My "Thrifty Threads" are Now Famous!

by Katy on September 10, 2009 · 2 comments

Katy Wolk-Stanley

Angela over at My Year Without Spending is featuring yours truly in her Thrifty Threads feature today, which is described as:

“Thrifty Threads, AKA Most Stylish Compact-y Outfit, where readers model their favorite secondhand clothes.”

Here’s a juicy excerpt:

Katy found this chic ensemble at her preferred venue, Goodwill. Actually, the pants came from Goodwill but the cute green top cost 50 cents at a garage sale. I wish there were garage sales like that in my neighborhood! Katy says the pants were a little pricey at $7, but they fit her perfectly. And the super-cool shades set her back a dollar, also found at Goodwill. Katy calls them her “don’t bother me, I’m a celebrity” sunglasses. I am SO envious, no joke. You should see my sunglasses. The chance of a pair like these showing up at our neighborhood Goodwill? When pigs fly.

Click here to read Angela’s column and learn the significance of the drink, sharpies and cash.

Don’t forget to send your Fabulous Frugal Finds to nonconsumer@comcast.net for your 15 minutes of celebrity fame.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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Elmo Tells it Like it is Concerning "Tough Times"

by Katy on September 9, 2009 · 6 comments

Public television’s irrepressible red giggling puppet has undergone a change in his family and he wants to tell you all about it. Because you see, Elmo’s mom has lost her job.

Sesame Street has put together a prime time special titled, “Families Stand Together” that will run tonight on the subject of how to stay strong when a family member loses their job. In the television special, Elmo and family have to learn the difference between wants, (toys) and needs, (food.)

I think these lessons hold value for any child, even if all the adults are gainfully employed. After all, how many of us have not been the target of a child whining that “But Mom, (Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Katy, etc) I neeeeeed that toy?”

Unfortunately, it does not appear to be airing here in Portland, Oregon, although the video below gives a very good overview of the show. Hopefully, PBS will make this show available to watch online.

Update: Click here to watch the program in it’s entirety.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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The Non-Consumer Advocate Hits Albany, New York

by Katy on September 9, 2009 · 2 comments

Naomi SeldinNaomi Seldin, who who pens a blog titled Simpler Living, for Albany New York’s The Times Union has written up a very nice piece about The Non-Consumer Advocate.

Seldin’s tagline of “Living well with less” has been on an ongoing quest to declutter her life, which she then shares on her blog. It’s fascinating stuff and good reading to boot!

Click here to read Seldin’s column, which includes a short list (with links) to some of my favorite Non-Consumer Advocate pieces.

Thank you Naomi!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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In Defense of Productivity

by Katy on September 8, 2009 · 3 comments

I like laying around and doing nothing as much as the next person, (more likely a little bit more.) I even write entire columns devoted to the subject. But sometimes, I really like to have an entire day devoid of activities so that I can blaze through a to-do list.

Today’s was my sons’ first day back at school. I was sad about their impending absence  and even had to take a moment and compose myself in front of the school this morning. They really are such good company.

The one thing I had not realized, was now that my kids are at the same school, I now have an two extra hours every day to myself.

Let me explain.

For the last two years, one son went to school from 8:00 A.M. – 2:15 P.M., while the other went from 9:15 A.M.- 3:45 P.M. This meant I only had from 9:00 A.M. – 2:10 P.M. each day to fill. With bus schedules what they are, I now have from 9:00 A.M. – 4:20 P.M.

This is a big difference.

Even with a new parent’s meeting and futzing around the house for awhile, I still had the most enormous amount of time to actually get some stuff accomplished.

  • I took a long walk, which included putting money in the bank. (Found a nickel.)
  • Cleaned the living and dining rooms.
  • Did a huge grocery shopping trip, which I hadn’t done for a couple of weeks. (Found a dime.)
  • Chatted on the phone with my sister, which featured a good gossip about mutual friends.
  • Made myself a lovely lunch, (toasted cheese with fresh garden tomatoes.)
  • Listened to Amy Tan’s Saving Fish From Drowning.
  • Stopped by the library and picked up the second season of Mad Men.
  • Made snacks for school lunches, (chocolate chip bran muffins and rice crispy treats to use up the marshmallows bought for our beach trip.)
  • I also goofed around on the computer and played a little online Scrabble, (totally addictive!) and even made pizza from scratch for dinner.

