Tunnel Vision, Handkerchiefs and Moist Laundry

by Katy on September 30, 2009 · 17 comments

handkerchiefThis blog post will be short because I am fighting a cold and feel like I have tunnel vision. I can only focus on what’s in front of me, and as any parent knows, that is not good enough. Add to that a cat who decided to pee on an upholstered chair and you can pretty much guess my mentality. (I took a scalding hot shower, yet can’t seem to knock that smell out of my system. Grr . . . . )

WHO thought it was a good idea to give the kids each a kitten for Christmas last year? Oh yeah, it was me.

I spent my day doing household chores and thinking I was about to write something worthwhile. I finally gave up around 3:00 P.M. and lay down in bed to watch a library copy of Nick and Nora’s Ultimate Playlist which was perfect, and utterly not kid appropriate.

Dinner was heated up leftovers of curry and rice from two nights ago with the addition of green beans from a neighbor’s garden.

My younger son informed me that he needed a poster board for a math project at 8:00 P.M. What am I, an Office Depot?

Okay, the planet does not spin off it’s axis if a 6th grade math project is a day late. Right?

Sorry if this post is a tad more negative than usual, but the cold I’ve been “fighting” seems to have won another battle towards it’s goal of total Katy domination.

At least I have lots of cloth handkerchiefs and my outside laundry line received a lovely sprinkling of Oregon rain.

See you tomorrow fellow Non-Consumers, I gotta go to bed now.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Small Measures — A.K.A. How Losing at Scrabble Taught Me to Bring My Own Leftover Containers

by Katy on September 29, 2009 · 15 comments

Ashley English

I went to a very small liberal arts college in Nowheresville, Ohio. There were just a few hundred students on campus at a time, yet somehow each and every one of us seems to have shown up on Facebook. This re-connecting has actually been quite interesting, as many of my past friends and acquaintances have gone on to lead very interesting lives. Television producers, writers, professors, music bigwigs and even a trophy wife or two.

One of my favorite reconnections has been with Glenn English, a man I hardly knew, yet he somehow beats me soundly at online Scrabble on a regular basis. (I know he’s cheating, I just can’t figure out how!)

A wonderful side affect of this relationship is that I discovered that Glenn’s wife, Ashley English writes a wonderful blog called Small Measure. Ashley is:

Making an attempt to craft a good life in a small mountain community. I find pleasure in the light at dusk, atlases, hard cider, cat antics, dog breath, homemade ice cream and snorty laughter. I’m in the process of writing a series of books, entitled “Homemade Living,” (Lark Books) about the ways people are reconnecting with their food and food communities and taking up sustainable food practices. I also host a weekly column every Friday on Design*Sponge:

Ashley writes about cooking, chicken tending, canning, gardening and bee keeping. But there’s one feature of Small Measure that caught my eye, which is an occasional after-note where she suggests one small change to make. These little blog-lets are simple, yet very appealing.

Ashley, Thank you very much for sharing your Small Measures!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

Small Measures:

Small Measure: Find beauty where you are. It’s everywhere, no matter where you’re calling from (this post’s title is based on a Raymond Carver short story as well as a collection of short stories by the same name; R.C. is an old favorite, a sort of Tom Waits literary kin).

*Small Measure: Plant flowers for bees! If you have access to some grass or lawn or even an abandoned lot, stoop, or balconey (even a median strip will do!), consider sowing some nectar-producing seeds for honeybees and other pollinators. They’re particularly found of bee balm, mint, anise hyssop, borage, catmint, echinacea, buckwheat, yellow mustard, and basil. Bees get a source of food for transforming into honey, humans gain access to some amazing culinary and medicinal herbs-everyone wins!

Small Measure: Play board games. Decidedly low-fi, board games are a great way to entertain groups of varying ages, political persuasions, and degrees of raucousness. Laughs are usually had, brains are usually given a workout, and allegiances are usually forged. Besides, on what other occasion might you witness your step-mother imitating Cosmo Kramer, your Pop humming “Hound Dog” (while gyrating, for, you know, emphasis), and your husband sculpting a television out of clay (Thank you, Cranium!)?

