In This Week's Issue:
Borrowing From Your 401(k)
Is it wise to borrow from your retirement plan?
Travel Packing
Cheap and light!
Giving Good Wedding Gifts
When you're trlying to decide what to give and how much to spend
Bird Feeders
All the beauty without all the mess and aggravation
Father's Day Gifts
Celebrate Dad and make him proud of your financial smarts, too!
Why?
What you can learn from a simple question
Things I Wish I'd Known as a High School Grad
Getting off to a good start financially
A Place In the Sun
Create a welcoming outdoor space
My "Dumb Little $9-an-hour Job" Story
Don't forget to consider the benefits
Stocking a Pantry
Affording extra purchases within your grocery budget
Sleep Cheap!
Simple, inexpensive steps towards a good night's sleep
Indulgences for the Frugal
Ways to wind down when you're stressed out
The Art of Couponing
Here's how the "Coupon Queen" does it
The Dollar Stretcher
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"I look forward to the Dollar Stretcher every week. The Stretcher always has good ideas that have helped me save money and time! Thanks for all you do!" ~ Susie R.
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My Story
What we learned from baby #1
Homemade Cleaning Erasers
Homemade solutions provide great results
5 Ways Where Spending Money Could Save You Money
Smart ways to spend your hard-earned money
Crisis Meal Planning
Your freezer could save the day!
12 Ways to Improve Fitness on a Tight Budget
Your body will slim down, not your wallet!
Increased Security, Small Expense
Don't become another crime statistic
Say Goodbye to Blackheads
Inexpensive homemade facial strips
Kitchen Organization 101
A recipe for making your kitchen easier to use
Second-Hand Secret
Cast iron pans are a terrific kitchen tool!
When Big Purhcases Go Bad
Getting what you paid for
Vinegar Kills Bacteria, Mold and Germs
Handy, cheap and effective!
Natural Weed Killers
Would you like to get rid of your weeds without using pesticides?
Fixing Up Old Cupboards
Your solution could be in a can
Decorating With Thrift Store Finds
It all depends on what you see
Pay a Contractor Less
An insider secret could save you thousands
Can you help this reader?
Readers want your help!
Overly Expensive Family Reunions
Please take a look and tell us what you recommend
Reader's Tips
The smartest readers on the web share their frugal living ideas!
The Guide to Understanding and Protecting Credit
a 14 lesson guide to your managing your credit
This week's lesson: Is Your Score Correct? -
How to make sure your credit reports are accurate
Last week's lesson:
Your Credit Score -
A financial asset worth protecting
Your Story
Do you know a way to save time and money? Then please take a moment to "Tell Us Your Story"
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Inflation Fighters
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Vacation Fun for Less
Camping that fits anyone's budget and comfort level
My Daughter's "Chicken Little" Party
Or, how I stretched dinner for unexpected guests
Insider Report
Beat the high cost of coffee shops
Radical Cost Cutting
What to do when your budget is seriously out of balance
Jumbo loan rates finally decline
The interest rates for jumbo mortgage loans are coming down, but standards for qualifying are much tighter
Preparing for a tax audit
You got that dreaded IRS letter? Don't panic, just prepare
30-city home sale outlook
All real estate is local, so Bankrate's panel of experts examined current conditions and the outlook in large, medium and small cities across the country
Sallie Mae error kills loan holders' credit scores
A change in how Sallie Mae reported to credit reporting agencies has caused the credit scores of loan holders to plummet in days. Here's what to do if you've been affected
12 ways to make your house a cash cow
Here are a dozen ways to turn your house into a money-making machine
Bankruptcy assets and liabilities
When determining which assets to list in Chapter 7 bankruptcy, your home gets listed even if you owe more than it is worth
Raising your grandchildren? You have options
If you find yourself in the role of caregiver again, be sure to tap the plentiful resources available to you
Who are the real perpetrators?
Credit card issuers and credit reporting agencies are as much to blame as the thieves for the problem of identity fraud, says author Bob Sullivan
4 options for leftover 529 plan money
There are four main options for dealing with leftover 529 plan money
Forgiven debt comes with tax bill
A collector's decision to forgive a debt won't shield you from a tax bill
What happens when a bank fails?
We asked David Barr, spokesman for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, about the procedure
Bank failures: How bad will it be?
Some banks may be at risk of failing in the wake of the credit crunch and loan losses. How safe is your money?
What do you do to protect against ID theft?
Gauge your level of fear or complacency on the subject versus that of other Americans
Car lots crammed with three model years
Car dealers are anxious to unload product from three model years
Co-signer becomes lender's main target
If you co-sign for a loan, don't be surprised when the lender comes looking for you
Tough to buy car with credit card
Dealers usually frown on using a credit card to purchase a car
Interstate car deal won't pose problems
A Connecticut man shouldn't worry about a car deal taking place in New Jersey
Seeking a workout? Be patient
If there's a lesson for homeowners trying to avoid foreclosure, it is this: Be patient, don't take mortgage servicers' actions personally, and be ready to send paperwork multiple times
Rising food and fuel prices
The rising costs of food and fuel are a challenge for many Americans, but a devastating problem for people in developing nations. Are hedge funds to blame?
