Before, During and After — A Failed Reality TV Premise

by Katy on January 24, 2010 · 19 comments

If there’s a love that unites this great country of ours, it’s an abiding love for makeovers. Decorating makeovers, marriage makeovers, beauty makeovers, whatever–you–can–think–of–makeovers. Heck, they even have an entire TV network focused entirely on the transformative attraction of the before and after.

And I’m no different from anyone else. I fantasize about a team of experts who sweep into my life and organize my home, my wardrobe, my waistline and then landscape my yard within an inch of its life. All for free.

But reality is like slap in the face with a cold wet trout. Long lasting life transformations do not take place over a 24 hour, or even a seven day period. Because real life has a before, during and after.

Take my bedroom as an example. This is not a room that has received much decorating attention, and tends to be a repository for stuff that has no other logical designation. Sasha dolls from my childhood, a big basket of yarn, (I neither knit nor crochet) and textbooks from when my husband went back to school. It all lives in our bedroom. This was starting to really irk me, so I decided to put an effort into turning our bedroom into a nice space.

My husband and I have been sleeping on a full-size mattress since day one, and I decided that we would much more comfortable with the elbow room that a queen size model affords. So I put the word out and sure enough, a friend of my mother has just divorced and wanted her almost new mattress out of her life. A sturdy Hollywood frame was promptly mined from a neighbor’s basement. I like to have a headboard, but know one will turn up in time.

Our bedroom has built-in shelves on either side of the windows, one of which is designated as mine, the other as my husband’s. I really like the look (and function) of white canvas lined baskets, and as a result I keep an eye out for them when I go to thrift stores. I would like to have both sets of shelves hold a cohesive collection of these baskets, which could then hide the cluttery crap that seems to follow our every move. But right now, my side is fairly organized with baskets, and my husband’s is an embarrassment. I could fill the cart up with organizing gear at Target, but I’m okay with keeping an eye out and being patient.

I’m also keeping an eye out for another bedside table and a rug to complete my before and after bedroom project, but I’m in the lengthy during phase at the moment.

This method of redecorating would produce far from compelling TV programming, but that’s okay, because I am the reality that reality TV forgot.

The before, during and after-ness of being a one-woman team of experts that also has to make dinner, help with homework, hang the laundry, well . . . I think you get my point. But . . . if they’re looking for a before and after makeover show of underwear drawer transformations, then that’s about my speed. (All miraculously in under 24 hours!)

Do your fantasies veer more toward a pantry makeover than Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

P.S. Click on the photos to enlarge the organization vs. clutter of our “his and hers” shelves.


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2010 Donations to Haitian Relief May Now be Deductible on Your 2009 Taxes!!

by Katy on January 24, 2010 · 0 comments

Click here to read how donations to Hatitian earthquake relief may now be deductible on your 2009 taxes.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Friendship and Babies

by Katy on January 24, 2010 · 13 comments

I had the pleasure of eight-and-a-half hours on the same nurse’s station with a passel of my long term co-workers today. These are women I’ve worked with since 1995, when we were all shiny new nursing school graduates. (Seriously, I hope to heaven that they never require us to renew our photo ID’s, as we are all super cute and skinny in our pictures.) We’ve known each other since before any of us had kids, and between the three of us, we now have eight. I consider them to be dear friends, even though we’ve never seen one another outside of work and all come from extremely different backgrounds.

This, I consider to be one of the highlights of my job.

As a labor and delivery nurse at one of busiest units on the West coast, I work with a lot of women. And these women have come to mean a lot to me. Although there’s just a few who I ever make the effort to see socially, my co-workers are a huge part of what makes my job so satisfying. Of course, the patients are the focus of what we do, but these childbearing women take their babies home to their families and then blend together in my memory.

This job has taught me that I do not have to hold the same political beliefs, religious background or even age bracket to share friendship. During the last presidential election, a non-work friend was angrily talking about how her mother’s friend was voting for a someone whose beliefs were completely different than her own. My friend’s reaction was to ask, “How can she even stay friends with her?” I remember thinking that if I could only be friends with people whose beliefs mirrored mine, then I’d be down to my mother, and maybe one of my cats.

