Non-Consumer Mish-Mash

by Katy on December 16, 2010 · 20 comments

Thrift store pajamas. Wrinkled from being slept in, but otherwise perfectly fine.

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

The Non-Consumer Advocate on Get Rich Slowly

My mornings are perfectly timed these days. The kids’ schools start an hour and 15 minutes apart from one another, which means that our mornings start slowly, with one kid at a time. Seriously, I don’t even wake the 12 year old until the 15 year old has left! For someone else this would be a negative, but I like the one-on-one time with each son. No fighting. No sibling issues. Easy.

This morning brought a nice surprise, which was an article about The Compact on Get Rich Slowly by staff writer Sierra Black. I had given this interview so long ago that I had completely forgotten about it, so at first I was actually kind of confused.

I don’t remember saying all that stuff. It’s sounds like something I would say, but . . . huh?

A nice addition to my otherwise relaxing morning.

Click HERE to read the article.

Bangladesh Fire Reaffirms my Reasoning for Not Buying Crap

There was an article in yesterday’s Oregonian newspaper about a garment factory fire in Bangladesh that killed at least 27 workers. (Most likely much more as there are reports of at least 100 people jumping from the tenth story building to escape the flames.) The factory produces clothing for Gap, JCPenney, H & M and Wal Mart and employs 13,000 people.

“Monir Hossain, a local journalist at the scene, told The Associated Press the blaze broke out on the two upper floors during lunch break. A gate on a stairwell was locked, trapping people inside the factory, which mainly produces T-shirts for international brands, he quoted witnesses as saying.”

The article has a lot of interesting and eye opening information about how Bangladesh’s workers are among the lowest paid in the world, and how there have been a number of recent violent protests concerning the low minimum wage,  which is $45 per month. There was also another another deadly garment factory fire in February, which killed 21 people.

I am almost entirely assembling my Christmas gifts from thrift stores, apart from two flatiron hair straighteners, (didn’t want to buy used) and a single made in China/overly packaged/plastic-ey toy that I bought for my six-year-old niece. (I was enticed by a super low Amazon price, combined with my Swagbucks gift cards.) I do have a few gifts left to buy, but think I’ll be able to plug these holes with consumables, experiential gifts and more thrift shop items.

One of the stock gifts for my family every year is a new pair of pajamas. We open them up on Christmas eve, put them on and get to wake up in attractive sleepwear. And yes, I always buy them used. I’m usually able to find new (or look like new) pajamas at Goodwill for around $3 – $7, often with the tags still on.

Right now, Old Navy’s Jingle Jammies were on sale for $8. (Old Navy also manufactures in Bangladesh.) It would have been super cute to buy everyone matching brand new pajamas, (think of the photos!) but I don’t want to support an industry that locks poorly paid workers into unsafe factories.

Would you consider making a one year pledge to buy nothing new for a year? I’ve been doing The Compact since January of 2007, and will continue on in 2011.

Need Extra Christmas Money?

Are all the extra expenses of the holiday season making you wish for a few extra dollars? No problemo, fellow non-consumers because now is an excellent time to take your unwanted belongings and turn them into money and store credit. And it’s e-a-s-y!

  • Take books you can bear to part with (including kid ones) to used book stores.
  • List large or valuable items on Craigslist. (I recently sold Robeez booties for $8 and an artificial Xmas tree for $15)
  • Glean your closet for unused clothing, coats, shoes and winterwear and take them to consignment shops. Don’t forget that kid consignment stores will also take books, furniture and toys. (I recently sold some ill fitting Danskos for $20)
  • Bring cool household items to antique stores or second hand (for-profit) shops.
  • Ebay! (I just sold a $5 Goodwill doll for $117.)

Use your creativity. Look around your house and turn that clutter into cash. It’s super addictive.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Just For Fun — The Frugal Girl on CBN

by Katy on December 14, 2010 · 2 comments

I know I’ve posted this before, but I just re-watched The Frugal Girl’s CBN interview and thought it was worth a rerun.

The funny story with this video is that I actually watched it when it first aired. I was at work and I knew the story was due to air, and my patient just happened to coincidently be watching CBN. I gave her strict instructions to hit her call light when the story started and she was quick to follow her nurse’s instructions.  (Always a good plan 😉 )

As a cable-free Jewish gal, I had never watched CBN before, so it was pretty random to actually have this happen.

