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The Dollar Stretcher
"Living Better...For Less"
May 21, 2007
Volume 12, Number 21
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"The Dollar Stretcher" and Dollar Stretcher, Inc. does not
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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
Battle of the Riches: Good vs. Evil.
by Janine Bolon
Which side is money on?
In The Dollar Stretcher Community
Cure for Chrematophobia
Have you got it? Do you do it? Will you solve it?
What Have You Got to Lose?
by Marianne Giullian
No cost weight loss
Protecting Your Credit and Debit Cards
by Gary Foreman
Safeguarding your plastic
Summer Event Savings
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Plan ahead to save under the summer sun
Tips, Quips, Quotes & Questions
On www.Stretcher.com This Week
===========================================================
Introduction
by Gary Foreman
gary@stretcher.com
Hello to all my Frugal Friends!
One part of my job that I really like is when I get to let you
know about a resource that will help you stretch your dollar.
Pat Veretto (who manages The Dollar Stretcher Community for
us) passed along this one. "A Frugal Living Blog by a Frugal
Guy"
"a good, down to earth attitude that I enjoy." After checking
it out, I'd have to agree. You might want to check it out
yourself.
All the Best!
Gary
===========================================================
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Battle of the Riches: Good vs. Evil.
by Janine Bolon
Which side is money on?
Why become wealthy? Believe it or not, I've actually been
asked this question by a student of mine! She totally did not
get why anyone would want to be wealthy. After asking her to
define what it was to be wealthy for the class I quickly
became aware that she had a mental block to becoming wealthy.
To her, "rich" people acquired their secure financial state by
abusing and crushing those around them to gain more and more
money.
With that sort of paradigm floating around in her head, is it
any wonder that this woman had problems saving money? She was
in continual battle with herself! She knew she needed money,
but anytime she had too high a savings account she would
"splurge" on some item and blow out her stash of cash so that
she was back to living paycheck to paycheck. Ouch! How painful
is that?
To my sadness, this student is not alone in her assessment of
"rich" people. Throughout my travels, classes and seminars I
find that roughly 45% of the people who are having problems
with money have to deal with this issue first before anything
else can happen! No, it is not your credit card debt that is
the problem, at least that isn't the core issue with your
financial scarcity.
The issue is much more basic then credit card debt. You have
not given yourself permission to become wealthy because you
haven't answered these questions for yourself:
1. Do you see money as good or evil?
2. Do you want to have more cash because you can use it to buy
things that you or people in your life need or want?
3. Are you afraid of having too much money because the only
people who seem to have lots of it are the folks who have done
something bad to get it?
These are some of the first questions you need to ask
yourself. If you see money as a necessary "evil," your ability
to find and save money, let alone use it wisely, will be
colored by your negative view of what it can do. Money is not
evil. Money is only a tool, like a hammer. You can use that
hammer the right way, to build a house for someone who needs
one. Or you can use it the wrong way, to smack someone on the
head. Either way, the hammer has no choice in how it is used.
Good or bad, right or wrong, the choice along with credit or
blame, belongs solely to the person who wields it.
The same is true for money. Money is a useful tool, a medium
of exchange that allows you to buy stuff you want. Money
spends, regardless of how you get it. The bucks from your
paycheck buy just as much as the cash you get from part-time
employment, or the coins you picked up in the parking lot. The
sales clerk and the shop owner don't care where you got the
money; it spends. The only "good" or "bad" in money is what
you bring to it.
If you think that money is "evil," take a minute to ask
yourself some questions.
1. Why do I believe that money is evil?
2. Is my view colored by how my parents handled cash?
3. Do my friends have money, and do they use it well?
Write your answers down on a piece of paper, and then read
them aloud to yourself. Why? Because as long as you believe
that money is "bad," you will not be able to make or keep much
of it. It is very important that you understand the battle in
your brain as you go about changing your thoughts on money. If
you want to keep money flowing in your life and working for
you, then define for yourself what type of wealthy person you
want to be.
