Back to newsletter listDate:
Sun, December 31, 2006 09:00:01 PMFrom:
editor@stretcher.com
Subject:
1/01/07: The Dollar Stretcher
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The Dollar Stretcher
"Living Better...For Less"
January 1, 2007
Volume 12, Number 1
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"The Dollar Stretcher" and Dollar Stretcher, Inc. does not
assume responsibility for advice given. All advice should be
weighed against your own abilities and circumstances and
applied accordingly. It is up to the reader to determine if
advice is safe and suitable for his/her own situation.
===========================================================
In This Issue:
Introduction
6 Money Resolutions
by Diane Schmidt
Resolutions that every bargain hunter should know
Make a Budget to Help Your Dreams Come True!
by Monica Resinger
The first step in reaching financial goals
Exercise on the Cheap
by April Borbon
Easy, inexpensive ideas for getting in shape
That's Outrageous!
Fear of Lawsuits
contributed by Laurie L.
My Story: Banking for Poor People
contributed by Leta in the U.P. of Michigan
Avoiding outrageous banking fees
Tips, Quips, Quotes & Questions
On www.Stretcher.com This Week
===========================================================
Introduction
by Gary Foreman
gary@stretcher.com
Hello to all my Frugal Friends!
Welcome to the New Year! Hope that 2007 is a great year for
you and your finances. Recently, I've been talking with a few
people about financial New Year's resolutions. One thing that
I think many families could resolve is to reduce their grocery
bills by 5 or 10%, especially if they haven't tried cutting
food expenses before.
There are a lot of ways to accomplish that goal. You could
start a pricebook or begin menu planning. You'll find a lot of
great ideas in our grocery index
http://www.stretcher.com/menu/topic-g.htm#groceriesandfood
You might also want to check out John Smith's work. He's a
butcher and has shared his knowledge with us in a number of
articles. You'll find them in the Author's Index
www.stretcher.com/menu/author.htm Just look for "Smith, John".
You might also want to check out his website at
http://arkessentials.com
On a separate subject, one of our New Year's resolutions is to
continue to try to improve The Dollar Stretcher website
www.stretcher.com. One thing that we want to do soon is to
change the menu bar at the top of every page on the website.
We'd like to hear any suggestions that you might have as to
what we could do to make it better or easier to use. If you
have an idea (or two), please send
mailto:editor@stretcher.com?subject=toolbar Obviously, we
won't be able to implement everyone's suggestions (sometimes
they're opposite of another suggestion), but we'll use your
input to help us come up with a modification that we think
will benefit everyone.
Hope you have a wonderful week to start the new year!
All the Best!
Gary
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===========================================================
6 Money Resolutions
by Diane Schmidt
Resolutions that every bargain hunter should know
Every year, it's the same list of resolutions, including
weight loss, debt reduction, etc. But for the bargain hunter,
there should be a new list of resolutions.
Resolution #1: I resolve to not buy stuff I don't need
I've been there. You are in Target and there is 50% off
Valentine's Day items and you see the most adorable heart
frame. You have to have it, even though you have a stack of
photo frames in your pantry. What do you do? Ask yourself if
you are going to use it or give it to someone by the end of
the year. If the answer is no, pass on it.
Resolution #2: I resolve to pay cash for my purchases
It's tempting to use credit cards on bargains, but what kind
of bargain is it if you wind up paying 15% interest on the
"bargain" purchase? To avoid using credit cards, plan your
purchases ahead of time or control your spending by buying
gift cards or only carrying cash to the store.
Resolution #3: I resolve to think twice before ordering
something online
Online shopping is a huge convenience and a money saver, but
it can also be a huge temptation. No need to go out in the
snow and ice, boot up your computer and there are tons of
deals! One trick I've used is if I'm not 100% sure of a
purchase, I leave it in my cart and come back to it later.
More often than not, I forget about it and I've saved money.
Resolution #4: I resolve to limit my stockpiling
If you stockpile and love it (like I do), this can be a hard
resolution to keep. There are several reasons to limit it
though. First, rodents and pests are attracted to packaged
food. It can be very easy to buy a product (such as one that
is grain-based) that already has the pest living in it and it
will infest every package of food you have. There go hundreds,
if not thousands, of dollars you've invested in your
stockpile.
