The Non-Consumer Advocate

1. I still haven’t been thrifting, but I did sell a few things, including:

   • A groovy midcentury plate that I bought for $1.99 and sold for $38.
   • A handmade Christmas tree skirt that I bought for $2.50 and sold for $20.
   • A high quality Wizard of Oz guard costume that I bought for $7.99 and sold for $40.
   • An Atomic Ranch magazine that I bought for 25¢ and sold for $10.
   • A Jadeite mug that I bought for maybe $2.99 and sold for $25.
   • A pair of Hoka sneakers that I bought for $4.99 and sold for $30.

2. I treated our brick back patio to a thorough beauty treatment, which is always a fair bit of work. (And for this reason I only do it every couple of years!) This job involves power washing both the bricks and stone retaining wall, as well as sweeping clean new sand in between the bricks. Luckily my next door neighbors are always happy to lend me their power washer, plus I was able to source free sand by posting a request through my local Buy Nothing Group.

   Not only is our backyard now ready for hosting friends and family, but doing this maintenance work protects the value of our home and property.

   Click HERE for more backyard pictures!

3. I stopped by the Everyday Deals grocery liquidator store on S.E. 82nd Avenue and struck produce gold! Seriously. I bought:

   • An entire flat of strawberries for $3, which I immediately cut up and froze on baking sheets.
   • Two melons for 50¢ apiece, one of which I gave to my friend Lise.
   • 3/$1 bundles of garlic scapes.
   • 5/$1 heads of garlic, one of which also went to Lise.
   • Two 50¢ containers of grapes.
   • A huge $2 container of organic baby spinach.
   • Two containers of fresh wild mushroom pasta for $1.25 apiece, which I served to myself and son one night and then to my mother and myself on another night. Of course I topped them with homemade marinara sauce. I looked this brand up and they’re normally $6.50 apiece.

   My plan had been to stop at the regular grocery store afterwards, but I didn’t want to risk leaving this vulnerably ripe produce in the back of a hot car. Food is so freaking expensive right now, and I knew this heavenly manna needed to be processed in a timely manner!

   Food is never a bargain if it goes to waste.

4. I watered the next door neighbor’s plants while they were out of town, (and also gifted them a box of fancy cookies as a thank you for lending us their power washer) I scrubbed down all our outdoor furniture as I’d rather clean and repair my belongings instead of replacing, I power washed our concrete front steps and the sidewalk in front of our house, my other next door neighbors gave us some bagels their daughter didn’t like, I listened to an audiobook through the free Libby app, my son and I watched a library DVD of Witness, (which prompted me to deep dive into multiple YouTube videos about modern day Amish families) we also watched a library DVD of Brassed Off, I picked up toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner and ginger snaps from Dollar Tree and I contentedly exist despite my salt-and-dishwater hair.

5. I didn’t buy a Lear Jet, as aviation fuel no longer fits in our budget.

Katy Wolk-Stanley    

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

{ 75 comments }

$13.85 of discounted food!

1. My Facebook Marketplace and eBay sales have been slow lately, but I know that it’s directly related to me being a homebody.

   However, sales have been trickling in:

   • A vintage Cathrineholm enamel bowl that I bought for $2 and sold for $65.
   • A wool sweater that I bought for $8 and sold for $55.
   • A Wii gaming system that I bought for $20 and sold for $99.
   • A Michael Graves desk organizer that I bought for $4.99 and sold for $35.
   • A Yakima bike rack that I bought for $10 and sold locally for $50.
   • A vintage Coleman cooler that I bought for $10 and sold locally for $90.
   • A DVD/VCR combo that I bought for $10 and sold locally for $75.
   • A Rock Band gaming drum set that I bought for $20 and sold locally for $120.
   • An American Girl doll that I bought for $5 and sold locally for $40, although I did sell her sweater separately on eBay for $25.

2. Food prices are no joke right now and though I’m lucky enough to be more knowledgable than many people when it comes to budget shopping, it still takes effort.

