Back to newsletter listDate:
Sun, March 11, 2007 10:00:01 PMFrom:
editor@stretcher.com
Subject:
3/12/07: The Dollar Stretcher
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The Dollar Stretcher
"Living Better...For Less"
March 12, 2007
Volume 12, Number 11
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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.
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In This Issue:
Introduction
Understanding Write-Offs and Foreclosures
by Gary Foreman
Understanding what they mean to you and your finances
Beat Energy Costs: Insulation
by Janean Nusz
Reduce wasted energy and save money
Home Away from Home (Really!)
by Christine Karpinski
Nine reasons to go the vacation rental route the next time you
travel
Can I Replace an O2 Sensor?
Ask Bob: The Auto Answer Man
Tips, Quips, Quotes & Questions
On www.Stretcher.com This Week
===========================================================
Introduction
by Gary Foreman
gary@stretcher.com
Hello to all my Frugal Friends!
Wanted to take a moment to tell you about a couple of things
on the website this week. If you're thinking of buying or
selling a home this summer, you'll want to check out the "2007
Guide to Real Estate." You'll find it in the center Bankrate
column. There's also an analysis of how interest rates are
likely to effect the housing market.
While you're there, you might also want to use the "Credit
Card Inventory." It's a simple little sheet that will give you
a great snapshot of your credit card debts.
Speaking of credit card debt, Dave Ramsey hates credit cards
and debt. We've been carrying articles by Dave and his crew
for a couple of months now. We'd love to hear what you think
about them. Drop me an email
know what you think.
Thanks, and hope that you have a wonderful week!
All the Best!
Gary
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===========================================================
Understanding Write-Offs and Foreclosures
by Gary Foreman
Understanding what they mean to you and your finances
Could you please give me some idea about charge-off,
foreclosure, and write-offs? I need to know on what grounds
the banks will go for charge-off or foreclosure? What are the
advantages of the above three to the bank? It would be great
if you can explain with examples.
DG
DG asks a good question. We hear these terms and wonder what
affect they have on the money that we owe. So let's see if we
can't shed some light on the question and help DG avoid
financial hardship.
We'll start with some definitions. For "write-off," we'll turn
to the WallingfordCapital.com site. "The act of changing the
value of an asset to an expense or a loss. A write-off is used
to reduce or eliminate the value an asset and reduce profits."
In everyday English that means the lender has decided that one
of its assets isn't as valuable as they say it is on the
corporate books. For instance, your promise to pay the bank
(car loan, credit card debt, mortgage) is an asset to them.
They have it on the bank accounting records as something that
has a specific dollar value. Generally it's worth what you owe
on the debt.
When the bank "writes-off" part of all of your debt, they're
saying that they don't expect you to pay the entire debt. So
they're taking part or all of that debt and not counting it as
an asset of the corporation any longer.
That does two things. First, it reduces the value of the
corporation by the amount of the write-down. Second, it
reduces the corporate profits by the same amount. That reduces
income taxes.
OK, so what about a "charge-off"? For the most part, it means
the same as write-off. The main difference is that a charge-
off is usually a loan that can't be collected. A write-off is
often real property (building, vehicle, or equipment) that has
lost its value.
One thing for DG to notice is that these are only accounting
transactions. They do not release him from his responsibility
to pay. Fair Isaacs, the company that started credit scoring,
does not say whether a write-off or charge-off has a negative
effect on your credit score. But, they do say that not paying
back a loan on time does. So being late with your payment is a
problem whether the loan is charged-off or not.
Ideally, DG would have contacted the credit card company (or
whoever he owed the money to) as soon as he figured out that
he couldn't repay it on time. Often the lender will agree to a
smaller payment over a longer time. If that doesn't solve the
problem, DG could consider a credit counselor.
By the time the debt is charged-off, DG is in pretty deep. His
credit score has been affected. Chances are that all of his
credit cards are charging him penalty rates of up to 30%. And,
bill collectors are beginning to call him. At that point, if
he can't work out a repayment plan, he may need to consider
bankruptcy.