To avoid this problem, do not stock up on grain type food
(such as cereal and flour), or limit it. Once a month, check
your stockpile for pests and look at expiration dates to see
if items should be thrown out. It's a good idea to rotate your
stockpile as well to keep using the items. One way I make sure
items are getting used is donating every few months to my
church food pantry.
Resolution #5: I resolve to not go crazy with coupons
When I first started using coupons, I clipped every coupon. If
it was a good coupon week, I bought more than one paper. After
a few months of this, it became too much work. I started
focusing on only clipping those coupons I was going to use. I
also paid attention to the items that were regularly on sale
(such as Ragu) and stocked up on coupons for those products.
Resolution #6: I resolve to keep better track of my rebates
Companies love when customers don't cash in rebates or forget
to follow up on them. I've been tracking my rebates and other
freebies I receive in Excel. In the spreadsheet I list the
date sent, company name, dollar amount, company contact
information and when I received the offer. Also, if you are
sending away a big rebate (for example over $20), be sure to
make photocopies and send it certified mail, return receipt.
That way, you have proof they received it if you have to
follow up on it.
Take the Next Step:
- Which resolutions could you keep throughout the year?
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Make a Budget to Help Your Dreams Come True!
by Monica Resinger
The first step in reaching financial goals
A budget helps you to see where your money is going and helps
you determine where you can cut back. It is also an important
guide for what to do with your money when you get paid. If you
are serious about your financial goals, a budget is an
absolute necessity.
When my husband and I got married over 18 years ago, we had no
idea of how to manage our money. Even though we both worked,
we always had a hard time paying our bills and had nothing to
show for our money. Then my son came along and changed all of
that; I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom.
We also wanted to travel, save for retirement and college
funds, and purchase our own home. We knew we had to start
managing our money better to be able to do these things and
the first step in doing that was to prepare a budget.
When you think of your financial goals, write them down at the
top of a piece of paper. This will help you stay on track and
give you motivation to stick to your budget.
The first step in making our budget was to list out the
necessities like rent, utilities, phone, vehicle expense and
food. Then we noted the amounts we paid on them per month.
Then we listed our credit card bills with minimum monthly
payments and "miscel***ous" for items like clothing or
birthdays. We listed these on the paper that listed our
financial goals.
When listing your budget amounts, be sure to be accurate and
honest about how much you spend on them. Look back into your
checkbook and add it all up. If you write down less than
what's actually spent, how can you possibly cut back?
Once we made our list, we looked at it to see if there was
anywhere we could cut back. We saw that we could probably cut
back the amount we spent on food by using coupons and shopping
sales and discount stores, so we lowered the amount we
originally budgeted. We saw that we could probably cut back
the amount we spent on gasoline by making fewer trips to the
store, only driving when absolutely necessary, etc. So we
lowered that amount also. We vowed to cut back on our power
usage. We started to turn off lights when leaving a room, dry
clothes on the line, wear sweaters so we can set the
thermostat lower, etc. We stuck to these amounts and made it,
and I was able to quit my job to be a stay-at-home mom.
At first we didn't have any money left after paying our
necessities but that was okay because we had a roof over our
head and I was able to stay home and raise our son. As my
husband got raises and then eventually started his own
business, we began to have a little extra money left after our
budget was paid. This enabled us to go out once in a while and
add a new category onto our budget called "savings" where we
strive to save for vacations, home improvement, retirement
funds, etc.
Within a few years, we were able to purchase our own house,
remodel it a little at a time, make our credit card bills
smaller, buy a nice car and take a couple nice vacations. So
please make a budget and help your dreams come true!
