Back to newsletter listDate:
Sun, August 12, 2007 09:00:01 PMFrom:
editor@stretcher.com
Subject:
8/13/07: The Dollar Stretcher
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The Dollar Stretcher
"Living Better...For Less"
August 13, 2007
Volume 12, Number 33
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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.
===========================================================
In This Issue:
Introduction
Windfalls: Bonus or Bust
by Annette and Steve Economides
Design a plan to deal with any excess that comes your way
In The Dollar Stretcher Community
Our Disposable Society
The Anti-Diet Lifestyle
by Midori Barizo
The free diet plan the diet industry doesn't want you to know
about
Canning Basics
by Pat Veretto
It's one of the easiest ways to preserve food once you know
some basic rules
Perspectives
by Gary Foreman
How you look at your situation could make all the difference
Tips, Quips, Quotes & Questions
On www.Stretcher.com This Week
===========================================================
Introduction
by Gary Foreman
gary@stretcher.com
Hello to all my Frugal Friends!
Got a question for you this week. As many of you know, we
began The Dollar Stretcher Community a few months ago. We were
blessed to have Pat Veretto oversee them for us. She has years
of experience and does a wonderful job. She and I were having
a discussion the other day about what people would want us to
add/change/improve in the Community. We each had ideas, but
both thought that the best way to find out was to ask you
directly. So that's what we're doing! Here's the question:
What would you most like to see in the Dollar Stretcher
Community? You can post your comments and see what others are
saying at
or send mailto:Community@stretcher.com and tell us what you
think.
All the Best!
Gary
===========================================================
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Windfalls: Bonus or Bust
by Annette and Steve Economides
Design a plan to deal with any excess that comes your way
Have you ever dreamed that a rich, distant relative died and
left you a fortune? Of course, you know exactly what you would
do with all the money. Maybe you'd buy a new house, gifts for
the relatives, a major vacation around the world, and maybe
you'd even take part in a little charitable giving. Despite
the unlikelihood of this type of situation, smaller "fortunes"
on which we fail to capitalize, come our way on a regular
basis.
Think about tax refunds, cash birthday gifts, overtime pay,
bonuses, garage sale proceeds, and overcharges in your impound
account. These additional funds aren't dreams, but financial
"prizes" that can help you reach goals faster or throw you
into depression if they are squandered or have to be used to
catch up on bills.
We're talking about windfalls. If you take a walk through last
year's checkbook register, you'll find them sitting there,
those wonderful little unexpected bonuses. If you're like most
of us, they evaporated, absorbed into the abyss of everyday
living and bill paying.
Years ago, we decided to stop letting the windfalls evaporate.
We designed a plan to deal with any excess, large or small,
which came our way. But before we get into the specifics,
we've got to define how to tell when you truly have excess.
Planned Spending
We've always had a spending plan. It's similar to a cash
envelope system, except that we track our spending plan on
paper while all the money actually resides in the bank. We
have nineteen different account sheets to cover expenses such
as utilities, food, pets and gifts. The balance in all the
accounts, added together, equals the total in our checkbook.
When we want to make a purchase, instead of consulting the
larger balance of our checkbook, we review the smaller balance
on the corresponding account sheet. If the money is there, we
buy. If not, we wait.
When we were paying off our first house, this was the plan we
used. Any excess would be divided into three categories: one-
third to an extra house payment; one-third to charitable
giving; one-third to special projects like buying stuff we
wanted and having fun. Through the application of this
percentage plan, we paid our house off in nine years. What a
great feeling!
What might your plan look like? It's different for every
family. Consider the following if you're liquidating debt:
60% to liquidating your smallest debt
20% to save (emergency funds to keep from using credit)
10% to charitable giving
10% to enjoy
Are you out of debt and paying off your house? Try the
following:
30% to additional principal
30% to save (emergency funds or retirement savings)
20% to house projects
10% to charitable giving
10% to enjoy
No matter what the amount, windfalls will come your way. Be
prepared by having a spending plan and a windfall plan. Then
enjoy the bonus of reaching goals and laughing all the way to
the bank.
___________________________
Steve and Annette Economides are authors of "America's
Cheapest Family Gets You Right On the Money" (A New York Times
Best Seller) published by Random House 2007. The also publish
the HomeEconomiser newsletter six times each year. For more
information and a lot of free money saving ideas, visit
Take the Next Step:
Decide now how you'll divide your next windfall
===========================================================
In The Dollar Stretcher Community
Our Disposable Society
So many products are made to be used once, then thrown out.
