Click here to read a nice long interview with me from the Albany Times-Union’s blog Simpler Living.
Thank you very much to Naomi Seldin, whose patience in waiting for my answers should earn her some kind of reward. Okay now, what else have I been procrastinating . . . .
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”
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Thank you to everyone who entered to win a copy of Dave Wann’s Simple Prosperity: Finding Real Wealth in a Sustainable Lifestyle. The randomly chosen winner was My Roman Apartment. I am trying to do a giveaway per week on The Non-Consumer Advocate, so keep checking back in for your chance to win something cool!
I choose the winners randomly because you guys always write up such fantastic comments, and it would be near to impossible to pick the best one. Here’s a selection of entries, but click HERE to read the entirety.
Enjoy!
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”
My Roman Apartment:
I downsized my belongings by 85% over one calendar year. It’s so nice to have an intimate awareness of every single thing I own now. I appreciate my belongings so much more than I did before.
I have stopped going shopping whenever I’m bored! I now stay home and read, knit, or do chores around the house. I’m spending far less money on things we didn’t need anyway, and my house is far less cluttered and easier to keep clean
Linden:
I reuse foil, have switched to cloth napkins, have repurposed old towels into wash and dish cloths…Thanks for the chance to win.
I search for clothes that match a general color scheme — for me it is mostly black. I have a very small closet but I can mix and match for endless options, and invest in quality because I only need a few items.
Two things: nagged my husband until he set up my clothesline – I LOVE line drying my clothes! I’m in Seattle, so I have to take advantage of the sun while it lasts.
The other thing we’re really working hard on is minimizing food waste. Tonight we were all hungry and tired and *almost* went out for pizza. Instead, we dug out all the leftovers from the week and had an awesome leftover buffet of homemade goodies.
Dave:
We have been working very hard on minimizing food waste here at home. I make sure to eat the leftovers for lunch the next day or use it for the next day’s diner.
I have been working hard at buying only what we need for food prep to also help reduce food waste. The result has been less in the pantry but better quality meals.
Sandi:
We ride our bikes instead of using the car for errands that are within a certain radius. Love it! No traffic hassels and the opportunity to interact with the neighborhood instead of bypass it.
Judy C:
After years of being considered the simple-living, recycling, frugal, composting, environmentally eccentric mom, I’m starting to see some positive results on the part of the rest of the family’s efforts to reduce consumption, conserve and recycle. The other day, my youngest daughter called me breathlessly excited (from a strip mall, unfortunately) to report that she spotted a man with a T-shirt that sported my favorite saying (originating, I believe, from YOU, Katy) “Wear it out, use it up, make it do, or do without”. “Mom”, she said, “There ARE others just like you!” (as if we were space aliens).
Hubby (once known as Diamond Jim because of his obscenely wasteful spending habits) proudly reported the other day that now, before purchasing something, he asks himself whether it’s a purchase based on a “need, or a want”. That is HUGE progress!!
*Note: The phrase “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without” is an old Yankee maxim. As much as I would like to take credit for making it up, it’s much older than I am.
Amanda:
I keep a bucket in the bathroom and save the water from going down the drain while the shower is ” warming” up. I use it to water my garden and house hold plants. They love it and I rarely ever need “new” water to keep them happy and healthy!
I’ve been shopping at thrift stores and Goodwill whenever possible, and have become even more fanatic about recycling. I’ve also been thinking about what *really* makes me happy, and making more time for that rather than just running through the treadmill of daily life. My blog is part of that effort, as well. And continued uncluttering, which seems to be chore that is never done.
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I’m not sure how it happened, but my fridge, freezer and cupboards are fit to burst. I know it’s not that I’ve over shopped. I actually let my $10 off $50 Safeway coupon sit idle, as I couldn’t think of anything that I needed. I’ve mostly been shopping for a few things here and there, never filling more than a small basket at a time.
So I decided that I needed to eat down the stash. Not in any kind of organized manner, no inventory was taken and no meals were planned. I would hate for you to think that I’d undergone a personality transplant!
Tonight’s dinner was supposed to be simple and cool. It’s been mightily hot here in Portland, and the last thing I wanted was a big heavy meal to heat the kitchen and weigh down the family.
I knew our freezer held individually frozen chicken breasts, so I figured I would make a big green salad with some chicken on top. Like a Caesar salad. So I started the chicken breasts, (two for the four of us) in a cast iron pan and pulled the lettuce out of the fridge. Uh oh . . . there was only enough lettuce for a single salad. A quick glance through the garden confirmed that there was not enough growing to remedy the situation.
So what did I do? Did I drive to the grocery store and buy more lettuce? No way! I quickly reconfigured the meal and served “pulled chicken sandwiches,” like pulled pork, but made with chicken instead. I pulled some rolls from the freezer, used up the last of two different bottles of barbecue sauce, sauteed some frozen chopped onion, popped open a jar of pickled red peppers, (thank you Grocery Outlet!) and served it with the last of the lettuce.