Enjoy!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Overeating to Avoid Food Waste

by Katy on December 12, 2010 · 33 comments

I don’t know about you, but avoiding food waste in my house is a full time job. I’m constantly scanning the fridge to make sure that leftovers don’t transform into swamp monsters, and I employ all sorts of  food waste avoidance tactics such as buying perishables in smaller amounts and storing all refrigerated food in clear glass Pyrex containers whenever possible.

But there’s an ill advised food waste avoidance method that I’m certainly guilty of. I eat more than I need to in order to keep food from getting thrown away, (or composted.)

I prepared a lovely brunch for the family today. I had picked apart a crab last night, (one sale, extra discount and making sure to eat it before it got, ahem . . .  fishy.) so I made a delicious dish of crab and scrambled eggs. I also made toast to accompany the meal. Unfortunately, my 15-year-old son wasn’t in the mood for toast and left his untouched. My first reaction was to eat the toast myself in the name of the Waste No Food Challenge. Luckily, my critical thinking self took over and smacked me upside the head to remind me that overeating is never the answer.

So what did I do with the toast?

Well . . . I have put it in a plastic bag and will rip it into small pieces for the birds. I know it’s not the perfect solution, but it’s better than throwing it away, composting it, (mice!) freezing it, (I already have enough crusts in there awaiting their reincarnation as bread crumbs) or eating when I’m already full.

Some food waste is inevitable, especially with children. And I don’t want to be that mom who enacts a clean plate club rule. Children need to learn to stop eating when they’re no longer hungry.

Really though, two pieces of toast is nothing when you look at the big picture. Every day, Americans waste enough food to fill the Rose Bowl. But the majority of food waste happens before it hits our refrigerators, so I’m not going to beat myself up too much.

Make sure to check out Jonathan Bloom’s American Wasteland to explore the myriad issues related to food waste.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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When Doing The Right Thing is Cost Prohibitive

by Katy on December 11, 2010 · 65 comments

As The Non-Consumer Advocate, I wholly believe in buying used instead of new; puttering around instead of shopping and fixing instead of replacing. And when my $15 Craigslist microwave went kaput last month, (it was making Mordor-like sparks and flashes) I was totally fine with melting butter on the stovetop and reheating leftovers in the oven. It was not a big deal and I enjoyed the addition of the extra kitchen counter space.

But then my Japanese host son asked if I could please buy a microwave oven. I can’t think of anything else he’s asked for, so I told him I would buy one. So I started to peruse the Craigslist ads and unsuccessfully even replied to a few $30 listings. My husband priced one at Costco that was around $90.

Then I called an appliance repair business to investigate getting our old microwave fixed. I was quoted $109 for labor, plus parts.

$109 plus parts when a brand new microwave oven is $90?! I am all about walking my talk of non-consumerism, but I simply cannot prioritize my ethics over financial responsibility. I’ve only been getting about half the number of RN shifts the last month or so, and money is tighter around here than a glass slipper on a step-sister’s foot. Sure, we have enough money to pay for all the basics, but I don’t want to have to dip into savings until it’s an official emergency. And honey, not having a microwave is hardly an emergency.

This started me thinking about some ways in which we spend more than we have to. We pay extra for clean energy electricity, we sponsor a Zambian girl through Child Fund International and we have opened up our home to a Japanese teaching assistant without any compensation.

I want to provide a living wage to the appliance repair person and I want to fix instead of replace, but I just can’t make myself do it. I will continue to spend out in a few key areas, but I have to pick and choose the ways in which I can afford to do so.

What would you do in my situation? Would you pay to repair the microwave, buy a new one or keep an eye out for a used one? Would you risk a possibly dangerous home repair? Do you walk your talk? 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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Mooch Your Way to a Non-Consumer Day

by Katy on December 8, 2010 · 12 comments

My day yesterday was not going to be much to write home about. I was scheduled to work, which should have meant that there was not much in the way of non-consumer action aside from a possible nip into the West Burnside Goodwill on my way home. Sadly, I showed up at work, only to be told that I was not actually on the schedule, which means I got up at 6:00 A.M. and drove a twenty mile round trip for nothing.

Blarg!