   Here’s what I’m doing:

   • I’m doing the majority of my family’s grocery shopping at Winco Foods, which is a Pacific Northwest staple for low cost food. They have an impressive bulk food section and tend to be located in working class neighborhoods. (At least here in Portland.) They also take off 6¢ per reusable bag, which I appreciate.

   • I stop at the Everyday Deals grocery liquidator every couple weeks. Their inventory is random, but they always have a large variety of organic salad greens for under a buck, as well as cheap fruit and veggies; cheese, crackers and high end yogurts. Plus, this location is delightfully next door to a Goodwill thrift store.

   • I stop by the Franz Bakery bargain store to stock up on bagels and sandwich bread and always have them stamp my frequent buyer card.

   • I buy a few specifics from Trader Joe’s, like their 19¢ bananas and their amazing hummus. (Plus their 100% recycled content toilet paper is less than half the price of Seventh Generation!) Their prices seem to be more stable than corporate chains like Safeway and Kroger.

   • I downloaded the Too Good To Go app to see if I could score cheap food while supporting their “Save Food, Save The Planet” goal. This app connects food vendors with consumers to buy up the extra food that would otherwise go to waste at the end of the day.

   Unfortunately, there aren’t many participating restaurants in Portland, but I did score two muffins and two loaves of artisan bread that would normally have been $10 apiece for $4.99 total. You get zero control over what you’re buying, so its usefulness is limited. I’ll probably use it again, but just as something fun.

   • I’m pretty much cooking 100% from scratch, even though I don’t particularly enjoy cooking. All I can say is thank you to whoever invented free library audiobooks for welcome distraction. I know that many people love this task, but I find it to fall under the umbrella of household drudgery.

3. My mother sold the last of her short term rental houses and gifted the towels to us. Our towels had slowly (but very surely) devolved into terrycloth mayhem. I think I last bought new towels in 2004, so they were a welcome addition to our home. I then bagged up the scrappy but clean towels and donated them to the Humane Society.

   I’m very fancy now.

4. I scored a vintage Copco Dutch oven from my Buy Nothing Group, I listened to a library audiobook of This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub, (SO SO GOOD!) I mended a sweater for my son, I lent our car to our next door neighbor, I transferred most of my bulk spices into hoarded Bonne Maman jam jars, I stocked up on Tillamook butter when it hit $1.48-per-pound, I checked out a library DVD of Serenity as I had rewatched Firefly through my sister’s Prime Video, I’ve watched various “Feed a Family of Four For Just $40!” style YouTube videos and have even tried out a few recipes, (like Frugal Fit Mom’s potato cheese soup.) and I scored a perfectly good Timbuk2 backpack from a free pile.

5. I didn’t buy a Lear Jet, as aviation fuel no longer fits in our budget.

Katy Wolk-Stanley    

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

{ 95 comments }

1. I curb picked a couple of high quality metal organizing cubes, which prompted me to attempt a semblance of order in our coat closet. You know, like the women on the Home Edit TV show. But without good lighting, bright colors or the company of friends.

   I’ve repeatedly tried to organize this coat closet through the years without lasting success. It’s a sideways Harry Potter-style closet, which means that it’s deep, but without much usable space towards the back. Add in that it’s dark and has no door, and it’s an eyesore waiting to happen.

   The job ended up being so much more work than I thought it would be, but as my friend Lise told me “Rome wasn’t organized in a day.” However, It looks and functions much better now, especially since I was able to get certain family members to let go of a few of their unused coats.

2. We celebrated both my husband and son’s birthdays last week. (It seems like he was an infant just a few years ago!) We kept to our “Birthday Day of Adventures” theme, which as always involves planning out a day of surprise activities where I am the only person who knows the itinerary.

   Husband:

   • Enjoyed bagels with lox at a local restaurant.
   • Drove down the Columbia Gorge to the town of Hood River, stopping at Multnomah Falls along the way.
   • Watched the windsurfers and kite surfers who flock to the area from all over the world. Such an amazing sport to watch from my safe dry vantage point!
   • Enjoyed an early supper at a brewpub that my husband had been wanting to try.
   • The two of us shared his free fancy Starbucks birthday coffee.