And let me tell ya’, it was gol durned delish!
I had actually planned on not making dinner, (too hot!) as I had prepared a full meal at 3:00 P.M. Sadly, my family grew hungry again, which is the risk of serving early suppers. The lunch was pasta with shrimp, artichoke hearts, parmesan cheese and homemade pesto from the freezer. It was guest-worthy.
I am starting to make a dent in the fridge, but it might be another week or so before there’s enough elbow room to not perform food stuff origami. Then again I shouldn’t pat myself on the back too enthusiastically, as I do have ten or so loaves of Dave’s Killer Bread in the next-door-neighbor’s basement freezer.
I may actually spend significantly less this month than I did when I was doing the June Food Stamp Challenge.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”
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There are many opportunities to save money that are on the wrong side of my moral compass. I will not switch price tags, reuse stamps or download free music from file sharing sites. Seriously, I remember a Christmas party from years back when a friend’s boyfriend (now husband) bragged about switching price tags from a small Christmas tree to a larger one. He was proud of his “good deal,” and everyone there applauded his ingenuity. I just thought of him as a thief!
But as much as I think of myself as an honest person, there are a few things I do that you might not. One example of this is bringing my own snacks to the movies. I know this is against the policy of most theaters, but I just can’t bring myself to pay $3.50 for a box of candy. In other areas of my apparently segmented mind I believe that not being able to afford something does not excuse rule breaking, but this one category somehow breaks through my rigid moral code. I’m a Junior Mint enthusiast, although I only eat them when I’m in a movie theater. (Never during the credits, has to be the main attraction!)
And yes, I feel no guilt.
I asked my Twitter and Non-Consumer Advocate Facebook followers (both personal Facebook and official Non-Consumer Advocate group) if they brought their own candy to the theater, and if so, did it make them feel guilty, and this is what I heard:
From Julia: “yes and no. They gouge us at the ticket booth. Do they feel guilty? My point exactly.”
From Leslie: “Yes, and no way. There was some angst over how to explain to my younger kids why I was breaking the rules (especially once they were able to read the signs at the theater). But I explained that it was either that or no snacks. They got over it pretty quickly.”
From Susan: “We compromise – bring drinks and candy but buy popcorn.”
From Julie: “I’m so cheap I take them to the $1.50 movie AND sneak in our own snacks. No way around it when paying for 6!”
From Tina: “My sister-in-law is the queen of smuggled movie snacks. Best one: fried chicken and ice cream. She said they had pancakes one time, with syrup…. Beer…. burritos… she makes her own screwdrivers in the movie… Chinese take-out… Soup… You name it.”
And the lone dissenter from Twitter:
From RobbieKay: “I don’t because I’m a rule follower, but I resent not being able to bring my own.”
In all, I got 20 replies to this question, and only one person was against bringing her own candy. Yet if I had any Twitter followers who owned movie theaters, I’m sure the response would have been very different. The cinemas that we frequent have owners who are people, not corporations. And the majority of their profits are probably from the concessions stand NOT the $1 – $3 admission fee. We do buy occasionally slices of pizza from The Bagdad Theater, as I’m not going to smuggle in my own pizza. And I stop short of Tina’s sister-in-law’s propensity to set up an entire luncheon buffet when seeing a movie.
How about you? Do you bring your own snacks when seeing movies? And if so, are you racked with guilt?
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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I’m sitting on my front porch right now watching hundreds of cyclists cruising past my house. Because yes, today is the Sunday Parkways event that closes down nine miles of city streets to motorized traffic. And my street, which is already rife with bikers, (we’re on an official bike route) becomes a cyclist’s dream.
No cars.
There are different routes for those who are looking for a “relatively flat loop” as well as a “more challenging, 4-mile Mt Tabor loop will be optional to summit the only volcano in the City limits.”
Sign me up for the relatively flat loop!
So instead of spending an hour or two writing a blog post, I’m off to slather on the sunscreen and pull out the family’s bicycles. And then later, when it’s nice and hot, we’ll be setting up a lemonade stand. Because those cyclists get nice and thirsty. 😀
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”
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It should come as no surprise to regular Non-Consumer Advocate readers that I’m a big time sucker for home design and decorating. Books, television shows, tours of friends’ homes, I drink it all in. Logically, a woman who calls herself “The Non-Consumer Advocate” should be immune to the draw of beautiful and artfully appointed homes. However, logic is not part of this equation.
I had gone with my father to “The Looking Glass” bookstore a few months back and picked up a copy of Randy Florke’s Restore. Recycle. Repurpose.: Create a Beautiful Home, (Hearst Books, 2010.) and was instantly riveted. My memory may be flawed, but I do recall my father having to physically shake me out of my trance. Kind of.