However, it opened my day up considerably. So I called up my father who had left a message the day before asking about going to lunch together and set that up.

Free lunch? Check!

My father and I had a lovely meal at my very favorite restaurant in the entire world, (Jade) and then walked down to The Looking Glass bookstore so my father could pick up some books he had ordered, (I warn you to never get him started on an Amazon.com rant) and had a lovely chat with the owner. I had offered to give her a darling children’s chair to use in the kids’ book section on an earlier visit, but instead explained how I had been caught in a sudden rainstorm while spray painting it, which makes it now look like it’s suffering from a nasty case of smallpox. Needless to say, I haven’t followed through on my offer to bring in the chair.

The owner told me how she used to have a tiny caned rocking chair in the children’s section, but that the kids had been too hard on it.

“People think that every store is Barnes and Noble, they just don’t think about how the chair has an actual owner.”

Hmm . . . gotta get that chair repainted.

My father and I then walked a couple blocks down to the Columbia Sportswear outlet store. I had broken The Compact a few weeks ago and bought my 15-year-old son a brand new winter rain jacket. My son takes the city bus to high school and back, and needs to have good rain gear. And here in Oregon, that is serious business. Sadly, my son left his jacket in his biology class and it was gone faster than an heirloom tomato at a Michael Pollan fan club meeting. E-mails to the teacher as well as spelunking trip through the school’s lost and found proved unsuccessful. Luckily, the store still had the same coat, which was marked down $31.50 from $115. And even luckier, my father insisted in paying.

Mooch-power, activate!

And yes, I wrote my son’s name all over that coat this time. I highly doubt I’ll be able to buy this coat a third time.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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


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An Important Non-Consumer Message

by Katy on December 4, 2010 · 19 comments

Note: This video is somehow no longer available through You Tube. Sorry.

Okay, this is the weirdest freakin’ video of random somewhat hasbeen actors, musicians and athletes singing the Beatles’ Let it Be. I am going to pretend it has something, anything everything to do with non-consumerism in order to share it with you guys.

Extra points for those who note the Portland connection, which has to do with a certain local violent ice skater who shall go nameless. 😉

Seriously, it is bizarre. Enjoy the Norwegian subtitles!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

Okay, I figured out the non-consumer connection, which may be “do without.”

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Old Fangled Meat Defroster — As Seen on TV!

by Katy on December 3, 2010 · 24 comments

But wait, there's more!

Remember those infomercials for the instant defrosters made of cast iron? Well my microwave went kaput last month, and we’ve been making do without ever since. And my cast iron pans? They also work to quickly defrost meat, (or a cube of frozen spinach for that matter) as the iron and the meat passively work together to equalize their temperatures. You’ll know it’s working when you grab the pan’s handle and it’s colder than a witch’s tit, Sarah Palin’s Alaska, a snowman’s Christmas plans.

Give it a try, it really works and doesn’t even require a bizarrely enthusiastic studio audience. And of course, click here to read all about food safety.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Stop Yelling “Echo” into my Refrigerator!

by Katy on December 2, 2010 · 12 comments


Yesterday was a busy day for me. Not only did I work, but I also needed to do a big grocery shop as we had finally finished up the bulk of our Thanksgiving leftovers, and the inside of the fridge was so empty that tourists were starting to show up to yell the word “echo” into it. (Which wouldn’t be so bad, except that they kept tracking mud into the house.)

Luckily, I had a fresh $10 off $50 Safeway coupon to use, so I gathered up my reusable bags and drove out into the dark and rainy night. Here’s what I bought:

  • Box of 100 Red Rose tea bags
  • Bag of pretzels
  • One can of evaporated milk
  • One box of lasagna noodles
  • One can of “Pam” style spray canola oil. (If I don’t use this, I have to use cupcake liners for muffins)
  • Three boxes of Raisin Bran*
  • One box of Grape Nuts*
  • One can of pumpkin puree
  • Two pound bag of shredded mozarella
  • Half gallon of whole milk
  • Two cans of concentrated orange juice
  • Four loaves of bread
  • One pound of bacon
  • Two packages of shrimp
  • One avocado
  • One tomato
  • One head of romaine lettuce
  • A pound and a half of brussel sprouts
  • Two mangos
  • A ten pound bag of potatoes
  • One pound of deli ham (Dinner was two huge sub-style sandwiches on nice french bread)

* = Used a coupon.