________________________
Get 100's of innovative frugal tips in The Big E-book of
Frugal Tips at http://homemakersjournal.com/frugaltips.htm
Get Monica's FREE weekly e-zine for homemakers. Each issue
includes a home and garden article, delicious recipes and
more! To subscribe, just send a blank e-mail to:
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Check out the 59 home, garden and recipe e-books full of
reader tips that have been published here:
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Take the Next Step:
Make a budget! Use a free household budgeting worksheet to
help
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/debt/debtguide2004/home-budget-tool1.asp
===========================================================
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===========================================================
Exercise on the Cheap
by April Borbon
Easy, inexpensive ideas for getting in shape
You want to get in shape but hesitate to spend money on a
contract with a health club that, you know from past
experience, you may not use. You want to improve your health,
control your diabetes, lower your cholesterol or just be able
to climb a flight of stairs without hyperventilating but many
of the exercise programs you have found are expensive, time
intensive or intimidating.
There are many ways to get fit without spending a lot of
money, making a huge commitment or strutting your spandex-
clad, not-so-in-shape body in front of a group of gym
regulars. The following are easy, inexpensive ideas for
getting in shape.
Walking - You can walk in your neighborhood. You can walk to
do errands. You can walk at the mall. You can walk with the
Volksmarchers. It's as simple as slipping on a pair of shoes
and starting.
Videos - Exercise videos are free to check out from the
library, come in a multitude of levels and skill sets and can
be done in the comfort of your own home. There are also many
local, national and cable TV exercise shows on each day that
you can follow along with at your own pace.
Stair climbing - You can dole out many hundreds of dollars for
a top of the line stair climbing machine or you can do it the
old fashioned way and climb real stairs. Many buildings,
sports stadiums, outdoor parks and maybe even your own home
have stairs that you can climb for free as many times as you
want.
Weight lifting - Hand-held weights and the more elaborate
weight benches with all the bells and whistles are fine.
However, so is lifting canned goods, old (well sealed) milk
containers (half or full gallon sized) filled with water or
basically any other item that has some weight to it and a
handle of some sort.
Jumping rope - Jump ropes are fairly inexpensive, or as they
did in the "olden days," use a piece of rope.
Calisthenics - Decades ago, there was no such thing as
spinning class, Bowflex and Treadclimbers. The military, Jack
LaLanne and anyone else who wished to get into shape used
plain old-fashioned calisthenics such as sit ups, push ups,
squats, etc. All of these can be done in your own home at
absolutely no cost.
A field - What can you do with a patch of grass or concrete?
You can get your kids or a friend and play catch with a base
ball, kick a soccer ball back and forth, toss around a
football, or play tag. Anything that gets you moving and works
up a sweat is exercise!
Play tennis or basketball - Many cities have free outdoor (and
occasionally indoor) tennis and basketball courts for the
public to use at no charge.
Ride a bike - The old bicycle you have gathering dust in your
garage can be dusted off, tuned up and used to ride on quiet
country roads, nature trails or any other out of door location
that is reasonably safe for cyclists. Be sure and wear your
helmet!
Swim, roller skate, or ice skate - Many communities have
recreation centers that charge very little to use their pool
and skating facilities. Check out their prices; often mornings
or mid-week cost even less than the more popular weekend and
evening sessions.
If you do want specialized exercise equipment, check the ads.
Personally I placed a treadmill in front of my TV and walk
while I watch TV. It's convenient, it's in my own home, and I
can use it when I would otherwise be sitting on the couch. If
you want to purchase a treadmill, stair climber or other
spendy exercise item (especially if you are concerned you may
not use it very much), check out the want ads, Freecycle, or
Craigslist. Let someone else pay full retail for the machine
while you get a little used item (why else would they be
selling it?) for pennies on the dollar.
Getting in shape and staying healthy doesn't have to be
expensive. You can use the items you have on hand, along with
a healthy dose of motivation, to lose weight, get healthy and
put together a successful exercise program for next to
nothing.
Take the Next Step:
- Start moving! What can you do to get the exercise you need?
- Follow readers' ideas on Exercise Alternatives
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/04/04jul12a.cfm
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That's Outrageous!
Fear of Lawsuits
contributed by Laurie L.
I went into Target to get a replacement battery for a watch.
The clerk asked if I bought the watch at Target and I said
that I hadn't. She replied that they couldn't put in a new
battery because they might crack the face of the watch. I
replied that I understood the risks and I would not hold
Target responsible if that happened. The clerk apologized, but
still would not do it. I then asked if I could borrow their
tool so I could remove the back of my watch to see what size
battery is required. She went and asked her supervisor who
responded he could not allow me to use their equipment because
I might hurt myself with it.