Once you have a clear picture of the type of person you
envision yourself to be and how you will handle money, then
you can move toward creating it in your personal life. All it
takes is a bit of introspection and reworking your internal
definitions on what it means to be wealthy.
________________________
Janine Bolon is author of four books dealing with the
emotional side of money and offers a free bi-monthly
newsletter on her website. http://www.smartcentsinc.com
Take the Next Step:
- Get your favorite drink, find a comfortable spot and think
about how you feel about money
===========================================================
In The Dollar Stretcher Community
Cure for Chrematophobia
Have you got it? Do you do it? Will you solve it?
===========================================================
What Have You Got to Lose?
by Marianne Giullian
No cost weight loss
People spend so much money trying to lose weight. Instead of
taking responsibility and making their own choices, they pay
others to tell them what to do and what to eat. Losing weight
is very simple: when you eat too many calories, you gain
weight; when you eat less calories, you lose weight. Exercise
makes weight loss quicker. There are some things that you can
do by yourself to lose weight instead of paying others large
amounts of money.
1. Write down what you eat everyday. By recording what you
eat, you can see what you are doing well and what you need to
change. You may think twice about eating something if you have
to write it down.
2. Get a book that counts calories. Figure out how many
calories you need in a day and stick to it. If you need to
lose weight, eat 10 percent less calories than your body
needs. Many foods contain the calorie information on the
package they come in.
3. Drink a lot of water. Water doesn't cost money, doesn't
have calories and is good for you.
4. Exercise. Start gradually if you have not exercised for a
while. Check with your doctor before beginning an exercise
program.
5. Eat balanced meals. By writing down what you eat each day,
you can see if your meals are balanced or not. Make changes as
necessary.
6. Eat smaller portions if you like to snack, so you can eat
more frequently.
7. Avoid all you can eat buffets. Limit eating out or
eliminate it all together.
Losing weight is not a hard thing to do. All it takes is self-
discipline, desire and basic math to get you where you want.
You have to really want to succeed. With all the money you
save by not eating as much or paying for an expensive diet
plan, you can go buy new clothes for your new body!
Take the Next Step
- Decide whether you're committed to an exercise program, and,
if so, what you hope to gain by it
===========================================================
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Protecting Your Credit and Debit Cards
by Gary Foreman
Safeguarding your plastic
Recently, my husband and I had the displeasure of being ripped
off for $400 after eating out at a restaurant. The debit card
has now been closed and the bank is supposedly working on the
problem of getting our money back to us.
How can one eat out without being concerned that this can
happen again. Is there anyway to prevent it? We are very upset
and frustrated that someone ripped us off for this money and
also cannot afford this big of a loss. My husband is on Social
Security and is working part-time. What can we do, if
anything, to protect ourselves from this happening? We have
discussed buying gift cards to these restaurants, which is a
pain but would prevent what happened from happening again. Do
you have any other suggestions?
Cheryl
Cheryl and her husband are not alone. In a recent poll
card fraud was a major or moderate concern. And, they have
good reason to be concerned. The Federal Trade Commission
estimates there are $3 billion in fraudulent charges each
year.
Guess that shouldn't be surprising. We use our plastic a lot.
Visa and MasterCard estimate that we spend near $2 trillion
dollars using their cards each year. And, that doesn't include
the money we spend using Discover, American Express, store
cards, gas cards, etc.
So what happened to Cheryl and her husband? The most likely
scenario is that they gave their card to the server to pay for
the meal. While out of sight from Cheryl, either the server or
the cashier wrote down their card number and the verification
code on the back. Later, they used the numbers to make online
purchases where a physical credit card isn't required.
How can Cheryl and her husband prevent a reoccurrence? There
are things they can do to protect themselves. But, we'll find
that security comes with a price. The most effective tools are
also the ones that are most inconvenient. So Cheryl will need
to decide how much security she wants.