What about foreclosure? According to Princeton.edu (Princeton
University), it is "the legal proceedings initiated by a
creditor to repossess the collateral for loan that is in
default." Typically, foreclosure is used in reference to real
estate property, but it can be used for other physical
property (your car for instance).
Foreclosure, unlike our other words, is not an accounting
term. It's a legal term. It means that the company that holds
a lien on your property (like a mortgage) has sued you. The
suit will attempt to take possession and ownership of the
property. In other words, you'll lose your house or car.
Once again the credit score is damaged when the payments fell
behind. In this case, the foreclosure will lower it some more.
Whether the lender has started foreclosure or not, the
borrower should take the initiative and contact them if they
are having trouble with the payment. The lender may adjust the
payment terms.
DG asks what triggers the bank to foreclose or write-off a
loan. There are all kinds of circumstances, but generally it's
when the bank feels that you won't be able to repay the money
you borrowed. Trying to predict exactly when a bank will
foreclose or write-off is difficult and could be dangerous to
your finances.
What's the bottom line to all of this? If you can't keep up
with your payments, go to the lender as soon as possible and
try to work out an easier payment schedule. Often they'd
rather lengthen a loan than have to write it off or go through
foreclosure.
Simply hoping that things will get better while you fall
behind is a sure way to hurt your credit score and perhaps end
up in legal troubles.
________________
Gary Foreman is a former financial planner who currently edits
The Dollar Stretcher website
You'll find hundreds of ways to stretch your day and your
dollar. Visit today!
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Beat Energy Costs: Insulation
by Janean Nusz
Reduce wasted energy and save money
Is your house insulated well? Ensuring that your house is
well-insulated is one of the fastest and most cost-effective
ways to reduce wasted energy and save money. Heating and
cooling consumes 50-70% of your energy usage, and unless you
have taken steps to make certain that your home is energy-
efficient, you could be wasting money needlessly. In most
cases, even a small amount of added insulation will
significantly reduce utility bills.
Are you unsure if your house has enough insulation? You may
need more insulation if:
- You have a house constructed before 1980, and you have not
added any insulation since you've lived in your home. Only a
small percentage of homes built before 1980 are insulated
correctly.
- You are hot in the summer and cold in the winter. When you
have correct insulation in your home, temperatures are more
uniform and do not fluctuate wildly. Correct insulation
increases home comfort levels and decreases utility usage.
- You pay high utility bills to heat and/or cool your home.
- You are constantly annoyed by outside noise. Insulation not
only helps keep a more constant temperature, it also assists
in muffling sound.
If you have any of these problems and decide that you need
more insulation, remember that a good insulating system not
only protects your home from outside temperatures, it also
protects against air leakage and helps to control moisture.
Another important fact to remember is that the amount of
energy you will save by having a well-insulated house will
depend on a variety of factors: your local climate; your
family's living habits; the efficiency of your heating/cooling
system; the fuel you use and the size and shape of your home.
Whether you insulate your home yourself, or hire a
professional, you will want to make sure your money is spent
wisely. After sealing off air leaks, remember to start
insulating at the top of your home and work down. Your attic
is a top priority. Insulate it at the recommended value (check
R-values, also called insulating power levels, to get the
recommended amount for your location) and be sure to insulate
the attic door. Insulate properly under floors and around
walls above unheated crawl spaces or basements, and around the
edges of unheated concrete slabs. For new construction, and
when remodeling or re-siding, always use the recommended level
of insulation for exterior walls.
Considering that utility costs across America rose a whopping
32% from 2004 to 2006, insulating your home should be a top
priority when looking for ways to save money on your energy
bills.
Take the Next Step:
- If you decide to do the installation yourself, please take a
look at this Insulation Fact Sheet
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Home Away from Home (Really!)
by Christine Karpinski
Nine reasons to go the vacation rental route the next time you
travel
Picture yourself and your family doing all the vacation-y
things that make you happy. Now, instead of returning at night
to a cramped, impersonal hotel room, envision yourself coming
home to a home. That's right. More and more people are
eschewing hotels in favor of vacation homes. For most people,
especially families with children, staying in a vacation home
is better in every way.