*Small Measure: Bring your own to-go containers. While I love the occasional Chinese or Mexican take-out, I don’t so much love the styrofoam that such cuisine is sometimes packaged in for transit. So, instead, I schlep my own to-go containers in with me. Most restaurants will gladly accommodate the request to pack your victuals in any clean container you provide. Much like keeping canvas shopping bags in the car at all times, I keep metal Sigg containers on hand so that, should a sudden hankering for lomein hit, I’m prepared to cart away my food in a reusable vessel!

*Small Measure: Visit local farms. In fact, this weekend, the annual Family Farm Tour was happening. I had too much going on to attend, but we actually visited one of the participating farms during the Lavender Festival. Local farm visits, especially during Summer months, are fabulous ways to harvest produce at its peak, both nutritionally and flavor-wise.  Check out pickyourown for locations of local farms in your area.

*Small Measure: Wild forage! It’s entirely possible to eat for free more often than you might think. Fruits that have fallen off the vine, berries growing determinedly in wild bramble, dandelion greens peeking through parking lot cracks, chickweed spreading itself along sidewalks-it’s all there for the taking!

*Small Measure: Plant organic seeds. I opted for Johnny’s and Territorial, as well as High Mowing. Heirloom company Bakers Creek is a perennial favorite as well (be forewarned-their catalogue is straight-up produce porn; you will want everything you see!). Purchasing organically provides you with a foundation of clean, healthy plants, ensures financial viability for organic producers, and promotes genetic diversity.

*Small Measure: Use biodegradable dog and cat waste bags.These break down over time and won’t choke up the landfill. While the dogs don’t have a need for these bags out here (the forest is pretty accepting), the cats’ waste (we have 5!!!) goes into these bags, and then into a reserved pit in the back of the property to decompose. Good sources include Biobags and Four Paws.

*Small Measure: Sow the seeds you want to see in the world.I’m borrowing a bit liberally from Ghandi here, but I think he would approve. If you see something that needs to be done, hop to it!

*Small Measure: Eat a rainbow of colors at each meal. I realize that while this isn’t always achievable, it’s definitely goal-worthy. Different foods pack in different nutrients and eating a variety of hues at each meal goes far in offering an assortment of essential vitamins, nutrients, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. Plus, they make meals more visually arresting, and I think we could all use a bit more visual arrestment in our lives, no?

*Small Measure: Make slow purchases. Take your time when opting to bring something new into your home, whether it be an armchair, a drinking glass, a canister, or pillow. See what might already exist in your community. Find ways to repurpose items gathering dust in your basement, spare room, or nearby antique store. Check the local paper for estate sales and auctions (a riot of fun, especially here in the south-I mean, have you ever actually heard an auctioneer do their thing? It boggles the mind.) You could even simply rearrange your furniture if you’re anxious for a quick, albeit “slow”, fix, which my mom did ALL THE TIME when I was growing up. Whatever you do, just do it thoughtfully. Speed isn’t everything. Like the Aesop fable “The Tortoise and the Hare” indicates, “slow and steady wins the race.” Ready? Set? Mosey…..

*Small Measure: The best things in life are free. That’s it, plain and simple. Hugs, kisses, a hummingbird’s buzz, a wink from a strange old lady-no benjamins necessary.

*Small Measure: Grow something! It needn’t be grandiose or even abundant. Start small if all you have is a windowsill. I once grew beans and tomatoes inside a 3rd floor apartment from the light provided by a skylight. Growing something yourself obviously shortens the transit necessary for foods to reach the table, but it also presents opportunities for eating foods at their peak of ripeness. Growing foods also forces you to slow down. Healthy growth takes time, patience, and love.

*Small Measure: Use cloth napkins. They’re inherently more absorbent than their paper cousins, definitely more attractive, and don’t need to be tossed in the garbage at the end of every feeding session. We keep a large range and use them at every meal. Once they become oil-stained, or have one too many enduring marinara streaks to be guest-worthy, I transition them to the kitchen cloth stash, which, in a similar fashion, I use instead of paper towels. Plus, they give you a polished edge, even if you’re slurping up pizza in your jammies.

Small Measure: Air dry your laundry. You don’t need a backyard or a clothesline to showcase your business either. If you live in an apartment, simply throwing open the windows and spreading your garments over the backs of chairs or atop windowsills works splendidly. Country or suburban dwellers, well, you’ve got some room, no matter how diminutive, for even the most humble of taught lines to be hung. There’s such easy comfort that comes from watching your things, mentionable and otherwise, blowing in the wind. Plus, it’s good exercise, what with the bending over, pinning up, removing, and folding. As a bonus, you’re saving money-a perk, no doubt, but definitely not the be all, end all. Clothespins up, pin onward!