Cheryl is already using a debit card. The advantage is that
the crook can only spend what's in the account unlike a credit
card that can be used up to its credit limit.
Cheryl probably had the cost of the meal and another $400 in
the account that day. One way to limit the loss is to keep
less in the account. For instance, if there's only $100 in the
account no one can charge more than that using the debit card.
Of course, keeping a low balance means adding money to the
account every time you intend to use it. If she wants to try
this, Cheryl should talk to her bank about using online
banking to transfer money. She'll also need to know whether
the transferred money is available immediately or if she has
to wait overnight.
There are a couple of other ways to make using credit or debit
cards safer. One of the most effective is to not let the card
out of your sight. That way if someone is going to try to
steal your credit card number, they'll have to do it while
you're watching them. Chances are, they'll choose someone else
who is an easier target to rob.
Use a PIN number. She's probably already aware, but keep your
PIN number separate from your card.
Using gift cards probably wouldn't have made Cheryl any safer
than taking her debit card up to the cashier herself. You
still have someone you don't know handling your card.
One way to make sure no one steals your card number is to use
cash. You do run the risk of losing it or being mugged.
However, the good news is that you can't lose more than you
have in your pocket or purse.
There is, however, one additional risk for cash. Getting cash
from an ATM is not completely safe. Some smart criminals put
recording devices onto ATMs. They record your account and PIN
number for later use. So the safest way to get cash is to
visit the bank during normal business hours and deal with an
old fashioned, real live teller.
While losing $400 is nasty, it could have been much worse.
Cheryl should only be liable for the first $50 in fraudulent
charges. So the monetary damage is limited. It becomes a much
bigger problem if someone parlays her credit card number into
identity theft.
Undoing an identity theft can take hundreds of hours. It's
estimated that the time spent by the average ID theft victim
to get things straightened out is worth $16,000.
Cheryl is right to worry about safeguarding her credit
accounts. Not only are there more ways for crooks to use a
stolen credit card number, but also in the age of ID theft,
the damage inflicted can be substantial.
__________________
Gary Foreman is a former financial planner who currently edits
The Dollar Stretcher.com website and newsletters. Visit today!
You'll find hundreds of articles to help stretch your day and
your dollar.
Take the Next Step:
- Identify risks to your credit card that you can eliminate
===========================================================
Summer Event Savings
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Plan ahead to save under the summer sun
Summer's the time to enjoy the great weather at festivals,
fairs, carnivals and concerts. To get the most fun for your
funds, here are tips to save a bundle wherever the sun leads
your family:
Tickets sold from grocery stores and in advance often provide
great savings such as discounted prices and buy-one-get-one
deals. Check out the organizers' websites to find where you
can save. Ask your company's human resources department about
corporate discounts. Or perhaps you and a group of friends can
purchase a block of seats or swing a group rate because buying
tickets for a larger group often garners discounts. Tickets
good for more than one day or for the season can also save you
money if you plan to attend more than just one day. If you're
unsure, talk with people who've attended this event before to
see if it's worth it. Some events offer buy-one-get-one
tickets for a certain weekend. Don't automatically spring for
the best seats at the concert unless you're certain you want
to be that close to the stage. Most of the time, less
expensive, more distant seats work just fine.
Check the website of your local cultural centers for free-
admission events during the summer, which are scheduled to
lure more patrons during their slow months.
Food is usually one of the most expensive parts of attending
summer events. Check prices ahead of time with someone who has
attended before. Some fairs, such as the New York State Fair,
offer very reasonably-priced food. Other events, however, make
your wallet take a beating. If that's the case, eat a hearty
meal before heading out. Don't buy food at the first booth you
see. Scope out several to get a feel of where the bargains
are. Spoil your appetite by eating samples at vendor booths
(always easy to do at county and state fairs). Since part of
the fun of summer events is the food, buy only one or two
favorite treats. Bring along single-serving snacks such as
cereal bars and mini bags of M&M's and beverages that are
easier to tote than larger packages (unless you're allowed to
tailgate). Management at most venues at least allow you to
tailgate or picnic outside their facilities. If not, consider
leaving and re-entering for lunch and buying only beverages.