What’s my point here? There is something to be said for letting downtime be a priority, but there’s also something so cathartic about knocking out that to-do list.

But I actually think I may finally have time to prioritize both the productive and non-productive sides of myself.

This may seem obvious, but I’m going to point it out anyway. I have this much spare time because of the frugal choices I make on a daily basis that allow me to work 16 hours per week.

Do you get enough time to fulfill your downtime and uptime needs? 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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It's Zero Waste Week and Clotheslines Across America!

by Katy on September 7, 2009 · 8 comments

My Zero Waste

This week recognizes the shared distinction of being both Zero Waste Week and the start of Clotheslines Across America.

My Zero Waste is the creation of Britain’s Mrs. Green in an effort to put the spotlight on the issues of wastefulness and rubbish output in the U.K. and beyond.

Mrs. Green and her family of three have yet to require a garbage pick-up this year, which is pretty darned impressive in my book.

I just put out my trash today for my monthly pick-up, which had been five weeks in the making. My 20 gallon bin was full, full, full and almost too heavy to lift. We won’t even talk about what five-week-old cat litter smells like once it’s been through a heat wave or two. I’ll just let you use your imagination.

Zero Waste Week is Mrs. Green’s concentrated effort to help the rest of learn how to decrease our garbage output. Click here to learn all you can about Zero Waste Week.

Project Laundry List's Awesome Ride

Project Laundry List's Awesome Ride

Alexander Lee is the founder of Project Laundry List, a non-profit advocacy group working to ensure the rights of laundry-hanger-uppers across our great nation. Lee’s group has not only helped enact legislation for The Right to Dry, but is currently on a East coast-ish Clotheslines Across America tour to publicize the issues of clothesline bans and spread the gospel of evaporation.

Mr. Lee is now on tour, traveling to nine cities and towns including New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA; Washington, DC; St. Louis, MO; and Aurora, ON. British filmmaker Steven Lake will follow his every move. Project Laundry List is making air-drying and cold-water washing acceptable and desirable as simple and effective ways to save energy when cleaning your clothes.

Lee even has a Project Laundry List Facebook group to keep us all up to date.

And one last thing, Alexander is asking for donations to support Project Laundry List through his Facebook Group in lieu of birthday gifts.

So . . . Happy 35th Birthday Alex, it’s all uphill from here!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

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A Lazy Non-Consumer Day

by Katy on September 6, 2009 · 7 comments

umbrella

Today was day two of classic Portland style rain, and it was kind of a nice break from the monotony of lovely weather. (See? I’m a true Oregonian!) There was no pressure to be out hiking, biking or otherwise participating in outdoor activities.

The perfect excuse to cozy up in my “shopaholic” flannel pajamas and indulge in a bit of a sleeping in.

I did get my act in gear in time to walk my son over to The Bagdad Theater for a 2:00 o’ clock matinee of Aliens in the Attic, which was actually pretty funny and certainly worth the $4 for the two of us.

We strolled over to the Hawthorne Fred Meyer on our way home and partook of some tasty samples of English cheeses, chocolate truffles, chocolate soy milk and cookies. I found 51 cents and we bought the ingredients for my son’s homemade soda, (apple juice concentrate, seltzer water, two limes and a lemon.)

We somehow escaped the rain in both directions and arrived home to a blissfully quiet house, as band practice had ended and my older son had gone over to a friend’s house. My younger son spent some time making paper crafts while I got our once a month garbage pick-up organized.

I know that once the kids are back in school, I will start working on some projects that I have let sit on the back burner throughout the summer months. I have a speech to prepare for, a couple of guest columns to write, interview questions to answer and other grown up responsibilities that will require my attention.

I want to find a web designer to work with who can help me turn The Non-Consumer Advocate into an interactive website with discussion areas and other features. I also will be including advertising, as I spend hours every day working on the blog and so far have done it as a labor of love. Fear not, my loyal readers. I will continue to write a daily blog column on the same issues of frugality, sustainability and simple living. I just feel there’s room for advertisers who support these values.

I look forward to focusing on these tasks, but I also am saddened by the boys’ imminent return to school. They are such good company. I am aware that these completely lassez-faire days are about to end.

