Back to newsletter listDate:
Sun, January 14, 2007 09:00:00 PMFrom:
editor@stretcher.com
Subject:
1/15/07: The Dollar Stretcher
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The Dollar Stretcher
"Living Better...For Less"
January 15, 2007
Volume 12, Number 3
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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
Shopping Online
by Jacquelyn Lynn, Author of "Online Shopper's Survival Guide"
Find the lowest price for whatever it is you want
Christmas Club Accounts
by Jeffrey Strain
Don't put another holiday season on your credit card!
401k Loan vs. Second Mortgage
by Gary Foreman
Does it make sense to pay off a 401k loan with a second
mortgage?
6 Questions to Ask Charities before Donating
courtesy of Charity Navigator, www.charitynavigator.org
Give with confidence
Tips, Quips, Quotes & Questions
On www.Stretcher.com This Week
===========================================================
Introduction
by Gary Foreman
gary@stretcher.com
Hello to all my Frugal Friends!
As you might expect, I'm always on the lookout for good
information for our readers. Sometimes it comes from people
who are unknown, but have some great insights into a specific
area. Those are fun because we get to hear from 'real folks'
who have put their advice to work successfully.
Sometimes we get to work with people (or organizations) that I
personally admire who are familiar to many. There are a number
of people and websites that do a great job of helping people
with their finances. We've had the pleasure of introducing you
to some of them.
If you visited the front page of the website last week
in the right-hand column. A logo featuring Dave Ramsey
followed by links to some articles from his syndicated radio
show and website.
I'm excited about it. If anything, he dislikes debt even more
than I do. And the advice he gives is generally first-rate. So
make sure that you visit the site and check out those
articles. Each week we'll have all new ones.
Drop me a line
let me know what you think. We always enjoy hearing from our
readers.
Hope you have a wonderful week and a wonderful Martin Luther
King Jr. Day!
All the Best!
Gary
===========================================================
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Shopping Online
by Jacquelyn Lynn, Author of "Online Shopper's Survival Guide"
Find the lowest price for whatever it is you want
Shopping online is the easiest way to find the lowest price
for whatever it is you want. But there are plenty of ways to
save money besides just getting a good buy.
- Sales, specials, and closeouts. Just like brick-and-mortar
stores, online retailers often have sales and reduce items to
clear out their inventories. Check your favorite sites
regularly, or sign up for e-mail alerts.
- Manufacturer rebates. Rebates are not limited to traditional
retail transactions. You can get them with online purchases as
well. To find out what rebates are being offered by which
manufacturers, visit a rebate-tracking site, such as
www.myrebates.com or www.rebateshq.com. But if you find a
rebate and use that in your decision-making process, be sure
to follow up and file the necessary forms to get your money.
Manufacturers know many of their customers won't bother.
- Online coupons. Online coupons work the same way paper
coupons do, except that instead of handing a cashier a slip of
paper, you enter a code during the checkout process. Many
merchants issue online coupons for various types of discounts;
you'll find them in catalogs, direct mail pieces, and even in
the inserts with your order (a way to get you to buy again).
You can also find coupons at web sites designed to help you
save money. My friend Brian Lewis offers this advice, "Shop
and find the best deal on what you want, then go looking for a
coupon to bring the price down even further." An interesting
note is that Brian says he feels cheap when he uses a coupon
in a brick-and-mortar store but not when he's buying online.
Online Coupon Sources
The following sites are great sources for finding promotional
codes and special offers that can save you big bucks:
www.ableshoppers.com
www.coolsavings.com
www.couponcabin.com
www.couponmountain.com
www.currentcodes.com
www.dealcatcher.com
www.dealhunting.com
www.dealtaker.com
www.fatwallet.com
www.hotdealsclub.com
www.shoppersresource.com
- First-time customer discounts and specials. Many e-tailers
offer special deals to customers making their first purchase.