12 investment mistakes couples make
Two heads often don't work as one when it comes time to invest your money
Hire identity theft help or do-it-yourself
Want to reduce the risk of becoming the next victim? You can hire identity theft protection services or take measures to help yourself
12 money gifts for mom
Forget the flowers! Help mom get something she could really use
Low consumer confidence plagues market
Optimistic consumers are more likely to buy a home, say economists, but with consumer confidence at its lowest level in 17 years, the real estate market is unlikely to rebound soon
Ask Dr. Don
HELOC is not interest-only forever - A home equity line of credit does not remain interest-only forever
Keep intention clear when voiding check - Voiding a check is a simple matter
Skyrocketing escrow payment needs look - A $900 increase in monthly escrow fees demands investigation
Weekly payments don't affect FICO score - Paying your bill weekly doesn't hurt your FICO score
Late payments haunt credit for years - Paying off your card is great, but late payments have a longer credit legacy
What's $29,000 worth after 18 years? - A bank deposit of $29,000 loses some of its purchasing power after 18 years
Lump-sum lottery payment is bad deal - A lottery winner may become a loser if she accepts a lump-sum payment
FDIC 99-year payment rule is urban myth - The notion that the FDIC has 99 years to pay depositors is an urban legend
Fear can cripple retirement planning - Too many people avoid retirement investing because they fear bad choices
Explore options when saving abroad - Americans have options for tapping the higher yields of foreign savings accounts
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Saving you time and money each week since 1996
last update: May 15, 2008
The Dollar Stretcher Community
Share what you know with your frugal friends!
How do you eat healthy and frugal?
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It's hard to get the two goals to match. Members have some ideas
Suggestions for traveling on a budget?
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It's vacation time again! How do you travel on a budget?
Graduation Open House $$ ANXIETY!
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She's having an open house on a budget
Garden and Seedlings Progress
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Planting, transplanting and watching the garden take place is top priority this time of year for those who love to garden. How's your garden growing?
Gardening Forum
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Everything from seed swaps to suggestions for the beginning gardener
Never visited The Community? We'll make it easy for you to make new frugal friends in the About These Forums section
Are you smarter about credit cards than a 5th grader?
You may be surprised at how closely a child's view of the credit card world comes to the actual way plastic works -- as opposed to the carefree convenience touted in most credit card television commercials
Rethinking borrowing in retirement
The rules are different now
3 must-ask questions for multiuse college campus cards
Campus cards, like anything involving money, are not free from potential pitfalls, and the cards' fees and policies can be as different as Buckeyes and Wolverines
Cashless colleges: Student IDs turn into payment systems
Today's student ID cards open doors to dorms and labs, earn discounts with local merchants, sub-in for loose change at vending and copy machines, and even help with the laundry
Authorized user or joint account holder?
There are major differences between an authorized user and joint account holder for credit card accounts. One is liable for unpaid balances and the other is not
Compare credit cards' rental car insurance policies
Credit card companies' policies vary sharply, so don't always be quick to turn down rental car agencies' optional coverage
Drive for rewards pushes old-style gas cards in ditch
Fewer people are using one-company gas credit cards to buy gasoline for their cars. Drivers want the freedom to choose different gas and payment methods
8 tips for squeezing a budget even tighter
It's tough to make ends meet on a fixed income. To do it, you have to squeeze the spending hard as you can
Your Next Ride
Audio
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Dave reveals the secrets for getting a steal of a deal on a set of wheels
Paying for Cable I Didn't Watch -
In the last 2 years, I've consistanly watched less than half the channels I was getting and have been paying over $1,300 a year for it
Will Debit Card Work for Business? Audio -
One of Rob's employees is pushing for them to get a gas card. Can they pay for gas without using credit?
Check the Paper Statements -
Since we did it all online and never checked the statements themselves, we weren't counting for the interest rates
For more Dave Ramsey Click Here
Dollar Stretcher Blogs
Deferring tax on condemned rental - Owners of condemned rental real estate can defer capital gains if they purchase another rental
Tax rebate confusion - The tax rebate is a gift, not an advance on your 2008 taxes
Taxes on foreign spending - Vegas bargain shoppers lose out on a value added tax for their purchases
Business losses on a startup - When profits don't materialize on a $90,000 business investment, there are some possible tax deductions
Capital gains exclusion on a home - A homeowner currently confined to an assisted living facility might not have to worry about residency requirements to claim capital gains exclusion
Tax deduction on medical equipment - A backyard swimming pool may be deductible for medical reasons if you can convince the IRS
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