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The Budget Stretcher
Week Of: July 10, 2006
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Grandpa Terry's Quips
Tip #26 - When I was a young man I thought a diet was
what you were on when you couldn't afford groceries.
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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 - Apple Crisp
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Subscriber Tip
Computer Tip
If the print on your monitor is either too large or
too small you can change it by holding down the Ctrl
key and rolling the scrolling wheel on your mouse up
or down to change the print size.
Love the newsletter!
Debbie
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
If you're new to coupon clipping, or just need a fresh start,
one of the most helpful things you can do is get your coupons
organized so they can be more like extra cash in your wallet
instead of a forgotten (and what could have been very valuable)
pile of trash. Choosing the same day and approximate time to
clip and organize your grocery coupons each week will help you
establish a routine that's very easy to keep up with!
Save hundreds of dollars on your groceries each month, with
or without using coupons! Read more of Michelle's FREE
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Grandpa Terry's Update
Welcome to this week's issue of our newsletter. I
hope this finds everyone doing well.
I want to thank all of you that are participating in the
Equity Smart Program that I recently announced. Your kind
comments about the program are certainly appreciated by
myself and Randy and Brad, the team you have been
working with.
I know many of you checked into this program and may not
have received all of the information you needed. We have
put our heads together and have come up with an
exciting tool to show you exactly what Equity Smart can do
for you. This will be free of charge!
You will be receiving information on this and also something
very special in a few days.
Even though the Special Offer has ended for The "New" Complete
Budget and Bill Organizer you can still get it at a
reduced price just for being a subscriber. I am offering a
20% discount that doesn't expire but you have to use the
link at your Subscriber Benefits Page to get that discount.
Here is the link:
I have decided to let the Budget Stretcher Forum go. I'm within
30 days of paying for the renewal and there doesn't seem to be
enough interest to warrant renewal. There hasn't been a post
to the forum since June 13th, almost a month ago.
I'm going to be recommending that you use the forum at
Saving Advice.com. Here is the 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 just have them visit:
All the best,
Grandpa Terry
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Subscriber Contest
Is This Your Email Address?
If your email address begins with
maxiplan
and you signed up on
October 20, 2000
you are the winner of a $100 Walmart gift card
or $100 cash paid through PayPal (Your Choice)!
To claim your prize, just send me an email
using the email address below. Please include
your first name and whether you want the Walmart
Card or Cash via PayPal. I will get back to you asap
with the details.
You must respond by July 31, 2006 to win.
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Credit Card Information
Credit card debt is often a result of costly food and
grocery purchasing habits
By Mike Adams
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Grandpa Terry's Tip of the Week
Spending More Than You Make
When you spend more money than you make each month
you are bound to have money problems very quickly.
The bad part is that most of us never realize we
are spending that much until it's too late.
How many times have you used the credit cards to
buy a TV, school clothes and supplies, fixed the
car, or any number of things and not realized that
you just exceeded your monthly income. You may
have even realized it but thought there is always
next month.
Credit cards are the biggest culprit but they aren't
the only way to spend more than you make. Things
like payday loans or car title loans also come to
mind. Paying $15 to use $100 for a week doesn't
seem too bad. However, when you consider that you
are paying almost 400% in interest over a years time
these loans make interest on credit cards look like a
great deal.
Normally, installment loans have a lower interest than
either credit cards or payday loans but they can still
cause problems if you aren't positive that you can
make the payments each month.
I consider a house payment and the purchase of a car
the only real legitimate reasons for paying interest.
Very few people have the means to make these purchases
with cash. If you aren't careful you can still get
yourself into trouble by buying or renting more house
that you can afford or having car payments that don't
fit your budget.
I just recently received an email from a lady stating
that her and her husband wanted to buy a new car but
really didn't know if they could afford it. This
family probably saved themselves a lot of headaches
just by asking that question. I wrote back showing
her how they could determine if they could afford the
car or not.
My answer to her question was to have her develop a
budget, listing all of the other bills and expenses
they have, and then see what's left over. I also
reminded her that she should consider the extra
costs like insurance, maintenance, etc.
Over the years I have seen people with as little as
$500 a month income manage their finances very well
while someone else with $5000 income can't make it
last the entire month. It all boils down to planning.
If you plan your bills and purchases each month with
the goal of not exceeding your income, you can make
it on almost any income.
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Site of the Week
Parenthub
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Grandpa Terry's Email
Topic of Discussion
Does anyone have any ideas for this discussion topic?
I am serious in debt. How do I get out of a time share
that I have owned for 1 ½ years. I have paid $400.00 to
an online time share company to sell it but no response-
I need help I am about to let it go to foreclosure. Any
advice?
No Name Given
My Response:
Hi,
I'm not an expert on Timeshares however I just did some
research on the web and found that, as you already know
a timeshare is extremely difficult to unload. I did
find an article that won't help much but it may give you
some ideas. Here's the link:
My advice would be to constantly contact the online time
share company that took your $400 and ask what they are
doing to try to sell. Normally, with up front money there
is some kind of guarantee that they will unload it in a
certain amount of time. Make them live up to it.