   Son:

   • Splurged on brunch at a southern restaurant, where we proceeded to stuff ourselves with fried chicken, biscuits, grits and waffles.
   • Drove to a suburban mall that I hadn’t been to since 1982. Why? The Lego store! Some things are never outgrown. My son chose a Seinfeld Lego set!
   • Indulged in scrumptious Texas-style barbecue for dinner.
   • My son’s favorite cake is cheesecake, specifically the Costco cheesecake, so I’d picked one up the previous day. My parents drove over that night to share cake and wish their grandson a happy 24th birthday.

   It’s really hard to find activities that don’t feel unsafe in Covid times. As such, we end up just eating all the delicious food. We rarely eat in restaurants, so it’s a real treat.

3. We had a freak snowstorm last month, which ravaged both our front and backyard maple trees. Five major branches off our backyard tree and three from the one in our parking strip.

   My husband borrowed a chainsaw to cut the bigger branches into firewood, but the smaller ones got piled up for me to break into pieces for curbside yard debris pick up. Our neighbors generously let me add to their bins, so I was eventually able to work my way through a truly massive pile of fallen branches. I’d estimate that I densely filled 20 rolling yard debris bins by the end.

   I saw multiple tree service vehicles in the neighborhood over the last month. It would certainly have been easier to hire a service, but it cost us nothing to do the job ourselves. Luckily, the trees should pull through, but I gotta say that home ownership is kind of a bitch.

4. I sold a number of things over the past month, most notably another Ikea egg chair for $100, (that’s three so far, if you’re counting!) I put a layer of free mulch onto our otherwise neglected side yard, I continue to shop the grocery liquidator each week before hitting Winco, I got a small Andromeda bush from my Buy Nothing group, (which I transplanted into a free curb picked terra cotta pot) I gave away some kitchen supplies, furniture polish and a huge bag of bubble wrap through the group, I thrifted a pair of vintage lighting globes, which I immediately sold to a local store and I listened to The Magnolia Palace and The Flatshare through the free Libby app.

5.  I didn’t buy a Lear Jet.

Katy Wolk-Stanley    

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

{ 55 comments }

1. I sold a number of things, including:

   • A handmade Pendleton wool vest that I bought for $9.99 and sold for $70.

   • A Magnalite stock pot that I bought for $6.99 and sold for $120.

   • An IKEA swiveling “Lomsk” egg chair that I bought for $7.99 and sold locally for $100.

   • An American Girl doll sweater. I bought a doll with clothing for $4.99 and then sold just her “Kirsten” sweater for $25. I’ll sell the doll separately.

   • A Canadiens hockey hoodie that I bought for $7.99 and sold to someone in Australia for $40.

   • A bag of miscellaneous Brio train track pieces that I picked up at the Goodwill bins and sold locally for $25.

   • A pair of Polish pottery mugs that I sold locally for $40. I’ve no record of how much I paid for them. Polish pottery used to sell like hotcakes, but the demand for it seems to have died down.

   • A Wii Fit board and game that I paid $9.99 for and sold locally for $30. I bought this waaaaay back at the beginning of the pandemic when everyone was clamoring to exercise at home. I was deliriously happy to get it out of my house!

2. I accepted an invitation to a Willamette Valley winery with a college friend who recently moved to the Portland area. The invite was a last minute affair and my gut reaction was an immediate “nope!” as wine makes me feel both groggy and headache-y. But then I reminded myself that it’s actually enjoyable to spend time with a friend and accepted her kind invitation.

   I ended up having an extremely enjoyable day at the winery, even though it turned out that they didn’t serve food, which brought my share of the bill down to $0.00. However it was still a very scenic and enjoyable afternoon. A long drive for sure, but perfect for catching up with an old friend.

