Powered by YourMailinglistProvider.com
This is an OPT-IN list ONLY! If you feel that you have received
this message in error, please follow the directions at the
bottom of this email to unsubscribe. Thank you. This email
contains advertisements to help support Budget Stretcher.
***********************************************************
The Budget Stretcher
Week Of: December 11, 2006
AOL Users Please Visit Online
***********************************************************
Grandpa Terry's Quips
Tip #5 - Worrying about money is an emotion. It takes action
and a clear head, not emotions, to stay on top of your finances.
***********************************************************
Support Our Sponsors
Find the best grocery specials!
…when a service can save me money, save me time, and do it all
for free I'm in Web service heaven. Now I don't need to go
through the weekly painful ritual of gathering all the newspaper
grocery flyers trying to figure out who has what deals."
--Lee Seats, Freebies Guide, About.com
Join now at no charge!
Compare deals and shop your own local stores!
***********************************************************
***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 - Chocolate Marbled Fudge
***********************************************************
Subscriber Tip
Here's a great gift idea that people will really enjoy and your
kids can help. Luminaries! Just buy a pack of paper lunch sacks,
some tea candles and some sand (or use sand or kitty litter that
you have on hand) Decorate the sacks with cut snowflakes or
drawings, fill with two tuna-cans full of sand and place a
candle on top. These luminaries are extra festive on Christmas
eve. You could even set them out and light them before going in
the house to surprise your host. We spent less than five dollars
to make sixty.
Shelley
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:
***********************************************************
Coupon Savings
by Michelle Jones
With the holidays in full gear you may find you're in need of a
short break from working with your coupons. Especially us moms,
oh boy, do we always feel like we have to take care of
everything (and everyone) all at once or what? However, it
really is OKAY to take a break with just about any household
duty whenever you need one, and that includes coupons! Yes, it's
going to cost you more at the store while you're on break but
the refresher course on why you use coupons in the first place
could be priceless.
Save hundreds of dollars on your groceries each month, with or
without using coupons! Read more of Michelle's FREE grocery
***********************************************************
Grandpa Terry's Update
(Quote - "Do It Now Before Your Future Becomes Your Past")
I want to personally welcome you to this week's newsletter. If
you are a new subscriber all you have to do is just sit back,
read and enjoy.
Just a reminder, you still have time to order your "Clauscasts"
and start enjoying Santa explaining the important facts about
his coming visit. I'm serious, these MP3s are fun for kids
and adults. Please check it out at:
I finally got around to downloading Internet Explorer 7 and
really like the new features. When you have two or more web
sites open there are tabs at the top that will reopen the page
instantly. I know it's been around for a while but I just kept
putting it off. If you would like to download it free yourself
just follow the below 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
***********************************************************
Support Our Sponsor
Want a safer, healthier home? Want to save time and money?
Over 10,000 Frugal Tips and Articles
Are you looking for ways to economize? ThriftyFun.com publishes
tips in a variety of categories, from food to home improvement.
We encourage reader's requests and participation. Come join the
discussion at ThriftyFun.com and view over 10, 000 tips and
articles to save you money and time!
***********************************************************
Credit Card Information
Do Debit Card Rewards Measure Up to Credit Card Rewards?
By Amy Arnold, CardRatings.com Senior Reporter
***********************************************************
Grandpa Terry's Tip of the Week
Christmas Worries
Around this time of year things are usually hectic and joyous
for most. For a lot of us though, we have that lingering guilt
of how much we spent to make sure we had that Merry Christmas
everyone talks about.
I would like to ask you to do me a favor. We spend the rest of
the year worrying about how to pay our bills. I would like to
see you take a time out, just until Christmas.
If you have family, spend as much time with them as you can. If
you don't then you can still enjoy the festive atmosphere that
you will find nearly everywhere you go.
If you know of someone that lives alone or in a nursing home,
take the family and spend a couple of hours with that person. It
will make them feel great and I believe you will feel even
better.
No matter what your faith or what you do this season, it is all
about celebrating your faith and enjoying family and friends.
I guarantee there will be plenty of time to worry about your
money problems in the months to come.
May this be your best Holiday Season ever!