It took me into my mid-twenties to come to the realization that people are not simply a collection of political stances and labels. To limit one’s friendships based on criteria such as liberal, conservative, Christian, Jewish, etc. makes a person miss out on the wealth of friendship and support that’s out there in the world.

So, Danette, and Darla, I really enjoyed working with you today. I would say, “Let’s get together for coffee,” but I know we’re all busy with our lives outside of work. Let’s just meet up at work instead.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

Photo is of my now 14-year-old son in October of 1995, taken by my husband.

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Thrift Week — Perspective

by Katy on January 22, 2010 · 10 comments

Today is the last day of Thrift Week, and as much as I’ve enjoyed writing on the subject, I’ll be happy to expand my subject matter again. The United States has a long and twisted history with thrift as a virtue,  and conversely, thrift as a vice. Either way, thrift as defined as “wisdom with resources,” is just plain smart. Living below one’s means allows a person to not only pay their bills and put money into savings, but to also have the ability to weather life’s financial storms.

Do I have all my debt paid off and six months’ living expenses in the bank? No. But my family’s non-mortgage debt should be eradicated by the end of 2010. And every day, we do something that moves us closer to this goal. And today, when my 14-year-old son called from school to tell me that he needed me to bring him a $350 check for his upcoming Japan trip, I didn’t bat an eye. I knew this expense was coming up, (even if I hadn’t known it was today.) And when the next payment comes due, I’m also ready for that.

Every day there are multiple frugalities that weave their way into my routine. This may be hanging clothes to dry, watching library movies, wearing 100% thrifted clothing or just the act of not shopping recreationally. I am lucky, because I am able to choose to do all this stuff. I have a clothes dryer, I could drive to a video store to rent a $3.99 movie, and really these are luxuries. I’m also lucky because I have a job that pays me a living wage. As an RN, I’m able to work a couple days a week and bring home a healthy paycheck.

With the recent earthquake in Haiti, it’s hard to not compare our  lives to the Haitians lucky enough to have survived. When so many go without food, water and shelter, our own problems pale by comparison. Being tired of outdated furniture or frustrated with how to organize our possessions suddenly seems a little less important.

I do want to live below my means so that my family can pay our bills, (even the unexpected ones) send my kids to college, travel, continue with charitable giving and retire in relative comfort.

I do not want to practice frugality and thrift without perspective.

Has your perspective about your standard of living changed since the Haitian earthquake? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

For those who missed it earlier. The Non-Consumer Advocate has teamed up with Mercy Corps to raise money for their Haiti earthquake relief fund. We have raised $465 so far to help fund humanitarian efforts. Click HERE to be taken to The Non-Consumer Advocate/ Mercy Corps page.

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Thrift Week — Transportation

by Katy on January 22, 2010 · 21 comments

Thrift Week

Welcome to Thrift Week. Today’s topic is transportation.

There’s all kinds of conflicting information about green and thrifty transportation options. Biodiedel, hybrid, electric, even hypermiling. It’s enough to make you want to jump in front of a car, any car.

Whatever you drive, the greenest and thriftiest choice you can make is to leave your car in the garage.

I started paying closer attention to my driving habits last year, and began putting a concerted effort into batching my errands. It’s now rare for me to drive across town to a single destination. (This is a rare situation where my natural proclivity to procrastinate is an asset.) I wait until I can no longer put off the errands, and by that point I usually have four or five things to do in that particular neighborhood.

By employing this method, I end up having three or four days per week when I don’t really drive. (Except driving my ten-year-old the 1.1 miles to school, which starts at 8:00 A.M., when it’s still a little dark. He takes a school bus home, but the morning bus comes at 7:30, which I feel is simply uncivilized. The 13-year-old takes the school bus both ways.)

I choose to live in a neighborhood which is very walkable, and this makes a huge difference in how much we drive. So even when we do drive, it’s for pretty short distances. When you choose to live rurally or in the suburbs, it is usually a decision that will require you to drive significant distances. Schools may be close, but what about the grocery store, post office, library and restaurants? Will your non-urban living choice mean you’ll be starting the car up multiple times every day?

There is of course, the standard advice on how to squeeze every last bit of gas mileage from your car, such as:

  • Remove any unnecessary belongings from your car.
  • Keep the tires properly inflated.
  • Remove roof racks and bicycle racks when not needed.
  • Avoid rapid accelerating.
  • Use your cruise control.
  • Avoid idling your car.

