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Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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Although I have only been a Compacter, (buy nothing new) for three years, I have been a tightwad for ages. I remember making my childhood allowance last forever, and I saved so much money from babysitting and $3.35 per hour minimum wage jobs in high school that I was able to travel abroad for a year and still not need a student loan my first year of college.
What can I say? I prefer hanging onto my money to mindless shopping.
When my kids were little, I reveled in sewing creative patches onto the knees of their thrift store jeans. I obsessively went through Amy Dacyczyn’s The Complete Tightwad Gazette with a fine tooth comb, and made a lot of gifts by hand. I also stocked up on 28¢ boxes of macaroni and cheese and scored cheap toys from Target and Wal Mart.
Things have changed — my life is no longer focused on saving money at any cost.
I now refuse to buy boxed macaroni and cheese, preferring instead to cook wholesome meals from scratch. I want no part of cheaply made products and there ain’t a big enough bargain on this green earth to entice me into a Wal Mart. No Siree Bob!
Don’t get me wrong, I still geek out on frugality, but not if it grossly counteracts the sustainability.
I do love saving money, but that passion is definitely playing second fiddle to the big picture these days. Excessive packaging, whether it be for household packaging or food is a complete turn off. And that three pack of lotion that my husband picked up at Costco last week? Getting returned, as the non-recyclable blister pack is beyond ridiculous.
Saving money is definitely more fun than making sustainable choices, but that’s okay, I don’t need to be having fun at all times. And I would still sew decorative patches on my the knees of my kid’s jeans, if they would only let me. Silly style conscious teenager.
Are you finding that frugality is not the end all, be all that it used to be? Are you willing to spend a little extra to make the sustainable choice? 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 wrote the other day about tucking leftover cranberry sauce into a double batch of scones, and a number of readers asked me to share my recipe.
I started making scones years ago while in nursing school, as I found them to be quick, easy, versatile and the perfect gift, (who among us is not overjoyed to receive a still-warm-from-the-oven buttery scone?) Plus, the ingredients are so basic as to always be on hand. The recipe I used then, and still use is from the 1990 New York Times cookbook. Here is the recipe as written:
Tea Scones
2 cups sifted flour 2 Tablespoons sugar 3 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 5 Tablespons butter 1 egg, beaten 3/4 cup milk, approximately
- Preheat the oven to 425°.
- Sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
- Chop in the butter with a pastry blender until the flour coated particles of butter are the size of course cornmeal.
- Add the egg and about three quarters of the milk. Stir quickly and lightly, only until no flour shows. Add more milk if needed to make a soft dough.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead gently about 15 times. Cut the dough in half. Shape each half into a ball, press each down into a round about 1/2 inch thick and cut into wedges like a pie.
- Place the wedges on a greased cookie sheet without allowing the sides to touch. Glazed if desired with a lightly beaten egg. Bake until deep golden brown, about 12 minutes.
Because I don’t like to follow rules, (I’m a rebel) and because I like to experiment, I never actually bake these scones to the letter. Here are the changes that I make:
- Substitute 1/2 a cup of the flour with oatmeal.
- Add the zest of an orange or lemon, or whatever citrus fruit I happen to have laying around my kitchen.
- Mix in extra goodies such as dried cranberries, berries, chocolate chips or even leftover cranberry sauce.
- I never glaze the tops with a beaten egg, but I do always pat cinnamon sugar onto the tops before cutting into wedges.
- I have never buttered the pan, as the scones are buttery enough to not have sticking be an issue. Thank you very much.
- I usually double the recipe, so that we have enough to share with neighbors. The burden of work and clean up is the same either way.
Here are other recipes from my series of Cheap Eats:
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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Looking for inspiration in your quest to de-commercialize the holiday season? Then look no further than Jo Robinson and Jean Coppock Staeheli’s classic book, UnplugThe Christmas Machine: A Complete Guide to Putting Love and Joy Back into The Season.
Here’s a short excerpt from the book:
The one concern that united virtually all the people we’ve talked to is a yearning for a simpler, less commercial, more soul-satisfying celebration. There is a universal wish to end the year with a festival of renewal that rekindles our faith, brings us closer to the people we care about, and brings lights and laughter to the dark days of winter. We want to ward off the commercial excesses of the season and create an authentic, joyful celebration in tune with our unique needs and desires.
Unlike other book contests, where I have given away a brand new book mailed to me from the publisher, this book was skillfully procured from my local Goodwill thrift shop! I was actually reading this as a library book when I came across the Goodwill copy, and thought to myself that it would make the perfect Non-Consumer Advocate giveaway. It even has a hand written note in the front from the original owner!
To enter the contest, just write in the comments section about what you’re doing to de-commercialize the holidays. The winner will be chosen at random, please enter only once. The contest ends on December 9th at 12 A.M., Pacific time zone. Good luck!
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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I had a fantabulous day today. I had a two hour class at work today, and because my workplace is nine miles away, I decided to make the most of this long drive.
And how do I make the most of driving all the way across town for a measly two work commitment?
Thrift stores baby, thrift stores.
