Despite having worked today, I feel like I put in a full day of Non-Consumer activity. This is because soon after getting home, I commandeered one of my kids and went out to run a couple of errands.

First on the agenda was a quick stop into the Belmont branch library, where I picked up a number of books and a DVD of Rachel Getting Married. Coin-Girl gleaned a bright shiny nickel in the parking lot, which when added to the dime I found on Thursday and the stray pennies from the bottom of my purse paid off my 25¢ library fine.

Sweeeet!

We then motored over to our nearby Safeway store to take advantage of the conglomeration of store coupons, sale items, manufacturer’s coupons and the $10 off $50 coupon. There was also a $10 Kohl’s gift certificate if you spent $50. (My friend’s daughter works there, so I planned to give it to her.)

My son and I filled the cart and made our way over to the check out. When everything had been a rung up, I asked the clerk about the Kohl’s gift certificates. He told me that he would have to re-ring everything to get my total over $50. I told him to not bother, (I would hate to be the person behind me in line) to which he asked me if I would simply like an extra $10 back.

“Uh. . .  sure!”

I did have to buy one extra $1.50 five pound bag of flour to bring my total up, for which I was rewarded with $8.50 in cash.

Double sweeeet!

It may sound like I am becoming one of those crazy coupon ladies, but my coupons were for butter, Raisin Bran, toothpaste, dental floss and chocolate chips. Stuff I would be buying anyway.

Altogether I paid $35.80. Here’s what I bought:

• 5 five pound bags of flour
• 1 bag of pretzels
• 1 16 ounce bag of black beans
• 1 bag of Nestle chocolate chips
• 4 boxes of Kellog’s Raisin Bran
• 1 box of Mini Wheats
• 4 cans of tuna
• 2 candy canes, (remember, I had a kid with me, and that I am putty in his filthy little hands.)
• 1 package of tortillas
• 2 cans of orange juice concentrate
• 1 package of ready-to-bake Halloween theme chocolate chip cookies, (don’t judge me — they were 30¢.)
• 3 pounds of butter
• 1 tube of toothpaste
• 1 large container of dental tape
• 1 package of English muffins
• 2 loaves of bread
• 1 bag of whole wheat hamburger buns, (for black bean burgers)
• 1-1/2 pounds of green beans
• 2 onions
• 3-1/2 pounds of apples
• 1 rotisserie cooked chicken
• 1/4 pound of jo-jo’s. (Remember? I am putty in my son’s skilled hands.)

Unlike others, I don’t usually buy food for specific meals. Instead, I keep a full pantry from which I can create a multitude of different meals. I did buy one of those $6 precooked chickens tonight though, as it was already 6:30 P.M. by the time we got home.

We also rented a family movie for $1 and my son found 11¢ in and around the Coinstar machine.

I may not have spent an entire day on Non-Consumer activities, but I think I did pretty damned well. I think I may actually have turned into one of the crazy coupon ladies.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

P.S. Safeway has a new “Everyday Low Prices” promotion where a very large number of items have been lowered in price. This is not a sale, but a long term price decrease and the store is rife with bright yellow signage to prove it.

Corporate Safeway is sending me a couple of $50 gift cards which I will be giving away on the blog in the near future. I do almost all my grocery shopping at Safeway, and have very happy with their quality and customer service. They always take back disappointing fruit and offer to help me load the groceries into the car. This was hugely helpful when my kids were little and I truly did need an extra set (or two) of hands.

The only downside to the Everyday Low Prices program is that the employees have to wear extremely bright yellow T-shirts as additional signage. My favorite Safeway clerk is an extremely fashionable woman and seeing her in this shirt was sadly jarring.

I guess I can live with that.

I will also be talking at the Vancouver library on Saturday, November 21st at 12:00 P.M. on, “Reduce, Reuse, Rejoice: Sustainable Holidays.”

Click here for all the details.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

Enjoy The Non-Consumer Advocate, but wish you could come see me live, in person?

Well then, today’s your lucky day!

I will be speaking on “Choosing a Non-Consumer Life for You and Your Family” on Wednesday, November 18th from 6:30 – 8:00 P.M. at Glencoe Elementary school in Portland, Oregon.

Click here to get all the specifics.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

P.S. I am currently brushing up on my motivational speaker skills by watching a particular British episode of The Office.