Merry Christmas
Grandpa Terry
***********************************************************
Site of the Week
My Money Management
***********************************************************
Grandpa Terry's Email
Topic of Discussion
I owe money on an account that is so old, is has dropped off my
credit report. I would like to pay this money, which I do in
fact owe, but have some questions. I have been offered a
settlement by a collection agency. If I pay off an old debt,
will it then show up again on my credit report? If I pay the
settlement amount, how will that reflect on my credit. What if I
want to pay the FULL amount? Do I pay the settlement amount to
the collection agent and the balance to the original debt holder
(master card)?
My Response:
If this debt is no longer on your credit report and has
exceeded your state's statute-of-limitation for debts ( click
this link to determine your state's SOL
would not pay the debt. The statute begins from the time you
made your last payment to the present. The reason I say this is
that the collection agency and the debt holder can report this
action to the credit bureaus anyway they choose. Normally, debts
that are paid by an agreed upon settlement have a negative
impact on your credit report. The same is true if you pay the
full amount since it was not paid as agreed.
If you do decide to pay the debt I would pay it directly to
MasterCard unless paying the collection agency is the only way
to get the settled amount.
Please understand that this answer is based on my experience
and should not be considered legal advice. There are too many
factors that relate to debt in each state that vary widely.
Professional legal advice should come for an attorney.
I hope this helps,
Terry
-------
Hi Grandpa Terry,
My tip... Buy Christmas Themed Fabric (it also works for other
times of the year as well) whenever it goes on sale. Then wrap
gifts in this economy friendly "wrapping paper". I bought a
bunch of large pieces a few years ago- with the intentions of
make something....but the next year I had an odd shaped package.
I grabbed a piece of the Christmas fabric, some of that stretch
gold foil cord (available at Wal-Mart) and presto! instant gift
wrap. I have been reusing the same few yards of fabric for
several years now. When all of the dust settles from package
opening time... I just roll up the fabric and wait for next
year. Sometimes I even use the fabric to repack breakable
Christmas items for storage in the attic.
Oh and one more tip... ( I am on a roll now) Use plastic
shopping bags from retailers (Wal-Mart, Target, Grocery Stores,
etc) as packing materials when mailing items. They don't weigh
much and could be reused on the other end -sure beats packing
peanuts....
Thanks for a great newsletter.... I especially love the
computer tips...
Merry Christmas
Tammy C
Bolivar, MO
-------
Hi Terry,
I don't know if this is a tip you would want to use, but here
is a way I have earned some money.
Since I haven't had the money to by the eBay book, I decided to
look into other online options. I belong to Freecycle on yahoo,
and have given away over 10 truck loads of things in a year and
3 months. I am now down to items that I feel cost to much to just
give away. I found that there are quiet a few yahoo groups in my
area that are set-up for the sole purpose of selling items
locally. I have made enough to purchase Christmas gifts this
year. My son and I live on $20, 000.00 a year , this is not a
lot of money by anyone standards , but with the sites to sell
things I can bring in a little extra . These groups are very
easy to start so if there is not one in a particular area start
your own. One of the great benefits is that it is local , so no
shipping.
I am praying for peace, love & joy for you and you family, this
holiday and throughout the New Year!!
JAN in NC
-------
(This email is in response to our Topic of Discussion Last Week)
Terry,
In addition to your advise below, if you can squeeze out enough
extra cash many debtors (especially for medical and dental
debts) will discount your balance by as much as 50% if you offer
to pay that discounted bill in full now.
Thanks,
Rick
-------
I just wanted to tell you "thanks." The road to debt
elimination can be a long one. I try to keep a list of all my
dates that I have paid off on the same list that has my current
debts on it. This way when I get discouraged I can look back and
see how far I have come. It also helps to remind me (when I see
credit card debt from years ago) that I really don't want to
charge that one little thing because it can take more than a
little while to pay it off. And I want to say thanks for your
newsletter that helps to keep me inspired on my journey.
Here is one thing that has really helped me keep my spending
down: I try to keep my kitchen clean during the day. Whenever we
eat we try to put the dishes immediately into the dishwasher and
clean up after ourselves. If the kitchen is a mess at dinner
time I am more inclined to eat out which costs a lot more. With
four kids I am pretty tired at the end of the day. If the
kitchen is clean I find it easier to cook than to go out. This
really helps keep our budget in check.
