The Non-Consumer Advocate

1. I filled the neighbor’s small canning jars with freshly snipped mint before returning them. Perhaps not as tasty as the watermelon sorbet they previously contained, but still better than empty. One got chocolate mint, while the other — standard mint. I grow both these plants in individual backyard flowerpots to avoid their rampant spread.

2. I watched the first two episodes of Back to The Frontier through my parents’ HBO account. The producers obviously borrowed greatly from PBS’ Frontier House, but I hold out hope that there’ll be some new value to the show. It’s definitely more reality TV than documentary, (complete with obvious false conflict) but I’ll keeping watching as the episodes come out. I appreciate that one of the three families is queer, as that’s unfortunately considered a bold casting decision on a show that would otherwise appeal to the right wing prepper community. Thank you, HBO!

   By the way, I found a Making Frontier House segment from 2001 that I was able to watch for free through the PBS app on my Roku.

3. I sold a thrifted cast iron skillet for $30 through Facebook Marketplace and then a pair of Børn booties for $25 through eBay. The shoes may be the item I’ve had on eBay the longest, (maybe six years?) which goes to show that it can be worth letting your “inventory” sit, even if it’s annoying to do so. Of course, it helps that I have the physical space in my house to store inventory without having to look at it on a daily basis. Mind you, I much prefer when things sell immediately!

4. I wrote a four page letter to my college best friend who just turned sixty, using thrifted stationary from 1974. Super cute, but I definitely shouldn’t have licked the envelope. Blegh!!!! It reminded me of George Costanza’s ill-fated fiancé on Seinfeld. The price was right, the flavor was wrong!

5. I didn’t spend $600 on Coldpay concert tickets, only to humiliate myself on a “kiss cam” and watch my entire personal and profesional life crumble into pieces.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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1. I recieved an email from the American Red Cross, thanking me for donating blood. Enjoyably the “thank you” was my choice of a $20 gift card. I picked Safeway and will use it to pick up whatever loss leader I’d be buying anyway. For those keeping track, I’ve now received a pair of Goodr brand sunglasses and and a $20 gift card for my single donation.

   

2. I grabbed my blackberry picking supplies and drove to my secret spot. Those supplies being a cut-open milk jug, two 9″ X 13″ lidded pans, a wet rag in a ziploc bag to clean my hands and my sunscreened self.

   

   I spent a hour and twenty minutes picking blackberries and gleaned enough to make it worth the scratches and sun exposure. Most of the berries were still unripe, so I’ll definitely try and get back next week. Maybe even the week after that. Hey, it’s free food!

   

3. I also baked bread and made double batches of sweet chili sauce and pickled red onions for the fridge. Having flavorful toppings definitely helps to perk up otherwise dull meals.

   

4. I then made a fresh jar of sauerkraut, as we used up the dregs from my last batch when my sister was in town. (Bangers and mash, bay-bee!) I picked up a $1.99 Trader Joe’s head of cabbage as their heavy single price produce is usally a better bargain than standard pay-by-the-pound pricing.

   I picked up this fermantation kit last year and it’s my third time using it. I bought it “used” off Amazon and the only thing wrong with it was that the cardboard packaging  was a bit messed up.

   

5. My supper was a simple rice and beans bowl in the backyard, topped with queso fresco, onion, cilantro, salsas, tomato, lettuce and tortilla chip shrapnel. Cheap, healthy and delicious!

   

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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1. My neighbor returned from her family’s NYC trip, so I walked her mail and packages back to her house. She shared that her plan is to make us some kind of frozen dessert, which is A-okay in my book! I’m happy that her thank you gift is something consumable, rather than a “thing” that I would have to either A) hold onto, or B) feel guilty about giving away.

2. Last night’s dinner was a big ol’ green salad that incorporated leftover garbanzo beans, the last of some mozarella pearls, a tiny avocado and a sprinkle of crunchy Dollar Tree panko crumbs. Of course I topped it with my Tea Towel Salad Dressing™  which I’ll never tire of. I love a meal that incorporates random bits and bobs from the fridge and bonus points when it’s healthy and tasty. Portland topped 100° F yesterday, which made “salad for dinner” an extra good idea.