You may have assumed that it cost too much or maybe didn't
understand the logistics of finding the right place to stay.
But the Internet has changed everything. Not only is it
increasingly easy to find the perfect home, it's often less
expensive than getting a hotel room!
Figures back up that assertion. For instance, HomeAway
recently did a side-by-side comparison of two lodging options
in Orlando, Florida: a 228-square-foot King Room at the
Radisson Worldgate Resort (a popular three-star hotel) and a
1,700-square-foot private home with three bedrooms. For a
party of one to two adults staying seven nights, the hotel
room was slightly less expensive: $1003 vs. $1050 for the
vacation rental house. But when you add more guests, the
rental home becomes far more reasonable by comparison. While
its price stays the same no matter how many people stay there,
the hotel's price skyrockets: $1,746 for three to four
occupants and $2,619 for five to six occupants.
Price isn't everything, of course. There are many other
reasons to choose a vacation rental house (or condo or chalet
or cabin or villa or farmhouse) over a hotel. Here are a few
examples:
- There are plenty of vacation homes to choose from. More and
more people are realizing their dream of owning a second home
and renting it out when they're not using it. That's good news
for travelers like you. In fact, there's a vacation home
within a two-hour drive of most metropolitan areas in the U.S.
There are plenty of others in Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico,
and Central and South America as well.
You can find exactly what you're looking for no matter where
your vacation takes you. Even if you have to go to a small
town for, say, a relative's wedding, there's probably a
vacation home in the vicinity.
- The rental process is getting easier and more convenient.
Admittedly, it's not quite as simple to rent a vacation home
as it is to book a hotel room. You still have to deal directly
with the homeowner. Still, it's pretty easy. Homeowners are
becoming more consumer-friendly in their business practices.
Despite popular misconception, you don't always have to commit
to a week. Many homeowners will let you rent by the weekend or
even on a nightly basis, particularly during the off-season.
And while some of them still expect you to send them a
personal check, many others accept credit cards or PayPal.
- Vacation homes are more spacious and comfortable. You know
that crowded, slightly stir-crazy feeling you get in a hotel
room? It doesn't happen in a vacation home. In fact, I've
found that people who stay in private homes don't feel so
compelled to wear themselves out cramming in every touristy
activity in town.
- You can live like a local. When you stay in someone's home,
you get a more authentic experience. One big reason vacation
home renters get to "live like locals" is that most homeowners
love to provide their guests with helpful hints. They'll point
you to the best restaurants in town, the best hiking trails,
and the best bike rental places.
- You can cook and do laundry. If you're on a budget, both of
these factors can be huge benefits.
- If the weather's bad, there's more to do indoors. Most
vacation rental homeowners provide DVDs (along with the
electronic equipment to view them on), board games, playing
cards, and other family-friendly diversions. Also, more than
half of all rental properties now have Internet access. If it
pours down rain during your vacation, you'll appreciate these
kinds of thoughtful extras.
- Vacation homes provide more privacy for Mom and Dad. Let's
say you want to have some, ahem, adult time while you're on
vacation. There's nothing better than being able to put the
kids in a separate bedroom down the hall.
- You might even be able to bring Fido or Fluffy. Many
vacation property owners will accept pets, which makes their
homes especially attractive to families who can't bear to part
with their four-footed friends for a week.
Once you go the vacation home route, you probably won't go
back to hotels. Yes, it takes a little effort on your part and
you may have to contact several different owners before you
find the right home, but the results are definitely worth it.
Start planning your next vacation right now. When you're
relaxing in a comfortable home in a few months, you'll be glad
you made the effort.
____________________
Christine Karpinski is the author of "How to Rent Vacation
Properties by Owner: The Complete Guide to Buy, Manage,
Furnish, Rent, Maintain and Advertise Your Vacation Rental
Investment" and "Profit from Your Vacation Home Dream: The
Complete Guide to a Savvy Financial and Emotional Investment."
