52 Weeks, 52 Letters — Week One

by Katy on January 4, 2011 · 12 comments

A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single letter, or so the saying goes.

The 52 Weeks, 52 Letters Project has officially started, so I snuggled up on the couch yesterday and took pen to paper and wrote a long letter to my college friend Jennifer. For some of you, a college friend may be someone who’s been in your life for a few years, but our friendship is in its 24th year and still going strong. This is partly because we haven’t let distance become an excuse for letting our friendship die. And in the age before e-mail or Facebook, this took actual effort.

When she lived in Atlanta, I wrote letters, when she lived in Upstate New York, I wrote letters and when she lived in Spain, I wrote letters. You get the drift. We’ve even visited one another. My family making the two day drive to Wyoming when her husband was working in Cody, and her visits to Brooklyn, London and Portland as I made my way around the world.

She is one of my only friends who actually has kids the same age, which has made this phase of our lives much, much easier. (I was almost 28 when my older son was born, but all our friends waited until at least their mid-thirties to start their families.)

I did not wait until I picked out a pretty card or beautiful stationary. I grabbed a sheet of green typing paper, and filled both sides with my diminished handwriting, (the downside of the computer age) threw a stamp on the envelope and stuck it in the mailbox.

A long chatty letter that requires no electricity, and is much, much more fun than an LL Bean catalog.

Are you participating in the 52 Weeks, 52 Letters Challenge? Please add your blog name to the widget below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Feeling a Little Bit of Cable-Envy

by Katy on January 3, 2011 · 25 comments

My family is currently cable-free, (although we did partake during the summer for World Cup Soccer) which is normally an easy sacrifice for me. Library DVD’s and the recent addition of streaming Netflix provide all the commercial-free TV a nonconsumer gal could want. (Buffy the Vampire Slayer!) But the recent premieres of a few key cable TV shows are making me want to break into a neighbor’s house. (It’s okay, I have a key. 😉 ) Because the last few weeks have brought us both Extreme Couponing on Discovery and tonight’s Cash and Cari on HGTV.

I’m not looking to begin my transformation into an extreme couponer, but I really want to watch the show anyway. (I kind of want to make fun of it, but I also feel there’s probably something to learn.) And Cash and Cari follows Cari Hucksey around as she runs estate sales and searches out the treasures that might not catch other people’s eyes. It looks really good!

I’m already hooked on The History Channel’s American Pickers, (Mike and Frank rock my boat) and I watch on-demand episodes whenever I can. I feel like if the whole labor and delivery nurse racket ever dries up, I’ll start my second career as a picker.

Here’s a promo for tonight’s premier episode of Cash and Cari. Be warned though, it’s oddly loud.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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“Your Money or Your Life” a Winner, Plus Reader Comments

by Katy on January 2, 2011 · 2 comments

Thank you to everyone who entered to win a copy of Your Money or Your Life. The randomly chosen winner was Kimberly. It’s a good thing that I randomly choose the winners, as reader comments were especially insightful this time around. I encourage you to read through the entirety of the comments, as people’s responses to “write something about your relationship with money” brought in some great stuff. Here’s just a small taste:

Kimberly:

“Money is my hot button. When I feel like I have enough, I’m happy. When I don’t, I’m not. I figure that the first step is awareness. At least I know that my checking account balance is a pretty accurate barometer for my happiness quotient.”

Liz:

“My relationship with money is founded mostly on respect, with a healthy dose of fear. I guess the biggest fear is that money will always haunt me in some way or another – and I definitely am hoping to lay that fear to rest. I’m hoping this book can show me how a healthy relationship with money does not have to include constant fretting!”

Ann:

“I have read this book and I find it, frankly, depressing. Money obsession can be wearing on yourself and others.”

Kelley:

“I always had a good relationship with money. i worked hard, saved most of it, never paid a bill late, and paid off my college just after graduation. by and large it was a stress free relationship – there could always be more but i was good at making due and was fine with the concept of working to earn the things i wanted.
then i fell in love.
my now husband was my complete opposite. mountain of debt, unpaid bills, things in collections, no clue of balances ever. weve tried to find a common ground and theres been improvement but its still the biggest source of turmoil in our life together. weve only been married a few months but theyve been rougher than we would have liked and always because of our relationship with money, budgets, debt and understand want vs. need. i would love, love, love to find a way to smooth things things out sooner and get onto the whole newlywed bliss stuff.”