Then there’s the advice to avoid driving such as:

  • Walk.
  • Bicycle.
  • Carpool.
  • Sell your car.

But really, the best way to drive green is to drive minimally. And this is true whether you’re driving a monster-truck or a hybrid.

My biggest gas saver? Because I live frugally, I only have to commute to work twice per week.

Want to know how walkable your neighborhood is? Walkscore.com will give you a numeric score for your address. I got an “90,” which I feel is fair, although the neighborhood business information was somewhat out of date. (Plus it listed a porno joint as a movie theater within walking range. Umm . . . no thanks.)

What do you do to minimize gas usage? Please share your tips in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Thrift Week — The Paradox of Thrift

by Katy on January 20, 2010 · 30 comments

I just finished reading Lauren Weber’s In Cheap We Trust: The Story of a Misunderstood American Virtue, which I can’t recommend highly enough.

In this book, Weber addresses the “Paradox of Thrift,” which she describes as:

“This idea — that higher savings lowers the economy’s total output (and thus that thrift is a private virtue but a public vice.)”

The idea that savings are bad for the economy, until the government decides that savings are patriotic. The U.S. government has flip-flopped on this issue enough times throughout our history to make thrift and savings confusing to say the least.

I have come to a personal decision that I have a responsibility to my family’s financial well being that trumps whatever government message is currently in vogue. If my country’s economy can only be healthy through me living beyond my means, then I have zero responsibility to support it.

Have you felt that government’s message to save, don’t save, save, don’t save has affected your personal finances? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

Artwork by Shannon Wheeler, from his collection of rejected “New Yorker” files. Thank you Shannon for sharing!

 

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Thrift Week — Do it Yourself, Plus a TurboTax Giveaway!

by Katy on January 20, 2010 · 87 comments

Note: This giveaway had ended. Thank you to everyone who shared their DIY tips. Congratulations to “Buster” and “Shannon” whose names were randomly picked as winners.

As we move through the week looking at how thrift fits into our lives, I want to focus on how we pay others to perform what we don’t like or know how to do. This can range from tax preparation and hair cuts, to restaurant meals and cleaning services.

I certainly see the appeal in outsourcing the unpleasantries in life. But when the expense of hiring out what should be do-able tasks means hanging onto consumer debt or being unable to put savings aside, it’s no longer balanced.

Here is a short list of tasks my husband and I do for ourselves instead of hiring out:

  • Oil changes.
  • Hair cuts.
  • Meal preparation.
  • Clothing repair.
  • Computer/ iPod repair.
  • Home improvement tasks.
  • Tax preparation.
  • House cleaning, (not that my home is comparable to a professionally cleaned house.)

Some of the things from this list we’ve been doing for years, (home haircuts) others are things we’ve recently been teaching ourselves. For example, my husband got tired of paying our local Macintosh store for repairs on our mistreated 2005 iBook, so he found a website that had complete instructions and videos on how to do computer maintenance. This alone has saved us hundreds of dollars in repairs, and thousands in buying a new Macintosh iBook.

Another skill my husband acquired was tax preparation. We were employing an accountant for our taxes due to issues related to a business my husband used to own. I begged him to try and use an online tax prep service such as TurboTax, and he finally relented last year. My husband was very skeptical about whether doing our own taxes was the right thing to do, but he was able to whiz through the online edition in an afternoon and feel confident that he had done a good job.

As a special treat, the fine folks at TurboTax have sent me two gift cards for the Premier level Federal and State tax returns, (which include the info for “investments and rental property” and are a $89.90 value apiece) to give away to two lucky Non-Consumer Advocate readers.

The cards read:

“This code is redeemable at TurboTax.com and good for one free federal + state preparation and e-file with TurboTax Premier Online 2009.”

To enter to win one of the TurboTax gift cards, please write in the comments section one skill you do that others hire out. This contest is open to U.S. residents only, one entry per person. I will randomly choose a winner Thursday, January 21st at midnight, Pacific time zone. Good luck!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

TurboTax is an advertiser on The Non-Consumer Advocate and provided an additional online tax preparation gift card  to me for review purposes.


