The FREE Budget Stretcher Newsletter
March 31, 2008



Subscribe To
"The FREE Budget Stretcher Newsletter!"
And Get A Bunch Of FREE Stuff Like:

  • The Complete Budget and Bill Organizer

  • Weekly Newsletter

  • Free Downloads

  • Discounts

  • Free Email Course

  • Calculating Budget Form
  • Fill In Your Email Address To Subscribe
    Email address:
    Select how you would like to receive your newsletter
    The Budget Stretcher: (Receive the Text Newsletter In Your Inbox)
    Online Only: (Receive notification and a Link To View The Newsletter Online)
    Budget Stretcher PremiumI would rather receive my newsletter without advertising and with all the added benefits for only $19.95 for the first year and then only $9.95 to renew! NOW GET A 7 DAY UNRESTRICTED FREE TRIAL! Check It Out!!
    Powered by YourMailinglistProvider.com


    This is an OPT-IN list ONLY! If you feel that you have received
    this message in error, please follow the directions at the
    bottom of this email to unsubscribe. Thank you. This email
    contains advertisements to help support Budget Stretcher.
    ***********************************************************

    The Budget Stretcher
    "Saving you money...One Dime at a Time!"
    Week Of: March 31, 2008
    AOL Users Please Visit Online

    ***********************************************************
    Upgrade Your Subscription To Premium Get 7 Days Free

    Budget Stretcher Premium just keeps getting better.  You know
    those Special Offers I've been running?  As a Premium Member
    you get them free.

    ***********************************************************

    Grandpa Terry's Free Ebook

    Free Ebook
    Craft Recipes

    ***********************************************************

    Support Our Sponsor

    "Will Your Kids Make More Money Than You When They Grow Up?"

    Like most parents you're trying to make sure your kids are
    ready for the "real world" when they leave the nest. Even so,
    there is a good chance you are unintentionally passing bad
    financial habits on to your kids. When it comes to finances I've
    found it's not what you TEACH but what you DO that kids
    remember.

    By analyzing your answers to 12 simple yes/no questions about
    YOUR financial habits I can forecast YOUR KIDS' financial
    future.

    Take 60 seconds to discover your kids' Financial Future Score
    at


    ***********************************************************

    ***What's Inside***

    Grandpa Terry's Free Ebook
    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 - Ham Pretzel Pleasers
    Everyday Savings from http://www.thefrugalshopper.com

    Watch for next week's newsletter featuring:
    Spotlight: Clark Howard

    ***********************************************************

    Subscriber Tip #1

    Don't throw away unused or expired manufacturers coupons!
    Military families can use your coupons for up to 6 months past
    the expiration date. While many of us have thought or still
    think military families get "big" discounts on their purchases
    on base, this is not entirely true. They do not pay sales tax,
    however the mark up on many items make the prices higher,
    especially on overseas bases. Our church collects coupons for a
    military families from our congregation, sends a "Care Package"
    along with coupons that they share with other families each
    month. You probably know someone in the military already or
    belong to an organization with military family members. Help
    them, protect us. Many are stretching their budgets to the
    breaking point and coupons can help them stretch it further!

    Lena/P/033108

    Subscriber Tip Of The Week
    Vote For Lena'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 the below link to submit your
    tips:


    ***********************************************************

    Coupon Savings
    by Michelle Jones

    Grandpa Terry's Note:  Michelle has put together a great list
    of tips that has helped her save thousands over the years.  I
    know she has some great ideas that will benefit us all.  Please
    take a minute to check out her ebook "101 Coupon Tips... to Help
    You Save More at the Store."

    If you would like to learn how to save more money with coupons,
    including how to use them WISELY, when NOT to use them, and how
    to FINALLY get them organized so you CAN use them, order your
    copy today!


    ***********************************************************

    Grandpa Terry's Update

    Welcome to The Budget Stretcher!

    Finally, we have some official word from the Internal Revenue
    Service about the Stimulus Payment Refunds that will be starting
    in May.  Thanks to Nanci in Pgh that sent me this info, you can
    find out when you will receive your refund and how it will be
    calculated.  Here is the link to the payment schedule:


    One of our main concerns about our finances is our Credit Score.
    The article Under my Credit Card Information section, Bankrate
    does an interview with an actual FICO employee.  There is some
    good info in this article that I think you should know.

    What would you do if you lost your main source of income?  I'm
    sure you've probably throught about it.  Do you have a backup
    plan or are you just keeping your fingers crossed.

    There was a day when you could get a job and feel pretty certain
    that you would be able to retire from that job and live fairly
    comfortably in your retirement.  For the most part, those days
    are gone and no one can be certain that their job will be there
    for another year let alone until they are retirement age.