You throw out your money along with the product.
===========================================================
The Anti-Diet Lifestyle
by Midori Barizo
The free diet plan the diet industry doesn't want you to know
about
If my experience is similar to the majority of people who have
tried to lose weight with diet books, pills, powders, custom
meals, protein bars and other items promoted by the billion
dollar weight-loss industry, I am not alone in having lost a
lot of money in the process instead of a lot of weight. I have
been on that search for the secret to losing weight since I
was 13. Finally, at 25, I found that secret, and it didn't
require any extra money. It didn't even involve a diet! Where
did people even get the idea that the solution to losing
weight is to get on a diet? A Poll of over 2,000 adults
conducted by Health on the Net Foundation revealed that 65
percent of those who tried to diet or control their weight
through a program failed in their attempt. People are fed up
and want stop spending money on diet food, low-carb bars,
heart-racing pills, lean cuisine, low-cal munchies, Jenny
Craig, NutriSystem, and Weight Watchers but still lose weight.
First of all, all diets work. The problem is that they all
work, until you stop. Unless people are willing to commit to a
specific diet or program for the rest of their lives, they
will always feel like the diet "failed." Because a diet
suggests deprivation, restrictions and control, it's hard to
commit to them for life. The solution may seem overly
simplistic, but it works. People must learn to listen to the
body's natural weight management system: hunger and fullness.
The diet industry makes billions of dollars promoting
solutions that don't last. Fortunately, the secret is out.
Physiological hunger tells people when to eat, and fullness,
not "unbutton your top button" stuffed, but being satisfied,
tells them when to stop.
People have to understand that they didn't gain weight because
they weren't on a diet or they weren't eating diet foods; they
gained weight because they regularly ate food for reasons
other than hunger and stopped beyond their comfort level. They
ate when they were not hungry and they kept on eating after
the point of nourishment. Excess food equals excess weight,
and that excess is because people eat for reasons other than
to nourish their bodies.
Food is fundamentally for survival. However, instead of making
nourishment the primary goal, people eat to feed their
emotions or to satisfy their taste buds. How many people grab
food without even a second thought as to whether or not they
are hungry? It's there, so they eat it. And when they eat,
they overeat. People eat to escape and distract themselves.
They eat to socialize and celebrate.
One major fallacy promoted by the diet industry is that
specific foods are "bad" while others are "good." Although
some foods are healthier and more nourishing, for the purpose
of weight-loss, food quality or lack thereof does not cause
weight gain. The culprit is the quantity of food. No one item
of food causes someone to gain weight. Natalie Martin, a
physician's assistant, created a body image seminar with her
friend, Cynthia Culver. The seminar was entitled, "When it
comes to body image, the question isn't 'What are you eating?'
but 'What's eating you?'" She makes this bold statement: One
could eat only cheesecake to hunger and fullness and never
gain weight or they could overeat grilled chicken salad, no
dressing and gain weight. Her point? No food is "bad." Food is
neutral. Even cheesecake is not "bad." Overeating of anything
will cause someone to gain weight, even if it's overeating
fruits and vegetables. Martin and Culver both suffered from
compulsive overeating until their discovery of the hunger and
fullness method. Now they have been able to maintain their
weight-loss of over 30 pounds for over four years without
spending a dime on a diet or diet foods. This internally
controlled weight management system (hunger and fullness) has
also been dubbed "normal eating," "non-dieting," and
"intuitive eating."
Another promoter of this lifestyle is Linda Moran who authors
the Non-Dieting web log. She is also linked with Diet
Survivors, a monthly newsletter by Betterway Press, that
encourages people to listen to the internal cues of hunger and
fullness and get out of the trap of dieting.
As mentioned before, all diets work, but people can't maintain
them for life. What works is a lifestyle change. Listening to
the internal cues of hunger and fullness instead of relying on
external rules and restrictions will bring people to their
proper body weight, the weight where their body functions
optimally. So forget all the pills, powders, chalky protein
bars, diet books, and everything else promoted by the multi-
billion dollar weight-loss industry. The secret is out. Now
you can save money and lose weight!
________________________
Midori is a freelance writer who travels between San Antonio
and the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex area with her Great
Dane/Lab, Dante.
Take the Next Step:
Review your diet history and decide if an 'un-diet' is for you
===========================================================
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Canning Basics
by Pat Veretto
It's one of the easiest ways to preserve food once you know
some basic rules
Tomatoes, green beans, corn, stew, sauce, jelly, pie
filling... you name it, you can can it. Can meat; it's cheaper
to store than operating a freezer. Can spaghetti sauce or
chili or pie filling when the ingredients are cheap. Can
vegetables, of course.