Small Measure: Carry a hankie (that’s a handkerchief, for those of you not down with nasal cloth colloquialisms). ‘Specially this time of year, when so many folks have colds. My dad has been a life-long proponent of the hankie. Of course, you’ll need more than one, as they get pretty rank pretty fast, but hankies are a much sounder choice than kleenex, environmentally-speaking. Plus, there are some pretty cool ones out there, so, depending on your predilection, you could deposit your precious nasal knowledge into a camouflaged, John Deere, paisley (Pop’s choice), or floral hankie. Allow the hankie to make a statement, about your environmental AND design choices.


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Free Night of Theater

by Katy on September 28, 2009 · 5 comments

Free Night of Theater

Like theater? Like freebies? Well then, you’re in luck!

Because Free Night of Theater is back!

This nationwide program is described as:

650 theatre companies, in 120 cities from coast to coast, opened their doors to over 65,000 new theatergoers. This year, our participating theatre companies will offer even more tickets for free. Join thousands of audience members – from Portland to Charleston, and from Houston to Minneapolis – and explore all the wonderful entertainment your local theatre community has to offer!

Last year, I was able to get two theater tickets and took my mother out for a lovely birthday evening on the town. I wasn’t exactly johnny-on-the-spot about getting looking for tickets when they were first available, and we ended up seeing a rather ahem . . . avant-garde production, which was still fun.

This year I have it marked on my calendar to go on the Free Night of Theater site on October 1st at 11:00 A.M. to get first choice of the available tickets. (My goal is to see Portland Center Stage’s production of Ragtime.) And yes, I will take my mother out for another swinging night on the town.

This annual program is an awesome opportunity for people who would not normally see plays to discover the excitement of a live performance.

Good luck, have fun, break a leg!

Make sure to put in the comments section if you score some good tickets!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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No Heat Challenge

by Katy on September 27, 2009 · 70 comments

wool socks

My buddies over at the Compact Yahoo Group have put together a No Heat Challenge. This challenge is simple — see how long you can go without firing up the ol’ furnace.

I like this challenge as it not only saves money, but is also about minimizing energy usage. A win-win situation in my book, (library of course!)

My husband installed a programmable thermostat and we partake of it greatly. We’re able to keep set the heat at 57° fahrenheit at night and then go crazy to bake the house up to a balmy 63° during the day. This may sound extreme, but it felt just fine. We all have thick flannel duvets, and there’s no reason to expect to be able to wear the same wardrobe in winter as we do in summer.

Cold during the day? Throw on a sweater. Cold at night? Add another blanket. Open up those curtains to let in the light, put on a pair of warm socks. It is not necessary to heat an entire house in order to warm the human body.

My goal is to go until November 1st until revving up the furnace. How long can you go before heating your house?

Put your name in the comments section below to add yourself to the No Heat Challenge. And make sure to include where you live.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Pride Without Prejudice

by Katy on September 26, 2009 · 13 comments

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

I am just now finishing up reading my long awaited library copy of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies which is one of the funniest books I’ve ever read. It has all the subdued strong emotion of Jane Austen’s original classic, but with “ultraviolent zombie mayhem.”

A perfect combination.

The book got me started thinking about pride, and the role it plays in my life. Pride is utterly important as well as being a complete barrier to my non-consumer lifestyle.

For example, I take a lot of pride in my home. I am very deliberate in how it is presented, both decoratively and as a place of welcome. This is not to say that I am a Katy tidy-mouse, but I do want the house to impress. The satisfaction in being able to pull together a somewhat sophisticated decor on a dime is prideful. I am aware that being willing to live in a home with a hodge-podge of free furnishings and belongings would be much more practical and inexpensive.

But I have too much pride for that.

On the other hand, I do a lot of things that others would consider beneath them. My mother owns a couple of guest cottages here in Portland, and I frequently assume the role of cleaning lady between tenants. Usually I do this for free, but she paid me this last time as she knows I am saving for my son’s upcoming class trip to Japan.

