rice and a big salad made with the last of the salad greens from my sister’s farm. My husband both prepared dinner and cleaned up from it, as I was milking my swollen eye for all it was worth. (Seriously, what else can I get out of with this eye thingy?!)

I think I’m going to try my hand at homemade yogurt today, using the uber-cool Salton yogurt maker that I discovered in my father’s basement.

I am disappointed in myself that I didn’t get to do all the things I had wanted to do, such as volunteering at The Oregon Food Bank and going to a local farmer’s market. However, it’s not like these places disappear in a puff of smoke at the stroke of midnight on August first. July is a busy month, as the kids are underfoot (does this term still apply when one’s kids are taller than oneself?!) and I do still have a job and we spent a week hosting a British soccer coach.

On today’s agenda is:

  • Get my older son to work and back.
  • Make yogurt from scratch.
  • Take a fire hose to my messy house.
  • Start planning the details of our family vacation, which starts on August 8th.

And yes, I’ll prepare some kind of frugal yet impressive dinner such as burritos with homemade tortillas. (These are seriously delicious!) So I guess I gotta go start the dried pinto beans in the slow cooker and take a couple of Ibuprofen to see if I can make a dent in my eye inflammation.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

 

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July Food Stamp Challenge — Day 29, Winding Down and Hunkering Down

by Katy on July 29, 2011 · 11 comments

I promise I was not hit in the eye, it only looks like I was.

Today is day 29 of the July Food Stamp Challenge, and I am taking it easy today. Not only was I zonked last night from working two days in a row, but I think I got a cat hair in my eye that caused the right side of my face to swell up both uncomfortably and unattractively. I took some Benadryl, and my only plans for today include staying home and not leaving the house.

My husband, hearing we had wiggle room in our food stamp budget has started buying restaurant burritos, six packs of nice local beer, ice cream sandwiches and the like. We’ll still be under budget, but without the wiggle room I had anticipated.

I think this is the perfect opportunity to lie in a darkened room and start watching the True Blood DVD’s that I just picked up at the library.

I just have to keep the cats off of me.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

 

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Enjoying The Wiggle Room

by Katy on July 27, 2011 · 12 comments

Swimming in a field of wheat!

There are four days left in the July Food Stamp Challenge, (woo-hoo!) and I am feelin’ fine, because I am trying to spend under $404 for the month, (the average Oregon food tamp recipient received $101 per month) and we’ve spent:
$321.73!
Which means that I still have $82.27 of wiggle room left in my budget.
My fridge is full of great food, my freezer is stuffed with strawberry jam and recent unflattering photos show indicate I am getting umm . . . more than enough nutritious vittles.
Yup, life is good.
Katy Wolk-Stanley“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”

And by the way, have you joined The Non-Consumer Advocate Facebook group yet?

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July Food Stamp Challenge — Day 26, Where Food Comes From

by Katy on July 26, 2011 · 19 comments

Organic salad mix.

Today is day 26 of the July Food Stamp Challenge, and it’s amazing how little I seem to be shopping for food. Part of this is due to having multiple $10-off-$50 Safeway coupons, which necessitate large shopping trips, (I’ve done two this month) and also due to everyone’s garden bounty that comes my way.

Just yesterday, I took my kids to visit my sister Sara who lives and works on a small organic farm about an hour outside of Portland. As farm manager, she has planted a large vegetable garden, built a huge fenced-in chicken coop, started up a C.S.A and played lots of guitar and banjo. We did not go to rob her of her produce, but we did leave with our arms laden down with bounty. Cherries, eggs, zucchini, salad mix, (from some bolted lettuce and nasturtiums) and our bellies full of peas, tomatoes, wheat berries and veggie burritos.

My sons spent hours playing with the chickens, catching tree frogs, exploring the farm and running around learning to identify coyote poop. (It’s black and filled with cherry pits.) But why tell, when I can show?

Chickens lay what?

Chickens lay eggs, many different types! My favorites are the greenish ones.

My son, the "Tractor Dude!"

Picking cherries!

The end of a good day.

Yup, it was a good day.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

 

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July Food Stamp Challenge — Day 25, We Be Jammin’

by Katy on July 25, 2011 · 5 comments

I ended up making 23 jars of strawberry freezer jam last night from the flat of organic Oregon strawberries that my step-mother bought for me. This involved 32 cups of sugar and two, count 'em two late night trip to Fred Meyer to buy pectin. My freezer is now chock full of freezer jam, and I think I'm set for, oh . . . around ten years. I am off today to visit with my younger sister and pick cherries with her. Gotta love summer!

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