Those deals might be a discount of a flat amount or a
percentage on that purchase, a coupon for discounts on future
purchases, free shipping, a free gift, free gift-wrapping, or
whatever. If you're making your first purchase from a
particular merchant, check around the site to see what sort of
bonuses are available.
- Free or reduced shipping. In general, the buyer pays the
shipping for online purchases, but merchants often offer
specials on their shipping rates just as they do on their
products. An increasing number of merchants are offering free
shipping, or free shipping with purchases over a certain
amount. A site I buy from occasionally offers special shipping
deal of 99 cents during a specified period, no matter how much
you order. A friend of mine orders regularly from a few sites
that periodically offer free shipping; she waits to make all
of her purchases from those sites for the time when she won't
have to pay shipping.
- Have your entire order shipped together. If you're buying
more than one item from a site, it's possible things will be
available at different times. Some sites charge the same total
amount for shipping regardless of when various items go out,
but some sites charge more if they have to make separate
shipments. In those cases, requesting that everything in your
order be shipped together can save you money. Also, if you're
not in a rush and the site offers shipping choices, choose the
slowest as it's usually the cheapest.
- Get on merchants' mailing lists. Many merchants will ask if
you'd like to be on their mailing lists. If this is a company
you expect to buy from again, say yes. You'll get notices of
special sales, clearance items, coupons, and other special
offers.
__________________________
Reprinted from "Online Shopper's Survival Guide" by Jacquelyn
Lynn. Published by Entrepreneur Press. Copyright (c) 2006
Entrepreneur Media Inc. August 2006; $19.95US; 1-59918-024-3.
Jacquelyn Lynn is a widely published business writer and
highly experienced online shopper. She is the co-author of
"Make Big Profits on eBay" as well as numerous titles in
Entrepreneur's Startup Series.
For more information, please visit www.jacquelynlynn.com or
www.entrepreneurpress.com.
Take the Next Step:
Learn the Power of Online Coupons
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/03/03oct13d.cfm
===========================================================
Christmas Club Accounts
by Jeffrey Strain
Don't put another holiday season on your credit card!
If you find that you're putting another holiday season on your
credit cards and have made "a credit free holiday season" one
of your coming New Year's resolutions, you might want to
consider starting an old fashioned Christmas Club account.
While the "Christmas Club" account is the most popular of
these type of banking accounts and thus the defacto name for
them, you can also find them geared for other holidays or
events such as Hanukkah or a vacation. Many banking
institutions have varieties of these accounts, but credit
unions and smaller community banks are more likely to offer
them over regional or larger banks. The main theme for all of
them is an easy way to save small amounts of money for a
specific event over time.
There is nothing fancy or complicated about these accounts.
You simply put away a small amount of money on a regular
basis, which adds up during the year. You then get that money
in a lump sum right before the holiday season. You're usually
required to make a set monthly or weekly deposit to the
account and there are penalties if you withdraw the money
early or, in some cases, you may not be able to access the
money until the specified date.
The interest you earn will be minimal if anything at all, but
the interest is usually not the main reason for creating these
accounts. While the account won't pay much in interest, you
still earn a good return since you avoid the credit card
interest you would otherwise have to pay without the account.
It's also a "forced" saving method since you're likely to
leave your money in there all year due to the penalties for
early withdrawal.
The specifics of these accounts vary from institution to
institution, so you'll have to ask your bank or credit union
for the rules for their particular accounts. When choosing,
the main issue you'll want to know is if you can withdraw the
money early and, if you can, what penalty must you pay for
early withdrawal and if there are any fees for the account.
For those of you with a bit of discipline, it can be even more
beneficial to create a Christmas Club account on your own.
That is, find a place to set aside a small amount of money
each week or with every paycheck.
The advantage of saving and having the money yourself as
opposed in a banking account is that you have access to the
money to purchase holiday gifts at any time during the year
when you find them. Since shopping before Christmas is often
more expensive than other times of the year to purchase gifts,
this can be a great savings advantage.