If possible, buy one that has free or discounted refills.
Remember, you'll likely want to drink more than eat on hot
days, and nothing quenches thirst like good old water. Freeze
bottles half full of water and top them off at home before you
go to ensure frosty drinks later.
Amenities represent another way hosts make extra money at
their events. For example, theme parks offer an all-day pass,
but the parachute jump is $40 extra. Decide ahead of time if
you plan on spending the extra money instead of making an
"impulse purchase." Usually, there's plenty to enjoy without
splurging for extras. By the time you ride every ride at the
amusement park, you may not want to spend more for yet another
ride.
Souvenirs make fun mementos of your outing but many carry a
price tag too big to warrant buying. Instead, take digital
photos of your adventure to put in a scrapbook with a program
and ticket stubs. Or, consider something you will really use
and won't just become additional clutter.
No matter where the summer fun takes you, plan ahead to save.
Take the Next Step:
- Find and plan to attend an event in the next two weeks
- Have fun!
===========================================================
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Tips, Quips, Quotes and Questions
*********
Can You Help This Reader?
*********
Cash Options
At the end of this year, I will have paid off a small personal
loan to which I have been making $100 monthly payments. When
that loan is paid, I have several choices as to where to put
that monthly payment. I could put it into my savings/emergency
account, where I am currently trying to save up three months'
worth of income (I am about 44% there). Or I could use it as
extra money to pay off my student loan (approximately $20,000
remaining at 5.875% fixed). Another option is to put it into
my employee deferred compensation program for retirement,
where I am currently contributing 5% of my gross income, pre-
tax (I would like to be at 10%). Finally, I could use it as
extra money towards my mortgage (approximately $40,000
remaining at 6.87% fixed). Which would be the best option?
D.W.
Please send your answers mailto:CanYouHelp@stretcher.com with
"Cash Options" as the subject. We'll include the best
solutions in future issues.
*********
Yes, We Can Help This Reader
Kitchen Lighting
*********
In remodeling our kitchen, my husband came up with a great
idea to provide ample lighting, while keeping the cost down.
He put in canned recessed lights in four sets of three lights.
One set is over the sink, one set is over the kitchen island
where food prep occurs, one set is over the counters and
stove, and one set is over the breakfast nook. We can have all
the lights on when we feel like we need bright lighting in the
kitchen (like when I'm preparing a meal), or we can have fewer
lights on when we are just eating or doing the dishes. It's
nice having the ability to light the kitchen brightly to read
recipes and see the texture of food cooking on the stove. It's
also a big money-savings to not have to have all the lights on
when they are not needed. You can easily swap out the
incandescent light bulbs for the more energy-efficient
fluorescent light bulbs in each of these recessed lights.
Jill in Santa Cruz, CA
more suggestions on kitchen lighting at
*********
Lost!
My son and daughter-in-law are traveling to Rome in a few
weeks and are allowed only one suitcase each. They are packing
half of her clothes and half of his clothes in each of the
suitcases just in case one is sent to some other airport.
They are also carrying a backpack for passports, a change of
underwear, their medications, and the rest of their pockets'
regular contents.
Hope O. in Charleston, SC
*********
Plant Protection
Next time you get to Wal-Mart, Lowe's or Home Depot to buy
your plants, ask them about their return policy on plants. It
is usually one to two years. When you buy your plants, take
them home and immediately put that receipt away. If the plants
die within that time period for some reason, you will know
just where to go to get that receipt and get your money back.