After dropping checks off at the credit union, (I love my savings account so much that yes, I wish I could marry it!) I snaked my way across town hitting four different thrift stores as well as The Dollar Tree. Supposedly I was holiday shopping, but I found more for moí than anyone else.
The first thrift shop was a bust, but I struck gold at the Broadway Goodwill. I bought:
- A cool circa 1950’s bulldog cookie jar. (I have been looking for a vintage cookie jar as long as I can remember, and today was my lucky day.) $3.99.
- A tub of vintage marbles. These marbles could easily be sold for at least $50, so the $2.99 that I spent was a great deal.
- A $1.99 copy of Unplug The Christmas Machine, which I will use as a give-away on the blog.
I then walked across the street to The Dollar Tree store where I bought five bags of tortillas plus a jar of marinated red peppers. Tortillas at the grocery store cost at least $3, so $1 apiece is a great deal. The brand is exactly the same and it was nowhere near its expiration date. I threw them in the freezer.
I then drove across the river and hit up the West Burnside Goodwill store, where I scored:
- A like-new pair of boy’s Vans brand sneakers for $4.99. I was going to save them for Christmas, (as my son has been begging for a pair) but I decided to give them to him today as it occurred to me that a pair of used shoes that had the possibility of not actually fitting would be an extremely crappy Christmas present. Luckily, they fit.
- A large hanging canvas closet organizer for $4.99. I Set this up in the closet of our spare bedroom, which now means that towels no longer have to sit on a shelf, which frees up a whole big shelf for toiletries. (We have zero storage in our one bathroom and no linen cupboard, so keeping all the bathroom stuff organized is a challenge.)
- More wooden hangers for $1.99. Taking all our clothes off of plastic hangers and replacing them with sturdy wooden hangers has made me realize that I actually care more about have a pleasingly organized closet than I actually care about the clothes. Seriously.
- A small glass Pyrex bowl complete with snap-on lid for $1.99. Sweeeet!
- A Folkmanis brand $1.99 stuffed animal of a caterpillar that turns into a butterfly for my five-year-old niece. She was very clear during my last Seattle trip that visiting her without bringing a present is not acceptable. I will make sure that her holiday presents are without reproach.
The last stop on my journey was the William Temple House thrift shop. This store is in an area that can be near to impossible to find a parking space, but I scored a spot directly in front. (Yay!) I bought:
- A $1 drinking glass that completes a set we use. We were down to seven of these glasses, which was kind of annoying, as we often are serving meals for eight people.
- A $1 canvas tote bag, which I will use as part of a Christmas gift that I will be giving.
The best part of shopping here is that I have a gift certificate that I’ve been slowly chipping away at for two years. As of today, I’m down to $7.
The work class was everything I had hoped and dreamed. But at least I didn’t drive a long distance without anything to show for it. And yes, I stopped to buy lettuce and ginger snaps on the way home. Because what use is a cookie jar without the cookies?!
I do have to say that holiday gift shopping is so much more fun when it’s combined with the thrill of the hunt. I ♥ thrift stores so very much.
P.S. I did buy some actual holiday gifts, but I am unable to write about them because certain people have been known to read my blog.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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I’m a very concrete thinker. I always have been and I doubt I’ll ever change. But lately, I’ve started believing in magic. Not the Harry Potter “Wingardium Leviosa” style magic, but the “Wow, this is delicious! How could this possibly have been made from leftovers?” variety of magic.
I had been over at my friend Sasha’s house, (collecting a hand-me-down armchair with ottoman) when she offered me one of her husband’s muffins.
“Mmm . . . these are good, are they raspberry?”
“No, they’re cranberry.”
Cranberry, huh? I have a huge bowl of leftover Thanksgiving cranberry sauce in my fridge. So entrancingly beautiful, yet kind of challenging to fit into everyday eating.
Inspired, I drove home and baked up a double batch of scones, into which I scooped a big ol’ dollop of cranberry sauce. The resulting scones were beyond delicious. Warm and buttery, with that tart cranberry sweetness. I had thought that by making a double batch, I would be ensured have enough for school lunches. But sneaky boys (and snacky adults) quickly inhaled every. Last. Crumb.
This mindset of consciously tucking leftovers into new dishes is not all that difficult, I just have to keep a vague mental tally of my refrigerator contents. For example, tonight’s dinner was burritos made with leftover brown rice, a can of black beans, salsa, a sprinkle of bulk purchased taco seasoning and some pre-shredded “Mexican style” cheese that I bought last week and had thrown into the freezer. (It was at its sell-by date and cost $2.25 minus $2.25 in sticker-coupons — I bought all 14 seven-ounce bags for the freezer!) This dinner was super tasty, and all the extra ingredients hid the fact that the brown rice was starting to get a little dry.
Creating new meals out of leftovers is nothing new and certainly not rocket science, but it does take some effort and forethought. A recent study showing that a whopping 40% of all food produced in the United States is wasted is a good reminder to not let my vigilance slip in the Waste No Food Challenge. And if I have to bake up multiple batches of cranberry scones, well then I guess that’s just my patriotic duty.