When deciding whether to save this way on your own or by using
a bank's services, you need to be honest with yourself. When
doing it on your own, it's essential that you have the
discipline to place this money aside since not doing so will
result in running up your credit card bill another year. If
you don't have this discipline or are not sure, setting up an
account through a banking institution will most likely be to
your benefit.
_____________________
Jeffrey Strain is the owner of www.savingadvice.com - a
website dedicated to saving you money and also writes the
daily updated blog at www.pfadvice.com
Take the Next Step:
Check with your bank to see what types of accounts they offer
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401k Loan vs. Second Mortgage
by Gary Foreman
Does it make sense to pay off a 401k loan with a second
mortgage?
I am a recent grad from business school and I have just
started a new job as a loan officer. I am curious if it makes
sense to repay a 401k loan with a second mortgage loan? The
interest rate on the 401k loan is 8%, the second mortgage is
10%, and we are talking about a $50k loan size.
Andrew
Andrew asks a question that's becoming more and more common.
In the old days, a loan matched the item being financed. If
you were borrowing to buy a car, you took out an auto loan.
But today our borrowing options have increased. You can borrow
money against your home and use it to buy a new car. Or in
Andrew's case, he can use it to pay off a previously arranged
loan from his 401k plan.
But is that a good idea? There's probably no single right
answer. At least not without being able to see into the
future. But you can look at the important elements of each
type of loan to see which loan is likely to be best for your
situation.
We'll begin that process by comparing the similarities and
differences of the two types of borrowing.
The first thing that most of us think about is the interest
rate. It's only natural. It's a major part of any loan. Often,
you can just compare the rates and the lower one wins.
However, in this case, there are some tax consequences
involved. The 401k loan is not deductible from federal income
taxes. The second mortgage probably is. If so, that would
reduce the cost of the debt.
Figuring how much seems complicated, but really is fairly
easy. The after-tax interest rate is the stated rate times one
minus your individual tax rate. So the cost of the second
mortgage if Andrew were in the 18% bracket would be 10% x (1 -
.18) or 8.2%.
So the cost to borrow is pretty much the same for the 401k or
second mortgage. At least today it is. But, is either loan
variable? The 401k loan is probably fixed, but the interest
rate on the second mortgage could be variable and change
during the life of the loan.
A variable loan offers both opportunity and risk for the
borrower. The opportunity is that it features a lower rate of
interest than would otherwise be available. That means lower
payments. The risk is that the rate could increase making
payments painful if not impossible.
The next thing to consider is how each loan is secured. The
second mortgage is obvious. If you don't pay, you could get
kicked out of your house. The 401k is a little more subtle. If
you don't repay, the loan amount is added to your taxable
income and a 10% penalty is applied. So if Andrew were in the
18% tax bracket, he'd have to pay the IRS 28% of what was owed
and not repaid to his 401k. Additionally, his 401k plan would
be smaller when he needed it at retirement.
In this case, both loans have a set term. You can look at the
loan and know when you'll be finished repaying it. That's not
always the case. Some loans (like credit cards) are open
accounts that may never mature.
However, the length of these two loans is very different. The
401k loan is probably much shorter than the second mortgage.
That's important for two reasons. First, the mortgage loan
will have lower monthly payments. But, it also means that
Andrew will pay much more in interest over the entire life of
the mortgage.
Those are the big issues to consider: interest rate, fixed or
variable, secured or unsecured, and term of the loan. But,
there are some other things to think about before making a
decision.
One advantage to the 401k loan is that repayment is fairly
painless. It's probably automatically deducted from Andrew's
paycheck. That's a great way to avoid missing payments or
being late.
The second mortgage has a couple of quirks that might be
important to him. First, if he decided to sell the house, the
mortgage will be completely paid from the sale proceeds. That
could limit the amount of money he has available to buy a new
home.
