The FREE Budget Stretcher Newsletter
April 9, 2007


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    The Budget Stretcher
    "Saving you money...One Dime at a Time!"
    Week Of: April 9, 2007
    AOL Users Please Visit Online
    <a href="http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/BSNL040907.html">
    http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/BSNL040907.html </a>
     
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    Grandpa Terry's Quips

    Tip #23 - If you look hard enough your couch cushions won't be
    the only place you will find money hiding.

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    Get More From Your Budget Stretcher Subscription

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    ***What's Inside***

    Grandpa Terry's Quips
    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 - Red Beans and Rice
    Everyday Savings from http://www.thefrugalshopper.com

    Watch for next week's newsletter featuring:
    "9 steps to take if your ID is exposed"

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    Subscriber Tip

    Flea Proof Your House!

    Sprinkle 20 Mule Team Borax onto the carpet (get under the
    furniture too!), and on sofas and under cushions (Test on a
    small area to make sure this is safe for your fabric). Here is a
    homemade flea trap that won't cost you a dime. Take an old cake
    or pie pan and fill with water. Add a tablespoon of dish
    detergent. Place the pan under a nightlight. If you have a green
    bulb, use it in the nightlight (green works even better!). In
    the evening the fleas will jump into the pan and fleas can't
    swim!

    FYI: A flea can jump 150 times its own length!!

    Compliments of: Barefoot Lass
    http://members.tripod.com/~Barefoot_Lass/pets.html

    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:
     
    http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/tipsubmit.html

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    Coupon Savings
    by Michelle Jones

    Last week we talked about giving yourself a fresh start with
    your expired grocery coupons. Now if you happen to see a few
    that have no expiration date as they're landing in a heap in the
    trash it's okay to keep those, and of course you can also donate
    the expired coupons to military families overseas as we've
    talked about before (they can usually use them on base up to 6
    months after the expiration date). If you don't have time for
    that right now don't worry, the most important thing in this
    situation is that you just give yourself a fresh start. It's
    really okay, I promise!

    Save hundreds of dollars on your groceries each month, with or
    without using coupons! Read more of Michelle's FREE grocery
    saving tips at http://www.GrocerySavingTips.com

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    Grandpa Terry's Update

    Welcome to The Budget Stretcher! 

    Well, I'm almost back to normal now except that I lost several
    of my email folders that contains all of the files that I use
    for the newsletter including the Subscriber Tips.  Until I have
    more I will have to use ones from previous newsletters.

    If you have a tip that you would like to submit please send it
    to me.  I need to build up my supply again.  You can do this
    by visiting your Subscriber Benefits Page and using the form.
    Here is the link:

    http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/subbbo/bonusbook.html

    I have over 200 usernames and passwords that I use to access
    various programs to operate Budget Stretcher.  It's a real
    headache trying to remember them all.  A few weeks ago I
    downloaded RoboForm and the problem is solved.

    You may not have 200 to remember but if you find yourself staring
    at a form trying to remember what username and password you used
    when you signed up this is the program for you.  The best part is
    that it is free if you don't have too many to remember.  I bought
    the pro version to handle everything.

    RoboForm also fills in other types of forms for you like a
    registration for some program.  It's very secure and you need
    a master password to access all of the others.  If you need help
    with your usernames and passwords please click on the below link. 

    http://www.roboform.com/php/land.php?affid=rigg1

    Before I sign off for this week I have a free gift for you.  I
    know I should charge for this ebook but I want everyone to have
    it.  It's called "Found Money: How To Generate Quick Cash In An
    Emergency".  I believe you may be able to use some of the tips.
    To download your copy free of charge just click on the below
    link:

    http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/ebook/emergencymoney.pdf

    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
    mailto:tre2000@midwest.net.

    If you know someone that may be interested in subscribing to our
    newsletter just have them visit:

    http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/confirmsubs.html

    All the best,
    Grandpa Terry

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

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    Credit Card Information

    Credit Card Blocking
    By BSC Alliance.com
    http://www.bcsalliance.com/creditcard_blocking.html
     
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    Grandpa Terry's Tip of the Week

    How Much Should My Grocery Budget Be?

    You talk about a question without an answer!  But, I'm going to
    try to answer it anyway.

    First, when we are talking about setting an exact dollar amount
    for groceries for each family that asks, that's almost impossible.
    What we can do is allot a portion (percentage) of our income for
    food.

    There again, you have all of the variables like the size of your
    family, eating habits, etc.  Also, a family with a low income may
    have to allot a larger percentage of their income toward buying
    food.

    The question I would like to ask you is how much are you spending
    on groceries per month?  I would have to say that most people
    wouldn't have any idea.

    Better yet, how much could you be spending on food?  In other
    words if you are currently spending $600 on food for your family
    let's try to cut that down to $500 or even $400.  But first you
    will need to know how much you are spending now.

    This is going to be a real hassle for a month or two because you
    will need to keep track of your grocery purchases.  All of them!

    Now, we can make that a little easier but you will need to have
    your finances set up a certain way.  I always suggest that you
    only use 4 categories for your budget.  These are Housing, Other
    Bills, Household Expenses and Savings.

    Your grocery bill would come under that category of Household
    Expenses.  If you have your finances set up this way each member
    of the family will have an allowance each payday for things
    like car gas, lunches, parking, snacks, etc.  Doing it this way
    would eliminate the need to keep up with each family member's
    food spending except for the family pizza night.

    All you would have to do is save your grocery receipts for about
    30 to 60 days and add them up.  This should give you a good idea
    of how much you spend on a monthly basis for food.

