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***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 - Strawberries over Cream
Watch for next week's newsletter featuring:
Trading in gas guzzler may cost you
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Subscriber Tip #1
Do not use major appliances between 12 noon and 7 pm as this is
the PEAK usage for electric Mon thru Fri / Sat and Sun are all
considered NON PEAK. Learned this from my electric company. Also
learned you are charged more during peak than off peak.
Michelle
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Coupon Savings
by Michelle Jones
Let's show Michelle that we appreciate all of those Coupon Tips
she supplied us with for over two years. Check out her new
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Grandpa Terry's Update
Welcome to The Budget Stretcher!
Before I forget it, here is the link with the answers to last
week's Old-timers quiz. I hope you enjoyed it:
Congratulations to Jennifer for winning March's Subscriber Tip
Contest. Jennifer has already signed up for her free 1 year
membership to Budget Stretcher Premium.
Here is Jennifer's Tip:
tip: If you're using a bread maker than your already saving money.
Take the extra step and make rolls instead of loaves. One batch
of dough makes about 12 rolls, place them on a cookie sheet,
cover & place in freezer. When completely frozen transfer
into Ziploc bags & freeze. Take out as a need basis. I take
a couple out, defrost, let rise(about 2 hours)& bake. We have
fresh bread every day and nothing goes to waste.
Like I said a couple of weeks ago, the Subscriber Tip Contest
is cancelled due to lack of participation.
Did you know that The Budget Stretcher Newsletter is sent out
weekly to over 20,600 subscribers? This is bigger than most
newsletters and smaller than some. Another bit of trivia that
you may be interested in is that I still have some subscribers
that joined in 2000 which is the year I started publishing. Not
bad for a baldheaded country boy!!
One of our subscribers isn't too pleased with my article about
what to do with the tax rebate checks being sent because not
all hard working citizens will receive the rebate. I have to
say I agree with her somewhat, but for different reasons than
she stated. (Read her email in "Grandpa Terry's Email" below).
Yes, many of those that will receive the rebate never paid taxes
and some didn't even work. That's probably not right but when
we have those in Washington making the decisions these are the
type of things that happen.
Just to give you a couple of other things that aren't right but
are a fact of life, I can never draw unemployment even if I
needed it. I also can never draw Social Security disability.
The reason is that I spent 20 years in the Navy and have a
retirement check coming in. It's not enough to live on but too
much to qualify for these benefits. No need to complain.
The reason that I don't agree with the rebate check is not only
do I think it will do little to stimulate the economy but we
shouldn't be paying taxes the way we are. No taxpayer should
ever be burdened with paying withholding, filling out tax forms
once a year and getting money back. It's a ridiculous system
by any stretch especially as complicated as the tax code is.
The Fair Tax is the only system that will be equal for everyone.
I had one of my Senators tell me that it would hurt the lower
income and that she would not support it. This tells me one
important fact. She has never read the Fair Tax bill and has
no idea of what she's talking about.
When someone on welfare or other fixed income receives a check
in addition to their government payments, that doesn't reduce
these payments, it's a good thing. When lower income workers
no longer have to have withholding taken from their paychecks,
that's a good thing. That's what the Fair Tax will do for
people that are having it hard.
To learn more about the Fair Tax visit:
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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Credit Card Information
How Americans really feel about credit card debt
By Walecia Konrad • Bankrate.com
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Grandpa Terry's Tip of the Week
My buddy Ken sent me this and I thought it would be a good time
to run it with prices going up and up! What will they be saying
52 years from now?
Comments made in the year 1956! That's only 52 years ago!
'I'll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they
are, it's going to be impossible to buy a week's groceries for
$20.00.'
'Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won't be
long before $2,000.00 will only buy a used one.'
'If cigarettes keep going up in price, I'm going to quit. A
quarter a pack is ridiculous.
'Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging a dime
just to mail a letter?'
'If they raise the minimum wage to $1.00, nobody will be able
to hire outside help at the store.'
'When I first started driving, who would have thought gas
would someday cost 29 cents a gallon. Guess we'd be better off
leaving the car in the garage.'
'Kids today are impossible. Those duck tail hair cuts make it
impossible to stay groomed. Next thing you know, boys will be
wearing their hair as long as the girls.'