P.P.S. I will also be speaking at the main Vancouver, Washington library on November 21st, which I don’t have all the details about yet.

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

I’ve noticed that there is a definite simple living paradox.

The simple living choices are often . . . well,  kind of a pain in the tuchus.

A good example is how I buy lettuce for salads. The simplest solution would be to throw a bag-o-salad in the cart. Then I could enjoy lettuce instantly prepped and available.

No fuss, no muss and I’m sure to have a healthy salad to serve my family.

But is this really the simplest choice?

The 5 oz. bag of salad greens cost $1.98, which is enough for just one small salad. (My picky eating 14-year-old oddly is a salad eating machine.)

The huge head of romaine lettuce is $1.69. Because it’s sold by the unit, rather than the pound, I always make sure to select the biggest one. It’s usually enough for four salads.

Once home, I chop the lettuce into bite-size pieces and double wash it in myhandy-dandy salad spinner. I then store it in said salad spinner, which sits in the refrigerator, ready for a salad at a moment’s notice. (The inner basket makes it so when the fluid drains off, it’s away from the lettuce. This is an effective slime-preventer.)

But here’s the thing. But I actually kind of hate this task. No, let me rephrase that. I really hate this task! I have to put my hands in the cold water to swish the lettuce around, which is so icy it hurts. My house is already set at 60 degrees, so stuff like this can push me over the edge. And I’m not too proud to admit that I’ve been known to scream a little bit.

So, should I just buy that bag of salad?

No.

I get about four times the amount of lettuce when I buy it by the head. And I can be sure that it’s been washed properly and is free of questionable preservatives. I can also put it in a reusable bag, keeping one more plastic bag from the landfill.

When I spend less money, I don’t have to earn as much money. I don’t have to commute as much, and I’m  a much happier person. This simple living choice is more complicated in the short term, but much, much less so in the long term.

This simple living paradox will shift with warm weather, as I grow my own lettuce from seed in an old wheelbarrow in the side yard. (My backyard is a bastion of deep shade, so I have to get tricky.)

Have you noticed that your simple living choices complicate your life in the short term, while simplifying the long term? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

It’s time again for Non-Consumer Mish-Mash, where I write a little bit about this and a little bit about that.

My older son has that dreaded flu at the moment, which means that I’m kind of housebound. I did pop out to Safeway this afternoon to return a $1 DVD and pick up another for Mr. Sicky. I knew that the $10 off $50 coupon started tomorrow, so all I bought was a ten pound bag of potatoes for only 99¢.

My plan had been to make chicken soup for dinner, but I fell asleep while watching the movie and ended up serving Trader Joe’s potstickers with rice and a green salad instead. I like to have an emergency meal in the freezer for these very occasions. It would have been very easy to order takeout Thai food for dinner, but this backup plan saved me around thirty bucks.

Gotta have a backup plan.

I have been really tired lately, and have self-diagnosed myself with anemia. We rarely eat red meat, and I suppose I’m not very good at working those dark leafy greens into my diet. I do cook in cast iron pans, but It’s definitely time to supplement. I’m looking forward to having energy again.

How is this a non-consumer issue? Well . . . if I have no extra energy, then I can’t do all the extra stuff like take the laundry off the line and do all that writing that I promised to every Tom, Dick and blogger.

Yawn . . . .

 

I’ve read some really engrossing books lately, the first of which was The Crying Tree by Naseem Rahka. This was an emotionally wrenching book, but wonderful nonetheless. Having dehydrated myself with this book I was craving diversion, which led me to Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella. I have a soft spot in my heart for British chick lit, and this book totally hit the spot.

I just love reading. Fiction, non-fiction, printed, audio book. Yum, yum, books! The librarians all know me and it’s all I can do to get out of the library in a timely manner.

What are you reading these days? Fiction, non-fiction, both? Please share any suggestions in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

Thank you to Jonathan Bloom over at wastedfood.com for sharing this humorous take on food waste avoidance.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

Last Sunday’s Parade Magazine featured an article titled, “How The Economic Crisis Changed Us.” I was expecting a narrative piece, but it was mostly a series of very interesting statistics, such as:

“Many Americans have made significant financial adjustments in their daily lives. Eighty percent say that they’ve been “forced to do more with less,” 73% have had to make unexpected changes, and 19% have sought some form of government assistance. Necessity has led 27% of respondents to pursue extra work. “

I find the idea that 80% are “forced to do more with less” to be a very interesting oxymoron. It’s not doing less with less, but doing more. Which in theory should be a positive. But not if it’s forced.

