The FREE Budget Stretcher Newsletter
July 31, 2006



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    The Budget Stretcher
    Week Of: July 31, 2006
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    Grandpa Terry's Quips

    Tip #37 - Paying cash instead of using a credit card is like
    getting a huge discount.  Most places do take cash.

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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 - Spanish Rice
    Everyday Savings from http://www.thefrugalshopper.com

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    Subscriber Tip

    Hi Terry,

    My tip is about cleaning the bathroom.  I have a new plastic
    tub enclosure and can not use any harsh cleaning products.
    So I clean with a liquid cleaner but have found that it doesn't
    remove dirt from rubber stoppers.  Instead I have discovered
    that any type of whitening toothpaste and an old toothbrush
    will clean the stoppers and leave them sparkling white.  I hope
    that this can help others with the same type of problem.  I
    really enjoy  the newsletter.

    Barb

    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

    Michelle is obviously rapped up in her move that's coming
    up soon so there won't be a regular tip this week.  Why
    not check out her Grocery Saving Tips by the Aisle at


    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 this week's issue of our newsletter.  I
    hope this finds everyone doing well.

    If you have kids starting school soon watch for next week's
    newsletter.  I'm going to try to list articles, tips and
    ideas to help you save time, money and stay organized.

    If you have any ideas or tips you would like to share about
    back to school please send them to me at mailto:tre2000@midwest.net
    no later than Friday, August 4th.

    I have a brand new Budget Stretcher Partner that I would
    like to introduce you to.  Dana Williams of Moms Making
    an excellent web site with some very valuable info and
    also can help you earn money online.  Please take a few
    minutes to visit Dana.

    If you subscribed to our newsletter since about January 2006,
    you had an opportunity to enroll in my email course
    "Beginner's Guide To Budgeting".  Over 2500 of you have
    enrolled in the course and I've had some great feedback.

    If you haven't enrolled yet in this free 8 part course you may
    want to take a minute to sign up.  All you have to do is go
    to your Subscriber Benefit Page and use the form in the left
    column.

    A total of 14 states are offering Tax Holidays primarily for
    purchasing Back to School items.  Here is a link with the
    list of the states that are participating:


    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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    Credit Card Information

    Four Ways Not to Get Out of Credit Card Debt

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    Grandpa Terry's Tip of the Week

    Eliminating Your Debts Part 3

    Last week I wrote about the details of the Equity Smart
    program.

    This week I'm going to let Claudia Leach, a subscriber
    and one of the people that have joined the Equity Smart
    program recently, tell you about her experience.

    Dear Grandpa Terry,

    I hope this letter finds you well and happy and financially
    successful.

    I wanted to thank you for your newsletter and for the time
    and care you give to those of us who are trying to learn
    and apply budgets and gain "budget-sense".  But, most of
    all, I wanted to thank you for sharing the Equitysmart
    program in your newsletter a few weeks back.  I must tell
    you, it has changed my life!

    After reading about the program on the website,
    (equitysmart.com) I contacted Brad Robertson and did a
    free profile to see what if anything could be done in
    my case.  I had just refinanced my home for the second
    time and had tapped out my equity.

    I had several outstanding credit cards and loans, including
    a car loan, all of which were years away from being paid off.
    I felt trapped by my debt and by the interest I knew I was
    destined to pay.  When Brad sent me the profile, I was
    ecstatic.

    Equitysmart was able to determine a $556,000 savings in
    interest and payments for me, and I will be debt free in
    less than 15 years.  What a remarkable program!  I will
    have a personal counselor for the next 14 years and some
    odd months, and I will realize my dream of being debt-free.
    Can you believe it, DEBT-FREE!!!  In fact I was so
    impressed that I joined them as an agent.  Now I can open
    the door of hope to others and give them the opportunity
    they could only dream about, a debt free life.

    I cannot tell you how grateful I am to you and your
    newsletter.  Nor can I encourage your readers enough to
    investigate this program, get their free profile and see
    how quickly they too can be completely debt free!

    Sincerely,

    Claudia J. Leach
    Agent
    Equitysmart

    Please take some time to investigate the program by
    contacting Randy or Brad at the below numbers:
    (Tell them Grandpa Terry sent you and get a free
    Debt Analysis)

    Randy Grabler - 608-845-9898
    Brad Robertson - 606-571-4462

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    Site of the Week

    MomsMakingMoneyOnline.com

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    Grandpa Terry's Email

    There is no Topic of Discussion this week.  We have
    several emails to Tonya from last week's newsletter.  If
    you missed it just go to the newsletter online at

    For Tonya K who wants to fundraise for her daughter's
    cheerleading trip --

    My daughter's involvement in cheerleading lead to many
    "bake sales" -- but don't put a dollar amount on the baked
    goods - just ask people to make a donation of whatever
    they want to pay.  Most people are very generous, especially
    if the children are there in uniform, performing a few cheers.

    Also, our church holds car washes for fundraising, and again -
    do not place a dollar amount on the car wash - just let people
    donate as much (or little) as they want.

    Finally,  depending on your daughter's age, have her start a
    dog walking business, or weed pulling or whatever other task
    she can handle.  Put up or hand out flyers advertising her
    skills.

    Hope this helps.
    Kathy in Virginia

    ----------

    Hi Grandpa Terry!

    Just want to say that I love your newsletter!  Just a comment
    on Tonya's problem in getting to Knoxville for her daughter's
    cheerleading.