I spoke to a manager who quoted the same policy. I am 39 years
old and am willing to take the risk of using their instrument
to take the back off my watch. The employees were nice and
almost apologetic. I guess the sue happy people of the world
are going to ruin it for everyone!
___________________________
Sometimes all you can say is "That's Outrageous!" When that
happens send mailto:outrageous@stretcher.com and tell us about
it. You'll feel better for venting.
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My Story: Banking for Poor People
contributed by Leta in the U.P. of Michigan
Avoiding outrageous banking fees
One of the amazing things about being broke is that certain
things cost you more. A great example is bank accounts. If you
have less than a certain amount, they hit you with fees. If
you decide to forgo the bank account all together, you end up
relying on a check-cashing place to get money, and these are
often outrageously expensive. Even if you try to cash your
paychecks at the bank that they are drawn off of, more and
more banks are charging for this service. What to do?
Based on my experiences as a bank employee, broke college
student and tightwad, I suggest the following: - Bank at a
credit union. Unless you need a business account or have an
extremely large (six figure) amount of money that you need to
invest safely, there is no reason to bother with a bank. Most
credit unions have no minimum balance requirement, and those
that do (like ours) have a very low one. (Ours is $5.)
- Do not use checks or a debit card. I worked at the bank and
I was in my account every day. But, let me tell you,
overdrafts happen, often through no fault on the part of the
customer or it was simply an honest mistake. Foreign ATM fees
also add up quickly. Perhaps, most importantly, people who
shop with checks or plastic spend about 20% more than people
who pay cash.
- Use online bill pay. This is like cutting a check to your
mortgage holder, phone company, etc., except you can't write a
rubber check. It's instantaneous, and you don't have to pay
for stamps, envelopes, etc. We realized that it cost us about
$1.25 to pay each bill every month when you factor in postage,
cost of the check, etc. At our credit union, online bill pay
costs three dollars per month, so we save about $5 per month
using online bill pay. Plus, the convenience can't be beat and
it is very easy to do. Even if you don't have the Internet at
home, see if you can do this at work, the library, or a
friend's house. It should take you no longer than 15 to 30
minutes, once or twice a month.
This system is a fantastic alternative. Not only have my
husband and I reduced our overhead using this method, but also
we have found it much easier to save money. After our bills
are paid for the month including our food and gas, we transfer
every thing that's left over to our savings account. If we
find something we want that doesn't fit in our budget, we have
to go to the credit union and withdraw from our savings.
Needless to say, this has drastically reduced our shopping for
unnecessary items.
____________________
"My Story" is a regular feature of The Dollar Stretcher. If
you have a story that could help save time or money, please
send it by mailto:MyStory@stretcher.com
Take the Next Step:
- Find a credit union!
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/02/02feb25c.cfm
- Check with your bank about paying bills on line!
===========================================================
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===========================================================
Tips, Quips, Quotes and Questions
*********
Can You Help This Reader?
*********
Time for a New Car?
When is it time to buy a new car? Mine has close to 300,000
miles to it. I intend to run it to the ground. What, in your
estimation, is the determining factor to junk it?
Denise M.
Please send your answers
mailto:CanYouHelp@stretcher.com?subject=New_Car with "New Car"
as the subject. We'll include the best solutions in future
issues.
*********
Yes, We Can Help This Reader
HG Detergent Options
*********
I use 1/3 cap of regular liquid detergent. I recommend Wal-
Mart's Best Buy brand. I was told by a service technician that
sudsing is not good for a front load washer. Also, it depends
on your water quality. I have very soft water, so I don't need
as much. Not seeing suds does not mean the detergent isn't
doing its job. The best way to tell how the washer is doing is
by checking the clothes to see if certain stains come out
after washing. Start out using less detergent and increase the
amount by small increments if needed. Some loads need more
than others. For example, I don't use as much detergent when I
wash towels. I will use a little bit more for my husband's
work clothes. Your family's laundry needs should determine how
you wash your clothes.