Her books, combined with her seminars, media appearances, and
Web site (HowToRentByOwner.com), have helped thousands of
people purchase and manage their vacation homes. Today she
serves as director of OwnerCommunity for HomeAway, Inc.
(HomeAway.com), the worldwide leader for vacation rentals on
the Internet. Each year, more than 50 million travelers visit
the HomeAway global marketplace that is comprised of more than
130,000 vacation rental homes across 100 countries.
Take the Next Step:
- Consider and compare what it will cost you to rent a
vacation home and more common vacation accommodations
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Can I Replace an O2 Sensor?
Ask Bob: The Auto Answer Man
Hi Bob,
I have been driving my 94 Caravan for about a year with the
check engine light coming on intermittently. The car generally
runs fine, but I have felt some hesitation once in a while.
Thinking the fuel injectors are dirty, every few weeks, I put
in a can of cleaner. I know it's probably a waste of money,
but I am a poor geologist and don't really want to bring the
car in for service since it'll be $500 dollars minimum!
I checked the error codes and get what I believe to be 12, 21,
55. In checking, it looks like 21 means the O2 sensor has
failed, and with gas prices so high, I want to fix it. Can I
do it myself?
Jeff in Portland, OR
Jeff,
If you can get to the rear spark plugs on that motor, then you
can change the oxygen sensor. It basically just screws into
the exhaust pipe somewhere between the engine and the
catalytic converter (some cars also have an extra one after
the catalyst as well). You will need a special 7/8" socket
made for oxygen sensors or a very long 7/8" wrench. Simply
unplug the wiring connector and unscrew the old oxygen sensor.
Then, screw in the new, making sure it's tight, as you don't
want it to leak. Plug in the wiring connector. Make sure that
the threads of the new sensor have some anti-seize on them.
Most come already coated.
Good Luck!
Drive Safely!
Bob, The Auto Answer Man
________________________
If you have a question for Bob, send it to
AskBob@stretcher.com. He's able to answer many of them
personally and we'll include the best questions in future
issues of The Dollar Stretcher.
===========================================================
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Tips, Quips, Quotes and Questions
*********
Can You Help This Reader?
*********
Single Mom
I am responding to the story Just Start at
that she has saved a lot of money by saving and holding on to
frugal things. But how do you do this when you are a single
parent and you make $8 per hour working 10 1/2 hours per day
six days per week? Thank you for your much-anticipated
responses.
Maria R.
Please send your answers mailto:CanYouHelp@stretcher.com with
"Single Mom" as the subject. We'll include the best solutions
in future issues.
*********
Yes, We Can Help This Reader
Home Hair Coloring
*********
I am a retired hairdresser and my advice is to use a semi-
permanent hair color. It will look like you have natural
highlights instead of dyed hair. Make sure you know the color
of your hair. Does it have a red tint, golden tint or neither?
When you look in the mirror at the top of you head, do you
have a reddish or golden shine? If neither, you need to go
with a natural brown. If you have a red hue, go with reddish
brown or cinnamon. With a golden hue, go with golden brown. Do
you have light, medium or dark brown hair? After that, you can
buy the right tone and shade of a semi-permanent color.
Depending on how much gray you have, you will probably only
have to color your hair once every two to three months.
Betty
more suggestions, including natural coloring, on how to color
your hair at home at
*********
Saving for Date Night
When using coupons, pay yourself the amount that was saved. I
put it in a "night out" fund, and once it accumulates enough,
my husband and I treat ourselves to a "real" date.
Mary in Saint Joseph, MO
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Handy Binders
I recently discovered the joy of three-ring binders. I now
have three that I keep on my kitchen bookshelf. One holds
recipes, one holds children's craft ideas, and one holds
exercise workouts. I found that I was buying and keeping
stacks of magazines until now. With an inexpensive binder, tab
dividers, and plastic sleeve protectors, I always have exactly
what I need and I don't have to purchase more magazines!