I rushed home to and put the book on hold at the library, and finally got to pick it up yesterday. (We do have the highest circulation rates in the country.)
And it was just as good as I remembered. Seriously, read this passage on “Buying into Green:”
“Watch nearly any of the decorating or renovating shows aired these days and you’ll see fine examples of rooms recast into models of respectable sustainability. Recycled glass tile, bamboo floors, organic fabrics, radiant heating systems, salvaged marble countertops, and locally crafted furniture are all very eco-friendly, and no doubt the rooms are gorgeous — but at what price? These designs reflect not only huge expense but a great deal of consumerism. What became of the pre-renovation cabinets, the linoleum flooring, and the ceramic tile? Have they ended up in the local landfill?”
Florke possesses an uncanny knack for pulling rooms together from vintage items without a fuddy-duddy result. His interiors invite the reader to look around their own house and reconsider forgotten items or rearrange what’s already there. There’s next to no “you should buy this” type of advice, which I appreciate. And the results are totally unique and completely appealing.
A modern take on vintage items.
I ♥ this book.
I will hold onto this book for the full three weeks that the Multnomah County Library allows. Then maybe, just maybe I’ll put it on reserve again. That is . . . if the trance breaks.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”
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The following is a reprint of a previously published post. However, Dave Wann (the author of this book) sent me an extra copy to share with The Non-Consumer Advocate community. So enjoy this bonus opportunity to win a great book!
I was running errands over in Northeast Portland yesterday. Dropping off kid stuff at the consignment shop, hanging out with my friend Sasha, loading up on gourmet goodies at The Grocery Outlet, (I had a coupon!) and meeting up with my step-mother for a cup of tea. I had a few minutes to kill, so I decided to pop into The Title Wave bookstore, which sells old library books. (I had a $5 voucher, which was burning a white hot hole in my pocket.)
I decided to buy a couple of books to use as giveaways for the blog. I quickly found copies of Dave Wann’s Simple Prosperity: Finding Real Wealth in a a Sustainable Lifestyle as well as Vicky Robin and Joe Dominguez’s Your Money or Your Life.
Long time readers will recall that Simple Prosperity was used for The Non-Consumer Advocate book club last year. A great idea that proved beyond my time/energy constraints. (Seriously, I cringe with shame whenever I think about how I dropped the ball on this one.) However, I’m still a great fan of this book and now have a genuine sent-by-the-author book to use as a giveaway!
To enter to win your own personal copy of Simple Prosperity, enter your name and one change you’ve made in your quest for simple prosperity in the comments section below. The winner will be randomly chosen Monday, August 16th at midnight PST. U.S. residents only, please enter only one time.
Good luck!
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”
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It’s time again to roll out the garbage picked red carpet for the fabulous, glamorous and downright fantabulous Boo-Hiss Awards. So book your stylist and draw up a vial of botulism, because the day you’ve been waiting for is finally here.
Normally, I give out a number of Boo-Hiss Awards at once, but today’s goes entirely to Target.
Yes, Target.
The Target that is not only currently getting flack for a $150,000 donation to an organization that is supporting an anti-gay rights Minnesota State Representative candidate, but is also concurrently running a back-to-school commercial featuring the Free To Be You and Me anthem. The very same song that makes me feel all teary whenever I hear it. A song that was not meant to sell stuff. A song that was written to let children know that they were perfect just the way they were. Not in better clothes, not with better toys and certainly not with fancier school supplies.
For those not in the know, Free To Be You and Me was a compilation project the included a book and TV special from such esteemed folk as Marlo Thomas, Judy Blume, Shel Silverstein, Gloria Steinem, Kurt Vonnegut Jr. and Carl Reiner. Not Anita Bryant!
The book addressed issues of gender equality with songs and stories such as “William Wants a Doll,” “Ladies First,” “Boy Meets Girl” and Carol Channing’s classic “Housework.”
Girls didn’t have to be pretty, and boys didn’t have to be tough. It was alright to cry, but also okay to be strong. And it was all irrelevant to gender or consumerism.
I do see that the Target commercial starts with three triplets who are wearing the same school uniforms and ends with three individuals, but a clever commercial does not erase the actuality of a store full of Disney Princess and tough guy consumer goods. A store that normally shows skinny models laughing their heads off while enjoying brooms, cleaners and other items of traditional female drudgery.
So Boo-Hiss to you Target for targeting all of us whose 1970’s childhoods were full of hope of gender equality, to sell yet more crap like plastic rulers and locker organizing systems.
I leave you with a video of Roberta Flack and a young Michael Jackson singing about “When We Grow Up.” I dare you to watch this video and not get even the least bit steamy.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”
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It’s time again for another installment of Fabulous Frugal Finds. An ongoing series where you, the reader send in stories and photos of your brag-worthy frugal scores.