B.
more suggestions on reducing the cost of detergent for HG
washing machines at
*********
Recycle Savings
Now that recycling is being made easier for households, I am
more apt to recycle if at all possible. Doing so has decreased
the amount of trash I put out each week. I wasn't completely
filling my trash bin. I made one phone call to my trash
hauling company and found out a smaller bin was available.
They don't normally offer it automatically, only if you call
and specifically request a smaller bin. This saves me $8 per
month. It doesn't seem like much, but over the course of a
year, it amounts to $96. I am a firm believer that every
"little bit" counts!
Paula C.
*********
"Three-Stage" Shopping
On regular shopping days, I have a three-stage approach. I
have a prepared list, made during the month. I start out at
the dollar store where I pick up cat food, litter, gift cards,
gift bags, household cleansers, and canned/boxed food items.
Next, I shop the drug store sales, which always have on sale
things like chicken/beef broth, nuts, wine, marinara sauce,
toiletries and makeup. The store I shop also has bread, milk
and eggs.
Last, I go to the best supermarket sale where I stock up on
meats, chicken, fish and fresh fruit and vegetables.
With this approach I always have in-house supplies and only
have to shop once a month. I think I get the best bargains
around, serve nutritious and delicious meals, and almost never
run out of household goods.
Leigh S. in Sacramento, CA
*********
After Party Odors?
To rid a room of stale cigarette smoke or other offensive
odors, fill a microwave-proof coffee cup half full with
vinegar, add a few cloves and cinnamon sticks and microwave
until boiling. Place on an oven mitt (cup will be hot!) in the
room with the offensive odor and leave overnight.
Nancy in Minden, LA
*********
What would you do with an extra $100? Last month Nancy from
Zephyrhills, FL won a $100 check just for sending in their
favorite time or money saving idea. This month it could be
you. Just send your suggestion by mailto:Tips@stretcher.com.
If we use your tip in any of our publications, we'll send you
the next three issues of our print newsletter as a "thank you"
and you'll automatically be entered into our monthly $100
drawing!
Receive Dollar Stretcher Tips twice each week. More great
ideas for saving money! Just send
mailto:sub-ds-tips@hub.thedollarstretcher.com
===========================================================
On www.Stretcher.com This Week
editor's note: Hotmail and WebTV users may have trouble with
some addresses. Please access them from our front page
Your Money
----------
6 Money Resolutions
by Diane Schmidt
Resolutions that every bargain hunter should know
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07jan01b.cfm
Make a Budget to Help Your Dreams Come True!
by Monica Resinger
The first step in reaching financial goals
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07jan01c.cfm
My Story: Banking for Poor People
contributed by Leta in the U.P. of Michigan
Avoiding outrageous banking fees
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07jan01e.cfm
Your Best Moves in 2007
When it comes to rebalancing your portfolio for the year
ahead, your goals, time horizons and risk tolerance are of
primary importance
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/06/06dec20d.htm
Rollovers and Roth IRA Contributions
Rollover won't affect your IRA contribution limit
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/06/06dec27b.htm
Feeling Ripped Off on Retirement Account Fees
That's an expensive plan and you should ask for alternatives
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/06/06dec26h.htm
Bank Error Isn't in Her Favor
It's not like Monopoly and you don't get to keep the money
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/06/06dec26j.htm
Dumping an Old, High-Interest Debt
You need to check the interest rate on a new loan, but you
should refinance
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/06/06dec21b.htm
Checking Safety of Credit Union IRA funds
You can check a credit union's safety
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/06/06dec20e.htm
Payroll Cards Offer Convenience at Lower Cost
Wages delivered on a debit card provide savings for employers
and convenience for employees
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/06/06dec20a.htm
Fame and Fortune
"Three's Company" star Suzanne Somers rocketed to stardom by
portraying a dumb blonde, but she's become one of the world's
most successful entrepreneurs
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/06/06dec26b.htm
Do's and Don'ts for Fending Off Foreclosure
Even after your lender sends a default letter, there are still
ways to keep your house. There are also ways to make the
situation worse
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/06/06dec26c.htm
Feeling Wealthy Can Make You Poor
The wealth effect from rising home values and fatter
portfolios can lead you to a dangerous precipice: living a
more expensive lifestyle than you can afford
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/06/06dec26d.htm
Experts: Santa's Business in the Red
Sure, Santa is a great guy, but financial pros evaluating his
business model aren't jolly about his net worth
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/06/06dec26e.htm
Fame and Fortune
Gossip blogger Perez Hilton has gone from bankruptcy to the
big time
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/06/06dec26f.htm
Dealing with Parents' Big Credit Card Debt
What's a son or daughter to do when the parents are frail but
deep in credit card debt?