Secondly, the second mortgage might require him to set up an
escrow account for taxes and insurance. Or, it might require
that he carry an expensive private mortgage insurance policy.
Before making a final decision, Andrew will want to study the
details of both potential loans. That means reading loan
agreements. He could find something that's important to his
situation.
Andrew can use this framework to compare any two loans. It's
simply a matter of doing a little research on how a loan works
and then comparing the different elements to see which type of
loan best meets your needs.
_________________
Gary Foreman is a former financial planner who currently edits
The Dollar Stretcher.com website and ezines. You'll find
hundreds of articles to help stretch your day and your dollar.
Visit today!
Take the Next Step:
Check the big issues: interest rate, fixed or variable,
secured or unsecured, and term of the loan
===========================================================
6 Questions to Ask Charities before Donating
courtesy of Charity Navigator, www.charitynavigator.org
Give with confidence
At Charity Navigator, we advocate that all potential donors
take the time to ask charities questions about their programs,
mission, and goals before they decide to support them. For
those people who don't have the time or resources for this, we
provide our services as a guide, so you can give with
confidence. In addition, we have developed a list of questions
that you as a donor should ask before you begin the act of
supporting a charity.
1. Can your charity clearly communicate who they are and what
they do?
If a charity struggles in articulating its mission and its
programs, it will probably struggle in delivering those
programs. Organizations that can explain who they are and what
they're trying to accomplish have a singularity of purpose and
a commitment to focused institutional change. The dot.com boom
and bust showed that for-profit companies that couldn't
articulate exactly what purpose they served and what product
they delivered couldn't compete with bricks and mortar
businesses with clear visions of who they were, and what they
did. Charities are no different. If a charity can't explain
who it is and what it does, and why it is needed, find one
that can. The stakes are too high and too many good
organizations exist who know exactly who they are, what they
do, and why they are needed.
2. Can your charity define their short-term and long-term
goals?
Organizations without quantifiable goals have no way to
measure success. If they have no way to know if they are
successful, how can you be sure they are working toward
something? Demand that your charity tell you what it is trying
to do. Good organizations relish this opportunity. They know
what they are working toward today and tomorrow.
3. Can your charity tell you the progress it has made (or is
making) toward its goal?
Once again, it's not enough to merely be concerned with a
problem. Good intentions are no longer sufficient to warrant
your charitable support. The marketplace is too crowded. Ask
your organization what it has done to make the issue it
confronts better. What are its results? You wouldn't buy a
brand of toothpaste if the manufacturer couldn't prove to you
that it fought cavities successfully. Why should you support
an environmental clean-up organization if it can't show you
that it is cleaning up the environment?
4. Do your charity's programs make sense to you?
If you support the mission of an organization, ask yourself if
its programs also make sense. You believe in the cause, and
you hope for the end result, but is the organization working
toward that result in a way that seems rational and productive
to you? If an organization's goal is to promote kindness
toward animals, does it pursue its goal in a way that makes
sense to you, or does it merely inflame the issue? Do you want
your research organizations doing advocacy? Do you want your
outreach organizations making policy, or your policy
organizations doing outreach? Maybe you do, maybe you don't.
This doesn't mean that every organization should be singular
in focus. It also doesn't mean, however, that you have to
support every organization that has the same belief system as
you. Just because you support the ends, you may not support
the means. If you know you want to support the outcome the
charity aims to deliver, ask yourself if its method of
arriving at that outcome makes sense to you.
5. Can you trust your charity?
Our research has shown that the overwhelming majority of
charities in this country are not only responsible and honest,
but also well-managed. So we give with confidence. You should
feel the same way before you give. Don't support a charity
until you feel comfortable with it. A guilty and distrustful
giver is a one-time giver. To gain this trust, use Charity
Navigator or another unbiased source. If you have time, check
with the IRS or your state attorney general's office. Call the
President of the organization, and ask the questions you need
answered before you can be assured this is a good use of your
money. Ask for an annual report. Do whatever it takes to put
your mind at ease. Use your rights to gather data so that you
will be comfortable. Good charities will encourage this. A
happy and trusting donor is a willing and supportive donor.