If you've never canned before, or need more confidence, now's
the time! It's one of the easiest ways to preserve food once
you know some basic rules.
Canning involves putting food into jars, heating them and
holding them at a temperature high enough and long enough to
kill microorganisms. Air is driven out of the jar and a vacuum
seal is formed, keeping the food safe.
You will need:
- Jars
- Lids and Rings
- Miscel***ous kitchen tools*
- Canner, either a boiling water bath or a pressure cooker
type
*Miscel***ous kitchen tools include:
- butter knife
- damp cloth
- jar lifter or sturdy tongs
- large kettle
- small pot for heating lids and rings
- larger pot for heating jars
- Jars
They don't have to be new; look at garage sales and thrift
stores. Check rims for nicks or bumps by running a finger
around them lightly. If there is any unevenness, the jars
won't seal.
It's an unending discussion as to whether you should use jars
that contained mayonnaise or other prepared products, so I'll
give you the facts and you can decide for yourself.
These jars are generally thin walled in comparison to jars
made for home canning and will break more easily. Standard
rings and lids won't fit all of them. However, most of them
that look as if they will fit, do. If you decide to try them,
check carefully for unevenness on the rim, as they're not held
to the same standards as jars created especially for home
canners.
Since these jars are basically free, the loss of a jar is no
big deal, but the food in them might be. If you have a flood
of tomatoes and don't know what to do with them, it might be
worth taking a chance, but if you have precious few and really
want or need to keep all you can, go the extra mile and get
jars that will stand up to heat and temperature changes.
They're an investment that will last a long time.
Jars must be as sterile as possible. Wash thoroughly with soap
and hot water, rinse and put them in very hot water. It used
to be recommended that you boil them for 10 minutes before
beginning, but that's no longer considered necessary, since
the boiling water bath or the pressure canner will do the same
job. Be sure to keep them very hot throughout the process,
though.
Lids and Rings
Always buy new lids. It isn't safe to reuse them, as the
gasket material isn't flexible enough to seal twice. Lids can
be bought inexpensively in packages of a dozen each. Rings can
be used again as long as they're not rusty, but if they're
showing signs of rust, or if they're out of round, buy new
ones.
Both lids and rings must be hot before using them on the jars.
Put them in very hot (not boiling) water before you begin to
fill the jars. Give them time to heat through.
Miscel***ous Tools
Tongs are indispensable as tools to lift lids and rings from
hot water. You can use any kind, but the ones with soft
covering on the ends work best. A magnet on a long handle
works for lids, but can be awkward for rings. You can also tie
a small magnet to the end of a large mixing spoon handle for
this.
Lint free cloths must be used to wipe the top of the jar from
spills before seating the lid. Dampen the cloth and rinse in
warm water occasionally while you're working.
Racks usually come with regular canners of either kind, but if
for some reason you don't have one, put a towel in the bottom
of the canner. It won't keep jars from hitting each other, but
it will keep them from bouncing against the bottom of the
canner and perhaps save you a jar or two. Space the jars
evenly in the pot, not touching.
If you don't have a rack that you can lift from the water for
your boiling water canner, look for a jar lifter, which is a
tool that is simply a wide curving tong which will fit around
a jar and lift it.
You'll also need a towel placed on a table in an out of the
way, draft free area on which to set the jars until they seal.
Don't move them for 24 hours, unless you can see that they
didn't seal, then you need to refrigerate them.
When a lid seals, it will often make a popping sound. It will
always indent. If a lid doesn't sink inwards, it hasn't
sealed. Give all of your jars at least an hour to seal, but be
sure to check them closely after that. If they don't seal,
refrigerate the food and use as soon as possible.
Be sure to follow the exact recipes and instructions for each
food you can. Ball Blue Book of Canning is the recognized
authority. You can find it in most libraries, but if you're
going to can much at all, it's worth having your own copy.
________________________
Pat Veretto is a work at home grandmother who has homesteaded,
homeschooled and happily lived frugally most of her life. She
currently freelances and is the moderator of The Dollar
Stretcher Community at http://community.stretcher.com/forums/
Take the Next Step:
- Decide what you'd like to can first and what equipment
you'll need
- Check out some canning recipes at recipezaar.com
===========================================================
Perspectives
by Gary Foreman
How you look at your situation could make all the difference
The other day I was sitting in the courtyard of a tall hotel
building. I happened to notice how small some palm trees
appeared against the building. Then it occurred to me that I
had similar sized palm trees in my yard. And compared to my
split-level home they appeared huge. The difference? It's all
a matter of perspective.
