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Baby Boomers Family Green Home and Auto In Critical Condition Just Starting Out Lifestyle Money

In This Week's Issue:

Consumer Tips for Dealing with Debt
Climb out of credit card debt

Vacation for Less
Cutting costs without cutting the pleasure out of the trip

When Cleaning Equals Energy Saving
Have a clean, more efficient home

Upromise.com

Sell Your House
Easy and inexpensive tricks to make your home look better fast!

Caring for Leather Boots
Keep them looking good from year to year

My Story
Frugal prom

Selling on Ebay
Which items will sell best on auction sites?

House Cleaning Service
What you need to know before hiring a cleaning service

Quick Fix or Daily Habit?
Getting personal finances in order one day at a time

Pay it Forward for Pennies
Even a small thing can have a huge impact in someone's day

The Price of Status
What could they learn from a purse?

Benificial Borax
A great laundry booster and so much more!

10 Garage Sale Shortcuts
Finding the great deals!


The Dollar Stretcher
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Dollar Stretcher
"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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Money Calorie Counter
Save your waistline and your budget

Container Mania
Using containers to add zip to your landscaping

The Problem With Wal-Mart
Putting a lid on impulse shopping

Homemade Air Fresheners
Freshness from your cupboard

The 'Last Time' vs. the 'Next Time'
Learning from your mistakes

Put Together a 5-Star Guestroom on a Beer Budget
Creat a guestroom with style and elegance

Green Cleaning with Essential Oils
A fragrant, sparkling, healthy home

Rush Hour Recipes
Tasty meals in a flash

One Income Beats Two
Help your husband make more money

The Half-Hour Solution
Tackling big jobs a little at a time

Guilt Free Vacations
Plan to enjoy your family outing!

Grocery Master List
Could a piece of paper save you money?

The Cheapskate's Guide to Children's Rooms
They could be the hardest rooms in your home to decorate

Liquidation Bargains
Are you driving by a bargain hunter's paradise?

Problem Solving for Couples
You'll certainly have challenges in your marriage. Here's help solving them

Can you help this reader?
Readers want your help!
Planning a Bachlorette Party
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: Your Credit Score - A financial asset worth protecting

Last week's lesson: Your Credit Report - The picture you present to lenders


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 The Dollar Stretcher

    To Coupon or Not to Coupon
    The advantages and disadvantages of couponing

    Saving Clothes and Dollars
    Get more wear from your clothes

    Reduce Your Food Budget
    13 easy ways to cut your food budget down to size

    Kids Clothing
    Kids' clothing kept her in poverty until she discovered the co-op


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    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

    The costs of ID theft
    Sleazy con artists cause a great deal of inconvenience to consumers, businesses and government -- not to mention $45 billion in costs

    12-step program for ID theft victims
    Follow these steps to reclaim your identity and restore your good name

    Converting from Chapter 13 to Chapter 7
    Type of bankruptcy hinges on your income, but you may be able to convert after the original filing

    Surviving mob mentality in finance
    Bankrate reviews the book "Mobs, Messiahs, and Markets," by William Bonner and Lila Rajiva, which examines what the authors allege is the mass hysteria that overcomes investors in the stock market

    Foreclosures: Tragedy or opportunity?
    This may be your big chance, but it's no place for amateurs

    Government jobs offer good pay, benefits
    Security and better than expected pay make public service a promising career

    Swimming up a debt waterfall? Try this
    Small steps can give you the energy to tackle a big debt

    Resist the urge to splurge
    Americans have a lot of saving to do to make up for their spending frenzy of the past 20 years

    From helpless to empowered
    The nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center provides emotional support and helps ID theft victims get their lives back

    Car-buying services shop for you
    Here are six things to know before hiring a car-buying service to find your next set of wheels

    Fame & Fortune: Heidi Klum
    German supermodel and host of "Project Runway" has parlayed her fame into a multimillion dollar industry

    Trading in gas guzzler may cost you
    Dumping a gas guzzler may not be your best financial move

    Don't say 'I do' to car loan for fiance
    Never take out a loan for your beloved until you've said "I do"

    You may still owe after repossession
    Lenders retain the right to collect money owed following a repossession

    Dumping car on lender will trash credit
    "Voluntary repossession" is a surefire way to trash your credit

    How low can you go on a housing bid?
    In this real estate environment, lowball bids are more common. But how do you determine the difference between an insult to the seller and a smart bid?