I am fully aware how easy it is for me to find satisfaction and joy in crafting a life with less, but it’s mostly because that decision is my own. It’s an entirely different state of mind to “do more with less” when it’s forced upon you because of events and circumstances that are out of your control. (Job loss, divorce, medical bills, etc.)

A prime example of this dichotomy can be found in our dinner from last night. I cooked a wonderfully satisfying meal of lentil soup with biscuits which did not engender any feelings of deprivation. However, if I had chosen to prepare this meal because the money wasn’t there for our normal meal or even a dinner out, that satisfaction would have been replaced by resentment and other negative emotions.

I want to do more with less, therefore that action is satisfying and empowering. I am in control of the circumstances of my family’s life. We don’t have much spare money floating around after the bills are paid, but that doesn’t affect our quality of life.

• When I’m raking my yard, I’m not upset that I can’t afford a landscaping service. I happy that I have a yard to rake.
• When I’m preparing dinner, I’m not resentful that we can’t eat in restaurants all the time. I’m happy that my family will eat simple healthy meals.
• When I browsing the racks at Goodwill, I’m not wishing I were at Nordstrom.
• When I get together with my friends, I’m not sad about the lack of a fancy girls’ nights out. I perfectly satisfied with a walk through the neighborhood and an occasional cup of coffee in a local cafe.
• When I spend all day cleaning my house I’m not annoyed that friends have cleaning services while I spend countless mind-numbing hours keeping my house in order. Oh wait a minute — I do wish the cleaning service fairy would sprinkle her pixie dust on my house. Seriously though, I could never spend the money hiring this job out when that money could be so much better spent, or better yet not even earned.

This issue of doing more with less is not a simple mindset to change. Two people can have the exact same income in the exact same situation and one person can feel deprived while the other feels rich. There is no easy solution to help people appreciate what they have, rather than what they don’t. Culture, family background and individual personality all play a role.

Do you work hard to appreciate what you have, or does it come naturally? Please share your thoughts inthe comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

I am loving all the comments in response to the recent column titled, “Coupons — Are They Worth The Trouble?” It does seem that many people are finding ways to make coupons work for them, despite an aversion to Hamburger Helper and other packaged food.

A number of readers shared websites that they use to print coupons from home, (Including a few extra that my friend Karen, an unapologetic Couponista recommended.) Here are the links:

• Hot Coupon World
• The Toby Show
• Frugal Living Northwest
• Coupons.com
• A Full Cup
• Pinching Your Pennies
• Deal Seeking Moms
• Frugal Mom

I looked through coupons.com and did find a few coupons to print out. I also saw that today’s newspaper has a big Safeway coupon insert with store coupons that can be combined with manufacturer’s coupons, which is apparently the path to brag-worthy savings.

Many readers also wrote in about how they save money on “toiletries,” which I want to address.

By toiletries, I assumed people mean shampoo, soap, toothpaste, tampons and pads; cosmetics, shaving cream, etc.

It is certainly possible to use coupons to buy shampoo, but I just buy White Rain brand, which is always $1, (sometimes less) and call that good. Although my great shampoo savings is due to the fact that the people who rent out my mother’s guest cottages almost always leave shampoo behind. (I don’t think I’ve bought shampoo in the last six months!)

I am a strong believer in informed consumerism and Paula Beguon’s Don’t Go Shopping for Hair Care Products Without Me is a great resource for people looking to shovel through the hype and empty promises for a functional product. This great book was an eye opener for me, as there really is not a correlation between price and quality. White Rain is recommended.

Beguon’s Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me is another great resource that looks at cosmetics with the same critical eye, which is to say that spending more money on a product has zero correlation to getting a superior product. I hardly ever wear any makeup, and when I do it’s just lipstick and maybe some mascara, but if you are a regular makeup wearer this is an awesome book!

