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The Budget Stretcher
"Saving you money...One Dime at a Time!"
Week Of: January 21, 2008
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Grandpa Terry's Quips
Tip 25 - You can't keep managing your money the same way and
expect different results.
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Will Your Kids Be Ready to Handle The Financial Challenges of
the 21st Century?
Recent statistics reveal that young adults are not prepared to
handle money in the real world:
+ 18-24 year olds represent the fastest growing age group
declaring bankruptcy! + The average credit card carrying college
kid is strapped with over $7, 800 in credit card debt!
While the facts about young adults and money in today's economy
are worrisome, the good news is there's hope.
You can help secure a bright future for your kids by learning
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***What's Inside***
Grandpa Terry's Free & Paid Ebooks
Subscriber's Tip of the Week 1
Coupon Savings
Grandpa Terry's Update
Credit Card Information
Grandpa Terry's Tip of the Week
Site of the Week
Grandpa Terry's Email
Subscriber's Tip of the Week 2
Subscriber's Tip of the Week 3
This Week's Articles
Special Recipe - Nan's Sugar Cookies
Watch for next week's newsletter featuring:
7 steps to financial abundance
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Subscriber Tip #1
When drying denim jeans, cut down on the amount of energy and
drying time by throwing two or three dry bath towels in with the
jeans. The towels will absorb some of the moisture from The
jeans and cut down the drying time
Catherine/P/012107
Subscriber Tip Of The Week
Vote For Catherine's Tip and Get A Free Gift!
Use the form at the link below to vote for this tip:
All you have to do is submit a "Subscriber Tip" and if it
appears in The Budget Stretcher you will get your choice of
either The Complete Budget and Bill Organizer Download, 10 of
my Budget and Credit Card Calculating Forms or my Bill Pay
Management System to keep track of your bills and checking
account.
Please use the form available at to submit your tips:
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Coupon Savings
by Michelle Jones
I've heard from several people over the last year or so
that military families can use expired grocery coupons
(up to 6 months). But everyone always asks me the same
question, "Where can we send our expired coupons?" Do
you have to personally know a military family to give
the coupons to directly or can you just send them to
your nearest military base and someone will hand them
out? Is this just for military families living in the
U.S. since most other countries do not honor grocery
coupons? And, finally, are expired coupons currently
being accepted for all branches in the military?
If anyone has the answers to these questions please send
me an email this week at michelle@grocerysavingtips.com
and I'll post the information in my next Coupon Savings
tip column!
If you would like to learn how to save more money with coupons,
including how to use them WISELY, how NOT to use them, and how
to FINALLY get them organized so you CAN use them, order your
copy today!
021306
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Grandpa Terry's Update
Welcome to The Budget Stretcher!
As promised I'm going on my rant for the Fair Tax starting this
week. I have a simple question to get it started:
"Do You Support The Fair Tax"
If you support it put YES if not put NO in the Subject line.
This is based on what you know now about the Fair Tax. In the
coming weeks I will explain some of the details and how it will
benefit you. This is for US residents.
Murphy's law has been working overtime at Budget Stretcher. My
form to submit your tips quit working about 2 weeks ago. This
means if you submitted a tip I didn't receive it.
I have a new form up and it's working (for now). Please visit
the below link to submit your tips:
A couple of years ago I used the newsletter to give ways to help
you save on gas. With the current gas prices it may be worth
revisiting that newsletter. Here is the link:
I received the below email last week:
Reply concerning Telara and the Golden Share food program...
It seems like a better deal than Angel Food, but the only
locations I see on the website are Central and Southern
California. Do you know of more areas?
Suzy
If anyone knows more about Golden Share operating in other
locations please send it to me.
My wife, JoAnn has a tip for us this week. She buys those
laundry bottles with the pour spout under the lid. A lady
told her that when the bottle is empty she should remove the
spout and she will find that the spout prevents some of the
detergent from pouring. She tried this and now gets 1 or 2
more loads out of a bottle. A couple of times the spout was
stuck so we just made a hole in the side of the container to
get the remaining detergent.