Janna
*********
Before Auto Inspection
Before getting your annual car inspection done, check your DMV
website for an inspection form or checklist. Look down the
list and check those items that you can, especially light
bulbs and the horn. A person can easily replace bulbs for much
less than a mechanic without charges for labor. This will save
you from a lot of headache or a last minute fix that will need
to be done in order to get your car passed.
Jane L
*********
What would you do with an extra $100? Last month Denise from
Juneau won a $100 check just for sending in a 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
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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
----------
Understanding Write-Offs and Foreclosures
by Gary Foreman
Understanding what they mean to you and your finances
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07mar12b.cfm
Celebrities Talk about Credit Cards
Stephen King, Sue Grafton and other best-selling authors show
their real-people side by sharing their credit card
experiences
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar06a.htm
Getting Student Loans after Bankruptcy
When you file for bankruptcy, you're still eligible for
government student loans, but not for private loans
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar06b.htm
How to Collect Court Judgments
You've gone to court. You've won a judgment. Unfortunately,
you're on your own to collect it. We tell you how
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar06c.htm
How to Collect Lawsuit Settlements
A settlement is easier to collect than a judgment, because the
other party has agreed to pay. But there can be delays
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar06d.htm
Fame & Fortune
The creator and star of "Assume the Position" Robert Wuhl says
he could have made far more money but he assumes this position
in life: Avoid debt, avoid the poorhouse
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar06e.htm
Mobile Banking: Coming to a Cell Phone near You
Many of the national banks are rolling out account access via
cell phone. Here's what you need to know before you sign up
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar02a.htm
Student Loan Forgiveness: Rare, but Possible
Student loan repayment is right behind death and taxes in
terms of unavoidability. But there are a few small loopholes
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar02b.htm
Money Makeover: Drowning in Credit Cards with No Way Out
Wendy's paying her bills, but lives paycheck to paycheck.
Meanwhile, card balances go up not down
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar01a.htm
4 Types of Credit Cards
Find the best card for your lifestyle from low-interest to
secured to reward to student
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07feb28a.htm
Free Financial Planning with No Strings Attached
Financial planners, who ordinarily may charge up to $150 an
hour, make their services available to just about anyone.
Here's how you can find one
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07feb28b.htm
Where to Find Free Financial Planning
These organizations plan seminars and events to bring
financial planners to the public
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07feb28c.htm
Target Funds: A Solution for Busy Boomers
Do you find investing too time-consuming? The mutual fund
industry has an answer: target-date funds. Just pick the year
you want to retire, and it periodically reallocates the risk
for you
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07feb28d.htm
Subprime Lenders Tighten Standards
If your credit is spotty, getting a mortgage has become
tougher. Lenders are tightening standards for loans to the 15
percent of potential borrowers who have the worst credit
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar01b.htm
New Job, New House, New to Investing
A young college graduate with ambitious plans to invest should
get an emergency fund before pouring every dime into
investments
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar06f.htm
Downshifting in Life Alters Investment Choices
Changing to a less-stressful but lower-paying job will require
saving hard and making some difficult retirement fund choices
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar05c.htm
Reducing Portfolio Risk before Retirement
As retirement nears, traditional advice says you need to
reduce the risk of portfolio loss. But going too far leaves
you open to the risk of purchasing-power loss from inflation
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar02c.htm
Rebuilding Credit after Bankruptcy
Get a secured credit card, keep your remaining loans current
and save, save, save
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar01c.htm
Your Family
-----------
Home Away from Home (Really!)
by Christine Karpinski
Nine reasons to go the vacation rental route the next time you
travel
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07mar12d.cfm
Your Home
---------
Beat Energy Costs: Insulation
by Janean Nusz
Reduce wasted energy and save money
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07mar12c.cfm
Princess Room on a Pauper's Budget
by Kathleen Wilson
Dress up your princess' digs for a fraction of the cost
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07mar12h.cfm
Which to Pay Down: 1st or 2nd Mortgage?