3. Our cheapo hand held shower head has been spurting water in random directions lately, so I did a bit of research and chose a highly recommended replacement. We purchased this last one at least fifteen years ago to accommodate a house guest who’d just had knee surgery, and it was much more a “grab whatever from the hardware store” than a thoughtfully purchased item.

   Normally, my husband and I would at least attempt to repair a broken household item, but this low quality shower head was definitely not manufactured to stand the test of time.

   I do still buy second hand whenever possible, and thankfully found a used version, which was described as simply having “damaged packaging.”

4. I snagged a pair of metal organizing cubes from a free pile, (I’ll use them to create a modicum of order in my coat closet) I listened to the audiobook of Seven Days in June through the library’s free Libby app, I got my free Covid-19 booster shot, our two maple trees lost multiple branches from a freak snow storm and my husband and I cut up the branches by ourselves, I scored six big red peppers for $2 and chopped them for the freezer, I gave away a number of items (an assortment of tea bags, a teapot and some macaroni noodles) through my local Buy Nothing Group, my friend Lise and I brought our plastics to be recycled through a free event on Earth Day, I thrifted a 99¢ lazy Susan which prompted a full reorganization of our medicine cabinet, I brought my own cup of tea to my neighbor’s house for a friend date and I clipped blooming lilacs from my mother’s house for a large bouquet of flowers.

5. I didn’t spend 44 billion dollars to buy Twitter.

Katy Wolk-Stanley    

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

{ 56 comments }

1. I sold a number of things, including:

   • A pair of scruffy Danner boots that I cleaned up and polished. Bought for $7.99, sold for $120.

   • A cute midcentury style folding chair. Bought for $6.99, sold locally for $40.

   • Another CathrineHolm vintage enamel bowl. Bought for $2, sold for $75.

   • A handful of antique marbles. Bought for maybe $4.99, sold for $30. I also sold another marble from this lot for $40 and still have one more to sell.

   • A pair of distressed Carharrt overalls. Bought for $12.99, sold for $60.

   • A wicker coffee table. Bought for $9.99, sold locally for $40

   • And my favorite sale . . . a pair of Rothy’s that I bought for $7.99 and then quickly sold for $165!

2. My husband went on a free three-day weekend to Sun River, Oregon, with four of his Portland Timbers dude friends. Sun River describes itself as a “3,300 acre resort community” and would normally be out of our budget, so this was a real treat. They stayed in a big-ass rental house and apparently much soccer was watched and many brew pubs were supported.

   Lucky guy. Note to self . . . make wealthier friends.

3. I listened to In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park, Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith, The Party Crasher by Sophie Kinsella and I’m currently listening to Seven Days in June, (so good!) by Tia Williams. All courtesy of the free Libby app.

4. I continue to shop at the Everyday Deal$ grocery liquidator, which means that I’m enjoying 79¢ organic greens and 2/$1 16-ounce Ellenos yogurts, (normally $6-$7 apiece!) I refilled my Soda Stream canisters for $7.50 apiece at a local paintball store, my husband replaced the ignitor and burner on our stove, I picked up a couple two-pound loaves of Tillamook white cheddar for $6 apiece and I started physical therapy for plantar fasciitis at an inconveniently located clinic, but . . . have been pairing it with their closest Goodwill which makes the appointments almost something to look forward to.

5. I didn’t deplete my billions of dollars buying up Twitter stock,

Katy Wolk-Stanley    

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

{ 97 comments }

I apologize for letting the blog lie dormant, but there’s been a lot going on at casa Wolk-Stanley. Plus, I happen to be a wee bit lazy. 