6. Are you willing to make a long-term commitment to your
organization?
We like to think of giving to charity as a long-term
commitment, more akin to marriage than dating. Intelligent
giving is motivated by altruism, knowledge, and perspective,
not a knee-jerk reaction to a television commercial. You are
an adult. You have a budget. You have the means to help
others. You want to help. Ask yourself if your charity is the
type of organization to which you're willing to make a long-
term commitment. When you do this, you agree to support them
through good times and bad, and provide the funding it needs
to weather economic downturns. In return, it promises to
continue working toward addressing the issue you both think is
so vital. Look hard and find an organization you can support
for many years to come. When you find that charity, give it
your dollars, tell it you'll be there through thick and thin,
and then continue to support it. Only then will long-term
sustainable change take place.
______________________
Reprinted with the permission of Charity Navigator,
www.charitynavigator.org, America's leading independent
charity evaluator.
Take the Next Step:
- Talk to your favorite organization and ask them the tough
questions
- Learn how to Double (or Triple!) Your Charitable Donations!
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Tips, Quips, Quotes and Questions
*********
Can You Help This Reader?
*********
Removing Odors
We bought a 2003 Toyota Camry the end of November with fabric
seats. The dealer detailed the car to make it smell nice.
However, the smell is still horrible and makes my eyes burn
and nose run. The dealer swore it would disappear very soon
once the car was aired out.
Being sensitive to all chemicals and perfume type products, I
have not been able to sit or drive in the car, so hubby takes
it instead. Although it's freezing in NY right now, my hubby
drives with the windows open whenever possible. When he comes
home, we leave the windows open every afternoon/evening until
we go to bed. We placed a small pan with baking soda on the
floor in back to absorb the odors, but to no avail. The
chemical and perfume smells that were sprayed when the car was
detailed still persist almost two months later. It just does
not get better. What can I do to get the smell and chemicals
out of the fabric seats, rug, upholstered sides and roof of
car?
Renee T.
Please send your answers mailto:CanYouHelp@stretcher.com with
"Removing Odors" as the subject. We'll include the best
solutions in future issues.
*********
Yes, We Can Help This Reader
Keeping Veggies Fresh
*********
When buying produce at a local farmer's market, I noticed the
sheets of plastic that are in the bottom of boxes of fruit. I
asked if I could have a few of these. At home, I cut them in
sizes to fit the inside bottoms of inexpensive plastic
containers. Although intended for limited use, they seem to
last forever. I found very quickly that cut fruits and
vegetables stored using this method seem to last forever.
Recently, I read that this is because the moisture is wicked
away from the produce.
Sharon
more alternatives to Green Veggie Bags at
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07jan15a.cfm
*********
"My Pay"
You work every day and it seems that all of your pay goes for
bills, food, vehicle, etc. Included in my budget is a bill
that is called "my pay." I started out by taking $5 to $10
weekly and putting it into a savings account and this was "my
pay." The pay to myself wasn't much, but it made me feel as
though I got something for working so hard. The best part is
it is mine to do with as I wish. Start out with a low dollar
amount and increase it when you feel that you can. It adds up
quick.
Janet
*********
Hate Filing?
To save time and keep organized with all of the monthly bills
and papers that need to be filed, I used to try to keep a file
for each utility company or credit card and file the papers in
their individual files each month. Sometimes I would get
behind and have a huge stack of papers waiting to be filed.
Now, I have solved the problem by keeping just one file for
each month. In this file, I put receipts, statements, etc.
Instead of having multiple files to go to each month, I have
just one. If I need to look up a receipt or something for last
month, I know it will all be in one place. This has greatly
simplified my record keeping.