If you want to make an extra payment, and there are no
prepayment penalties to worry about, always pay down the loan
with the highest interest rate first
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07feb28e.htm
Subprime Lenders Tighten Standards
If your credit is spotty, getting a mortgage has become
tougher. Lenders are tightening standards for loans to the 15
percent of potential borrowers who have the worst credit
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar01b.htm
Your Auto
---------
Can I Replace an O2 Sensor?
Ask Bob: The Auto Answer Man
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07mar12e.cfm
Your Taxes
----------
Let Uncle Sam Help with Child Care
If you paid someone to care for a dependent so you could work,
a special tax credit could cut your IRS bill
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar06k.htm
Deducting Home Improvement Sales Tax Costs
It sounds like you qualify to add the sales tax for the
building materials you purchased last year to the table amount
for general purchases
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar06m.htm
Filing Your State Tax Returns
Most states collect income taxes, too. And most want them on
the same date your federal return is due
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar05d.htm
Deducting Student Loan Interest
Interest you're paying on a loan to help attend university
could also help cut your tax bill
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar05e.htm
An Easier Tax Way to Pay for School
Want help in paying $4,000 of your college costs? Then look no
further than your tax return
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar02g.htm
Taxes on Rental Activity Losses
What makes real estate distinct from other activities is that
it does not depreciate, but rather appreciates, and this is
considered profit
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar02h.htm
Let Uncle Sam Help Pay for Your Move
Americans have always been mobile, and the tax code encourages
that restlessness with a deduction for moving expenses
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar01e.htm
Noncustodial Dad Claims Child as Exemption
Regardless of your divorce decree, if your ex-wife did not
sign Form 8332, you have no right to claim your child as a
dependent
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar01f.htm
Bunch Your Tax Breaks
Do you always fall just short of enough expenses to itemize?
Set up a deduction bunching strategy so you don't waste your
tax-saving potential
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07feb28f.htm
Claiming Foreign Children as Dependents
To claim individuals, even children, as dependents, they have
to be citizens or residents of the U.S.
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07feb28g.htm
Everything Else
---------------
Turn Off Your Computer and Save $100
by Jeffrey Strain
Running your computer is pretty cheap, but...
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07mar12f.cfm
My Story: Emergency Supplies on the "Thrift"
contributed by Robin
Riding out the storm... and the aftermath
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07mar12g.cfm
Home Hair Coloring
Avoiding the horror stories
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07mar12a.cfm
When Is a Freebie Offer Really Free?
Rarely. Web sites offering free money or merchandise come with
many strings attached
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar05a.htm
Real Experiences with Freebie Offers
Readers share their real-life experiences at attempts to
procure free deals on the Web
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar05b.htm
Readers' Tips
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07mar12t.cfm
From Dave Ramsey
----------------
I Couldn't Say No
"I have made many unwise money choices because of my inability
to say NO! Here's the most memorable." Read Enid's story
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar06g.htm
I Paid a Lot for a Credit Report
Joan paid a good amount of cash because she didn't realize
that she could get her annual credit report for FREE. Don't
pay the same stupid tax!
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar06h.htm
Goodbye Joneses
Now debt-free and living free, Jonathan will never live like
the Joneses again. Check out his debt-free story
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar06j.htm
Credit Card Debt
Whether you worry about credit card debt or not, you still
need to get rid of it
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar02d.htm
We Consolidated 3 Times!
Think debt CONsolidation is good? Read this real-life story
first
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar02e.htm
It's Wonderful to Be Debt Free
Six months after beginning Financial Peace University, we're
completely out of debt! It is wonderful to be debt free. You
can be debt free, too!
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07mar02f.htm
If It's Too Good To Be True...
it probably is. That's what Clyde had to learn the hard way.
Don't fall for high-pressure sales pitches he did
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07feb29a.htm
===========================================================
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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