    I know I keep harping on planning but it's the only way to be
    ready for the unexpected.  I also know that some of us don't
    have the money to put away or develop a contingency plan.  But
    whether or not you have extra money to put aside you still need
    to think about losing that income.

    If you lose your job and don't have any money put aside what
    are you going to do?  The bills have to be paid and food put
    on the table.  Would you know what agencies can help?  Now is
    the time to find out, not when it happens.

    Just do me a favor and take about 5 minutes to think about it.
    It's a scary thought but knowing what to do would mean a lot.

    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

    ***********************************************************

    Support Our Sponsor

    Recipe Secrets Exposed

    Get Inside The Hidden Cookbooks Of America's Favorite
    Restaurants! Now You Can Have the Secrets to America's Most
    Wanted Recipes. These are the Secret Recipes You Won't Find
    Anywhere Else.


    **********************************************************

    Credit Card Information

    Closing credit card dings credit score
    By Leslie McFadden • Bankrate.com

    ***********************************************************

    Grandpa Terry's Tip of the Week

    Quick Money Tips #2 from Budget Stretcher

    This is the 2nd in a series of articles that provide helpful
    money tips that you can use to stretch your budget.

    1. Sort your cash for your household expenses to ensure all of
    these expenses are covered each payday.

    2. Prepare in the event you lose your job or have your income
    reduced.

    3. Reduce the amount of income tax that is being withheld from
    your paycheck.

    4. Teach your kids the importance of properly managing their
    money.

    5. Review your mortgage, utility bills, phone bills, satellite,
    internet connection, etc. to reduce them where you can.

    6. Make sure you know your Consumer Rights to avoid problems
    with debt collectors.

    7. Avoid payday or car title loans at all costs.

    8. Put as much money in your 401k or other retirement account
    as possible.

    9. Learn how to use Garage Sales and Thrift stores to make your
    money stretch a little further.

    10. Start a Christmas Club account to avoid the need to use
    credit cards.

    Learn how to know the cost of a loan before you sign the
    papers. Download the Free "Loan Calculator! Plus" by visiting

    ***********************************************************

    Site of the Week

    About.com Frugal Living

    ***********************************************************

    Grandpa Terry's Email

    Can You Help This Subscriber?

    Hi Grandpa Terry,

    I heard part of a story on a San Diego morning news show that
    gave a website that allows you to "select" manufacturer's
    coupons (the type in the Sunday newspaper) online and "send"
    them to your free grocery store club card account
    electronically. All you have to do is sign up for a free online
    account with the coupon website, provide your grocery store club
    card number (Von's, Ralphs, Albertson's, etc) and start
    selecting coupons. The coupons will be deducted from your total
    when you enter your club card number at the checkout stand,
    provided you purchased the correct items, of course.

    The problem is that I heard it a couple weeks ago (I "think" it
    was NBC San Diego morning news) and I missed the part that gave
    the name of the coupon website! I tried searching the NBC news
    website and general online searches as well, but every site I
    find is for "printable" coupons, rather than the site that sends
    the internet coupons to your club card electronically.

    Do you know of any websites that offer this service?

    Thank you so much for Budget Stretcher Premium…. My
    subscription paid for itself within minutes (literally) when I
    learned and applied the first couple tips for saving money!

    Gracie
    San Diego

    ----------

    Hi, everyone. I saw the post from a reader recommending not
    buying gas at Walmart. Personally, I don't shop at Walmart at
    all, because of their lousy business practices. Walmart moves
    into towns and virtually causes locally owned stores to go out
    of business and also pays their workers next to nothing. Because
    the employees make so little anyway, many of them cannot afford
    the health insurance. See the link below for the trailer of a
    documentary about the Walmart company. I rented the whole dvd
    and watched it at home.


    I saw the post about how to keep someone from stealing your
    purse out of the grocery cart. I never leave me purse in the
    cart, because even if you use a clip to keep it in the cart, the
    most important part is your wallet and a clip would not prevent
    them from taking the wallet. I have a purse that has an
    adjustable shoulder strap. I adjust it so that it will fit over
    the should opposite the hip where it hangs down. Short of
    someone trying to mug me or something, I don't think they could
    take my purse.

    ----------

    I save those extra envelopes that seems to come with the junk
    mail. When shopping I put in the coupon I am using for the item
    and on the outside I put the price less the coupon so I can keep
    a running total-I always know what I am spending. When money is
    tight you can keep track and not get carried away. When you
    reach the check out all of the coupons for the items you
    purchased at readily available to hand to the cashier. Often I
    hand over the envelope-when the cashier places it on the
    register to use when finished ringing my purchases. The coupons
    stay put and don't get lost so easily which is a definite
    advantage as well.