Thanks again and Merry Christmas,
Lisa
***********************************************************
Subscriber Tip
Those summertime woven straw paper plate holders can be used
year round. I use one as a bottom plate in the microwave. I put
my plate/cup/bowl on top of it, cover the receptacle holding the
food (prevents splashing) and heat. The straw plate does not get
hot. I can then remove the hot dish by putting my fingers under
the straw plate and bracing the rim of the hot dish with just my
thumbs. Presto! No more burned fingers.
Val
***********************************************************
Support Our Sponsors
1,000 Ways to Make Money
We've found a new site called How-To-Make-Money.com
that you should take a look at. They've compiled an
ebook called "1,000 Ways to Make Money", and it's a
virtual encyclopedia of new and unusual money-making
schemes! Check it out!
***********************************************************
Budget Stretcher Partners
At Home Parent
Frugal Folks.com
Tidbits from the Pantry
Abbys Good Stuff for Free
Diva Tribe
Free Credit Card Reviews
MomsMakingMoneyOnline.com
***********************************************************
Subscriber Tip
I love to shop at goodwill and garage sales and thrift stores.
I have created a list for my friends to fill in things they need
(or want) then if I find it; I call them and see if they still
want it. They also look for items for me. After all, we all shop
on different days, in different towns, and at different
stores...so we find different things! It is as much fun finding
the game my friend has looked 2 years for as it is to have
someone find some Tupperware for me!
Elizabeth
**********************************************************
Support Our Sponsors
The VA Loan Specialists
If you are among the 29 million veterans or active duty service
personnel who are eligible for a VA Home Loan, VA Mortgage
Center.com can provide you with the advice and resources you
will need to buy or refinance the home of your dreams, while
ensuring you get the best rates on your loan.
***********************************************************
This Week's Article Links
Just click the links to view the article
Christmas Can Still Be Merry Without All the Spending
By Nancy Twigg
Tips for stretching your holiday budget
By Dani Arthur • Bankrate.com
Winterizing Tips For Homeowners:
14 Easy Winterizing Tips That Will Save You
Time, Frustration, Money and Your Life
By Richard Roll
To read more articles visit:
***********************************************************
Join These Groups
A_Simple_Life
Frugal-Folks
FrugalMomsNews
FunOnABudget
***********************************************************
Free Online & Grocery Coupons
Hundreds of grocery and other printable coupons from over 1400
stores you know and trust. Save with coupons like $10 OFF your
order, 10% and even 20% from many top online stores.
***********************************************************
Special Recipe
Holiday Cooking
Chocolate Marbled Fudge
2 cups sugar
2/3 cup heavy cream
1 cup milk
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
Combine sugar, cream, milk, corn syrup, and salt in large heavy
saucepan. Bring slowly to boiling, stirring occasionally, until
mixture reaches 238 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove from
heat. Cool 5 minutes. Add vanilla. Beat vigorously until mixture
begins to thicken and lose it's glossy look (about 5 minutes).
Pour the fudge into well buttered 8x8 inch baking pan. Sprinkle
evenly with the chocolate chips. When chocolate chips are
melted. run a knife through them to create a marble effect. Cool
completely on wire rack. Cut into 1 inch squares. Makes 64
pieces.
This recipe compliments of The Best Cookbook Anywhere Not Just
***********************************************************
Everyday Savings
These Tips provided by The Frugal Shopper
Please show your appreciation for these great tips by visiting
this site.
~~Sprinkle cinnamon on aluminum foil and place it in a hot
oven, leaving the door open. As the cinnamon heats, the cinnamon
will permeate the house.
~~Spray the inside of a mayonnaise jar white. Store it in the
refrigerator as a hiding place for money or valuables.
~~Put a metal spoon into a glass before pouring in any hot
liquid - this will prevent the glass from cracking.
~~Soak a cloth in carbonated water and wrap around a rusty bolt
and leave for a few minutes. The bolt should loosen right up.
~~Tip for stamp collectors: Place the envelope in the freezer
for a few hours. You'll then be able to easily lift the stamps
off with a pair of tweezers.
***********************************************************
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.
|