I have no problem lending a hand with housekeeping duties, and my favorite part is gleaning all the leftover food that people leave behind. And I’m not just talking about sealed goods either. This last cleaning gig provided me with:

  • Most of a half-gallon of fat free milk
  • An avocado
  • A peach
  • Most of a jar of organic blackberry jam
  • Most of a package of frozen vegetarian chicken nuggets
  • Most of a package of organic tater-tots

Keep in mind that these foodstuffs are from people my mother knows, and that despite being a nurse I am about the least germ-a-phobic person I know.

I also sorted through the somewhat moist recycling bin for returnable bottles and cans. I was able to pull out five dollar’s worth to trade in at my local Safeway.

I am willing to do what others might consider beneath them. I will reach under the Coinstar machine if I see a dime, and I will paw through recyclables to make $5. And if a tenant shows up early to find me scrubbing out a toilet, I keep it to myself that I’m a labor and delivery nurse, not a Merry Maid.

Not so prideful.

Much of what is necessary to live a frugal life is near to impossible if one is unwilling to let go of prideful notions. Buying used, accepting hand-me-downs and being willing to say no to expensive family traditions can be a difficult step for many people.

To live a life without pride would be a difficult life indeed, but a life with excessive pride can lead to living beyond your means and an inability to make changes when an economic downturn occurs.

So take note Mr. Darcy, just make sure to keep an eye out for zombies, a.k.a., the manky dreadfuls.

Is pride keeping you or someone you love from living within your means? 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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Breaking The Compact Left and Right

by Katy on September 25, 2009 · 40 comments

keen_shoesIt’s no secret that I am a dyed in the wool member of the Compact, (Buy nothing new.) I never shop recreationally in shops like Target, Nordstrom and Ikea; and the local Goodwill thrift shops fill my needs.

Well, most of the time.

As a nurse and a woman hurling headlong into my forties, I am a fan of the comfortable shoe. Not the Velcro-closure ones advertised in back of the coupon circulars, but high end brands like Dansko, Keen and Clarks. Add to that my gargantuan size ten feet and finding used shoes that look brand new, (my criteria) is a difficult task.

I like to go for long walks and not having a good pair of walking shoes was getting in the way of my exercise routine. (If you can even call it that.) So I broke down and drove the ol’ Subaru to Nordstrom Rack to just buy some shoes.

The hordes of shoppers intent on finding designer bargains was a bit of a culture shock after two-and-a-half years of steering clear of any store with the name Nord or Strom in the title. But I put on my blinders and headed over to the women’s shoe section and elbowed my way to the the shelves of size-ten shoes. Okay . . . where are all the nice comfortable yet stylish shoes like at the regular Nordstroms? These shelves were thick with Carrie Bradshaw wannabe hooker heels.

Umm . . . that’s not really my style.

I looked again just to be sure I hadn’t missed anything and sure enough, there was not one regular pair of shoes to be found.

Had I made the decision to break the Compact and then driven all this way for nothing?

At this point I started to eye the men’s section, which was gloriously free of strappy high heels. What the heck, what do I have to lose?

I quickly find a pair of men’s Keens that are remarkably similar to the women’s styles that many Portland women wear with pride. I walk these comfort-mobiles around the store asking of complete strangers:

“Do these look like men’s shoes to you?”

The consensus was that they do not shout  out “cross dresser,”  (although people may have been telling me what I wanted to hear in order to shoo away the crazy lady) and I bring my purchase up to the register.

$49.99 later and they’re all mine, all mine. And because it’s the Nordstrom Rack, there’s no packaging, which is some consolation for breaking the compact.

And yes, I did find a bright shiny penny on the floor. Cause that’s how Coin-Girl rolls.

If you followed the Compact, what would your exceptions be? 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. I also bought a set of clear glass Pyrex leftover containers with snap-on lids a few weeks back. I am moving away from storing food in plastic and the big-picture here outweighed my desire to avoid buying new. Plus, Pyrex is made in the U.S. by union workers and in packaged solely in cardboard which is 100% recyclable. Can’t get much better than that!

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Who Needs a Giggle?

by Katy on September 24, 2009 · 6 comments

For those who enjoy pure unadulterated joy, I present to you:

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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The Non-Consumer Advocate Gets Nosy With Her Fellow Frugality Writers

by Katy on September 23, 2009 · 2 comments

The following is a reprint of a previously published post. Enjoy!