'I'm afraid to send my kids to the movies any more. Ever since
they let Clark Gable get by with saying D... in GONE WITH THE
WIND, it seems every new movie has either H... of D... in it.'
'I read the other day where some scientist thinks it's possible
to put a man on the moon by the end of the century. They even
have some fellows they call astronauts preparing for it down in
Texas .'
'Did you see where some baseball player just signed a contract
for $75,000 a year just to play ball? It wouldn't surprise me
if someday they'll be making more than the President.'
'I never thought I'd see the day all our kitchen appliances
would be electric. They are even making electric typewriters
now.'
'It's too bad things are so tough nowadays. I see where a few
married women are having to work to make ends meet.'
'It won't be long before young couples are going to have to
hire someone to watch their kids so they can both work.'
'Marriage doesn't mean a thing any more, those Hollywood stars
seem to be getting divorced at the drop of a hat.'
'I'm afraid the Volkswagen car is going to open the door to a
whole lot of foreign business.'
'Thank goodness I won't live to see the day when the Government
takes half our income in taxes. I sometimes wonder if we are
electing the best people to congress.'
'The drive-in restaurant is convenient in nice weather, but I
seriously doubt they will ever catch on.'
'There is no sense going to Lincoln or Omaha anymore for a
weekend, it costs nearly $15.00 a night to stay in a hotel.'
'No one can afford to be sick anymore , at $35.00 a day in the
hospital it's too rich for my blood.'
'If they think I'll pay 50 cents for a hair cut, forget it.'
Know any friends who would get a kick out of these, pass this
on! Be sure and send it to your kids and grandkids too!
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Site of the Week
Coupon Mountain
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Grandpa Terry's Email
Hi Grandpa Terry,
Just wanted to remind you not to forget to mention NCUA when
you shared your article regarding the economy and past bank
failures and the FDIC. NCUA is the National Credit Union
Administration, and it is a government agency that regulates,
charters, and insures the nation's federal credit unions. It is
very similar to the FDIC, in that FDIC is for deposit insurance
for banks, and NCUA is share deposit insurance for credit
unions. Here's their website for more info: www.ncua.gov. It's got a lot of great information, and articles worth reading even
if you don't belong to a Credit Union.
Joining a Credit Union is another way people can save money on
their checking accounts, and loans. Most CU's have slightly
lower loan rates, while offering free (completely) checking
accounts with online bill pay, and/or budgeting programs.
I've been a member of a couple CU's for a long time, and wonder
why anyone would go to a bank that charges fees, and won't work
with you when you are in a financial crunch?
Thanks again, as always, your information is golden! Keep
spreading the joy!
Tori
-------
Hi Grandpa Terry:
Thanks for the link for the info on FDIC and what would happen
in the event of a failure of an FDIC insured bank.
I'm in the Upstate of SC. A local bank, FDIC insured, offered a
free checking account with 6.1% interest, guaranteed for 2
months. There are some stipulations, like no ATM at their bank,
but if you use another ATM and withdraw $100, there is no fee,
use your ATM/Debit card at least 10 times a month (I can do that
at McDonald's. They will let me use it for a burger $1, and a
senior drink, $.25. I live 1 1/2 miles from the McD's). You have
to get your statement online and can only view 3 checks online a
month, but you can print out your statement and see the checks
and charges.
I had no problem moving some of my money from another bank in a
Money Market Account to the above bank. My Money Market was 5%,
a promo deal, which went down to 1% but they increased it to 3%
when I told them of the bank that was paying 6.1%.
Many years ago, I worked for Charles Givens, Financial Expert
in FL. He said, "Move your money every 6 months", when stocks
are up, bonds are down When Bonds are up, stocks are down." I
believe him and have no problem moving my money to a local bank
who is paying more interest, whether they call it a Money
Market, CD or Free Checking Account!
As far as food for the month, I'm still a big time user of
coupons, get them from senior friends and relatives. This week
Food Lion had Triple Coupons, up to $.60 each, maximum of 10 on
a minimum order of $25. I spent $37, gave them my coupons, and
paid the cashier $3. She was young and was very impressed with
the amount I owed her.
With one local grocery store, they have started sending $10
coupons in the mail to my home, one for each week of the month.
The other grocery stores found out about it, don't send their
own coupons, but put a full page ad in the local newspaper that
they will accept the other store's coupons! What a great deal
for us!
