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The Budget Stretcher
Week Of: February 12, 2007
AOL Users Please Visit Online
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Grandpa Terry's Tax Tip
A Bigger Paycheck
If you receive a large tax refund each year chances are you
could receive a bigger paycheck. Most people have too much
deducted. You could easily receive this in your paycheck by
claiming more exemptions. This is perfectly legal and strongly
encouraged by the IRS.
Just complete a new W4 form with your employer or complete the
W4 online at:
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***What's Inside***
Money Saving Tip
Subscriber's Tip of the Week
Coupon Savings
Grandpa Terry's Update
Credit Card Information
Grandpa Terry's Tip of the Week
Site of the Week
Grandpa Terry's Email
This Week's Articles
Special Recipe - Peachy Pork Chops
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Subscriber Tip
To save on video (DVD) rentals, check out your local library.
Many libraries now have movie collections. My library also lets
you reserve movies on-line. Even before they are released.
Diana
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 or 10 of
my Budget and Credit Card Calculating Forms.
Please use the form available at:
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Coupon Savings
by Michelle Jones
While Michelle is busy taking care of her Mom, please check out
her 116 page cookbook "Frugal Family Recipes"
Save hundreds of dollars on your groceries each month, with or
without using coupons! Read more of Michelle's FREE grocery
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Grandpa Terry's Update
(Quote - "Do It Now Before Your Future Becomes Your Past")
I want to personally welcome you to this week's newsletter. If
you are a new subscriber all you have to do is just sit back,
read and enjoy.
Just an update! This newsletter now reaches 25,400 people
concerned about their money.
Would You Like To Win $50?
Effective immediately, I am accepting entries for a Slogan to be
used on the Budget Stretcher web site and this newsletter.
All you have to do is submit your Slogan in 10 words or less to
me using the email link below (Please make sure the word Slogan
appears in the subject line):
This contest will run until February 28th. At that time I will
choose the top 10 entries and list them in the newsletter so
that you can vote on the entry you believe best represents
Budget Stretcher. The entry with the most votes will receive
$50 via a check, PayPal payment or a gift card. The winner's
choice.
Please take the time to submit your entries.
If you have experience making graphics to use on web sites and
would like to make a few dollars please let me know. My budget
doesn't allow me to pay the pros.
I heard on the radio this week that mortgage foreclosures are at
an all time high. I can't remember the exact figures but it
was staggering. I hope this doesn't apply to you. Budget
Stretchers should know to pay their mortgage first, before
anything else.
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 just have them visit:
All the best,
Grandpa Terry
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Excel Spreadsheet Budget System
The You Need A Budget (YNAB) Personal Budget in Excel is a
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Credit Card Information
Credit Card Protection Insurance -- What You Need to Know
By Credit Cards.com
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Grandpa Terry's Tip of the Week
Take The Time To Get Organized
Sorry, I can't help you with your closets or your garage. I can
give you a few ideas that might help you organize your finances.
It can be a real pain to find all of your bills and receipts
and organize them in a manner that makes it easy to pay your
bills on time and be able to find a receipt if you need it.
However, this is just as important as developing a budget. If
you are not organized, eventually you will miss paying a bill or
have to pay a bill twice because you couldn't find the receipt.
There are many methods you can use to get your bills organized.
I recommend using the method in The Complete Budget and Bill
Organizer because it combines your budget, bill paying and
filing system into one simple binder.
No matter how you do it, here are a few tips that will make it
work a little better:
~~Assign one person to take care of the bill paying and filing.
~~Keep all bills and payment books together and label it "Bills
To Be Paid".
~~Include the date paid and check number in your payment books
or on your copy of the bill
~~Do your filing immediately
~~Include account numbers on all checks
~~Make sure your spouse or other adults that may need to know,
understands your system.
~~Use the Budget Stretcher's Monthly Bills Summary or similar
form to list your bills in the order they need to be paid. This
will prevent you from missing a bill.
~~When you receive your bills, remove any unnecessary paperwork
Keep only the bill and the envelope you will use to mail it.
~~It is very important to review the bills when you receive them
to make sure it is accurate. If you find a discrepancy, call the
company immediately.