I started The Non-Consumer Advocate in May of 2008 and have really enjoyed the process of putting together the blog. The writing, the reader comments — I love it all!

I’m certainly not the only person writing about frugality, as there are many, many different frugality blogs. However, there are a few key blogs I try and read daily, so I thought I would reach out and bug my fellow bloggers with a few questions. The following is the result of my frugal blogger questionnaire.

300px-jd_roth_headshotJ.D. Roth writes the daily blog Get Rich Slowly from right here in sunny Portland, Oregon. His mix of frugality tips, financial advice and simple living philosophy meshes effortlessly. His articles are always scrupulously researched, and the information given is straightforward and to the point.

1) How did you get started writing about personal finance, and what made you think your experiences were something to share?

I didn’t start by writing about personal finance. I had a “web journal” back in 1997, long before these things were called “web logs” (or, now, “blogs”). I kept the journal/blog for myself and for my family and friends. I’ve always been a writer, and I’ve always been open about my thoughts and feelings, so the public journal seemed natural.

When I began to take control of my personal finances in late 2004/early 2005, I wrote a post at my personal blog, and I called it “Get Rich Slowly”. There was a tremendous positive response to this story, and it planted the seed that maybe I should start a personal finance blog. (I didn’t realize that many such blogs already existed.) In April 2006, I started Get Rich Slowly, but without any sort of expectations. It was just a place for me to share what I was learning about money. I never thought it would have 780 readers, or 7800 readers, or 78,000 readers!

2) What have been your greatest successes?

By far my greatest success has been gaining control of my compulsive spending. Sure, I paid off $35,000 in debt in 39 months, but that was just a side effect. If I hadn’t managed to gain control of my spending, that never would have happened. So I think of my newfound frugality as my greatest financial success.

3) What has been the most surprising result that’s come from your writing?

For me, the most surprising thing is that I’ve gained some credibility in the personal finance world at large. That surprises me. I’ve had people from major magazines and websites tell me they enjoy Get Rich Slowly. I’ve had financial planners say the same thing. This is edifying, but a little scary. I’m not a financial professional. I’m just an average guy who is sharing what he learns, you know?

4) What do you feel is your biggest strength that makes you unique?

Unique? I don’t know that there’s anything that makes me unique. However, I think there are three things that make me successful at what I do.

First, I don’t pretend to have the right answers. I make certain choices based on my knowledge, but these are *my* choices for *me*. And sometimes they’re wrong. I try to emphasize that different solutions work for different people. I’m not dogmatic in my approach, but encourage people to make choices that fit their lifestyle and psychology.Second, I’m transparent about my own life. Many of my best posts are based on personal experience, and I do little to hide my mistakes and my successes. There are certain things I will not write about, but it’s not me that’s making that decision. Either my wife or my lawyer or my accountant have asked me not to cover them. My wife likes to say that “J.D. has no privacy.” She’s right. I’m willing to live a completely transparent life, especially if it helps others.Finally, I take writing seriously. I’ve loved to write as long as I can remember. I treat Get Rich Slowly as if it were a newspaper, and I try to publish only quality content. I spend hours laboring over posts. It may take only 30 minutes or an hour to write the first draft, but I’ll often spend three or four hours editing in order to make sure it reads well. One of the mantras at my site is “the perfect is the enemy of the good”, by which I mean people often spend too much time looking for perfect solutions when there’s a good solution that they can see immediately. Well, in my house, that phrase is often used when I’m spending too long editing a post. 🙂

5) Do you ever get criticized for encouraging people to live within their means?

No.

6) If you could dispense just one piece of advice, what would it be?

Do what works for you. I spent years trying to get out of debt, and was constantly frustrated by my failures. I know now that I failed because I was following the advice from the “experts” who said there was a right way to do things. It wasn’t until I read Dave Ramsey’s mind-blowing advice that went *against* the experts that I realized there was no one right way to get out of debt. Three years later, I was debt-free. The same goes for everything in the world of personal finances, and in life. There’s no one right way. There are *optimal* ways, no doubt. But if the optimal way doesn’t work, try something sub-optimal. It’s better to take a crooked path and actually reach your destination than to take the direct route and give up along the way.