Tomorrow will be our last day together before the start of the new school year. I think we’ll sleep in and pamper ourselves silly.

Are your children heading back to school this week? 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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Why Goodwill Will Always Rock My World

by Katy on September 6, 2009 · 28 comments

Levi's Carpenter Jeans

My day started innocently enough. I spent a few hours pulling all the food from the refrigerator until I found the covert source of smell that was starting to peel the paint from the kitchen walls. Once the offending rice and beans were demoted to the compost bin, I had a bit of free time before needing to drive across town to pick my son up from a sleepover.

Which in my world means — Goodwill time!

I don’t know if it was a back -to-school thing or simply a typical Saturday afternoon at the Portland main Goodwill, but the joint was hopping. The parking lot was full and all the aisles were crowded with bargain hunters. I kind of like having the store a little more to myself, but I figured I’d take a quick look around for my current mental keeping an eye out list. (Backpack, tea kettle, jeans for the 13-year-old, like-new Vans for either boy, Sigg bottle, Pyrex leftover containers with lids.)

I maneuvered myself through the hordes, all the while noting that everything looked thoroughly picked over and was having zero luck in checking anything off my list. I did eventually come across a pair of Levi’s carpenter-style jeans that looked like they would fit my 13-year-old, who is growing faster than should be legal. The price of $4.99 was hardly a fabulous bargain, but they were in perfect condition and I know the pants that fit him at the end of the school year would no longer work. (Goodwill is good about returns, so I could always bring them back if they didn’t fit.)

Once brought home and duly tried on and approved, the jeans were unceremoniously dumped onto a laundry pile.

So this evening I’m putting a load of laundry in the wash, absentmindedly turning everything rightside out and giving the pockets a quick once over.

Wait a minute, what’s that crinkly sound in the front pocket of the new Levi’s? Why, it’s three one dollar bills!

Yup, my son’s $4.99 Goodwill jeans came with $3 in the pocket!

Which I consider to be waaay more fun than a $2 pair of jeans! And is why no one will ever convince me that buying brand new clothing could possibly complete with my sweet, sweet Goodwill.

By the way, those jeans would have cost at least $40 new, as he now wears adult sizes. And yes, that $3 will be joining my ever-growing savings account. Because if this doesn’t fit in the category of unexpected money, I don’t know what does!

Think this is a once-in-a-lifetime find? My sister once found a ten-dollar-bill in her son’s Goodwill pants, and I know a woman who found a diamond ring in the pocket of a Goodwill jacket.

Are you a rabid thrift store shopper? 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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Demise of a Home Haircutter

by Katy on September 4, 2009 · 27 comments

RosannaDanna_l

I have written before about my secret home haircutting skills which have literally saved my family hundreds of dollars through the years. But the particular boy’s cut that I have perfected looks fabulous on a two year old, even good on a ten-year-old, but unfortunately not so fab on a 14-year-old.  Which is why I finally marched my sons over to Barber-Q, the local barbershop/salon for their back to school haircuts.

My older son has been rocking the long hair over the past couple of years, but lately it’s has gotten completely out of control. His hair is bright platinum blond and is as thick as thieves. He’s not a big fan of putting brush to hair and usually showers at night, which means he wakes up with a wild mane of hair the likes not seen since Gilda Radner’s classic Rosanne Rosannadanna character.

I had last taken him in for a hair cut in January with a friend whose gentle hairdressing skills would not put my son’s weird haircut paranoia into hyperdrive. Unfortunately, she did more thinning than actual cutting. Plus, her prices were waaaay more than I usually pay. (I want to support local businesses, but not at the expense of my budget.)

The woman whose runs Barber-Q around the corner from our house charges only $7.99, and actually does a pretty fantastic job. I had taken my younger son there for her opening day $2.99 special and been greatly pleased. Not only was her cut pretty damned good, but she related really well with my son. Sooo much better than battling with a whiny child at home. THAT is $2.99 definitely well spent!

The end of this story is that both my sons got terrific haircuts, my 14-year-old looks better than he has for years and I feel perfectly fine having spent $20 for two haircuts. I supported a local small business, (literally small — the space used to be a garage!) and made another nice connection in my neighborhood.