Cheri H. in Grove City, PA
*********
Too Tired to Cook?
I enjoy making and eating home cooked meals, which not only
saves money but is usually more nutritious than packaged or
take-out foods. But after a full day of work, I am often too
tired to cook. To make it easier, I began prepping for the
meal either the night before or in the morning before going to
work. For example, I will chop all the veggies, brown ground
meat for the chili, or measure all the seasonings in advance.
I even put out the pots and pans I need on the stove. When I
get home from work, everything is ready to go. It's so much
easier to put together dinner when it's already halfway done!
Rachel of Cleveland, Ohio
*********
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
----------
Christmas Club Accounts
by Jeffrey Strain
Don't put another holiday season on your credit card!
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07jan15c.cfm
401k Loan vs. Second Mortgage
by Gary Foreman
Does it make sense to pay off a 401k loan with a second
mortgage?
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07jan15d.cfm
6 Questions to Ask Charities before Donating
courtesy of Charity Navigator, www.charitynavigator.org
Give with confidence
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07jan15e.cfm
Educating Teens about Credit
Parents have many options, from debit cards and prepaid cards
to secured credit cards and making their child an authorized
user. Which is best?
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan09a.htm
Fame & Fortune
The Emmy-award winning former "20/20" producer Danny Schechter
says credit cards and consumer debt are the building blocks of
an economic house of cards. And it's headed for a fall
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan09b.htm
Deep in Debt Again 6 Years after Bankruptcy
An overly generous parent must face the facts: His kids will
have to pay for their own cars and insurance
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan09c.htm
Investing Basics: Know Your IRAs
Your retirement nest egg builds a lot faster if you use an IRA
to put off paying taxes until you retire. There are several
types, and you should know the differences
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan08b.htm
2007 Home Equity Rates: Anyone's Guess
Will rates on HELOCs and home equity loans go up, down or
remain about the same in 2007? It's possible that they'll do
all three at various times of the year
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan08c.htm
One Year Later...
Scott and his wife have paid off a lot of debt and are on a
budget that really works. Read more of their story
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan03h.htm
Company Credit Card Reimbursement Games
Transferring a $75,000 company credit card debt to a personal
zero percent card and then investing the reimbursement is a
dangerous game
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan05c.htm
Our Change In Attitude
We've changed our attitudes, paid the piper, and we are now
committed to EARNING interest, not paying it!
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan05e.htm
I Got Stuck With the Bill
Just because someone is your best friend doesn't mean he or
she will pay part of the bill. Read what happened to James
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan05f.htm
Investing With Credit Cards
Only invest with your money, not borrowed money from credit
cards! Learn from Donny's stupid tax story
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan04c.htm
It Sure Did Pay Off!
It felt so good to cross out each bill that we paid off...It
was hard at first, but it sure did pay off!" Read more of
Sofia's
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan04d.htm
Dealing with Old Debts
An agency can't sue when the statute of limitations has passed
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan09e.htm
Using CD to Secure a Loan
It is one way to build up your credit rating
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan08d.htm
Buy or Rent in New Locale?
Check prices and reinvest your capital gains
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan05d.htm
Little Advantage to Bimonthly Mortgage Payments
The savings comes from additional principal payments
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan03e.htm
Credit Card Offers Don't Hurt Credit Score
It only shows up if you accept the offer
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan04b.htm
We Eliminated $40k in Debts
Even a temporary job setback did not stop Dennis and Jamie
from becoming debt free
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan09f.htm
Your Family
-----------
Advice from the Trenches of New Motherhood
by Rachel Muller
Coping strategies for new mommies
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07jan15g.cfm
Educating Teens about Credit
Parents have many options, from debit cards and prepaid cards
to secured credit cards and making their child an authorized
user. Which is best?