Janice M. in Mount Vernon, WA
*********
Coordinating Colors
Do you need to decorate your home on a shoestring budget? The
best tip I learned about decorating was that if you use a
color in a room, be sure to use it in three places to make the
room feel pulled together. You can use paint on picture
matting to match all the framed artwork in the room. Better
yet, find a unique fine print fabric to cover the mats.
At Goodwill or the Salvation Army, watch for the half-price
tags on good quality used sheets or blankets, and use these to
make new pillow covers. Search the Internet for the color-
wheel to choose colors that go well together, and then watch
for fabrics that are on the palette you choose. You can easily
stitch new curtains and decorate old lampshades too with a
glue gun and strips of pretty rickrack or beads. I have found
many delicate hand-stitched linens at these stores, and have
baskets of candles and linens that look rich and homey. Pick
up bottles and vases for next to nothing in the colors you
love, and show them in collections. Baskets can be purchased
for as little as 25 cents, and either cleaned or spray-painted
and filled with the things you love.
The goal for used items is that they match a color on your
palette, match the type of decorations you want in your home,
or match a gift idea. You can always donate it back if it
doesn't work out, or sell it on eBay.
Patricia P.
*********
What would you do with an extra $100? Last month Doris from
Acworth, GA 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
===========================================================
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
Special Retirement Section
--------------------------
Vanishing Retiree Health Care Insurance
Don't believe everything you're told, even if you have it in
writing, especially where post-retirement health insurance is
concerned
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may14b.htm
Saving Strategies for the Over-50 Crowd
It's not time to give up, but rather gear up, if you've
neglected retirement savings. The federal tax rules help you
catch up
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may11b.htm
Status on America's Retirement
Workers are taking steps to ensure a secure future, but they
need to make bigger strides
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may10c.htm
9 Ways to Stretch Your Retirement Dollars
Common-sense strategies to stave off poverty in your golden
years
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may09b.htm
Work Till You Die?
Bankrate polled Americans to gauge retirement attitudes and
how people are saving for retirement
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may09c.htm
Your Money
----------
Battle of the Riches: Good vs. Evil
by Janine Bolon
Which side is money on?
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07may21b.cfm
Protecting Your Credit and Debit Cards
by Gary Foreman
Safeguarding your plastic
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07may21d.cfm
5 Frugal Tips for 20-Somethings
Learn how to save money when you're practically broke by
developing thrifty habits
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may15a.htm
5 Frugal Tips for 30-Somethings
Saving money is hard to do when you have a new family, a new
car and/or a new house. Consider these suggestions for
stretching your budget
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may15b.htm
Surviving the Sandwich Years
The wealthiest seniors can afford the high costs of aging, and
those with few assets qualify for Medicaid. But for seniors in
the middle class, families often have to step in and help
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may15c.htm
Job Loss' Silver Lining: A Better Bankruptcy
Those forced to file a repayment-style bankruptcy because they
make too much money can qualify for debt dismissal if family
income goes down
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may15e.htm
College Money Guru
No tax perk if 529 money pays student loan
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may14c.htm
He's in Iraq, She's Racking Up Debt
A man whose wife ran up a $23,000 credit card bill while he
was overseas has a big problem, but two federal laws give
soldiers extra tools for dealing with debt, says the Debt
Adviser.
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may11c.htm
Live Rich, Die Broke, Forget Retirement
"Die Broke" author Stephen Pollan shares his unique spin on
estate planning and wealth management
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may10b.htm
Translating the FOMC Statement
We explain what the Fed's rate-setting committee meant in its
post-meeting statement
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may10d.htm
Fed Creates New Winners, Losers
Here's how the Fed's announcement affects both borrowers and
savers
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may10e.htm
Overspending? Try a 7-Day Money Challenge
All it takes is a small notepad and a bit of determination
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may09a.htm
Invest Your Assets
You don't need professional help. All you need is a recipe
with index funds as ingredients for portfolio pie
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may09d.htm
Best Cards for Foreign Travel
Check the best credit and debit cards to use on vacation
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may14d.htm
What to Do with Inherited Savings Bonds
You can't just look at the bonds in isolation from the rest of
your portfolio
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may11d.htm
Reacting to Possible Credit Fraud
You should put a credit freeze on if your state allows it
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may10f.htm
Have 1st and 2nd Mortgage, but Need Cash
If you have enough equity, your choices include a cash-out
refi or a home equity line of credit. Each has advantages
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may09e.htm
Your Family
-----------
Summer Event Savings
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Plan ahead to save under the summer sun
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07may21e.cfm
The Quest to Find Cheap Food for Baby
by Amy Allen Clark
Feeding baby healthy foods on the cheap
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07may21g.cfm
Your Home
---------
Updated Kitchen Lighting
What works best in your kitchen?