    When you have this information it's time to start looking for
    ways to cut that figure down as low as you can and still provide
    good nutritious meals for your family.

    If I started telling just the ways I know of how to save on
    groceries, this article would turn into a book.  There are
    endless ways to cut back on your food spending.  The best way
    to start learning is to search the web.  Here are a couple of
    web sites you can start with:

    The Frugal Shopper
    http://www.thefrugalshopper.com

    Money Saving Grocery Tips
    http://homeparents.about.com/od/groceryshoppingtips/

    Grocery Saving Tips
    http://www.grocerysavingtips.com/

    With all of that said, the bottom line is that you need to spend
    what ever it takes on groceries to survive.  In too many cases
    people will pay their bills out of their grocery budget.  This
    won't work.  Water, Food and shelter are the basics.  Put them
    first no matter what your bills are or how many times they call
    to harass you.

    I know you are still looking for a dollar amount for your family.
    If you pin me down I would have to say about 15% to 20% of your
    income could be spent on food.  For a family making $3000 a month
    that would mean you would set aside about $450 to $600 for food. 
    This is great unless you have teenagers that go through the
    kitchen like vacuum cleaners.

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

    Site of the Week

    Page Wise
    http://essortment.com/money.html

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    Grandpa Terry's Email

    (In response to Jeanne S. tip in last week's issue)

    Comment : this weeks' newsletter....just came in fresh
    tonight... this suggestion is so very wonderful....

    I just want to thank the young lady who placed it. With my
    boys, we do not allow them outdoors in the first place, but
    under my foundation is a lot of dirt - which inevitably does
    collect random bug life from outdoors.... and they both turn
    blood red, get raw, etc. from flea treatments, and I get bitten
    to death if there's even One in the house !! So. I will Bible
    her idea and try it - can't hurt, and if it works !!! I'll put
    her name 'in' for sainthood !! All the Orkin guy ever told me
    "there is no decent 'kill' for fleas except chemicals '' !!!

    Hugs,  and  prayers....
    Nanci  in Pgh., PA

    --------

    I am not a billing expert, but having worked in a doctor's
    office I may have some helpful insight to this question.
    Physician Assistants(PA) and Nurse Practitioners(NP) work under
    the supervision of a physician (MD or DO). If the MD was in the
    office on the day that the PA was seeing you, the PA may have
    collaborated with the MD regarding your care, for example
    discussing the referral information or records before the PA
    stepped in to visit with you. In this case, the visit is billed
    under the supervising MD rather than the PA.

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    Subscriber Tip

    I read the tip about keeping tires inflated, and it reminded
    me, my husband bought me a tire gage to keep in my purse to
    check the air in my tires. I try to check every week or so. This
    really helps me, because I cant tell by looking at them if they
    are low or not.

    Janice

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    Subscriber Tip

    Hot water heating systems use a network of pipes to
    distribute heat through your house.   Uninsulated
    pipes waste energy. Wrapping pipes that are readily
    accessible with insulation is easy to do and fairly
    inexpensive. Pipe insulation made of fiberglass or
    foam can be found in all building supply stores. Use
    insulation with a wall thickness of 3/4 in for
    fiberglass and 1/2 in for foam.
     
    Compliments of:  Energy Guide.com
    http://www.energyguide.com/info/eip-tips.asp?topic=2

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

    This Week's Article Links

    Just click the links to view the article

    How To Make Your Raise Really Pay
    by James H. Dimmitt
    http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/articles/payraise.html

    10 More Ways to Find Hidden Money in your Paycheck
    Copyright © 2005 Robert Dickson
    http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/articles/hiddenmoney.html

    Cash Advance Suicide
    by Scott Bilker
    http://www.debtsmart.com/pages/article_advance_suicide.html

    To read more articles visit:
    http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/familyarticles.html

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    Learn More:  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FunOnABudget/join

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    Special Recipe

    Red Beans and Rice

    1 cup white rice
    1 small onion, chopped
    2 (15 oz.) cans dark red kidney beans, or 4 cups
      cooked kidney beans
    2 (15 oz.) cans diced tomatoes
    garlic salt (to taste)
    Oregano (to taste)
    basil (to taste)

    Prepare rice.  In a skillet with a cover, sauté the
    onion until translucent.  Add remaining ingredients
    and cook over medium heat until bubbly, stirring
    occasionally.  Cover, lower heat, and simmer about
    15 minutes.  Serve over rice.  Top with grated cheddar
    cheese (if desired).

    This recipe compliments of The Best Cookbook Anywhere
    Not Just Beans.com http://www.livingonadime.com

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    Everyday Savings

    These Tips provided by The Frugal Shopper
    http://www.thefrugalshopper.com/

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

    ~~Disposing of grease and fat from foods. I save the jars and
    lids that I get whenever I purchase tomato sauce and mayonnaise.
    When I have bacon drippings or old oil from fried foods, I pour
    the fat into these jars. When the jar gets full, I put the top
    back on and put the jar in the trash. This will prevent your
    drains from being clogged with this oil and keep your trash cans
    from getting messy inside.

    ~~Save plastic milk containers, fill with water and freeze. Use
    in camper iceboxes or coolers. Also these can be used to freeze
    colored water or juices in for later use in a punch bowl.

    ~~To avoid tears when peeling onions, slice first, then slip
    the bands of skin off.

    ~~Use an egg slicer to slice apples or mushrooms.

    ~~Leftover pancake batter makes good fried onion rings.
    Separate and let soak in batter for fifteen minutes. Fry in hot
    oil.

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    Contact Information:
    Budget Stretcher
    1203 Madison 228
    Fredericktown, MO  63645
    email: mailto:tre2000@midwest.net
    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.