Urp.
Are you working hard to decrease your role in food waste? 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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My column on Sustainable Holidays is being featured today over at Ashley English’s wonderful blog, Small Measures.
Click here to read Ashley’s Sustainable Holidays column.
Thank you very much to Ashley for her kind words and letting me borrow her husband for excessive Scrabble-age. I thank you seven letters at a time.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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The standard advice from financial columnists is to pay for stuff on a cash basis. Credit cards, even debit cards supposedly separate a person from the reality of how much money is being spent. Cash, on the other hand forces a person to be hyper aware of expenditures.
I am the complete opposite.
I actually spend much, much more freely with cash in hand than if I’m swiping a debit card.
I somehow adopt an attitude of “sure, why not” when making purchasing decisions if my wallet bulges with actual money.
The reasoning for this may be because I rarely carry cash, so it’s an exciting treat when I actually have some.
“Oooh a ten dollar bill. I think I’ll grab lunch from the work cafeteria as a treat.”
Now, I want to hear from you. (I’ve been wanting to publish a poll for awhile, and this is the perfect opportunity.)
Please also share your thoughts on cash vs. debit 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 have started my holiday shopping in earnest. This does not mean that I braved the 4:00 A.M. crowds for Black Friday, nor does it mean that I clicked my way through the internet for Cyber Monday. Shopping for me means hitting the thrift shops with an eye for gift giving.
I drove my younger son and myself up to Seattle on Friday morning to hang out with my sister and her family for the weekend. This is not only frugal, (scamming her Thanksgiving leftovers, which we ate delicious three nights in a row!) but is also shoptastic, because:
Sisters Wolk-Stanley + holiday season = Goodwill!
And my dear sister taught me an awesome lesson, which is that Oregon residents don’t have to pay Washington sales tax when shopping in their fair state. It did require a few minutes to fill out paperwork, but it saved me a couple of bucks!
Katy Wolk-Stanley + Goodwill discount = happy Non-Consumer Advocate!
We hit up both the main Goodwill and the Ballard store. (We pretended we were in the area to take the kids to the zoo, but who were we kidding?)
I bought:
- An Asian style button up dude shirt for my older son.
- An Asian style button up dude shirt for my younger son.
- Three Japanese manga graphic novels for the boys.
- A darling top for myself.
- A darling skirt for myself.
- A brand new Neopets trading card game for my younger son.
- Twelve brand new wooden hangers. (I am slowly replacing all my plastic hangers with wooden ones.)
I normally buy gifts all year long and then fill in the gaps come December, but I have been very disciplined this year and mostly kept out of the thrift stores. But last year’s snow storm taught me a lesson to not put the shopping off until the last minute, and I’m really quite enjoying the whole digging through the crap to find the treasure experience.
What can I say? I’m a cheap date!
Are you in full swing for your holiday shopping? Please share your finds and 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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The following is a reprint of a previously published post. Enjoy!
I am a big fan of the regift.
We all receive gifts that are not our taste, not our style, not our cup of tea.
And just because someone gave me a gift, doesn’t mean I have to keep it forever. Or frankly, even use it ever.
My favorite regift story is from a few years past.
My father and step-mother were getting married after 17 years of living together, which included a beloved 15-year-old daughter. Their wedding was the apex of casual — just a gathering of three friends plus family members in their living room. A minister officiated.
It was so casual that my little sister had to be called to come down from her room, because, “your parents are getting married!”
She wore jeans.
My father and step-mother were insistent that they didn’t want any presents. I tried to tell them that I would like to buy them something special, but they were quite firm on the matter.
So I snuck into their house and stole their Cuisinart food processor.
My step-mother is an incredible cook, and she uses her food processor on an almost daily basis. It is her beloved baby, and I shudder to think what would happen if she were asked to choose between the Cuisinart and a loved one. (I think we’d be out on the street faster than you could say, “pureed soup.”)
She called me up a few days later, asking me if I remembered seeing the Cuisinart when I was at the house last.
“Hmm. . . I don’t really remember. Why do you ask?”
“I think someone broke into the house and stole the Cuisinart!”
“No? Really? That’s insane! Walked past the stereo and computer and stole the Cuisinart? There must be a rational answer.”
The evening of the wedding rolls around, and I show up with a big heavy present, wrapped in traditional shiny silver wedding paper.
My step-mom was dismayed that her wishes were not being honored.
“Oh no Katy, I told you we didn’t want any presents!”
“But I really wanted to get you something special. Something I knew you would use and appreciate.”
(I’m playing it for all it’s worth at this point, and having a lot of fun.)
We sit down and my step-mother opens her wedding present to find . . . her own Cuisinart! Complete with splatters of food and dustings of flour!
It was a hit.
And my step-mother still can’t tell the story of her wedding present without peals of hysterical laughter.
Like regifting stories? The website regiftable.com has a great archive of people’s most mortifying regifting stories. They’re wonderful, and it’s certainly the season for it.
Do you have any good regifting stories? Tell us about it in the comments section below.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
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