Tina:

“I went from a $50K a year job, stable, great benefits, totally soul destroying…back to being a full time student studying what I love (theatre) and working part time making maybe $10K a year if I am lucky. But you know what? At the end of the month I have the same amount of money left in my account. Which means no matter how much money I was making I wasn’t spending it wisely and I was hating every minute I spent at that job. So I am working on reevaluating my relationship with money, what I need (or don’t) and accepting that my chosen career path means I may never make as much money again as I was at 27 years old and I am ok with that.”

Emily:

“Money and I are working out some serious issues. When I was younger I had too much plastic money. Now that I am older and wiser I’m trying to buy a first home and that plastic money still haunts me. I’ve made huge strides to rid myself of the chains of debt, but would love to win this book and help my cause.”

Elizabeth L:

“I have a love/hate relationship with money. I love it because it allows me to do cool things like buy a house, travel, etc, but I hate that I have to worry about how I’m going to pay for the couch that I bought yesterday and still save for retirement.

It probably doesn’t help that my dad is a financial planner and his favorite activity is constantly asking me about my savings. ”

Jennifer:

“We were debt free earlier in the year for the first time ever!! However we had to get a different car as ours of 9.5 years was becoming unreliable. We didn’t have enough to buy it with cash so we swallowed hard and got a relatively small loan. We like to have a car we feel safe with and will keep till it is near death. Feel like I need a financial tune up/pep talk, it’s been almost 2 years since I took Ramsey’s FPU.”

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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A Birthday Treat From The Frugalista

by Katy on January 1, 2011 · 13 comments

My birthday falls at a super crappy time of year. Let’s just say that nobody is excited to have one more thing to celebrate and pay for on January 4th. As a kid, this did not occur to me, but my adult self views my birthday on par with that last college midterm. Unpleasant, a necessity and hardly anything to look forward to.

I never want a fuss made, and I certainly don’t want any money spent.

But I just bought myself a little birthday present of a brand new copy of Natalie McNeal’s The Frugalista Files: How One Woman Got Out of Debt Without Giving Up the Fabulous Life from Amazon. (Books by people I know are a big time exception to my Compact.) Sure, I used my Swagbucks gift cards, but I normally hoard those for the express purpose of buying for others.

I first heard of Natalie McNeal when she was giving an NPR radio interview that found me laughing out loud and then shushing myself, so I wouldn’t miss a word. I scheduled my own phone interview, and we’ve been internet buddies ever since.

So now I have something to look forward to. Heck, it might even arrive on my birthday!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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“Your Money or Your Life” A Book Giveaway

by Katy on December 29, 2010 · 68 comments

Long time Non-Consumer Advocate readers will notice that I am doing a repeat book post, but Your Money or Your Life is a book worth repeating, so good luck!

Although I am a rampant devotee of library books, there are a few that I need to own. To keep on my bedside table and refer to on a regular basis, jot notes in and then carry around in my bag without worrying that I’ll muss it up. Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicky Robin is one of those books. This book is not about how to get rich or clip coupons. It’s one of those fantastic books that take a broad look at how money, personal energy and life all combine together. I ♥ it!

I haven’t actually done a front to back read of this book in a few years, but I am going to reread it this week, so I can share my favorite bits with you.

The winner of this giveaway will receive one genuine used Seattle Goodwill copy of Your Money or Your Life for your very own self.

To enter to win, write something in the comments section about your own relationship with money. One entry per person, U.S. residents only. I will randomly choose a winner midnight of Saturday, January 1st, Pacific time zone.

Good luck!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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52 Weeks, 52 Letters — A 2011 Project

by Katy on December 27, 2010 · 44 comments

Katy and Mara, 1984.

My friend Joanna recently put something on her Facebook page about doing a letter writing challenge for 2011. Longtime readers may recall that I had done a similar challenge back in 2009, although that was to write a single letter. (A seriously non-challenging challenge.) Intrigued, I sent her an e-mail asking for the details of her challenge, here’s what she wrote:

“One piece of “real” mail sent out each week. It can be a letter, a postcard, a care package, a thank you note, handmade art, etc. I’m searching for all of the cards and stationary I have collected over the years and gathering them into one place with pens, envelopes (regular & padded), lots of stamps (.28 & .44), a glue stick, unlined index cards (great for making postcards), and a few USPS Small Flat Rate boxes. Oh, and I’m updating my address book.”