Today’s Fabulous Frugal Find comes from Iris, who proves that Europe is just as rich with curbside diamonds as North America.
I came across my fabulous frugal find during an evening walk with a friend, right by the curbside. On first sight we weren’t sure WHAT it was – two meandering tubes, covered with a bright red knitted fabric? It turned out to be a just as unconventionally as beautifully designed armchair. There was some moth damage and a bigger tear covered with duct tape – but still, a beauty!
I immediately fell in love with it, but forced myself to wait half an hour for a potential owner to appear – after all, maybe someone had just dragged it outside to sit and enjoy the evening? Time enough for me to sit and explore the various positions it offered – all quite comfortable! Then I took it home, did an anti-moth treatment, mended the small holes and am contemplating to maybe exchange the grubby foam padding and get an entire new ‘knit sweater’.
I rent a small room in a shared apartment with near-to-no furniture, so that red armchair is the definite center piece – plus being a great conversation piece with every visitor: “Woah, what’s that? Can I sit on it?” Yes, you can 🙂
I’m by far no design expert but it definetly looked like something special. About a year after finding it, I got curious and mailed the editors of a nice design blog a picture, asking if maybe they knew its whereabouts? Turned out they did – and indeed it is a 1970s Norwegian design piece, the Terje Ekstrom Ekstrem Armchair.
And to chime in with the previous discussion about brands – do I like my armchair any better, now that I know the name? Well, I thought it was cool from the very beginning, but it definetly adds a fancy touch. And yes, I did smirk when my neighbour, who previously had turned up his nose at my ‘curbside junk’, now offered 500€ to buy this cool retro design piece.
Have a seat? Why yes, I don't mind if I do!
I am uber envious of Iris’ curbside find, as it’s not only a bizarre and fantasic object d’chair, but she can always sell it when she tires of its tubular goodness. My goal when I thrift store shop/curbside glean is to find stuff that is useful in the here and now, and can later be sold when I no longer need/want it. And I think that this chair definitely falls into that category.
Great find Iris, thanks for sharing with The Non-Consumer Advocate community!
Do you have a Fabulous Frugal Find to share? Please send your stories and photos to nonconsumer@comcast.net.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”
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The NY Times ran an article on Saturday titled, “But Will it Make You Happy?” The author, Stephanie Rosenbloom focused on Portland blogger Tammy Strobel who made the decision to embrace the simple living movement. She went from working as investment firm project manager in California, to full time blogger and freelance writer in Portland, Oregon. In the process, she:
“Began donating some of their belongings to charity. As the months passed, out went stacks of sweaters, shoes, books, pots and pans, even the television after a trial separation during which it was relegated to a closet. Eventually, they got rid of their cars, too. Emboldened by a Web site that challenges consumers to live with just 100 personal items, Ms. Strobel winnowed down her wardrobe and toiletries to precisely that number.”
Yes, you read that right. 100 personal items.
This decision seems to have been the right one for Strobel, as she reports to be much happier with her current life. I applaud this fellow Portland blogger, but want to counter with the idea that happiness is not just for those who go to the extreme.
I am happy. I am happy in a big house. I am happy in a big house with much more than 100 personal possessions.
Don’t get me wrong. I am not an advocate of clutter, nor am I enamored of each and every object that has snuck its way into my house. I am engaged in a never ending battle against Stuff, crap and general where-did-this-come-from-ism. But I do not believe that having a lot of stuff bars my entrance into the happiness club.
I love setting the table with my Fiestaware. I love that I have enough to throw a dinner party without hitting the paper plate aisle. I love my shelf of books written by family and friends. I love the framed photos of my kids, and I love having enough extra stuff to host house guests and exchange students.
Rosenbloom goes on to interview happiness researcher Professor Lyubomirsky:
” ‘We buy a new house, we get accustomed to it,’ says Professor Lyubomirsky, who studies what psychologists call ‘hedonic adaptation,’ a phenomenon in which people quickly become used to changes, great or terrible, in order to maintain a stable level of happiness.
Over time, that means the buzz from a new purchase is pushed toward the emotional norm.
‘We stop getting pleasure from it,’ she says.”
I absolutely agree with Lyubomirsky’s premise, but want to add a personal note. When I buy things, I generally pay pennies on the dollar, and end up adding high quality and unique belongings to my household. And when I use these items, I get a zing of happiness that does not wane over time. Examples being my $125 antique couch, $18 Maxfield Parrish framed print or my $47 oriental rug. It may sound shallow, but these possessions are part and parcel of my happiness.
Are they the biggest wedge in my happiness pie chart? Of course not. But I just wanted to point out that happiness and stuff can coexist.
Do you agree, disagree? 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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