For too many years, we had not much competition in food stores,
now we have a lot. One man said to me, in line at the grocery
store, "This is a game with you, isn't it?" I said, "Yes it is,
and I'm the winner!" I have receipts showing the money I paid on
$50 in groceries was $.52. My total this month, so far, is $485
in food purchased for $112.
When friends give me the $10 coupons, I some weeks have 3 of
the coupons. That means I can get $100 in groceries for only a
few dollars. They don't limit me to using just one coupon each
week!
-------
Reference last week:> > Even if you don't get a $1200 rebate I
guarantee applying whatever you get to your credit card debt
will save you big bucks.<<
Ummm... no, it wouldn't. It would cost us.... 1. We are of that
group almost totally ignored in all this hype re: REBATE!! YAY
FOR US! HURRAY FOR THE ECONOMY! "news bytes"-- those people who
work, pay LOADS of taxes, but get absolutely no "rebate".
Instead-- we OWE quarterly "estimated alternative minimum tax"
in addition to the 60% of our paychecks taken out before we see
any of it, thus we are "due" a negative "rebate".
2. Our credit card debt is $0. If we add our "negative rebate"
to a credit card, then there is the potential we will owe
non-deductible interest. The only balance we carry over month to
month is our mortgage... and that is paid down to a point we
could pay it off entirely, if we didn't mind emptying our
savings accounts. Of course if we did that... the IRS would be
getting what we'd save in interest payments, and we'd have no
"cushion" for emergencies....
It is really discouraging being caught in the middle like this,
and depressing to be constantly bombarded with "news" of the
party to which we aren't invited.... Yes, I know you noted not
"everybody" would be getting a rebate-- but that half sentence
is "lost" in all the "here's how to use your rebate" copy. It
feels very much like we are being punished for working hard, and
not living beyond our means.
Kaytee
Proudly marching to a different kettle of fish
-------
Hi Terry,
You had posed a question as to the lowest gas price I could
remember.
When I was a kid I followed the price of a candy bar.
The first price I can remember was 5 cents for a 3 musketeers
bar--and what a bar. It actually contained 3 separate bars,
vanilla, chocolate and strawberry and was a nice size.
Over the years I watched the evolution of this bar and it
always followed the same cycle.
As costs went up, first the manufacturer would reduce the size
of the bar several times. When the bar reached a certain size
and was not marketable, they would make the bar larger (although
not as large as it was before) Label it new and improved and
double the price. Over the years this cycle has been repeated
many times until today the bar is 50 cents and I swear is still
not as large as the good old 5 cent bar.
Measured against wages: At that time I was helping a friend
deliver newspapers which would take about 2 hours. My
wage--you guessed it--A candy bar.
Ken
-------
WHOOPS...I guess I forgot to sign it huh...lol
(You have both of these together, but no big deal)
I don't remember the exact price per gallon, but when I was in
school in North Carolina in the late 70s, I used to fill up the
gas tank of my 8-cylinder hot rod classic '64 Chevelle
Malibu...AND...get a Coke...AND...a carton of cigarettes for ten
bucks. Now, the 4-cylinder minivan I drive takes about $55 out
of my wallet for a fill-up, the Coke is at least a dollar, and a
carton of smokes is around $30.
-------
Lowe's and Home Depot both have Greenhouse Kits. They run
around $200 - 400 including all the lumber, ventilation panels,
and stuff to take it home - assemble, (you have to have a footer
plot ready for it - so it's level and stable, but we set it up
on our upper terrace where it fits just peachy, we take off the
more delicate panels in winter to allow for expand/contract and
they have fit right back ON every year since; and it only took
my son and husband three hours to get the first 89% of it up and
standing in one afternoon. Then, it took them about two more
days to finish what they called 'trim work'. Hope that helps.
Nanci in Pgh
-------
Hi Grampa Terry:
This email is in response to the reader who wanted to build a
greenhouse, however is short on funds. It's a green house a
person constructed for approx $50.00.(and it's not tiny by any
means!) I'm sure it could be made larger or smaller to
accommodate, and I wish the best of luck!