Our finances are also often a matter of perspective. Whether
$500 is a lot or a little depends on what we compare it to. So
let's take a look at some situations where our perceptions
could have a big impact on our bank account.
We'll begin with something very familiar, our homes. According
to the National Association of Homebuilders, the average home
size in the U.S. in 2004 was 2,330 square feet. That was up
from 1,400 square feet in 1970. So is your home large or
small?
If you have a 1,900 square foot home, you might compare it to
your friends and think that you're really quite cramped. In
fact, it might be very important to you to find something
bigger. Even if it means higher mortgage payments, insurance
costs, utility bills and additional upkeep. Moving to a larger
home could have a major impact on your budget and your bank
account. But, if your friends' homes are the comparison,
you'll probably talk yourself into moving.
On the other hand, if you compare your home to the one you
grew up in, it probably seems spacious. No need to move to a
bigger home. Just a matter of controlling how much stuff you
try to cram under your roof. The savings could be significant.
Not to mention the peace of mind. It's all just a matter of
perspective.
Or let's try car payments. Suppose that you have a car payment
of $400 per month. That doesn't seem like much, especially
when you compare it to your neighbor's payment of nearly $650.
And, it sure is nice having a nearly new car in the driveway
for everyone to see. After all, you wouldn't want them to
think that you couldn't afford a new car because you can
handle those payments with no problem.
Of course, if you should happen to lose your job, that $400 a
month payment will suddenly look like a huge mountain. Trying
to live on unemployment is hard enough when there's only the
mortgage and food to consider, but that car payment is going
to make things very difficult. From this vantage point, it
looks like a big problem.
Here's another one. Two thirds of college graduates had
student loans. And students with loans had an average debt of
over $19,000 at graduation (source: National Center for
Education Statistics). Depending on the type of loan, the
monthly payment will run $200 a month or slightly more. So is
that a large debt for a college grad?
Depends on how you look at it. The U.S. Dept. of Commerce
estimates that a college grad will earn about $23,000 more per
year than someone with a high school diploma. So in those
terms, a $19,000 debt doesn't seem so big. In fact, it might
even seem cheap.
But, let's take another look. The first thing to note is that
the difference in earnings for college grads is an average
over their entire career. So they'll probably average less
their first job out of college.
What can current grads expect to be paid? That depends a lot
on the job. So we'll select something that's fairly typical.
The average business administration grad can expect to earn
about $38,000 a year (source: National Association of Colleges
and Employers). Depending on state taxes and some other
deductions, he'll take home about $2,400 per month.
That would mean that 5% of his take home pay is going to repay
student loans. Now the debt seems a little bit bigger. Let's
further suppose that our graduate wants to replace the beater
he drove through school. Add a car payment to the mix and the
budget starts getting pretty tight. Once again, we have a
different perspective on the same situation.
Why is all this important? Many of us make financial decisions
based on how we "feel" about a situation. Those feelings are
very much affected by what we're comparing to our potential
financial transaction. Unfortunately, sometimes we focus on
that first perspective and don't consider any others.
It's important to our financial well-being that we get more
than one comparison on any major financial decision. Let's
give our feelings and our intellect a chance to see both sides
of our potential choices. We'll be much more likely to make a
decision that is comfortable in the future.
So how tall is that tree? It all depends on what it's standing
next to.
___________
Gary Foreman is a former financial planner who currently edits
The Dollar Stretcher.com website. You'll find hundreds of ways
to "live better...for less". Visit today!
Take the Next Step:
Take some time to get perspective on your own family's needs
===========================================================
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===========================================================
Tips, Quips, Quotes and Questions
*********
Can You Help This Reader?
*********
Updating Kitchen Cabinets
I want to redo my kitchen cabinets, but they are made of
paneling to match my walls. The house was built in 1964. What
do you suggest?
Thanks,
Janet
Please send your answers mailto:CanYouHelp@stretcher.com with
"Kitchen Cabinets" as the subject. We'll include the best
solutions in future issues.
*********
Yes, We Can Help This Reader
Making Compact Florescent Bulbs Work
*********
Having used CF bulbs for a number of years, the brightness
often does not seem to be comparable to incandescent bulbs of
the same wattage. There are several strategies to reduce or
solve this problem.
