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The Budget Stretcher
"Saving you money...One Dime at a Time!"
Week Of: December 10, 2007
AOL Users Please Visit Online
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Grandpa Terry's Quips
Tip #38 - Need an instant pay raise? Talk to your employer about
claiming more exemptions on your withholding tax.
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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 - Baked Beans
Watch for next week's newsletter featuring:
Is wife liable for credit card debt?
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Subscriber Tip #1
Hi Grandpa Terry,
I am a devoted birdfeeder and doing the birdfeeder watch this
year. However, after being invaded with scores of those "sky"
rodents. Large fat grey squirrels, I was ready to give it all
up. It was costing too much for birdseed. But this nifty
suggestion from my son has cured my problem! My feeders hang
from metal poles about 5 feet tall. He told me to get some clear
lube for engines. The marine kind for outboard engines as it is
waterproof. And literally grease the pole. You can laugh. But it
worked! I enjoyed seeing those little suckers slid down the
pole! I had to re-apply after a week.
Your happy bird lover,
great gram Joan
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 feel you don't have time for coupons try this. For the
next four to six weeks take just a few minutes each Sunday or
Monday to flip through the coupon inserts from your local paper.
You don't have to use any of the coupons, or even clip them out.
I just want you to browse through them and get a feel for how
much money you could be saving if you would make a little time
for them on a weekly basis. This little 10-minute task might be
worth a lot more than you think! :o)
If you would like to learn how to save more money with coupons,
including how to use them WISELY, how NOT to use them, and how
to FINALLY get them organized so you CAN use them, order your
copy today!
010807
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Grandpa Terry's Update
Welcome to The Budget Stretcher!
offered you a free ebook that I have read and thoroughly enjoyed.
"Thriving During the Holidays" may be just what you need this
time of year. All you have to do is visit her web site and sign
up for Budget Savvy Tidbits, her free weekly e-newsletter.
Here is a Christmas Story site that you and your kids may enjoy:
For a few months I have been offering a free one year
subscription to Budget Stretcher Premium for all Active Duty
Military members. It occurred to me recently that I haven't
advertised this in this newsletter.
If you are active duty military please use your military email
address to contact me at tre2000@midwest.net and give me your
name and branch of service. Also, if you want the subscription
to go to your spouse please include their email address.
You can also go to the below page and learn more:
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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hunting for you! We spend the time and YOU SAVE the MONEY!
*YOU select the shopping category or categories of your
choice.
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email each week.
*WE supply you with the valid Coupon Codes to save you more
money.
*WE give you the ratings or comments for each product we select.
*WE validate the store or vendor to ensure quality and customer
service.
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Credit Card Information
Chuck the cards to keep within a budget
By Bankrate.com
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Grandpa Terry's Tip of the Week
Maree, a Premium subscriber wrote an excellent article that was
published in a local paper in Australia that I want to share
with you.
POVERTY IN THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS
By Maree Crosbie
Financial Counselor
ACOSS estimates that two million Australians live in poverty
today. That is one in ten living in poverty.
What exactly is Poverty?
Poverty describes the situation of people who cannot
participate in the activities that most Australians take for
granted. Poverty is about financial stress and disadvantage and
also inequality of opportunity.
While many people juggle paying bills, people living in poverty
have to make difficult choices such as skipping a meal to pay
for a prescription or perhaps keeping children home from school
as they cannot afford to pay for excursions.
The most common indicators of being under financial stress are:
Having to forgo family activities due to a shortage of money
Having to ask to borrow money from family and friends
The inability to pay household bills on time
The inability to make minimum credit card payments
Poverty is more visible in some areas. Some people may be
surprised to learn that there are many people living in poverty
in the Southern Highlands.
Poverty is not just caused by individual circumstances but by
major inequalities built into our society. Some of the causes of
poverty and inequality in Australia are lack of access to work
and income, education, housing and health services.
In the past twelve months Stafford Cottage assisted 5, 691
members of our local community with referrals, advocacy and
support on a range of issues.
Our Emergency Relief program is the provision of assistance to
people in need of basic services such as food and prescriptions.
A grant of $54, 000 from the Department of Families, Community
Services and Indigenous Affairs has enabled us to provide help
to 443 clients and their families. At times when our money had
run out we made 90 referrals to other local agencies. 67 of the
people assisted were homeless or did not have a fixed address.
For Christmas we provided 32 families with Christmas hamper
vouchers as well as 98 toys for their children.
Stafford Cottage also offer No Interest Loans (NILS®) to people
living on a low income to purchase essential household items
such as fridges and washing machines. As the money is repaid we
are able to lend it out again.
At worst financial stress can contribute to many other issues,
including relationship breakdown, gambling, drug or alcohol
abuse and domestic violence.