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07may21a.cfm
Designing Your Perfect New Bath
Revamping your bathroom should be first an exercise in
practicality, then style. Here's how to decide what kind of
bath you want, then the best ways to achieve the total look
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may15d.htm
A Bad Contractor Can Ruin Your Plans
Check out the person you're considering hiring before you sign
anything
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may14a.htm
How Much Is Too Much on Home Improvements?
Crossing any item off that wish list comes at a cost. As
projects snowball (as they all seem to do) you may start to
wonder if it's all worth it
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may11a.htm
Scammers Hurt Government Rehab Programs
Getting a grant from the government to fix up your home is not
impossible, but scam artists often divert money away from
rightful recipients
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may10a.htm
Should Car Accident Affect Homeowners Insurance?
Companies can decide how they determine risk
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may15f.htm
Your Career or Small Business
-----------------------------
My Story: One Person's Trash is Another's Treasure
contributed by Donna Napolitan
This enterprising woman turned a discarded wine crate into a
small successful side business
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07may21h.cfm
Your Food
---------
The Quest to Find Cheap Food for Baby
by Amy Allen Clark
Feeding baby healthy foods on the cheap
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07may21g.cfm
Your Auto
---------
Should Car Accident Affect Homeowners Insurance?
Companies can decide how they determine risk
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may15f.htm
Your Taxes
----------
Contributing to Roth IRA after Retirement
Unlike with a traditional IRA, you can continue to contribute
to a Roth IRA at any age
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may15m.htm
Who Pays the Gift Tax?
There is a lifetime exclusion on up to $1 million in taxable
gifts so that no actual gift tax is paid until this threshold
is reached
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may11e.htm
Cost of Shares in Demutualized Company
If you were a policyholder of a mutual company that went
public, you may have received either stock or cash in exchange
for your equity interest in the company
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may09f.htm
Everything Else
---------------
What Have You Got to Lose?
by Marianne Giullian
No cost weight loss
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07may21c.cfm
Living Seasonally
by Pamela Parks
Bringing out each season's fullest potential
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07may21f.cfm
Readers' Tips
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07may21t.cfm
From Dave Ramsey
----------------
College Student Wants to Invest
Andrea is about to graduate. Should she start investing now?
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may15g.htm
Rebuilding After Bankruptcy
Kim and her husband are in Chapter 13. How do they make things
right?
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may15h.htm
20 Years to Pay Off 3 Months of My Salary??
There's another phrase for this stupidity: it's called paying
the minimum on your Stafford federal student loans
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may15j.htm
Negotiating and Bargaining
Dave gives some great advice on getting a deal
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may15k.htm
Students and Identity Theft
Find out why college kids are a prime target for identity
theft
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may10g.htm
Bad Choice
Melissa cosigned for someone on an apartment lease, and guess
what? She was left with the bill
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may10h.htm
Constant Refinancing
I realized the constant refinancing to stay out of debt was
not working. I had to change my behavior... and fast!
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may10j.htm
We're Debt Free
Our friends are more impressed with our accomplishment than
they ever were with things we bought on credit
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may10k.htm
Mom Has No Insurance
Tony's dad just passed on. How can he help his mother?
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07may10m.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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