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan09a.htm
ID Thieves Target New Victims: Children
By obtaining the Social Security number given to most children
at birth, thieves can build new identities that they can use
for years
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan03a.htm
7 Steps to Protect Children from Identity Theft
Guard their information and be wary of credit offers
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan03b.htm
Your Home
---------
Pros and Cons of Reverse Mortgages
They charge steep upfront costs and may interfere with
Medicaid eligibility, but seniors are relying on them more
than ever
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan04a.htm
Buy or Rent in New Locale?
Check prices and reinvest your capital gains
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan05d.htm
Little Advantage to Bimonthly Mortgage Payments
The savings comes from additional principal payments
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan03e.htm
Your Career or Small Business
-----------------------------
Book Review: "Multiple Streams of Income" by Robert G. Allen
(2d ed.)
contributed by Cathy Tanaka
What can you learn about MLM before investing your time and
money?
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07jan15h.cfm
Mike's Business Blunder
With willingness to risk and having really good credit, Mike
started businesses instead of paying off debt and ended up
paying back much more than planned
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan03f.htm
Your Food
---------
Green Vegetable Bags
Is there a less expensive alternative?
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07jan15a.cfm
Meals in 30 Minutes or Less
by Jill Cooper
Put a delicious, home cooked meal on in less time
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07jan15f.cfm
Your Taxes
----------
Figuring Out Your Tax Filing Status
Picking how to file isn't as easy as it appears. There are
five filing statuses, each with special requirements and
advantages
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan05g.htm
Excluding Capital Gains on Two Homes
Although you may satisfy the ownership and use tests with two
homes, you can only exclude gain from one home every two years
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan05h.htm
Ill-Fitting Forms Could Mean Slow Refunds
Late enactment of some tax deductions will produce filing
complications and delayed refunds. Here's what you can do
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan04e.htm
Section 179 and My New Ford F-250
The law still favors the purchase of disproportionately large
vehicles when it comes to depreciation deductions
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan04f.htm
Choosing Your Tax Return Form
The 1040, 1040A and 1040EZ each offer taxpayers different
filing options. Which is right for you?
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan04g.htm
Who Has to File a Tax Return?
Not everybody has to submit a 1040. Just what are the rules?
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan03j.htm
Widow Wants Late Husband's FICA Contributions
Unfortunately there is no refund of the taxes paid
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan03k.htm
Making Your Kids Pay Off at Tax Time
Your child depends on you year round. But at tax time, you can
turn that dependent status into tax savings
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan08e.htm
Getting Tax Help to Care for Your Parents
Millions of adult children find themselves looking after aging
parents. If you qualify, tax laws offer some help
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan09d.htm
Craziest Tax Write-Offs You've Ever Heard Of
Have you heard the one about the $300 breast pump? The male
model? The pimped-out Amish buggy? CPAs across the country
share tales of madcap deductions that taxpayers boldly try to
take
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan08a.htm
Everything Else
---------------
Shopping Online
by Jacquelyn Lynn
Find the lowest price for whatever it is you want
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07jan15b.cfm
Medical Identity Theft Can Kill You
Incorrect information can mean dangerous treatments or
misdiagnosis
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan05a.htm
Update Your Insurance Coverage
The beginning of the year is a good time to get your annual
insurance checkup to make sure you are paying for the kind of
coverage you need
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan05b.htm
Keeping That Resolution
Many people make New Year's resolutions, but few stick to
them. Here's the key
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan03g.htm
We Changed Our Insurance Coverage
After over-paying for life insurance, Ryan and his wife
changed it and got a surprise call afterward from their rep
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan09g.htm
Many Factors Impede '07 Insurance Rate Drops
Despite a quiet 2006 for insurance claims, industry experts
say any of a number of scenarios could trigger a dreaded
blockbuster year with $100 million or more in claims
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan03c.htm
Resolutions Schmezolutions
Drop the heavy, four-syllable word from your vocabulary and
adopt an easy monosyllabic one: goals
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07jan03d.htm
Readers' Tips
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07jan15t.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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