3. I’m halfway through my “Lucky Day” library copy of Abby Jimenez’s Say You’ll Remember Me, which is just as good her other books, which is saying a lot!

4. My sister and nephew accidentally left behind a number of items, so I packaged everything up and sent it out in today’s mail. I used PirateShip.com instead of USPS.com, which saved $1.65.

5. My sisters, nephew and I went out for breakfast the last full day they were in town. I cobbled an order together from the “Sides and Such” portion of the menu, which made my food $15.50 compared to the $21 for most entrees. I ordered a double order of $5 cheesy grits, a single $2 over-easy egg and a $3.50 biscuit. The meal was my sister’s treat, but I’ll still attempt to hack the menu.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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1. I brought a carabiner to the beach the other day, which meant I didn’t have to hold my thrifted Crocs while walking in the surf. I always think about how I should do this, but actually remembered to bring one along as I recently creating a carabiner storage tin. I’ve had these Crocs since they were like-new and they normally live on my back porch for gardening and such, although they do get to accompany me on trips to the Oregon coast.

   I love a little life hack, especially when it’s using something I already own in a new and clever way.

2. My sister and nephew are back in NYC after a 15-day trip to Oregon, which means my home and routine shift back to normal. We ended up enjoying a fair number of restaurant meals, although we all took turns footing the bill. Although I’ll miss their company, It’ll be nice to sit in silence for a bit.

   

3. Having time to myself means I can direct love towards my neglected stack of library books!

4. We went to our favorite BBQ  joint with my mother and step-father last night, and I gifted my leftovers to my daughter, who’s always happy to give them a home.

5. I haven’t supported Amazon, Target, Home Depot or My Pillow.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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Having the ability to enjoy simple and low cost things in life goes a long way when it comes to living a joyfully frugal life. I may not be flying off on an internatioal vacation, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t luxuriate in a day trip to the Oregon coast while munching on a food cart burrito.

I have no sense that I’m missing out on anything, no envy of others’ conspicuous consumption. 

No FOMO, (“Fear of missing out”) here. Just me and a couple family members, contentedly enjoying our takout burritos.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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Today I turn the tables and ask you, dear readers to share your favorite non-consumer hack. That clever little thing you do to:

• Save money

• Make something last longer

• Repurpose

• Repair

• Help your life run smoothly

• Etc.

Here, I’ll get you started. My favorite nonconsumery thing I do is to live with a less than ideal item until I can source a higher quality replacement for free or almost free. Call them “place holders,” but this mindset has saved me thousands of dollars over the years. Whether it was cheap-o plastic outdoor furniture or a dining room light fixture. I practice the art of patience and end up with solutions that might not have occurred to me had I shelled out the big bucks from the get go.

Now your turn, what non-consumer hacks are you most proud of?

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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1. I stopped at Fred Meyer (Kroger) to grab salmon for an extended family dinner and naturally looped past the random produce clearance shelf. (What am I, a Rockefeller?!) Sadly the price has increased from $1 to $1.50 per bag, although that’s still a decent price. Today the shelf provided a yuuuge bag of string beans, as well as four heirloom tomatoes. Oddly, the string beans provided two single brussel sprouts, which I found pretty funny.

   

2. I also picked up two boxes of Fred Meyer brand powdered dishwasher detergent, as I worry they’ll discontinue this bargain item. The big box is just $5.99, yet holds enough for at least six months of daily dishwasher use. Unlike dishwasher pods, the powder allows me to decide how much product to use. I decant it into a cute canister and keep a tablespoon in it, which helps to not use too much. It’s hard to get ahead financially when all your money is tied up in dishwasher detergent.

3. My step mother gave me an extra basil plant, plus some apples and lemons. Thanks, Lindy!

4. Although I spent $46.45 on salmon, it fed seven people for dinner (including seconds) and provided enough leftovers to send home with my daughter; as well as a couple bonus servings for the fridge. The sticker shock was painful in the moment, but that’s actually not too shabby when you consider how much it would cost to treat seven people to a restaurant meal. Luckily it was somewhat balanced out by the bargain green beans.

5. I continue to buy almost everything my family needs through thrift stores, eBay or marketplace, thus bypassing idiotic vindictive tarriffs.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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