Thank you! Darlene
-------
Terry,
We have a man at our church who doesn't read very well and I'm
trying to help him with some things. He is a Viet Nam veteran
who's 65 years old. last year I filed for social security online
for him, but at the time he was ineligible for Medicare. Now he
says they're charging him for it, and he wants to be able to
take advantage of it, but he doesn't have a card saying he has
it. (It could be in a pile of mail he says he doesn't
understand!) Is that something he has to apply for, or is it
automatic when you turn 65? Also ... he says he can't get good
treatment here at the Veterans Hospital in Houston. In fact, he
says they basically ignore him and tell him they can't do
anything for him. According to him, he wanted treatment at VA
because he only makes about $10, 000 a year. Can he use Medicare
AT the Veterans hospital? I just don't know anything about this.
I don't even know if I'm making any sense. Anything you can do
to help is sure appreciated.
Joyce Pierce
My Response:
Hi Joyce,
The first thing I would do is have him bring in all of the mail
he has received and go through it looking for evidence that
Social Security has started his Medicare and sent him a card.
This should have been automatic when he reached 65 if he was
already drawing his Social Security benefits.
If you can't find anything you may need to go with him to the
Social Security office and apply if you can.
It's my understanding that when he became eligible for Medicare
he is entitled to use the civilian Medicare providers and no
longer needs to use the VA. Being a Viet Nam veteran myself I
would strongly recommend he switch to civilian care because of
the substandard care at many VA facilities.
I hope this helps. Let me know if you need anything else.
All the best,
Terry
***********************************************************
Subscriber Tip #2
Kids spilled a glass of red kool-aid on your carpet? Soak up
most of it and then grab DAWN Direct Foam {in the blue bottle}
apply it to your cleaning rag and scrub. So far I've gotten all
stains out and greasy stains too if they were not pre-treated
with something else. A little more expensive than regular
dishwashing soap but when I consider the cost of new carpet,
especially if you are a renter, it is well worth the extra cost.
Sheryl
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Dollar Stretcher Tip #3
Hello,
I don't know if this is ok or not for a tip, but, I can't
believe the number of people that don't know about this. The
coupons that come out for Linens N things and Bed, Bath, &
Beyond NEVER expire. They have expiration dates printed on them,
but the stores still accept them. I used some the other day that
was dated Dec. 06. The only time the expiration date comes into
play is if you are using the coupon at a competitive store. If
you use a LNT Coupon at BB&B, then if it is expired they won't
accept it and vice versa. Also if a store is out of an item that
is on sale, ask for a rain check. I was in a Kroger store that I
don't usually shop at today and it was the last day milk was on
sale 3 half gallons for $5.00. They were out of the 1% that I
drink so I got a rain check. I stopped at my reg store on way
home and they had it so I got it on sale today and now have a
"coupon" to get more within the next month. I have lost my job a
couple of months ago and having a hard time finding a new one so
we are pinching penny's here as tight as they will go. I never
pay full price on any item in LNT or BB&B.
Grandpa Terry, I hope that you can use some of this and feel
free to reword as needed. I am not the best with expressing
myself.
Thanks
Tammy
Golconda Il
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This Week's Article Links
Just click the links to view the article
Safety Pins in the Rice
By: Joyce Moseley Pierce
(taxes)
Never roll negative equity into new car
By Terry Jackson • Bankrate.com
(auto)
Say no to tax-rebate gift cards
By Liz Pulliam Weston
(taxes)
To read more articles visit:
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Special Recipe
Strawberries over Cream
1 Envelope (1 Tbsp.) unflavored gelatin
3/4 cup cold water
1 cup sour cream
1 small container whipped topping
2 pints Strawberries, sliced
Pour water into a sauce pan, sprinkle with gelatin and dissolve
over low heat. Stir in sour cream. Remove from burner and cool.
When slightly cool, add whipped topping. Pour into mold, pan or
bowl and chill. Serve topped with sliced strawberries.
Don't be afraid of unflavored gelatin. You can find it at the
store by the Jell-O and is just as easy to use.
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.
~~Before you buy something, ask yourself these questions:
---Can I live without this? ---Do I need it? Or merely want it?
---Do I already have something I can use instead? ---Can I
borrow it from a friend or family member? ---How long will I
have to work to pay for this?
~~To avoid impulse buys, imagine having to clean the item, or
store it.
~~If you can, avoid the middleman.
~~If you need a ruler when you're out shopping, remember this:
a dollar bill is 6 1/8" long.
~~Make it instead of buying it.
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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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