Our top sponsor this month covers a subject that is near and
dear to my heart. That's educating our kids about how to
handle their money. I believe that this is the only way to
solve this debt crisis. If you have kids and are worried that
they will be making the same mistakes you've made please visit
the below link:
That's all for now. Remember, I really enjoy hearing from you
folks. If you have any comments, complaints, suggestions or just
want to say Hi, please send me an email to
If you know someone that may be interested in subscribing to our
newsletter have them visit:
Have a great week,
Grandpa Terry
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Over 10,000 Frugal Tips and Articles
Are you looking for ways to economize? ThriftyFun.com
publishes tips in a variety of categories, from food to
home improvement. We encourage reader's requests and
participation. Come join the discussion at ThriftyFun.com
and view over 10,000 tips and articles to save you money
and time!
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Credit Card Information
Credit Cards - Can You Do Without Them?
By Terry Rigg
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Grandpa Terry's Tip of the Week
This week's tips is a response to an email I received. Hopefully
it will show you how keeping your credit card accounts open after
they are paid off can improve your credit score.
Hello there! I am a busy single Mom trying to get out of and
stay away from debt! I currently have too many credit cards
which I got originally for emergencies, then tried some more to
better my rate, etc. I also have a few store credit cards used
for clothing.
Now I want to pay them off and cancel some of them. Will only
keeping 2 or so hurt my credit? I've worked hard to build it up
after divorce.
Priscilla in Cincinnati
My Response:
Hi Priscilla,
I never recommend cancelling credit cards and here's why:
Credit Scores are based heavily on your available credit on your
credit cards. Here is an example:
You have 5 credit cards
card 1: Credit limit $5000, you owe $200
card 2: Credit limit $2000, you owe $500
card 3: Credit limit $2000, you owe $800
card 4: Credit limit $7000, you owe $2500
card 5: Credit limit $5000, you owe $4500
Your total credit limit is $21,000 and you owe $8500 giving you
$12,500 in available credit.
If you pay off cards 1, 2 and 3 and cancel them your total credit
limit will be $12,000 and you owe $7,000 giving you $5,000 in
available credit.
card 4: Credit limit $7000, you owe $2500
card 5: Credit limit $5000, you owe $4500
However, if you pay off the 3 cards and leave the accounts open
your available credit will be $14,000 giving you a better credit
score than you would have if you cancelled them.
card 1: Credit limit $5000, you owe $0
card 2: Credit limit $2000, you owe $0
card 3: Credit limit $2000, you owe $0
card 4: Credit limit $7000, you owe $2500
card 5: Credit limit $5000, you owe $4500
If you pay an annual fee on any of the credit cards you would
have to weigh paying the fee against the increased credit limit
in your decision to cancel.
I hope this helps and isn't too confusing,
Grandpa Terry
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Site of the Week
MomsMakingMoneyOnline.com
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Grandpa Terry's Email
HI Grandpa Terry, I was reading your newsletter and someone
pointed out mypoints.com, I use this website regularly when
making purchases and click thru on their emails. It has allowed
us to get five gift cards to give this past Christmas.
Another website I wanted point out to the other members
indoxdollars.com. This website sends emails that allow the user
to collect money and redeem when the amount reaches $30.00. The
emails do not offer much just pennies but there are other links
on the website that allows the user to collect more money. Also
once the member becomes a gold member they are able to collect
more money with each new recruit. I have had this account for
several years and was able to collect enough money to get the
gold membership as well as check for approximately $55. I do not
always remember to check the emails as they are in another email
account I have but I am once again back up to about $50. I
thought that others might be interested in this site as well.
All I ask is that anyone interested in this website please use
the referral I have included in this email.
Thanks for all your hard work and dedication,
Sharon
----------
I need Part 1 & 2 beginner's guide to Budgeting Resent to me.
Also I need help with how to figure out my husband and my
weekly bring home pay for a month, since some month like January
have 5 weeks instead of 4.
Your help with this would be greatly appreciated.
thanks. Cheryl
My Response:
Hi Cheryl,
I'm going to send you Parts 1 and 2 in separate emails.
If you can manage it try to only use 4 paychecks per month to
pay your bills and expenses. Use the fifth for some family
entertainment and possibly to pay down some debt. This is the
easiest way.
If you can't afford to do that then estimate your bills at the
beginning of each month and divide it by the number of
paychecks. This will show you how much you can pay on bills each
week.