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Thrift Week — Gift Giving

by Katy on January 19, 2010 · 19 comments

I know that the last thing people want to be thinking about in mid-January is gift giving, but it’s actually the perfect time to put thought and attention towards how we show our generosity to those we love.

I addressed the issue of gift giving during Thrift Week last year, but wanted to bring the subject up for discussion again. I do feel strongly that gift giving and The Compact, (buy nothing new) are not mutually exclusive, and actually dovetail quite nicely.

Although The Compact allows for experiential purchases such as theater tickets, as well as consumables, I usually forgo these rather pricey options and go the route of thrift store presents. The downside of buying all second hand gifts is that your last minute shopping options are slim, and you have to start your shopping earlier than traditional shoppers. But, anything that’s bought new can be found used. Anything.

The Non-Consumer Advocate Facebook Group had a question today from Lacey, who wrote that she was:

“Looking for tips on gift giving while doing The Compact.”

And I thought I would open her question up to my greatest resource, you guys.

What advice do you have for Lacey? Should she try and find second hand versions of what she normally gives, or should she try making homemade gifts? Should she decrease the number of gifts that she gives or maybe try gifts of services like babysitting or an afternoon of decluttering. (My dream gift.) Please share your ideas with Lacey and the rest of the Non-Consumer Advocate community in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

I received no compensation in exchange for this column. Images from Bring Back Thrift Week.

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Thrift Week — What Does Thrift Mean to You?

by Katy on January 17, 2010 · 23 comments

As part of the Bring Back Thrift Week campaign, I ask you, the readers how does thrift fit into your life?

Is thrift solely about saving money, or is it more related to simple living? Does thrift mean getting everything you need for as little money as possible or is it about getting a good deal on a higher quality item than you could normally afford?

For me, thrift is about living a wealthy life without riches. To be able to pay for everything I want and need without too much out of pocket expense. But it’s also about not wanting or feeling the need for that which is out my financial reach.

Being happy to vacation close to home for a few days at a time, instead of working overtime shifts, (or racking up credit card debt) to pay for a big blow-out tropical vacations. To live with less than desirable possessions until I can find second hand versions of what I want. To be willing to eat less than exciting meals at home and save restaurant meals for special occasions.

Thrift is about patience. Letting go of the “gotta have it now” mentality that derails so many debt reduction and savings plans.

What does thrift mean to you, and what keeps you inspired to live within your means? Is it specific books and websites? Have you been thrifty in the past and let that go, or have you been spendthrifty and are only now making changes to rectify prior financial blunders? Please share your inspirations and stories in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

Please note that I will be away from internet access until Monday evening and will not be able to approve comments from first time readers until that time. Please do share your stories though, as I will make this task a priority when I return.

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Thrift Week is Back!

by Katy on January 17, 2010 · 5 comments

Last year, I participated in a “Bring Back Thrift Week” campaign and wrote for an entire week on issues related to thrift and frugality. It was an interesting personal challenge, as I like to write about a wide variety of subjects, and to focus on a single one for seven days was discombobulating. But as much as I like to write about issues related to sustainability and simple living, it’s frugality that really revs my engine.

Thrift Week is nothing new according to the Bring Back Thrift Week website:

“Up until 1966, it was a coast-to-coast celebration of American ideals like diligence, hard work, responsible consumerism, and smart saving.”

Except for the “hard work” bit, this is a week I can stand behind. Seriously, I work hard enough. Maybe not enough to impress a Puritan, but I make dinner from scratch every day and hang my laundry to dry in wintertime Oregon.

The Bring Back Thrift Week website has lots of fun links and pages, such as a Thrift Museum, apps for your iPhone and even a Facebook page. (What, no Twitter?!)

This new push toward all things thrifty is put together by the publisher of Thrift: A Cyclopedia, which is a huge collection of information about the history of thrift in the United States.  And despite having been sent a copy to use as a giveaway last year, I didn’t actually get a chance to read it before I had to send it off to the lucky winner.

So enjoy your “Thrift Week,” and stay tuned to The Non-Consumer Advocate, as I will be writing within the single subject of thrift for the entire week.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

As always, I received no compensation in exchange for this column. Images from Bring Back Thrift Week.


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