I really wish that I could help more but since a timeshare
is a binding contract it's hard to give any advice that
could help.
All the best,
Terry
----------
Hi Grandpa Terry,
Just writing to say thanks for the great newsletter! I
always look forward to reading it. I agree 100% with your
comment this week that most of us know what needs to be
done about our budgets but don't want to make the "big"
changes.
So, thank you. It is very rare to get a newsletter where
you really do learn something with each issue. I make
sure I read the newsletter in full and check out the
websites you list.
Take care and keep up the good work!!
Yvonne
----------
OK, mine is not really a tip, but a request or suggestion.
I love the newsletter and I love the site, but there is
just one thing missing for me.
Each week in your newsletter, you have the tip, and an
address to submit a tip.
And, you have a blurb about have friends that would like
to subscribe? and then you include the address to sign up.
But, when it comes to your little note about sending you
an email, there is no address. Often, over the years
there would be something that just connected with me and
I would have love to have just dropped you a quick note,
but it was neither a tip, nor a new sign up. Not sure if
reply was the way to go either...........so I just didn't
do anything.
Being a lazy reader here I guess.....I would love your email
address right by the bit in your weekly note to the readers!
If I were into betting, I would think your responses would
increase!!!
Again, thanks for putting out such an informative newsletter.
One of my favorite emails to receive!
Contrary1
My Response:
Hi,
Thank you for those kind words about the newsletter.
I guess the reason I didn't think of putting my email address
was that it's just to logical for an aging mind! I've changed
my newsletter template and all future issues will give my
email address. You are right, I probably will receive much
more response.
Thanks a lot for pointing that out and I'm sure the other
subscribers will appreciate it too!
Have a great week,
Terry
----------
Subscriber Tip from last week by wp
I save money using white vinegar in the rinse. My clothes
come out soft and without static, plus it helps prevent
mildew which happens quickly in the summer months in the
south. I add 1/4 cup of plain white vinegar to the fabric
softener dispenser.
wp
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I have a comment on this tip: I learned to use vinegar in
the rinse cycle of the washer years ago. Adding 1/2 cup
of white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser not only
leaves the clothing without irritants (WONDERFUL for cloth
diapers and sensitive skin), it doesn't leave that stinky
heavy scent like fabric softeners do.
The vinegar works double duty in the washer - it can help
keep your washer clean and sweet smelling, reducing the
number of times you have to clean the dispensers, top of
the drum, and inside. All for a fraction of the cost of
anything else.
If you have a child that is a bed-wetter, try adding 3/4 c
vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser. Your sheets and
anything else with urine on it will come out without the
faintest urine smell. This also works very well for things
the cat may have used to toilet.
Thanks to wp and Grandpa Terry for sharing my favorite
laundry secret!
Sara
Custom made clothes and costumes for every size.
I specialize in the Hard to Fit!
----------
Grandpa,
I want to tell you about a great free savings program called
BondRewards®. BondRewards Federation™ offers the highest
earnings of any comparable program!
I earn BondDollars™ just for doing my everyday online shopping
at my favorite merchants. I can redeem them for free U.S. Savings
Bonds.
If you’re already shopping online at merchants like Target,
Barnes & Noble, Land’s End, or any of their over 500 trusted
internet stores, and you don’t use the BondRewards Federation™,
you’re letting free US Savings Bonds slip through your fingers.
If you’re not shopping online, what better time to start, now
that shopping online can earn you those free US Savings Bonds,
painlessly and effortlessly.
You’ll even be boosting the U.S. economy, both by spending and
by supporting the sale of U.S. Savings Bonds.
There’s absolutely no obligation. Joining is free and you never
have to shop through BondRewards®. But with over 500 merchants
and over 5 million products, why wouldn’t you??
be sure the next online dollar you spend earns you the bond
dollars you deserve.
Happy Savings!
Sarah Ollie
----------
Dear Grandpa Terry:
Hear are 2 great websites I believed you and all your subscribers
I believe that this may be a better tax system than the federal
sales tax described in a earlier email. It seems to be a lot
simpler and is automatically and immediately collected.
His system of paying off all your debts including your mortgage
in approximately 5 to 7 years with your current income is
positively revolutionary! (best yet his new book is @ the library)
Most pay down your debt programs involve you paying the debt with
the highest interest. His is just the opposite- pay the smallest
debt first. See for yourself and decide.
That's all for now.
Sincerely in Christ,
Mrs. Leesa C.
Eph.2:8
PS-being a subscriber to your website has been one of the best
choices I ever made! You may not realize how many people you
are helping. Keep up the good work!