I hope this helps,
Grandpa Terry
----------
Hello Grandpa Terry,
Just felt I needed to tell you once again about your newsletter
and yet another reason why I always look forward to it each
week. I have found some of the neatest links out of it. Like
reading a newspaper, instead of coming across sad or bad news, I
find links to websites that can help me in some shape, way or
form. It's truly uplifting to see your newsletter in my email
box each week. And unlike a favorite television show, I don't
have to worry about reruns.<chuckle>
Just that much more reason why I will renew this July. I am and
will probably always be grateful to have subscribed to this
small, yet very effective piece of the cyberworld.
Yes, should you choose to want to publish this, please feel
free to do so. You don't have to if you don't want to, however.
Thank you again for being there for us who continue to learn
about the world of spending less and saving more.
Jo
----------
Grandpa Terry,
There are two coupon sites that I know that supposedly do the
'leg work' for you when it comes to shopping sales with coupons.
These two sites are Coupon Mom and The Grocery Game.
I'm all about saving money, Grandpa Terry, and making my
husband's dollar stretch as far as it possibly can and it looks
like these sites might help me make that happen. In addition to
saving money on my own bills, I want to be able to donate food
to food pantries and other organizations that have helped me in
the past when times weren't so hot.
Dave Ramsey calls this "Living like no one else, so you can give
like no one else." (His other motto is: "Live like no one else,
so you can live like no one else). But Terry, my biggest heart's
desire is to give. And right now, it takes everything I have to
keep my own pantry stocked (for two weeks at a time), let alone
give.
Can you or one of your readers help me? You and your readers
have been a tremendous blessing to my family and me.
Thanks again,
Iva F.
My Response:
Hi Iva,
I think it's great that you want to give to those that have
helped you in the past. But, if you don't have the extra money
or food you just can't do it. What you can do is possibly donate
some of your time to help them. I'm sure this would be
appreciated just as much as the food or money even if it's only
an hour or two a week.
That's my two cents. I'll put your email in next week's issue
of the newsletter and see what the readers come up with.
Have a great week,
Grandpa Terry
----------
Hi Terry,
Thank you so much for your very first opening paragraph.
The radio and TV and even the Internet will cause more acid to
flow when you're waiting for an ulcer in the esophagus to heal.
This is Juanita with the grandson story! You put my mind at ease
just reading what you've written. I don't watch the news on
purpose, haven’t for 25 years. The radio gives me headlines, , ,
, , , after I hear them I switch to music. I look at no news on
the Internet. But it trickles through---------all the
foreclosures etc. Being alone it kind of scares me. I'm not
scared after reading your words. I did get the garnishment. $133
a month. Not a huge amount, but half a loaf is better than none.
I really enjoy your thoughts and some sites. Be well,
God Bless, J.
----------
First of all, thanks for the positive spin on the recession
hype going on right now. It's been freaking me out and now, I
feel a bit better.
It's getting to be that time of year for tax returns. I have a
question about what to do with mine. My family should be getting
back around $4500. That is what our credit card debt is right
now. We have nothing in savings. My question is, should I pay
off the full balance of our credit card, or put a percentage of
it in savings? Money in savings would ensure us to not use our
credit cards again. Paying off the full balance would give us
more money to work with every month. Share with me your words of
wisdom!
A fan of yours,
Kristin
My Response:
Hi Kristin,
I'm glad my blurb on the so-called recession helped.
Here is what I would recommend with your tax refund. Pay off
all of your cards, pay off your cards, pay off your cards. This
is an opportunity of a lifetime. Millions of people would like
to say they have no credit card debt.
Now for the savings. Take the money you were paying on the
credit cards and put that in savings every week. Maybe you can
even find a few more dollars to put back. Save your change
and/or use the dollar bill plan where you never spend a dollar
bill. Just put it in savings. Believe me this will grow faster
than you might think. And, you won't be paying a dime in
interest charges. A little trick I've used in the past is to set
a goal. Maybe to see your savings reach $500 in 3 months! It
adds a little more incentive to save.
I'm not sure how wise those words are but it's my 2 cents
anyway!!
Have a great weekend,
Terry
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Subscriber Tip #2
This tip is too late for this Holiday Season but can really be
used all year. I save boxes that different foods come in and use
them for presents. I just can't bring myself to spend money on
boxes so I save the boxes that I use in the kitchen all year.