The Frugal GirlKristen Cross writes The Frugal Girl blog while juggling her four young children, whom she homeschools. Her blog chronicles the daily in-and-outs of running a frugal household, with an emphasis on food waste. Her photographs, especially those than accompany her recipes are top notch, and since she writes that her goal is “to inspire other people to live on less,” I’d have to say she’s succeeding.

1) How did you get started writing about personal finance, and what made you think your experiences were something to share?

Well, people have been telling me for years that I needed to write a book about saving money, but I’ve always laughed the idea off.  While I’ve wanted to write my ideas down in order to help other people, I’ve never felt like I’ve had the time to author a book.  Blogging is a much smaller commitment than a book, though, so it’s a perfect fit for me.

Reading The Simple Dollar made me think that I could do this blogging thing, so I started a food waste blog last March.  After a few months of doing that, I decided to branch out into the larger topic of frugality.  I haven’t given up on the food waste idea, though…it’s a weekly feature on my blog.

2) What have been your greatest successes?

As a blogger, I think I feel that my greatest success has been that I’ve been able to encourage and inspire people to save money.  I find it amazing and humbling that little ol’ me is able to do that from my desktop!

3) What has been the most surprising result that’s come from your writing?

Probably that I’ve been saving money by blogging about frugality!  Not only am I helping other people, I’m helping myself too…I’m wasting almost no food, I’m spending less on groceries, I’m buying more second-hand stuff (thanks, Katy!), and so on.

I’m also very surprised at the amount of attention that blogging has brought me.  I’ve only been at this for 8 months or so, and I’ve been in the newspaper, I’ve been asked to speak at a conference (which I’m too scared to do, incidentally), and a TV production company has contacted me.   And a lot of people (well, a lot to me!) are reading what I write every day.  I guess I’m just surprised that my very ordinary, everyday lifestyle is interesting to other people.

4) What do you feel is your biggest strength that makes you unique?

Oooh, that is a hard one to answer.  I think other people would be better able to answer that than me.  Umm…I suppose the food waste thing is somewhat unique.  There are a lot of frugal blogs out there, but not many that regularly talk about food waste.  Maybe the other sort of unique thing is that I post a LOT of pictures on my blog (I’m kinda into photography!  lol).

5) Do you ever get criticized for encouraging people to live within their means?

No, but I’m sure it’s coming.  lol  When I blog, I do try to avoid having a bossy, “You should do things this way!” attitude.  Instead, I try to just offer up suggestions for anyone who wants to take them…I’m aiming for more of a “Here are some ideas that have helped me, and maybe they will help you too.” kind of thing, so perhaps that will help people to be less offended by my posts.6) If you could dispense just one piece of advice, what would it be?Just one?  lol  As far as blogging goes, I’d say that it’s very important to make your blog posts easy to read.  Proper grammar and spelling, plenty of paragraphs, and at least one picture or image per post help to make a blog post less intimidating and more readable.

nataliemcnealNatalie McNeal, A.K.A. The Frugalista started blogging for The Miami Herald in February 2008 about an initial month-long experiment to cut out any extraneous spending. She saved hundreds of dollars and lost weight to boot. She was hooked. The Frugalista Files continues on to this day, and she just completed a second No-Buy-Month, which received tremendous amounts of national attention. In a genre that is dominated by stay-at-home moms, Natalie’s single gal perspective is a welcome addition.

1) How did you get started writing about personal finance, and what made you think your experiences were something to share?

In February 2008, I went a month without spending any extra money, calling it a “No-Buy Month.” I blogged about it and saved $400. Before the No-Buy Month, I would always try to “get a handle” on my finances, but I wasn’t doing a good enough job. No-Buy Month cleared that right up.

2) What have been your greatest successes?

I love interacting with readers and meeting new people. The Oxford University Press named the word “frugalista” a finalist for Word of the Year in 2008 and linked to my blog. I was on CNN every weekend this month. CNN anchor Betty Nguyen did a story on a “Day in My Life” as a Frugalista.

3) What has been the most surprising result that’s come from your writing?

That people get me. When you launch a blog, you never know the response.

4) What do you feel is your biggest strength that makes you unique?

I’m a normal girl who wants to pamper her budget and lifestyle.