Will I ever cut their hair again? I’m sure I will, but I do not want them to not be laughing stocks in middle and high school. I will continue to buzz cut my husband’s hair and get free haircuts for myself from the Aveda Institute of Portland.

Their complete disinterest in how they looked was great while it lasted, but that era has ended.

Are you a home haircutter, closet or otherwise? 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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The Varied Forms of Food Waste

by Katy on September 4, 2009 · 22 comments

food waste

The one and only lowlight of my recent trip to the Oregon coast was a spectacularly bad meal in a rather expensive restaurant. I ordered a bowl of clam chowder with a salad and my sons both treated themselves to seafood platters.

It was a huge disappointment.

The clam chowder was so thick and gelatanous that I actually tried the will it support the upright position of a metal spoon test. And yeah, it did — for over 30 minutes. The boys’ breaded seafood tasted like it had been battered and fried, sat around awhile and then re-fried when we placed our orders.

We hardly ate any of it.

The spectacular ocean view only slightly distracted from the vast array of uneaten food that littered our table. When the waitress asked if we wanted to pack up our leftovers I reluctantly declined. Yes, it was a shameful waste, but I did not see the point in forcing ourselves to eat unpalatable and unhealthy food in the name of food waste reduction.

I refuse to eat awful food unless I am truly ravaged with hunger, which I wasn’t.

The other form of food waste that doesn’t garner that much attention is overeating.

I certainly find myself eating beyond satiety because I don’t want to be *gasp* a food waster. I doubt there are many among us who do not make this a regular practice. Food is precious, we all know this. So we clean our plates, and often those of our children’s as well.

Must be a member of the clean plate club!

One could take this idea of overeating is food waste to a severe extreme. Do we really need ice cream, coffee or wine? How about spices or sugar?

But food is not simply calories with nutrients, it’s one of life’s great pleasures. It’s flavors and textures, sweet and salty, conversation and company.

But eating significantly beyond our caloric needs really is a form of food waste. I must be doing it, otherwise I wouldn’t be sporting these extra pounds that round out my Wolk-Stanley-esque curves.

But knowing that overeating is a form of food waste and doing something about it is hardly simple to address.

One book that takes a very research based approach to how our food intake is influenced by external factors is Mindless Eating:  Why We Eat More Than We Think, by Brian Wansink. This highly fascinating book recounts University studies that probe why we eat how much we do. (To give you an idea how engrossing this book is, my library copy was read by two completely separate house guests over the summer!)

It’s certainly true that there would be more food available if we were all to eat a little less. Unfortunately, the relationship between hunger and food waste in the home is not always so direct.

How do you feel about these forms of food waste? Should I have packed up the restaurant leftovers and gagged it down at a later date? Do you consider overeating to be a form of food waste? 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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Deliriously Happy About Garbage

by Katy on September 3, 2009 · 8 comments

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

I just notched down my 20 gallon garbage service from every week to once a month. The reasoning was both environmental and financial. The change would force us to be super-finicky about how much garbage our family is producing, (always a good thing) plus it saves us five dollars per month. I know the money difference may seem minimal, but I feel a $60 per year savings is nothing to sneeze at.

What I didn’t consider, was how the added stress of “Oh crap, it’s Sunday, I gotta’ do the garbage” would suddenly become a monthly pain instead of weekly. Ahh . . . .

We got home from our trip to Seattle at 10:15 last night. I saw that the neighbors all had their bins neatly lined up, ready for garbage day. After the schlep of luggage and sleepy kids, the last thing I wanted to deal with was garbage night. But then I remembered that I didn’t have to put our garbage out! I was happy, deliriously happy that our 3-1/2 hour drive was not topped off with the tedious chore of garbage gathering. Garbage happy!

So many changes made in the name of frugality and green living can bring about extra household work. For example, I love hanging clothes on the clothesline, but am fully aware that it takes longer than throwing everything into the electric dryer. I love my clothesline, and am willing to make this change because I know it’s better for the environment, makes the clothes last longer and saves money. Plus I really enjoy it.

I now get to delete the garbage chore from my mental to-do list 75% of the time. And those are some numbers I can stand behind.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

Check out myzerowaste.com for more information about reducing your family’s garbage/rubbish output.

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