There is no ‘quick fix' for easing financial pressure and its
associated impacts. There is a critical need for developing real
strategies to address the issue of financial stress on the
community
Maree Crosbie has a background in nursing and has worked as a
senior account manager for Dun and Bradstreet, American Express
and Chase AMP Bank. For the past eleven years Maree has been an
accredited Financial Counselor and worked with a variety of
clients in the not for profit sector. Since moving to the
Southern Highlands with her family Maree has been the NILS co
ordinator at Stafford Cottage two days per week. She is also an
accredited Life Coach and trainer and does contract work for
Wesley Mission and other organizations in areas ranging from
research and writing reports, delivering training, organizing
conferences and preparing a training course for Financial
Counselors for Vetab accreditation.
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Site of the Week
Awesome Christmas Websites
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Grandpa Terry's Email
Uncle Terry-
I have made a decision to stop running from my financial issues
and get things cleared up so that I can move on and make a
better life for the kids and I.
Here is the issue: I have about 7, 000 worth of items in
collections. I have two of my credit reports (got two weeks
ago). I have done some reading and see that there are varying
ways to go about getting these off my credit report and out of
my life.
Because the info is from the internet, I don’t know what to
believe so I am turning to you because I trust you.
what is going to be my first step? Do I call the agencies and
settle, do I call the companies and ask that I pay them
directly? When I do pay these items off, do they really NOT come
off my reports???
Agghh.. Please help me.
Bernadette
My Response:
Hi Bernadette,
I'm glad to hear that you've had enough and are ready to take
action. I have four excellent reports that explain in detail
everything about credit reports. Here are the links:
How to Correct Errors on a Credit Report
101 Legitimate Tips for Boosting Your Credit Score!
Understanding Your FICO Score
State Statute-of-Limitations
When you've read these let me know if you need any more help.
All the best,
Grandpa Terry
----------
Hello Grandpa Terry,
Several weeks ago, one of your subscribers shared a tip about
discount glasses through Zenni Optical. I bookmarked that little
treasure until I was ready to use it.
Let me just say a huge ‘thank you' to that subscriber. I
ordered glasses for my husband and I a week and a half ago and
tonight, we're both wearing our new glasses. Oh, and did I
mention that we paid $28 for both of them together, WITH the
sunshades detachable sunglasses?
As a reminder to those who might not have received that
Blessings to you, Grandpa Terry and all of your subscribers
this holiday season.
Iva
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Hi There Terry !! No email this week ?? How horrible !! I can't
fathom that anyone would leave you alone for a week ?!?!?
First.........in case I do get too busy and I don't want to
forget....I pray that you and your family are well and that you
have a very enjoyable time together & have a very Merry
Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year !!
A holiday suggestion for your email section- In this day and
age where Christmas has gotten soooo commercialized- have people
- stop and reflect on who and why they are buying gifts. After
that some nice ideas that don't have to break the bank or send
them into debt- are the "old fashioned" homemade ones.
Some examples of what we have done in the past few years- we
have some friends (widows, widowers, young working couples etc)
who's family size is small. Go to the dollar store and buy some
containers and make & freeze portions of your homemade meals.
These homemade "frozen" dinners are healthier and more tasty
than the store bought ones. Another idea that works - make a
batch of choc chip, PB, sugar or other such scoop able cookie
dough. Scoop & freeze the dough, then put the frozen scoops into
a zip lock freezer bag with the baking directions on them- how
nice for an older friend to be able to whip out a batch of
homemade cookies whenever they want without the work.
(especially helpful for those who have arthritis and would still
like to have a friend over for coffee & cookies) . For the young
artist in your life- go to any home improvement store and get
one of those cloth aprons with the pockets- fill with crayons,
markers, gel pens and glue sticks and safety scissors- they can
"roll" up their supplies and take them along with them. To add
to the gift go to any office supply store and buy the cheapest
reams of paper - no need to wrap- add some stickers for color
and they have 500 sheets to glue, cut, color or whatever their
little artistic hearts come up with.
And my most favorite idea............for those couples who need
help... give your spouse (or for that matter maybe your teen ??)
a digital camera and tell them to "go shopping". They take their
camera and notepad with them and when they see something they
like they take a picture- write down the store and if need be-
the name brand of their item.
I have done this and given it to my husband of all kinds of
things from my favorite candies to deodorant & perfume to
jewelry and even my most wanted baking supplies and mixer !! You
print this out and they then have a booklet to refer to for
gifts all year long !!
Sorry that was long winded- please feel free to shorten and
condense if you decide to use it !!
Have a good day and I'm sure that I will email you again before
the end of the month!!
Sincerely & with smiles
Crystal (in DE)
----------
Editor's Note: Last week I had a tip that suggested we send
Christmas cards to Walter Reed Army Medical Center addressed
to A Recovering American Soldier. I found out that Walter
Reed is not accepting these cards and are returning them to
the sender. I was able to pull the tip before it got published
in this newsletter. However, it did get published in my Premium
newsletter. Here is a response to that tip:
Walter Reed Army Medical Center officials want to remind those
individuals who want to show their appreciation through mail to
include packages, letters, and holiday cards addressed to 'Any
Wounded Soldier' or 'A Recovering American Soldier' that Walter
Reed cannot accept these packages in support of the decision by
then Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Transportation Policy
in 2001. This decision was made to ensure the safety and well
being of patients and staff at medical centers throughout the
Department of Defense.