For a lot of people, having problems paying their bills has
nothing to do with not having the money. Getting your finances
organized will make your life a lot easier.
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Site of the Week
Best Free Stuff Online.com
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Grandpa Terry's Email
Topic of Discussion
Can You Help?
Grandpa Terry,
I can't remember if you have written about the websites that
offer money to work at home just using your computer, and I
would be interested in your impression of these websites. Are
these really a safe way to earn extra cash? I need to work a
part time job to supplement my income, and I hesitate to do so
because I don't want to lose even more time with my children
than I have now.
May I have your input please?
Thanks,
Kathy
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Topic of Discussion
How Do You Stay Warm?
Dear Grandpa Terry'
Just a note to say hi and let you know how much I enjoy your
newsletter. Right now it's really cold here in Virginia and it's
hard to heat this big pre civil war house. we spend enough of
our hard earned money on fuel so we look to ways to help us stay
warm that won't raise the oil bill. You may have heard some of
these before but I thought I'd share them. Maybe they will help
someone else.
We have a programmable thermostat so we keep the heat low while
we're at work then it starts to warm up about fifteen minutes
before we get home. We keep it on 60 during the day and 68 when
we're home. I do oven suppers. You gotta eat any way and the
oven generates extra heat. While the meal is served I leave the
oven door open. I also make a lot of soup. Seems I'm warm when
my tummy is warm. We close the curtains at night to keep the
heat inside. I use old fashioned draft dodgers on leaky windows
and doors.
For those who aren't familiar with draft dodgers they are a tube
of fabric stuffed with batting or whatever that you lay along
the bottom of the door or window to block cold air. The key is to
measure so they fit snugly. You can make them out of anything
from old flannel shirts to new fabric. In a pinch you can even
roll up an old towel and stuff it tightly under the door or
window. It is amazing the difference it makes when that cold
draft is cut off!
Everyone knows to think cozy and warm. Wear sweaters and
snuggle under a throw while reading or watching TV. Wood fires
are lovely but remember to close the damper on the fireplace
when it's not in use. If you use a wood stove be sure and get
your chimney cleaned regularly. We were lucky. We caught the
chimney fire we had a couple of years ago before we had a lot of
damage.
Some say to close off unused rooms. I'm married to a heat and
air guy. He thinks that's a poor way to save money. He says the
cold air attacks the warm air and you don't save a lot of energy
or money. Better to lower the temperature a bit and put on that
sweater.
I would be interested in hearing how others save money and
energy during the winter.
Thanks and keep up the good work!
Deb
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New Uses For Everyday Things
Candle Power
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Subscriber Tip
Hi! My tip has served me very well over the years. When I buy
dishwashing liquid, I pour out half into another bottle and
fill the rest up with water. Viola! I now have 2 bottles for
the price of one. This also works out very well for shampoo.
It really stretches my dollar.
Thanks,
Desiree
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Subscriber Tip
You can use those wheeled pizza cutters for more than cutting
pizza. It works great cutting pancakes, sandwiches, pies and
some smaller cakes.
Peggy
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This Week's Article Links
Just click the links to view the article
Add A Few Dollars To Your Mortgage Payment
By Terry Rigg
Credit cards: Many go deep in debt for health care
By Brigitte Yuille • Bankrate.com
Is Pet Insurance Right for You and Your Dog?
by Debra Primovic
To read more articles visit:
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Visit Our Forum
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Join These Groups
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Special Recipe
Peachy Pork Chops
4 pork chops
1/2 cup peach jam
1 Tbsp. vinegar
1 1/2 tsp. mustard
1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
dash Tabasco
In a frying pan brown meat and cook until done. Combine rest of
ingredients, heat in a saucepan and serve over meat.
This recipe compliments of The Best Cookbook Anywhere Not Just
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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.
SHOPPING TIPS
~~You have heard this before, but it is so true ...
don't shop for groceries on an empty stomach.
~~Clean out your refrigerator, it will be much easier
to put away groceries.
~~Due to volume discounts, larger stores are generally
cheaper than smaller ones.
~~More often than not, the best sales are on the front
and back of your supermarket flyer.
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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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