One thing to look at is the "color" of the bulb. Incandescent
bulbs have a yellow cast, close in color to sunlight. CF bulbs
can range in color from white to blue to near daylight.
Picking daylight colored lights is helpful. Also, CF light is
more diffuse and does not appear as "bright" as incandescent
light.
In areas where brightness is critical (a sewing room, for
example) increasing the "wattage" on the light bulb can make a
substantial difference. Since a 150-watt equivalent bulb only
uses about 40 watts, it supplies much more light than a 100-
watt incandescent bulb and still uses less electricity.
One thing that is initially disconcerting for those who are
accustomed to the instant light of incandescent lights is the
momentary pause between flipping the switch and having the
light go on. With a little time, this becomes "normal."
With the improved designs of CF bulbs, it is now possible and
economically feasible to place CF bulbs in sites where they
are frequently turned on and off. Also, CF bulbs have come
down in price. Buying them in packs of three to eight
substantially reduces the per unit price.
Also, some CF bulbs are made to be used oriented in only one
direction (like in a table lamp, not inverted in a ceiling
fixture). Failing to follow the orientation directions will
substantially affect the life of the bulb. In my experience,
name brand bulbs from companies like Phillips, GE, etc. seem
to last longer and give better service.
Joseph
more suggestions on how to get the most out of Compact
Florescent bulbs at
*********
Knowing Meat
I work in the meat and seafood departments of a small grocery
chain. I have learned a lot in my 1 1/2 years there.
1) A porterhouse steak is a New York strip and fillet mignon
joined by a t-bone shaped bone. A t-bone and porterhouse are
cut from the same loin, just the porterhouse has more
tenderloin on the fillet side than the t-bone does.
2) The way the meat is cut or aged does matter. If the meat
isn't cut at the right angle, that can make all the
difference. Get your meat cut by a professionally trained
person that really knows what's good and how to select and cut
it properly.
3) Freshly cut steaks are not as flavorful and tender as those
that are aged.
Christine from Tennessee
*********
D-I-Y Auto A/C
When the A/C in our car blew warm air in 90-degree weather,
the shop wanted $80 to recharge it. OUCH! We bought a $20 can
of recharge from an auto parts store and did it on our own.
Following directions will save you serious cash.
Lisa
*********
More on "Whining"
I'd like to add that when I write my "Fine Whining" letters, I
splurge a little and send the "whine letter" to the company
via certified mail. Sometimes I choose the Return Receipt
Requested option. I find this gets the attention of the "big
wig" even more!
CL in Manahawkin, NJ
*********
What would you do with an extra $100? Last month Barb from
Wallingford, CT 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
Your Money
----------
Windfalls: Bonus or Bust
by Annette and Steve Economides
Design a plan to deal with any excess that comes your way
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/aug13b.cfm
Perspectives
by Gary Foreman
How you look at your situation could make all the difference
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/aug13e.cfm
The Four Terrible Money Mistakes We Make With Our Kids
courtesy of MyMint.com
Teaching children to become financially responsible adults
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/aug13f.cfm
Checking Short-Term Savings Options
The best choice is probably a money market account or mutual
fund
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug02g.htm
Late Pays Hurt Credit Score
Paying on time for a while will rebuild your score
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug01c.htm
Will You Kick Back or Sweat Out Retirement?
The news is mixed, but mostly not good. Americans, and boomers
in particular, need to inject their retirement plans with
steroids
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug02f.htm
Lucky 13 Savings Strategies
Following these tips can help you get in control of your
finances
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug01a.htm
College Saving Options for Everyone
Compare the benefits and tax consequences of savings bonds and
custodial accounts
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug01b.htm
Newfound Wealth Brings Anxiety
You definitely need to hire a financial adviser
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug07f.htm
Women Trail Men in Saving
Experts sound off about the results of our latest poll on
emergency savings and why women are worse off than men
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug02a.htm
Who Should Manage Your Money?
Banks are creating new levels of service to serve the mass
affluent market. As your net worth increases should you hand
it over to a bank to invest or are you better off with a
traditional brokerage firm?