In addition, the U.S. Postal Service is no longer accepting
"Any Service Member" or "A Recovering American Soldier" letters
or packages. Mail to "Any Service Member" that is deposited into
a collection box will not be delivered.
Instead of sending an "Any Wounded Soldier" letter or package
to Walter Reed, please consider making a donation to one of the
more than 300 nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping our
troops and their families listed on the "America Supports You"
Other organizations that offer means of showing your support
for our troops or assist wounded service members and their
families include:
For individuals without computer access, your local military
installation, the local National Guard or military reserve unit
in your area may offer the best alternative to show your support
to our returning troops and their families. Walter Reed Army
Medical Center will continue to receive, process and deliver all
mail that is addressed to a specific individual.
As Walter Reed continues to enhance the medical care and
processes for our returning service members, it must also must
keep our patients and staff members safe while following
Department of Defense policy. The outpouring of encouragement
from the general public, corporate America and civic groups
throughout the past year has been incredible. Our Warriors in
Transition are amazed at the thanks and support they receive
from their countrymen.
Erika
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Subscriber Tip #2
When buying an item online, in the check out section many
companies ask if you have a code. I usually go to one of the
search engines like Google and type in "codes for coupons" or
"coupon codes". When the screen for the codes come up, I type in
the name of the company I am buying from. There are usually many
different codes for each company. Just this week, we saved an
extra $330 above the discount HP gave us when buying a new
computer.
Karen
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Subscriber Tip #3
Here ya go, Terry - this one came thru our local TV consumer
people !! Getting Great Deals On Dining Out Reporting Keith
Jones PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ¯ The average household spends more than
$2, 000 a year dining out at restaurants. While the thought of
getting that big bill may incite more than a little indigestion,
there are ways to make the pain a little more palatable.
Savings expert Stephanie Nelson recommends logging on to
Restaurant.com. "They have, I believe, over 6, 000 restaurants
on their website nationally."
The website offers discounted gift certificates to over 100
restaurants in the Pittsburgh-area alone.
Nelson says consumers can really cash in on some hot deals.
"You can get a $25 gift certificate, for example, for only $10;
and at certain times of the month, you could probably find a
special coupon for that, so you'll pay even less -- as low as $5
or $6 for the $25 certificate."
Nelson says would-be diners who get to Restaurant.com through
her website, CouponMom.com, will save even more!
"If you go through CouponMom.com, " she explains, "my website
has a special 40% off code every single day; so you'll pay $6
for the $25 certificate -- even on the first day of the month."
We logged on and found two $25 coupons at Tambellini's for $10
each; but since we got to Restaurant.com via a link on
CouponMom.com, we saved an extra 40%.
As a result, it cost just $12 total for $50 worth of gift
certificates!
If your original bill comes to $35, but you have a $25 gift
certificate that cost $6, your final bill will amount to just
$16.
Tambellini's Owner Charles Pellegrini says the online exposure
is good for business. "Our customers are tech-savvy... and they
all get on the Internet!"
Key points: couponmom.com and restaurant.com sites for
obtaining those savings certificates !!!
Happy Eating !!
Nan
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This Week's Article Links
Just click the links to view the article
12 ways to de-commercialize the holidays
By Megan Kamerick • Bankrate.com
6 steps to better, cheaper car insurance
By Margarette Burnette " Bankrate.com
Last Minute Holiday Touches on the Cheap!
By Kathleen Wilson
To read more articles visit:
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Special Recipe
HOLIDAY COOKING
Baked Beans
1 (16 oz.) can pork and beans
1 tsp. mustard
1 Tbsp. bacon grease
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. onion, chopped or 1/2 tsp. onion powder
Put all the ingredients in a saucepan and mix
thoroughly. Let simmer on medium heat 15-30
minutes. These can simmer longer if needed. Serve
warm. You can also bake these in the oven for 1
hour at 250 degrees until thickened.
This recipe compliments of The Best Cookbook Anywhere "Not Just
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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.
~~Close off unused rooms. If you currently heat and cool several
seldom-used rooms in your home, you are wasting energy and
money. Consider closing the air ducts and doors in rooms used
mostly for storage and occasionally for guests. Closing unused
rooms may reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 20 percent,
depending on the proportion of your home's total square footage
the closed rooms comprise. Check with the dealer of the heating
and cooling system in your home to determine whether closing off
rooms has the potential to harm the system.
~~Sharpen your own scissors by using them to cut fine grade
sandpaper. About a half dozen cuts should do it!
~~Did you know you can freeze milk? Next time it is on sale,
pick up several gallons and freeze 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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