5) Do you ever get criticized for encouraging people to live within their means?

Not really. It’s kind of the thing to do right now 😉

6) If you could dispense just one piece of advice, what would it be?

Keep blogging!

Thank you to everyone who took to the time to answer my questionnaire, I really appreciate it!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Step it Up!

by Katy on September 22, 2009 · 17 comments

Stairs

I used to live in New York city in a third floor walkup. Frankly, it was kind of a pain in the tuchus. Lugging groceries up those stairs sometime meant the difference between buying applesauce, (Which I really like, but  is tragically heavy) or not. I always had to think about the weight of my food purchases.

But you know what? I lost so much weight that I got asked to model. Sure, it was skanky strangers on the street who claimed to be modeling agents, but I digress.

Fast forward a couple of decades and no one asks me about modeling, skanky or otherwise. The pounds have crept on and applesauce fits quite nicely into my Honda mini-van.

My friend Marie Javins posted a recent NY Magazine article about the benefits of taking the stairs vs. the elevator on her Facebook page.

This quote caught my attention:

“Stair-climbing is a more efficient form of exercise than walking: Two additional minutes of stair-climbing per day (approximately three floors) can burn more than enough calories to eliminate the average adult’s annual weight gain.”

Sure, we all know climbing stairs is healthier than standing still in an upwardly mobile box, but its so much easier to just take the easy route when tired, loaded down or  just feeling sluggish.

I work on the third floor of my hospital, and try to avoid the elevator, but sometimes my asthma is acting up or my back is hurting. Really, any excuse to join my co-workers in the elevator is accepted without question.

Having just finished Colin Beavan’s No Impact Man: The Adventures of a Guilty Liberal Who Attempts to Save the Planet and the Discoveries He Makes About Himself and Our Way of Life in the Process, elevator use is fresh in my mind. I actually took the stairs down from work today, not as exercise, but to save electricity.

Good for your body and saves electricity? What a fabulous combination! And maybe, just maybe, my asthma and sore back would lessen if I were to drop a pound or two.  It is however too late at age 41 to start that modeling career. I guess I’ll just have to stick with being a registered nurse and blogger.

Do you choose the stairs over the elevator? 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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The Worth of Individual Action

by Katy on September 21, 2009 · 9 comments

no-impact-man

I just finished reading Colin Beavan’s No Impact Man: The Adventures of a Guilty Liberal Who Attempts to Save the Planet and the Discoveries He Makes About Himself and Our Way of Life in the Process. One of the main themes throughout the book is whether there is worth in individual action when so much of the environmental damage being done is at a Corporate level.

Do we make any difference when we hang dry our laundry, switch over to CFL light bulbs and buy organic?

Beavan’s year long project to try and make no impact was both highly praised and highly criticized. Isn’t shifting the onus of the environmental crisis onto the individual simply giving an easy out to industry? Isn’t the real change policy change?

Luckily, change comes both from the individual and the collective.

  • I choose to be part of The Compact, which means I buy nothing new.
  • Because I buy nothing new, almost everything that comes into my house is free of packaging.
  • Because I’m not buying crap, there is not new crap being manufactured to fill that void.
  • Because I recycle, compost and minimize what comes into my house, my family of four produces a very small amount of garbage.
  • Because I save so much money with this lifestyle, I only have to work (and commute) two days per week.

The list of my individual actions goes on and on. Although really, none of it is all that earth shattering.

On the collective/ big picture side of things, I write a blog about issues of frugality, sustainability and simple living which is read by thousands of people per day, who then also take action on an individual scale.

I believe that no one is going to try and make changes on a large scale without first making changes at an individual level. It is these personal changes that empower people to start seeing the bigger picture. Like the breathing mask that drops down in an airplane. You have to take care of yourself before helping those around you.

So was there worth to Colin Beavan’s year of no impact? Absolutely so. Not only did he change his life for the better, but he wrote about it and inspired others to make changes as well.

Beavan also founded No Impact Project which, “is an international, environmental, nonprofit project, founded by Colin Beavan in the spring of 2009. It was inspired by the No Impact Man book, film, and blog.”

See? First the personal, then the collective!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

P.S. I will be writing a more in-depth piece about Colin Beavan’s No Impact Man book after I attend his reading this Thursday, which I’m very much looking forward to.

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