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The Budget Stretcher
"Saving you money...One Dime at a Time!"
Week Of: July 16, 2007
AOL Users Please Visit Online
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Free Ebook Download
For the next few weeks I'm going to give away an ebook each
week. All you have to do is click on the below link and the
download will start. The Adobe Acrobat Reader is required
to open the ebook and is on most computers.
Pamper Your Cat - 130 Recipes For Your Feline Friend
Special $2 Ebook Offer
404 Self-Improvement Tips
Just one of these 404 tips will help you to save more money,
make a better relationship, have a healthier body and create
huge success in life and business!
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Support Our Sponsor
MOMS MAKE MORE!
More financial freedom!
More time for your family!
More control over your life!
More flexibility!
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***What's Inside***
Free Ebook Download
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 - Fudge Brownies
Watch for next week's newsletter featuring:
Consumer protection laws: Know your rights
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Subscriber Tip
Grandpa Terry,
I have a tip for your subscribers I recently discovered. Ten
years ago I got to the point where I obtained a consolidation
loan and paid off four charge accounts that were delinquent. For
some unknown reason, the parent company of the four accounts I
had paid off kept reporting them to the credit bureaus as
delinquent even after they were paid in full. I actually hired a
lawyer to write these folks telling them to get their act
together and stop screwing with my credit reports or face
litigation. They wrote back and said it was their error and the
credit reports would be notified.
That was November 1997. I kept the letter. Time passed and life
became very crazy. My credit report became the least of my
worries. Finally, a few weeks ago, I pulled my credit report
from the "Big Three" and, surprise! One of the four accounts I
had paid off so long ago was still being reported as a bad debt
that originated in 2001. I contacted the company and tried to
explain to them that it had been paid in full for years, but
they blew me off. It was only by the Grace of God that I found
the 1997 letter from their company acknowledging that all four
accounts had been paid in full. A certified letter and a threat
of litigation got the erroneous information removed from my
credit reports again.
The moral of the story is: when you pay off a debt,
particularly if it had become delinquent like mine had, keep
your receipt and any correspondence that shows the debt to be
paid in full. If I had not had that letter, I would not have
been able to prove the debt had been paid.
Catherine
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
Another way to maximize your savings while matching coupons
with weekly sales is to shop at more than one grocery store.
Since the stores do not run the same sales each week, you can
often double your savings just by shopping at two stores instead
of one. Now I'm not suggesting that you drive all the way across
town to save a few more dollars, especially with the high cost
of gas, but if the stores are close to each other or you can
combine your grocery shopping errands with other trips, it may
not cost you any extra in gas. And, if you've been using my
Coupon Savings tips you already know that we're saving a lot
more than just a few dollars! ; o)
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
Welcome to The Budget Stretcher!
You only have a couple of weeks to get your 30% discount on a
year's subscription to Budget Stretcher Premium with all of the
benefits. The deadline is July 31, 2007. Here's the link:
I want to run this Credit Score download again to give everyone
a chance to get their copy. If your credit score is below 800
you need to read this free guide to credit scores:
Understanding Your FICO Score
I just wanted to say thanks to all of you that submitted your
responses to Catherine's Cat problem last week. I received
quite a few and forwarded all of them to her.
Here is a site with tons of vinegar tips I thought you may like:
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:
Have a great week,
Grandpa Terry
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Support Our Sponsor
My Budget Planner
Are you frustrated trying to get by on the money you
make?
Would you like to get a good view to where all your
money is going?
Would you like to start saving your money, or save
even more?
Looking for something easier then software like Quicken
or Money?
Would you like to teach your children about finance?
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Credit Card Information
Credit scoring no-nos
By Cheryl Allebrand • Bankrate.com
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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
Way 2 Hope.org
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Grandpa Terry's Email
Can You Help This Subscriber?
Hey Terry.
After losing my job twice in a year and a half, I decided to
cash in a VERY small 401k to live on in addition to my very
small unemployment check, while I went to school. This class is
about to end, and I'm not far from being with no money. I want
to take another school course. This one will be longer, and is
in another city about an hour from me. There is nothing closer.
In order to do this, I MUST find some money somewhere. I have a
$700 house payment, an electric bill that averages $200, and a
phone/internet bill that runs about $70. I have no credit cards,
no medical bills, and bad but not really bad credit due to
divorce and death. I can't lower the house payment. The electric
bill includes a $100 new heat pump payment, and going on the
budget pay plan would actually make it higher. The
phone/internet bill is already at the lowest it has ever been,
and I have to have internet service for school and job hunting.