    Lynda

    ***********************************************************

    Subscriber Tip #2

    Read the tip about replacing your countertop using a piece of
    vinyl that cost $10. Depending on how big a piece of vinyl you
    need, you may want to check with a Carpet store. Not Home Depot,
    Lowes or other chain home centers. One that is locally owned,
    might even be able to talk to the owner. You might be able to
    get the size vinyl for free. Most stores don't want to
    bother with a piece that small and throw it away. You take a
    chance because the pieces aren't available everyday. Often
    there will be pieces left when an installer cuts his piece down
    to fit the room he is installing. I guess it depends on how bad
    you want to save $10.

    Dennis/033108

    Subscriber Tip Of The Week
    * Vote For Dennis's Tip and Get A Free Gift!
    Brand New:  Use the form at the link below to vote for this tip:

    ***********************************************************

    Support Our Sponsors

    Finally Organized, Finally Free

    An amazing collection of 1,300 organizing tips, ideas and
    techniques to help you organize your home, your office and your
    life!

    Clutter-control tips for every room in the house. Time
    management systems to help you gain extra hours in your day.
    Super ways to organize the paper monsters in your life. Ideas
    and systems to keep you motivated, and so much more!


    ***********************************************************

    Budget Stretcher Partners

    SavingAdvice.com
    At Home Parent
    Work-at-Home Team
    Tidbits from the Pantry
    Abbys Good Stuff for Free
    Diva Tribe

    ***********************************************************

    Subscriber Tip #3

    I have one of those 7-day pill organizers. To keep it clean, I
    place it in the utensils rack with all of the lids open. It
    comes out clean without any trouble at all.

    Ida/033108

    Subscriber Tip Of The Week
    Vote For Ida's Tip and Get A Free Gift!
    Brand New:  Use the form at the link below to vote for this tip:

    **********************************************************

    Support Our Sponsors

    Companies need consumers to try and review products, services,
    and websites and are willing to pay money to have them do so.
    Unlike other companies, we will never charge any fees.


    ***********************************************************

    This Week's Article Links

    Just click the links to view the article

    Reducing Debt On One Income
    By Wahmonabudget.com
    (debt)

    10 wackiest tax write-offs
    By Jay MacDonald • Bankrate.com
    (taxes)

    Grocery Shopping List -- How to Get Your Family to Use One
    by Colleen Langenfeld
    (food)

    To read more articles visit:

    ***********************************************************

    Take Advantage of your Budget Stretcher Subscriber
    Benefits Visit:

    Visit Our Forum

    Budget Stretcher Subscriber Benefits Page

    Join This Groups

    A_Simple_Life

    ***********************************************************

    Support Our Sponsors

    Debt Consolidation can Instantly Reduce Your Debt up to 60%!

    Discover why our debt consolidation service is the most
    effective solution for getting Americans out of debt. Let our
    debt specialists review your finances and help you:

    Save thousands in interest charges.

    Reduce your credit card debt by up to 60%.

    Help you regardless of your past credit history.

    No credit check required.

    No home ownership required.

    ***********************************************************

    Special Recipe

    From the Ebook "Nelson Family Recipe Book"

    Ham Pretzel Pleasers
    Eunice Nelson

    3 oz. cream cheese
    1 cup ground ham
    ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
    Onion juice or grated onion, to taste
    ¼ cup chopped pecans
    Pretzel sticks
    ½ cup snipped parsley

    Combine cream cheese, ground ham, pecans, Worcestershire sauce,
    and onion. Form into balls. Roll in crushed parsley and stick
    pretzels in each ball to serve. Note: do not put pretzels in
    until ready to serve as they will become soggy. Can omit parsley
    and pretzels and serve on crackers.

    You can order the "Nelson Family Recipe eBook" for only $3.  This
    ebook is 120 pages of down home recipes.  Please use the below
    payment link to order your copy today (30 day money back
    guarantee):


    ***********************************************************

    Everyday Savings

    These Tips provided by The Frugal Shopper

    Please show your appreciation for these great tips by visiting
    this site.

    ~~Put a metal spoon into a glass before pouring
    in any hot liquid - this will prevent the glass
    from cracking.

    ~~Soak a cloth in carbonated water and wrap around
    a rusty bolt and leave for a few minutes. The bolt
    should loosen right up.

    ~~Tip for stamp collectors: Place the envelope in
    the freezer for a few hours. You'll then be able to
    easily lift the stamps off with a pair of tweezers.

    ~~Save your change. Empty your wallet, purse, and
    pockets on a regular basis into a "piggy bank".
    Occasionally roll the change and take to the bank.
    It will add up faster than you think.

    ***********************************************************

    Contact Information:
    Budget Stretcher
    1203 Madison 228
    Fredericktown, MO  63645
    FAX:  573-783-5982

    ***********************************************************

    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.