I love this. There’s just something about writing an honest pen on paper letter that’s very centering. It forces you to be in the moment. Present. Focused. No multitasking, just writing.

I am going to write 52 letters in 2011. Not necessarily to 52 different people, and I imagine that many of them will actually live in the same city as I do. I invite you to join this challenge. Write to those you’ve lost contact with and write to those you chat with on a daily basis. Write to your spouse, maybe even your own children.

When I was 16 years old I wrote a letter or postcard every day to my best friend Mara. Yes, she lived one block away, but that was irrelevant. I have no memory of what I wrote, or why I started this, but it was a really fun experience. Tragically, Mara died in her early twenties, but I deeply miss her and wish more than anything that I could send or receive letters with her.

I dedicate this challenge to my friend Mara, whose complicated short life ended in 1992. I can’t write any more letters to her, but I can write to those who are still in my life.

Once a week, for all of 2011.

Do you want to add your blog the 52 Weeks, 52 Letter Project? Please add your blog link below:

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Happy New Year — You’re Fat and Unorganized!

by Katy on December 26, 2010 · 32 comments

The new year’s period is a time of reflection. Top ten lists for the previous year abound, and there’s never a poverty of new year’s resolution ideas. Join Jenny Craig or a gym, start budgeting, get organized, or better yet, buy all the accoutrements that go with your goals.

There’s one common theme that I see with pretty much all new year’s resolutions:

You are less than you should be, but buying our product or services will transform you into the person you should be.

Too fat, too unorganized, a financial mess and generally unworthy to be included in the beautiful people’s club.

Greeeaat. . . .

Luckily, there are new year’s resolutions that do not include a trip to Storables or 24 Hour Fitness. Working exercise into your day can be as simple as walking or biking errands, and if organizing all your stuff is overwhelming, it probably means that you have too much stuff.

The new year’s resolution industry, (and yes, selling exercycles, weight loss services and elaborate organizing systems is an industry) would not exist if people were content with themselves and their lives. If people didn’t feel like they were unworthy of happiness without a flat stomach and an organized closet.

I’m here to say that it’s okay to feel good about yourself even if you’re overweight or have mismatched hangers. And if losing weight or getting organized is a goal for you, then go right ahead and pursue that goal. But please don’t do it because some diet industry spokesperson makes you feel bad about yourself.

Do you make the same new year’s resolutions every year? Or perhaps you set a resolution that actually stuck? Please share your stories in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Merry Christmas!

by Katy on December 25, 2010 · 5 comments

Merry Christmas from everyone here at casa Wolk-Stanley. I am currently sitting bleary eyed on the couch, slightly nauseous from lack of sleep. This is due to a certain twelve-year-old son who was sooo excited about Christmas that he only slept until 1 A.M. I finally gave up at 6 A.M. to accompany him downstairs to watch him open his stocking, which as always was topped with a Goodwill Bearista.

Good thing he’s cute. (The kid, that is.)

I hope your Christmas is chock full of loved ones, wonderful food and thriftilicious goodness!

And perhaps even a nap.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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2010 Word of the Year?

by Katy on December 23, 2010 · 12 comments

Merriam Webster says that the 2010 word of the year is Austerity. Boooring!

My word of the year?

Thriftilicious!

Go on, use it in a sentence. I dare you. 😉

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Last Minute Panic?

by Katy on December 21, 2010 · 27 comments

My official last minute panic day of the Christmas season is normally the 23rd, but this year it’s today. I work both tomorrow and Thursday, so those days are officially a wash. I’m now back from my staycation, and spread all my gifts out onto the bed last night. And guess what? I’m pretty much done with all my Christmas shopping. (Although I am Jewish, our gift giving happens on Christmas, which is how we did it when I was a kid.)

I was a little concerned that I didn’t quite have enough for my nephew who turns 11 on the 23rd, but that was only because I actually bought him a brand new hardback copy of the new Rick Riordan book which set me back $17.95. (I chose to buy from the locally owned The Looking Glass bookstore.)

Really, all I have left to do at this point is to hit up the Asian grocery store for fun treats and I. Am. Done.

Are you done? Have you been crafting gifts by hand, scouring the thrift stores, perusing local stores or ordering online? Please share your last minute 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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