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/06/06dec26g.htm
Your Family
-----------
Saving at the Doctor's Office
by Shelly Burke
Safely saving money when possible
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07jan01g.cfm
Dealing with Parents' Big Credit Card Debt
What's a son or daughter to do when the parents are frail but
deep in credit card debt?
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/06/06dec26g.htm
Your Home
---------
HG Detergents
Is there a cheaper alternative?
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07jan01a.cfm
7 Smart Mortgage Moves for '07
Mortgages and real estate changed dramatically in '06. Have
you learned the lessons well enough to apply them in '07?
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/06/06dec21a.htm
Your Career or Small Business
-----------------------------
Finding a Work-at-Home Job
by Gary Foreman
Discussing the ins and outs of working at home
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07jan01h.cfm
Payroll Cards Offer Convenience at Lower Cost
Wages delivered on a debit card provide savings for employers
and convenience for employees
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/06/06dec20a.htm
Your Food
---------
Top 10 Ways to Save Money on Meat and Poultry
by S. L. Simmons
Eating better for less
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07jan01f.cfm
Your Taxes
----------
Taxes 2007: The IRS Will Take a Closer Look
The IRS is planning to shrink the tax gap; the money it feels
it is owed but hasn't been able to collect. The result? Big
Brother will be looking more closely
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/06/06dec27c.htm
IRA Taxes for a Foreigner
Even as a nonresident, you'll pay taxes on IRA distributions
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/06/06dec27d.htm
Taxes 2006: Year of the Tax Credit
Taxpayers cleaned up last year as new credits, which are far
more valuable than deductions, went into effect
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/06/06dec26k.htm
Widow's Tax Basis after Husband's Death
She will only get the single person's tax exclusion on home
sale
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/06/06dec26m.htm
Extra Mortgage Payment Could Cut Tax Bill
Make your January mortgage payment by Dec. 31 and you'll have
extra interest to deduct on your upcoming tax return
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/06/06dec21c.htm
Bad Investments Can Be Good Tax News
Plummeting stock prices can cast a dark cloud, but at tax time
they offer a ray of write-off sunshine in the form of capital
losses
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/06/06dec21d.htm
Everything Else
---------------
Exercise on the Cheap
by April Borbon
Easy, inexpensive ideas for getting in shape
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07jan01d.cfm
Saving at the Doctor's Office
by Shelly Burke
Safely saving money when possible
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07jan01g.cfm
8 Ways to Reduce Return Hassles
This season, shoppers with returns will face more restocking
fees, store credits instead of cash and shortened periods to
return items. Here's how to cope
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/06/06dec27a.htm
Gift Card Study: The Secondary Market
Got gift cards you don't want? A number of Web sites let you
buy, sell or trade them
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/06/06dec26a.htm
All Shopped Out? Time to Call a Professional
When time is of the essence, hire a personal shopper to do the
job right
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/06/06dec20b.htm
Wisdom of Babylon (and gift ideas, too!)
Finding the perfect gift takes thought, but don't forget the
words of Arkad, the richest man in the Babylonian empire,
circa 6000 B.C.
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/06/06dec20c.htm
Readers' Tips
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07jan01t.cfm
===========================================================
Decision-Making Tools
For Your Home
-
Rent or Buy Your Next Home?
-
Mortgage Calculator
-
15-Year or 30-Year Mortgage?
-
Fixed or Adjustable Rate Mortgage?
-
Mortgage Points Adviser
For Your Car
-
How much car can you afford?
-
Buy or lease your next car?
-
Your next car: New or used?
-
Auto Loan Calculator
-
Is a hybrid car right for you?
===========================================================
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