    Could you retire in a weekend?
    In the book "Retire in a Weekend," by Bill Losey, baby boomers are encouraged to make work optional by following their passion

    Banks and consumers: Be on high alert
    Banks should be more accountable and publicly report basic statistics on their fraud rates

    Ask Dr. Don
  • 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
  • Banking convenience may come at price - The convenience of one-stop financial services can come at a cost
  • No escape from 529 plan penalty - Unused 529 money cannot be recouped without paying a penalty
  • Upside down on home? Take a deep breath - Don't let the fear of being upside down on a loan force you into foolish decisions
  • Ex takes wheels, leaves wife with bills - A woman's ex is taking advantage of her generosity
  • Frugal Living at The Dollar Stretcher
    Saving you time and money each week since 1996
    last update: May 9, 2008
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    Fed backs rules to curb deceptive credit card practices
    Federal banking regulators are taking unusual steps to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive trade practices in the credit card industry

    Two years behind on credit card payments
    How do you even begin to pay back credit card debt that is two years old?

    Know your rights when you charge travel costs
    Recouping your money if your trip is canceled is much easier with credit cards than if you paid with cash or by check

    Check out credit counselors' credentials first
    Before you hire a credit counselor, make sure you check out their credentials

    Extreme credit card limits
    One of the cardinal rules of responsible credit card usage is to apply for only as much credit as you need. A sizable group of consumers take a different approach: Apply for as much credit as you can get

    Credit card etiquette
    Etiquette experts say that when credit disputes and problems arise, don't reach out and crush someone. Win with courtesy

    Dave Ramsey on The Dollar Stretcher

  • Check the Paper Statements - Since we did it all online and never checked the statements themselves, we weren't counting for the interest rates
  • We Paid Off Over $300k - Today the last payment to a debt cleared the bank. We have paid off, including interest (but not the house), $307,501.85!!!! We own our lives for the first time in 15 years!
  • More Secure and Confident - Tari grew up thinking how she would always have a car payment and house payment. However, now she realizes that was false!
  • Storage Costs Down the Drain - We paid for storage for 7 YEARS before I finally got over my bad self and decided to sell it
  • Decided Not to Go to College audio - Is the saved college money wasted if the child decides that school is not for him or her?
  • I Just Feel Whipped audio - Lisa has a very bad thought ... is there ever a point where you CAN'T make an impact on your money?
  • Saving for College audio - The hardest part of saving so much money for so many college expenses comes sooner than you think
  • For more Dave Ramsey Click Here

    The Dollar Stretcher Community
    Share what you know with your frugal friends!

    Walking as free exercise - beats a gym! - Lose weight, get fit and enjoy it all without spending a penny

    Long term frugality - ideas for your home - Things you can do and forget that keep on saving. What have you done?

    Collecting Rain Water - Summertime is coming quickly and with it, bigger demands for water. Collecting and using rain water can help with the water bill.

    What is your favorite sewing machine? - From treadle sewing machines to specialized, computerized modern wonders... which do you like best?

    Gardening Forum - 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

    Dollar Stretcher Blogs

    Decision Making Tools
    Ask BankRate
    Answers customized for your situation

    Your Home
    Your Car

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  • 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
  • Figuring S corp losses and debts - When an S corp is sold, there is a difference in how debts and losses are treated
  • Using an IRA for home closing costs - You can avoid the penalty and some of the taxes on an IRA withdrawal if it is used for a first-time home purchase


  • Financial Calculators
    courtesy of BankRate.com

    For Our Canadian Friends
  • Marketing your rental cottage as a dream destination - If you advertise it, they will come
  • Paying the price of payday loans - New legislation to cap payday loan interest charges
  • Writing a living will - Advice on how to design a will that ensures your wishes are respected and followed should you ever become incapacitated
  • Surviving wedding season - as a guest -- Money-saving tips for bridal parties and wedding guests
  • Thinking of flipping? Think again - The cost of buying and selling a home is greater than you may realize
  • Getting ready for a tax audit - If you're self-employed or don't declare all of your T-4 income, you're likely to meet a tax auditor. Here's what you need to know
  • Unclaimed Property
    Are you owed money?

    "My husband and I checked for unclaimed funds. We were stunned to find out that we had $450 coming to us. You never know until you check."
    Bev

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