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug03b.htm
Building Up an Emergency Cushion
This single mom needs to direct her savings more efficiently
to investments that better serve her needs
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug03c.htm
Making Money Real to You
Use these tips to translate your financial plans from abstract
concepts into concrete routines
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug07a.htm
Boyfriend's Credit Won't Affect Yours
But make sure you don't co-sign anything for him
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug07c.htm
Fame & Fortune
When it comes to comedy and finances Lisa Lampanelli the
"loveable queen of mean" is strictly old school
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug07e.htm
28 Ways to Save for an Emergency Fund
Slash your spending and free up cash by following these money-
saving tips
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug06a.htm
Different States, Different 529 Plan Rules
Most important on the rules in the state where you live
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug06c.htm
Your Family
-----------
The Four Terrible Money Mistakes We Make With Our Kids
courtesy of MyMint.com
Teaching children to become financially responsible adults
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/aug13f.cfm
Save on Back-to-School Shopping
Tax holidays lead the way for being thrifty while getting the
kids ready for school
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug02d.htm
4 Money Lessons for Kids
As a parent, if you can school your kids on these key fiscal
facts, they'll have a good foundation for sound money
management
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug07b.htm
Your Home
---------
Compact Florescent Lights
They may be green, but do they provide enough light?
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/aug13a.cfm
Dorm Room Decorating Ideas
by Rachel Paxton
Give your dorm room a new look that both your roommate and you
will love
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/aug13g.cfm
Make Your Own Laundry Soap
by Lisa Vitello
Laundry soap that is very easy, economical and safe to make
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/aug13h.cfm
Looking at a Mortgage Recast
It can be used to bring down your payments by prepaying
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug03e.htm
Financing Renovations with Credit Cards
A construction loan would have been a better choice
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug06d.htm
20 Things That Affect a Home's Value
Some improvements significantly increase the price of the
home; others are worth little. Be smart in this buyer's market
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug02e.htm
Your Career or Small Business
-----------------------------
Don't Let Your Resume Get Stale
In today's fast-moving job market, it's good to be ready to
apply for a job
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug03d.htm
Top Five Jobs by Education Level
See the fastest-growing jobs for those with professional,
doctoral, master's, bachelor's and associate degrees
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug07d.htm
Your Food
---------
Canning Basics
by Pat Veretto
It's one of the easiest ways to preserve food once you know
some basic rules
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/aug13d.cfm
Your Auto
---------
2007 New Car Guide
The automotive times, they are a-changing. Follow the trends
from smaller cars and hybrids to the burgeoning desire among
Americans to "go green"
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug02b.htm
Find the Right Car for You
Can't decide on a new car? Follow this interactive guide and
identify your best choices
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug02c.htm
The Internet Is Revolutionizing Car Buying
A savvy buyer can do most car shopping on the Internet,
searching for pricing information, finding dealers in your
area and accessing user reviews
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug03a.htm
Your Taxes
----------
Uncle Sam Gives To, Takes from Retirees
Clear up the confusion about how and how much the IRS collects
on Social Security income
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug07g.htm
Taxes and Mortgage Debt
Home acquisition debt is debt you take out to buy your home or
substantially improve it, and interest on up to $1 million is
deductible
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug03f.htm
Owing IRS for Canceled Debt
Since you didn't pay the bank the difference between the value
of your stolen car and the loan balance, you have a canceled
debt, which the IRS considers income to you
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug02h.htm
Gifting Home to Get Capital Gains Treatment
If you gift the rental home to your son and he lives in it
while in law school, the property could qualify for gain
exclusion for him
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug01d.htm
Everything Else
---------------
The Anti-Diet Lifestyle
by Midori Barizo
The free diet plan the diet industry doesn't want you to know
about
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/aug13c.cfm
Readers' Tips
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/aug13t.cfm
From Dave Ramsey
----------------
Consolidating Debt Scam
Twenty minutes later we signed papers for a $5,000 loan at
17.99%. What were we thinking???!!!
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug07h.htm
Getting Started in Investing
How should Judy and her husband invest for their handicapped
daughter's future?
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug07j.htm
The "Wonder Vacuum" Nightmare
Two years of payments later, the "wonder vacuum" was showing
clear signs of malfunction, and trying to get servicing per
our contract has been a nightmare
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug07k.htm
Stuff Envelopes for Cash?
Hear what Dave tells a stay-at-home-mom about stuffing
envelopes for extra money
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug03g.htm
Make a List, Check It Twice
Kay greatly paid for not taking the time to make grocery and
household lists. Don't make the same mistake!
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug03h.htm
I've Been Transformed
From the emotional shopper into someone who looks for every
way to decrease the family expenses
Story Here - http://www.stretcher.com/brm/07/07aug03j.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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