In all I spent $46.76, plus received a coupon for $2 off my next orange juice purchase. Although it was the last thing I was in the mood to do last night, I’m happy I got the shopping over with. Now, I have enough dinner ingredients for a number of meals, plus those pesky tourists will stop mucking up my house.

Now, if I could only find my mop . . . .

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Spending Less Than Ever

by Katy on November 30, 2010 · 31 comments

My family is most definitely a two income family. My husband works full-time in emergency services and I work very part-time (16 hours per week) as a labor and delivery nurse. I’ve been in the same job for over fifteen years, so my hourly wage is generous. We are normally able to cover all of our expenses, while having enough leftover to pay down debt and never feel like we’re holding back on the things we want and need. (The income from the blog pretty much covers the hosting fees and not much else.)

We’re able to have this financial wiggle room because we make multiple frugal choices on a daily basis. We keep the thermostat low, fix instead of replace, cook at home, follow The Compact, (buy only used) and pack school and work lunches from home. However, we’re also spending $220 per month on tutoring for our younger son, which is allowing him to return to a public school language program that he’s been away from for over four years. In other words, we scrimp on the little things in order to afford the big picture stuff.

“I’m sorry honey, we can’t afford your tutoring because we like to eat restaurant food.”

However, my job has been providing me with significantly less work than usual. It’s not unusual for birth rates to fluctuate, but my last three paychecks have been approximately $700 less than usual. I’m used to riding the ups and downs of my irregular income, but this is starting to hurt.

So, have we been starting to rely on credit cards, or are we cutting back on our son’s extra tutoring? No way. We’re using extreme frugality skills to float us through this low point. For example, my sister and her family were in town for Thanksgiving, and instead of hitting up the Goodwills, (our favorite activity) we hung out at home and feasted on leftovers. Instead of providing different fruit choices, I have a bowl of whichever fruit is on sale. (99¢ per pound organic Gala apples) I’m not buying deli meat for school lunches, and instead am making egg salad sandwiches and onigiri from leftover rice. My special me treat yesterday was a stop into a library across town (I was in the neighborhood to pick my son up) and checked out some audio books as well as the newest novel from one of my favorite Chick-lit authors.

I thought about stopping into Trader Joe’s and didn’t, as it is my Achilles heel of impulse puchase-ery.

“Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s? You bet!”

We will not need to dip into savings, nor will we suffer in any way. We’ll put a little less into debt reduction and cut back on most anything extra. And yeah, I’ll be using the $10 off $50 Safeway coupon that ran in today’s newspaper.

Having the ability to happily survive whether the purse strings are tight or loose is an important mindset in life. Hey, this might even inspire me to finally list some stuff on eBay. You never know. 🙂

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Homemade Gifts or Expected Expensives? — Ask the Readers

by Katy on November 28, 2010 · 72 comments

A reader comment came is this morning from Rachel in response to the Black Friday Musings post that I published the other day. She wrote:

“It’s been getting increasingly tricky for me to be a non-consumer during the holidays. My older sisters have moved on to well paying jobs and have high expectations for gifts, to such an extent that driving home from Thanksgiving I started crying because I realized that I had the choice of getting everything they wanted or being able to eat for the month of December.

I’m a fairly crafty person, and while I do still put out duds sometimes, I’m really happy with what I’ve made so far this year and have left to make, but my family’s made it clear they don’t enjoy homemade gifts. This leaves me with lots and lots of stress, to such an extent that I’m not really looking to the holidays this year – except for my small celebration with my roommates, where the only the expectation is of ‘presence’. “

This comment saddened me, as no one should ever have to decide between buying gifts for people who most likely have everything they need and buying groceries for themselves.

I am lucky. My family has weathered through my lean and flush years and has never once complained about the caliber of gifts they’ve received from me. Also, my family does not have a tradition of giving one another gifts that we’ve placed orders for. With a few exceptions, I consider that to be unsporting and pointless. (If there’s something that I need, then I’ll just figure out a way to get it for myself.)

I want you the readers to suggest alternatives for Rachel. How can she deal with her family’s high expectations? Should she figure out addition income streams to buy what is expected of her, or should she have a series of frank conversations with her family?

Please write your ideas for Rachel in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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