1. I’ve been starting to incorporate the “Everyday Deal$” grocery liquidator as part of my regular grocery shopping routine. (Food prices are no joke right now!) This store is beyond your ordinary “grocery outlet,” and there is some actual poking past the moldy tomatoes to find a fresh one. Much of the inventory is packaged for the restaurant industry, which makes for some interesting shopping. I’ve been enjoying some amazingly good deals such as:

   • Large clamshell packages of organic mixed greens for 50¢ apiece.
   • 50¢ packages of blueberries, which was enough to make four jars of refrigerator jam.
   • A $1 bag of chopped red onions, which I’m pretty sure weighed around five pounds. I then separated them into smaller bags for the freezer.
   • A yuuuuge $1.69 bag of cilantro, which I used for a few days, shared with my friend Lise and then froze for later use.
   • 50¢ bags of organic tortillas.
   • 3/$1 avocados.

   The best part? The one on S.E. 82nd Avenue is next door to a Goodwill.

2. Our washing machine suddenly stopped agitating, which began a two week journey into the world of appliance repair YouTube videos for my husband. Two used motors and a carburetor later and we now own a freshly repaired machine that should last us for a very long time.

   This machine was a hand me down from my mother around fifteen years ago when she upgraded to a shiny red front loading set. For reference, this one is a 1980-ish Kenmore model with groovy fake wood detailing. However, it’s straightforward enough to be repairable by your average Joe, which turns out to be the winning factor.

   Total spent? $155, although I plan on reselling the one motor that my husband incorrectly ordered.

3. I’ve been wanting to spruce up our shady backyard, and after a bit of Googling realized I could just divide a row of ferns that I’d originally dug up in the woods maybe 24 years ago. I’d kind of forgotten about them as they’re in a spot that’s only visible from the neighbor’s property.

   I went ahead and confirmed that the neighbor knew they were mine and got to digging. This may seem like a minor “frugal thing,” but large individual pots of ferns are $39.99 apiece at the local nursery so this hack will save me around $160.

4. My friend Lise gave me a large bag of black eyed peas, my musician son scored a electronic keyboard through our Buy Nothing Group, I got a free box of books for our little free library, (which hilariously included the above Kama Sutra “Weekender Kit”) I gave away another antique vase, I read multiple library books, both physically and through the Libby audiobook app, I sold a curb-picked table for $65, my husband brought home a big bag of packaged burritos, chips and salads that were left over from a work event, I cooked 743.2 meals from scratch and I received a check for $240 from a class action lawsuit from my former employer engaging in illegal time clock shenanigans. 

5. I didn’t lose money in the sketchy Non-Fungible Token market.

Katy Wolk-Stanley    

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

{ 93 comments }

1. I participated in a short (ten minute?) online study that rewarded me with a $5 Amazon gift card. This worked out well as my husband and I accidentally rented the movie Mulholland Falls on both Apple TV and Amazon Prime at $3.99 apiece. Oops . . . Frugal fail and win?

2. I hauled home a curbside vintage diner table that I’m currently in the midst of restoring. It’s got a distinct Luke’s Diner from Gilmore Girls vibe, which I enjoy. Sadly I’ve neither need nor space for it, so I’ll be putting it up for sale through Facebook Marketplace. You know . . . after I’ve scoured it with Barkeeper’s Friend and then plucked the 1,001 spiders’ nests from the underside.

   Edit: I sold the table locally for $65.

3. I made full use of my county library system by reading:

   • Manhattan Beach, by Jennifer Egan

   • The Sea Keeper’s Daughter, by Lisa Wingate

   • The Last Story of Mina Lee, by Nancy Jooyoun Kim

   All of these books were written by women, with deep and intricately written characters. There were zero descriptions of glossy hair, the length of legs or  skinny women who bit into huge cheeseburgers.

4. My friend sharpened my cheap-o gardening shears that I’ve had since nursing school, I picked up (and actually finished!) a huge tub of fresh mixed greens for $1.69 plus a bag of sliced mushrooms for 69¢/pound from the sketchy food outlet store that’s next door to Goodwill, I happened to take a bus trip on a free day that honored Rosa Parks, I gave my son a like-new Ikea bowl from a neighborhood “free box” and my son and I brought our laptops to IKEA and sipped on free coffees.

5. I didn’t go on an ego driven space jaunt with my fellow billionaires.

Katy Wolk-Stanley    

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

{ 107 comments }