The last toiletry issue I want to address is just for us womyn, so if you are of the male persuasion or particularly squeemish please feel free to scroll right back up to the top of the page.

Okay ladies, it’s time to talk about tampons and pads — Expensive, inconvenient and the source of a lot of garbage. I use a Moon Cup, which is a silicone resuable menstrual cup that supposedly can last more than a decade. The initial outlay of cash was a bit much, ($28.00) but once you have it you no longer have to buy any more menstrual products. None. And best of all, there’s no garbage to deal with!

It did take a cycle or two to get used to, but it’s a fabulous no brainer now. I love that I no longer have to worry about whether I’m stocked up on supplies, and I leak less than when I used conventional products.

And I love that I don’t have to cut coupons and go broke every 28 days.

Are you a coupon clipper for your cosmetics? Have you made the switch over to a menstrual cup? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. Not only is there no unpleasant family drama, but there’s candy involved. Not to mention it’s a perfect creative challenge for the Non-Consumer in all of us.

Put together a costume from this-and-that and then get rewarded with sweets, what could be better?!

Have a great Halloween!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

P.S. I bought all my Halloween candy, and then gave it to the next-door-neighbors to store at their house. It is not frugal for a 41-year-old to eat all the candy ahead of time and then have to buy it all over again.

When my friend Glenn sent me a link to a Good Morning America/ Huffington Post piece about a woman who feeds her family of six on $4 per week. My first thought was:

Wow, that’s a lot of lentils!

But no, the women is one of those coupon fanatics who’s able to combine sales, coupons and double coupons into enviable savings.

I have written before about my love/hate relationship with coupons, and am comfortable with with my somewhat erratic coupon usage. I gave The Coupon Game a try and found that the incredible deals were rarely anything I would buy, and cancelled my trial subscription.

Right now, my coupon usage is sporadic except for a once a month Safeway coupon that takes $10 off a $50 purchase. I do keep a small coupon folder in my purse, but it’s nothing compared to the coupon organization system of the true Couponistas.

I really only clip coupons for the products I would normally buy.

The Huffington Post woman is shown buying an entire grocery cart of foodstuffs and paying just a single penny, but they don’t do a rundown of what she actually bought. What do they do show is her buying seafood, (something I would buy) and Totino’s frozen pizzas, (something I would not buy.)

The woman’s pantry is then shown, and as far as I can tell, it’s full of packaged foods that I would never buy, (and I am far from a health nut.) In her defense, she does mention that she donates excess to food banks, which I’ve heard is common practice with the coupon ladies, (and c’mon people, I have yet to hear of any men who practice the art of couponing.)

I decided that it was time to check and see how much I spent on groceries for my family of four last month. Unlike Kristin of The Frugal Girl, I don’t budget a certain amount for groceries, instead buying simple ingredients that can be used to make a variety of meals. Also, I am not the only food buyer, as my husband has a tendency to purchase strange and random foodstuffs on the days that I work, ($52. 57 at Uwijimaya?, $54.27 at Trader Joe’s?) which would blow any budget I might try and keep.

So I looked through our bank records and saw that we spent $540.59 on food last month, which breaks down to $18.02 per day or $4.50 per person per day. This includes a single dinner out.

However, although we buy some of our groceries at Fred Meyer and Costco, we also buy non-food items there as well, such as underwear, cat litter, photo processing, socks and school supplies. Not to mention the occasional cash back-age.

I estimated that we spent $75 on non-food items, which brought our monthly food bill down to $465.59, which is $15.51 per day or just $3.88 per person per day.

My husband and I both work outside the home and bring lunches, as do the kids, so $3.88 per person per day is actually not bad at all.

Is it an impressive number that will get me on national TV?

Hardly.

But we’re buying real food like beans, flour, butter, meat, fruit, vegetables, cold cuts, cheese, eggs and spices. Food that rarely benefits from couponing. (Although . . . Fred Meyer had two pound blocks of Tillamook cheese on sale last week for $3.99/ limit two with an in-store coupon — I went three times!)

We could certainly be spending less on groceries if my husband were hot glue gunned to the couch on days that I work. But he is pretty nice and does have positive qualities that balance his somewhat impulsive grocery shopping habits.

Are you a Couponista? Do you have couponing practices to share with The Non-Consumer Advocate community? Please share your ideas in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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