Cracker boxes, butter boxes, cake mix, cream cheese boxes are
great for jewelry. If you are short of space you can break down
and flatten out the boxes. I usually store them with the
wrapping paper so I have everything together when it comes time
to start the holiday wrapping.
Liz/012108
Subscriber Tip Of The Week
Vote For Liz's Tip and Get A Free Gift!
Brand New: Use the form at the link below to vote for this tip:
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Support Our Sponsors
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In today's housing market there are a record number of
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growing number of Americans staring foreclosure in the face and
obtain a loan insured by the federal government.
The VA offers many great benefits to those that have served our
country and are looking to purchase their first home. A
for veterans who are first time home purchasers with little
credit to poor credit to obtain a competitive interest rate. If
you currently have a VA Loan you may also look into a
that loan to help save you money with your mortgage to receive
the best rate.
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Budget Stretcher Partners
At Home Parent
Work-at-Home Team
Frugal Folks.com
Tidbits from the Pantry
Abbys Good Stuff for Free
Diva Tribe
Free Credit Card Reviews
MomsMakingMoneyOnline.com
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Subscriber Tip #3
I actually have a few tips for you. I hang most of my clothes
to dry and only put them in the dryer to fluff them up. This
saves on the life of our clothing and energy. And as an added
bonus all those little grease stains the kids always have all
over their clothing that you cannot see till the clothes are dry
does not get set it this way. I just retreat it and throw it in
with the next load. I also wash almost all my clothes but some
towels and sheets in cold water and always let them soak 15-30
minutes before letting the washing finish the cycle. My washer
has a setting for soak. Before I bought this washer I always
just left the lid open on our old one and when I came back
through shut it and let it finish. You do not have to use as
much Laundry detergent with this method. I also try to buy very
little cleaners. I have found that baking soda, peroxide, lemon
juice, and white vinegar will clean almost everything. Besides
being cheaper it is so much better for the environment. Well,
those are just some of the things I do. I hope they can help
someone.
Kim/012108
Subscriber Tip Of The Week
Vote For Kim's Tip and Get A Free Gift!
Brand New: Use the form at the link below to vote for this tip:
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Support Our Sponsors
Online Shopping Secret
There's a secret to Discount Shopping Online that EVERY Online
Retailer knows that YOU DON'T, and it's COSTING YOU MONEY! Now,
this secret is revealed! Learn how-to get MASSIVE discounts on
EVERYTHING you buy, and MAKE EVEN MORE MONEY to boot! You Must
Visit:
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This Week's Article Links
Just click the links to view the article
Ten Commandments of personal finance
By Vicki Gerson • Bankrate.com
Frugal Tricks to Make Consumable Purchases Last Longer
By Shannon Christman
Poetry on a Plate
by Tawra Kellam and Jill Cooper
To read more articles visit:
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Samples for free - over 1500 to choose from
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Special Recipe
Nan's Sugar Cookies
1 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. soda
6 cups flour
Cream together the sugar, shortening and eggs. Add buttermilk.
Stir well and add the dry ingredients. Mix until smooth. Roll
into balls and drop about 3 inches apart on a greased cookie
sheet. Lay a clean dish towel flat on the counter. Place a clean
glass upright in the center of the towel. Gather the towel at
the top of the glass and twist so that the towel is drawn tight
against the bottom and the sides of the glass. Dip bottom of
towel-covered glass into flour and press cookies flat. Place a
drop or two of water on the top of each cookie and spread
around. Then sprinkle sugar on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 5-10
minutes.
This recipe compliments of Living On A Dime. Get more of
the recipes you can actually use:
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Everyday Savings
These Tips provided by The Frugal Shopper
Please show your appreciation for these great tips by visiting
this site.
I am reprinting the link to Homemade Laundry Detergent because
this has been very popular topic and I've been asked to repeat
it several times:
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Contact Information:
Budget Stretcher
1203 Madison 228
Fredericktown, MO 63645
FAX: 573-783-5982
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Disclaimer: This newsletter is only intended to provide
information on proper money management. Budget Stretcher or
Terry Rigg can not accept responsibility for any injury or
damage that may be caused to yourself, others, or property when
following any advice given.
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