----------
Hi Terry, I'm the one that suzy wrote to you about shopping at
Sam's Club. I also work there. Yes there's a lot of stuff I buy
there and there's a lot of stuff I won't. Like the 25 lb. bag
of potatoes or the gallon jug of mustard or mayo. Learned my
lesson on the gallon jug of B.B.Q. sauce, very good sauce but
no room in the "fridge" for all that. I do have my limits. I
buy a lot of meats there and (I have a "food saver" machine that
is really, really nice) in which I split all my meats and the
bags really make them last a lot longer without getting freezer
burned. (why can't I invent something like that?) And if you
don't have a food saver, get one... best investment you'll ever
make. I find myself walking by the meat dept. in the grocery
stores and all of a sudden I hear myself chuckling and saying
"not in this lifetime". The meats there are a joke I can't
believe the government would let them sell meats like that.
At Sam's you get meat not fat, HONESTLY!!! Now talking about
the pasta... you could never find a deal like that at a gro.
store. I buy the angel hair pasta, 6 big bags wrapped in one,
great deal. And all the other bags of pasta are deals too.
Spices... omg!!! you couldn't imagine the deals there.
Especially the gravy mixes, they are the "BOMB" and cheap,
cheap, cheap. Starting to sound like a commercial for Sam's,
huh?
Well, can't help sharing a good deal when I see one. As far
as my toilet tissue and paper towels, yeahhhh!!! I for sure
am gonna buy them there. They have went up on the price of
them a little, but with the gas prices can you blame them?
They lasts me so long, so I see no reason not to buy them
there. They're clothes are very reasonable, especially for
men that wear just dress pants and shirts, no suit, they
could have closets full at that price. Women’s clothes are
very reasonable too. And t/shirts, socks and underwear, can't
imagine anyone going anywhere else to buy them. OK!!! I have
taken up enough of your time but you get the big picture,
even though I work at Sam's I also love shopping there. And
I have averaged out everything I buy there with the prices
at the grocery store. So everyone, happy Sam's shopping.
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Subscriber Tip
I learned this from someone who is a hair stylist in Hollywood.
His wife does it so I know it works. Coloring your hair is
something us woman like to do every once in a while. You can
cut down on touchups and getting your roots done simply by
adding a bit of your hair color to your shampoo. It keeps the
current color more vibrant and saves you money since you
don't have to get touch ups ever six weeks or so.
Considering a home color treatment STARTS at $10.00, that can
save you some decent money.
Kristin
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Subscriber Tip
Needed a Palm Pilot for my business. Bought a Tungsten
E (prior model to Tungsten E2) with full factory warranty
and 90 percent of the features of the new expensive $300.00
Tungsten E-2(Canadian price), on E Bay. With electronics
it is sometimes better and cheaper to get the second
generation unit, then the "cutting edge" new
electronic item. It does the same thing but cost less. I
am going to buy a lap top the same way and save hundreds
vs the latest new gizmo. Do research on what features you
need, then find the second generation unit that will do
the job.
Dan
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This Week's Article Links
Just click the links to view the articles
An Emergency Fund: Your First Line Of Defense
by David Berky
Cheaper car means no co-signer
Ask Dr. Don by Don Taylor, Ph.D., CFA, CFP • Bankrate.com
Use a Dresser to Organize Your Garage!
by Tawra Kellam
To read more articles visit:
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Special Recipe
Apple Crisp
6 apples, peeled and sliced
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup flour 1/2 cup butter or margarine,
softened
1 tsp. cinnamon and/or nutmeg
1/4 cup water
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange apples in well-greased
baking dish. Blend all remaining ingredients except water.
Spread evenly over top of apples. Pour water over the
topping. Bake 45 minutes until apples are tender and
top is crisp. Makes 6 servings.
This recipe compliments of The Best Cookbook Anywhere
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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.
Laundry Tips
---------------------------------------------
1. When washing dark clothes for the first time
use cold water and put salt in the water. The
salt helps set the color. To brighten dark clothes
after they have been washed several times, repeat
the procedure.
2. Black clothing tends to look brown after several
washings. To restore the black color, add coffee or
strong tea to the rinse water.
3. Many garments labeled "Dry Clean Only" can be
safely hand washed using mild soap like Woolite and
cold water.
4. Cut dryer sheets in half before using. They still
work just as well. Keep a kleenex box on the dryer
for the used ones - use to dust furniture. More uses
for used dryer sheets here.
5. To dye fabric a brown color inexpensively, soak it
in a bucket of strong black coffee. This technique
will also camouflage a non-removable coffee stain on
a white table cloth.
7. You do not need to wash with hot water unless you
are trying to sterilize your laundry. Use the warm or
cold setting to save money. Set your rinse on the cold
setting. Washing in cold water can save the typical
family over $120 a year!
8. The best overall laundry tip: Make your own laundry
detergent and fabric softeners! It works great, and
costs so much less!
Homemade Laundry Soap
Homemade Laundry Softener
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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.
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