I'm already utilizing Angel Food Ministries, and my local
Crisis Assistance Ministry for help with food. For some reason,
I do not qualify for any other assistance.
So, back to the question. In order to take the school courses I
want to take, which will immediately qualify me for the exact job
that I want, I need to figure out how to pay my bills and put
gas in my car, and pay for school. I know nothing at all about
grants. I'm guessing with not so good credit, I won't be able to
get a student loan. Do you know of any assistance programs for a
single woman who wants to return to school?
S
My Response:
Hi S,
This is a pretty tough situation. There are hundreds of grants
available. Here are a few links to get you started:
Naturally you should check with your school for grant money if
you haven't already.
I will put your email in next week's issue of the newsletter. Our
subscribers are always the best source for answers.
Have a great week,
Terry
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cheaper) where you can buy used books, music and movies. (I've
only used it to buy used curriculum, but have been very pleased
with my purchases. In fact, today, I received on of the teacher
books for the math that I'm using with the kids next year I
home school, btw and received a coupon to use on my next
purchase.
Anyway…I thought your readers might want to make use of this
great link. I can never bring myself to pay full price for
anything if I can help it. Local library book sales are good
places to get books, too. I just bought a paperwork on Johnny
Appleseed this past week for 25 cents!
Later,
Iva
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Subscriber Tip
Save on hot water bills: I shut off the breaker to my hot water
heater before leaving the house each day. It takes less than 10
min. for a modern heater to re-heat. Then I shut if off again
till it runs cool which takes a LONG time if you live alone or
just two people. Saves lots each month/year. I have been doing
this for YEARS and never hurt anything.
Judith
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The idea that there is actually software that can help
me and my family with our weekly shopping expeditions.
A program like this would make our shopping experiences
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Budget Stretcher Partners
At Home Parent
Work-at-Home Team
Frugal Folks.com
Tidbits from the Pantry
Abby’s Good Stuff for Free
Diva Tribe
Free Credit Card Reviews
MomsMakingMoneyOnline.com
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Subscriber Tip
Rather than buy the expensive liquid soap, I use nice scented
liquid dish detergent and pour it into the soap dispenser - no
one has noticed the difference.
Barbara
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Support Our Sponsors
A VA Loan can keep High Interest Rates Away
In today's housing market there are a record number of
foreclosures throughout every state. Don't be a part of the
growing number of Americans staring foreclosure in the face and
obtain a loan insured by the federal government.
The VA offers many great benefits to those that have served our
country and are looking to purchase their first home. A
for veterans who are first time home purchasers with little
credit to poor credit to obtain a competitive interest rate. If
you currently have a VA Loan you may also look into a
that loan to help save you money with your mortgage to receive
the best rate.
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This Week's Article Links
Just click the links to view the article
Cleaning up after an identity theft
By Steve Bucci " Bankrate.com
Living Paycheck to Paycheck
By Michelle Jones
Payday Loans
By Gary Foreman
To read more articles visit:
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Take Advantage of your Budget Stretcher Subscriber
Benefits Visit:
Visit Our Forum
Budget Stretcher Subscriber Benefits Page
Join This Groups
A_Simple_Life
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Support Our Sponsors
Debt Consolidation can:
H - Help avoid filing bankruptcy
E - Eliminate creditor harassment
L - Lower debt payments up to 50%
P - Provide one monthly payment
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Special Recipe
Fudge Brownies
3 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/4 cup shortening, melted
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup baking cocoa
1 1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup nuts, chopped (optional)
In a bowl, beat eggs, sugar vanilla until well mixed. Add
butter and shortening. Combine flour, cocoa and salt. Stir into
egg mixture and mix well. Add nuts if desired. Grease a 9x13 pan
and pour batter into pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or
until brownies test done with a wooden pick. Cool in pan.
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.
~~Shop with a calculator.
~~Check all product packages. Some may have special
offers printed on or attached to them.
~~Frequent stores that offer free product samples
and in-store coupons.
~~If you must shop with a credit card, use one that
offers rewards for your purchases.
~~Watch while your items are being scanned and check
your receipt before you leave the store.
~~To save time, compare prices online before shopping
brick and mortar stores.
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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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