    I was shocked when she said $350 for 2 nights' stay!  We
    recently went on a vacation to Atlanta, GA and paid only about
    $48 a night at a Super 8 motel not too far from downtown.
    Does she have to stay at this particular place?

    She could probably find a comparable rate in Knoxville and
    save a lot of money that could be put towards a car.  Hope
    this helps.

    Debbie

    ----------

    Dear Grandpa Terry,

    Tonya has a dilemma that can be solved quite easily,  First
    get a CHEAPER hotel room, You can rent a economy hotel under
    $125.00 2 nites, these will be Motel 6 and super 8 or knights
    Inn, These hotels are all online just check.  In regards to a
    car,  Ask the Coach if someone else will be driving and offer
    them gas money,  Go to a rental car place, you need a credit
    card usually but then sometimes you lay down a deposit which
    they will accept.

    Ask friends and church family for assistance with car.  When
    is hotel room save money by bringing all your food with you and
    cooking it in room.  There also is Bus station like Greyhound,
    Indian Trails, Amtrak trains,  when you get there just get a
    taxi to hotel. When in city find other girls from your
    cheerleading group and car pool to the event.  Hope this helps.

    ----------

    Grandpa Terry,

    I have some tips that may help Tonya K...

    I am a mother of 4 (3 girls and a boy) and we too are on a
    limited income.  My now 13 year old daughter has been a
    cheerleader since she was 5.  When we moved to SC from Maine,
    the price to participate went from about $25 to $365!  I
    certainly didn't have enough to help her, so we went to Sam's
    club and bought a box of candy bars (~$40).  We took her and a
    small cooler to all of the local softball games where she
    walked around with her little (cute) 5 year old sister and sold
    the candy for .50 each.  She almost doubled her money on each
    box from Sam's she sold.  The people loved buying from her
    because they didn't have to get up!  She raised almost all of
    the money that she needed, and then wrote to all of her extended
    family asking them to "sponsor" her whatever they could afford.
    My mother-in-law's boss ended up sending her $100!

    Also, you could take your daughter (in her uniform) to local
    businesses and ask if they will sponsor her.  Many will.  I did
    this when I was a teenager and travelled to London for a sporting
    event.

    Good luck!

    Wendie C.

    ----------

    Dear Terry,

    I just wanted to submit a reply for Tonya's traveling problem.
    Tonya, if the cheerleading competitiion is anywhere near a
    university, you might want to check and see if you could rent
    dorm rooms instead of the hotels. I'm sure you could save at
    least half of your money; maybe more.That hotel fee seems very
    high.

    Try some cheaper ones like Hotel 6 if you can. You might want
    to call the local YMCA and see if they rent rooms. Youth hostels
    are very popular in Europe, but there are also some in the USA.
    KOA campgrounds sometimes have cabins to rent as well. I think
    you can check about the hostels and campgrounds online. If the
    girls really want to do this competition, they may have to be
    willing to give up the comfort of the nice hotel. If anyone in
    your family has an old car not worth repairing, that can be
    sold at a salvage yard for $200 to $500 depending on how much
    metal is in it. Have the girls call local businesses in town
    and ask if they might be their sponsor. They can practice and
    recite a written speech for this. If all else fails, put some
    of that garage sale stuff on Ebay, but hurry about it. I hope
    something here can help.

    Good Luck from Carol!

    ----------

    I almost fell off my chair when I saw that you had
    reservations at a hotel for $350.00 for two nights.  I
    think you need to shop around.  Knoxville can be
    expensive and you should check the surrounding areas.
    Also, check with local churches in your denomination
    and see if anyone there can put you up at their house
    for a few days.

    As for the rental car, ask around and see if you
    can make a swap with a friend or family member for the
    use of their car to travel to Knoxville.

    Hope this helps and good luck with the competition.

    Chris

    ----------

    Grandpa Terry,

    To finance cheerleading trip, carwashes!  Many places will allow
    you to use their space, the kids can work too and they can make
    money fast.  Please forward this email to Tonya right away, as
    she will need to do Friday Saturday and Sunday  to leave the
    following week.

    Annie

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    Subscriber Tip

    Betty would save more by refilling water bottles from her
    kitchen tap! She wrote on 7/23/06 - I buy 24 bottles of Spring
    Water for $2.99 on sale. About 6 bottles of water are in my
    cooler all the time.

    Judy

    (Editor's Note - Judy please contact me at mailto:tre2000@midwest.net)

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    Subscriber Tip

    About Catherine's comment on FreeCycle Clubs...

    I love the FreeCycle concept! I have given and received
    several really nice items, and met lots of really nice
    people. There are all kinds of items on there...flower
    bulbs, books, baby items, coupons, musical instruments,
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    This Week's Article Links

    Just click the links to view the articles

    10 ways to save $500 or more
    By Jennie L. Phipps • Bankrate.com

    Michelle's Meals on a Budget
    By Michelle Jones

    The Cost of Working, Is It Worth It?  (Online Calculator)
    By Barbara Whiting

    To read more articles visit:

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    Special Recipe

    Spanish Rice

    1 chicken bouillon cube
    1/2 cup water
    3/4 cup rice
    2 Tbsp. taco seasoning
    1 clove garlic, minced
    1 cup tomato sauce

    Dissolve bouillon in water.  Mix all ingredients and
    bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.

    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

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

    I am reprinting the link to Homemade Laundry
    Detergent because this has been very popular
    topic and I've been asked to repeat it several
    times:


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    Fredericktown, MO  63645
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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.