In This Week's Issue:
Recession Proof Your Family Finances
Take control of your destiny
8 Cheap to Free Childcare Options
When you need a little 'me time'
Slow-Cook Once for Multiple Healthy Meals
Serve healthier meals with less hassle
Paint Like a Pro
Painting advice from the professionals
Conserving Water
What can you do to save water?
Cutting the Cost of Beverages
One of the easiest places to reduce your grocery bill
Organizing Tips
Frugal ideas straight from the librarian's desk
My Story
Why I buy convenience foods
Going from Two Incomes to One
An organized approach can increase the odds of success
20% Instant Returns
The greatest investment return for the 'average Joe'
My Home Needs Repairs
What to do when there's no money left for repairs
Living With a Clutterbug
Keeping your sanity when there's a mess all about
Visit the Dollar Stretcher
Family Section!
Need money-saving ideas and tips for your family? Each week you'll find dozens of articles on a wide range of family-related topics in the
Dollar Stretcher Family Section.
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Macroeconomics at Home
What could an economics class teach you about your personal finances?
How to Keep Your Utility Expenses Low
Exposing once invisible costs
Falling Behind
When there's less money than month
The ABCs of Beating Summer Boredom
Combatting the summer blues
Making Each Minute Count
Managing your time when you don't have the time
The End of Boring Lunches
A delightful lunch for less!
Ants Inside Your Home
Great ways to stop the invasion!
Dollar Stretcher Poll
Free travel accommodations?
Yard Sale Christmas Shopping
Tacky? Not if you do it right
Homemade 'Dye Magnets'
They work great but cost a bundle. We share less expensive alternatives
Fix It Myself?
Will you save money or make it worse?
Exercise Alternatives
When you can't afford expensive equipment
Spa Beauty for Pennies
Not just for the rich and famous anymore
Selling Used Furniture
Strategies for pricing and selling used furniture
Saving Money on Family Fun Days
Budget-conscious hints to great family fun
Can you help this reader?
Readers want your help!
Trouble affording pregnancy care
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: Separating Fact from Myth -
Take the credit quiz
Last week's lesson:
Credit Keys -
Establishing and maintaining good credit
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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Content for Your Website, Newspaper or Newsletter
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Clean up your own credit report
A mistake on your credit report is your responsibility, but you can fix it with time and effort
Checking and reading your credit report
A bad or wrong credit report can cost you. Understand it and fix your credit before your finances are affected
Refinancing after bankruptcy
Lenders won't be swarming to refinance a home even after a bankruptcy is discharged
Paying off high credit card debt
Here are several approaches -- just pick one and do it to get out of debt
How do I transfer a balance?
A step-by-step guide for switching to a better credit card
Using credit cards to improve credit score
Using credit cards wisely -- whether it's one or 15 -- is the key to improving the credit score
Understanding credit scores
Understanding the factors that go into your credit score will help you manage it
Bad credit score? Here's how to fix it
A credit score expert explains how to build good credit or repair it after a foreclosure
The dangers of debt consolidation
Are you tempted to take out one big loan to pay off all those other nagging debts? Before you bundle your bills, check out the pros and cons of these consolidation options
Changing your company's 401(k) plan
Workers who don't like their 401(k) plan options may be able to do something about it
Got a good score? Push it higher
Even if you have a very high credit score, there's always something to be gained by making it better
4 options that improve a 401(k) plan
Convincing your company to add these four 401(k) options may help you diversify and boost returns
Bad debt management help really hurts
Know what you are getting into before signing up for debt help
Poll: Will retirement be relaxing, distressing?
Whether you are well-prepared or in denial, see how your retirement hopes and fears compare with those of others
5 ways to improve your credit
A step-by-step guide for boosting your credit rating
A 7-step plan for fixing your credit report
Here's how to identify the mistakes and clear them up before they cause you problems
Keeping credit score high takes effort
You can bring your credit score down in many ways. Here are tips to avoid the pitfalls
A dozen ways to get a down payment
Remember down payments? They're back in vogue with home lenders. Here's what you can do to come up with the cash
Try these transportation options to save gas
Finnding alternate transportation options to reduce their need for gas
With old debt, know your limits
A look at the statutes of limitation on collecting debts in all 50 states
Don't use debit card for car rental
Using a debit card for a car rental can be a costly way to go
Secured credit cards: 10 questions to ask
People with little credit or bad credit can join the world of the carded -- for a price
Credit card currency conversion costs
A chart shows what large issuers and banks charge for foreign charges on credit cards, debit cards and ATMs
Lawsuit yields free credit monitoring
The settlement of a class-action lawsuit against TransUnion allows consumers to get free credit monitoring, and millions are eligible
Car guzzling gas? Try a different vehicle
Readers address the gas-price hikes by swapping vehicles
Settle your debts yourself
You can pay someone to negotiate debt settlements for you, but you can do it yourself for nothing
Retirement planning for the surviving spouse
No one wants to think about death, but the alternative is to leave your loved one in a lurch
Drive smarter to save gas
Reduce your need for gas by driving in the most efficient manner
Dirty dozen: bankruptcy myths debunked
You might think you have all the information on how bankruptcy works, but you probably don't
Finding a place that fits your lifestyle
100 places where retirees might wish to settle
4 housing upgrades that don't pay
Thinking of renovating? Here are four things to avoid if you may want to sell down the road
Ask Dr. Don
Too much down payment?
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Could putting too much down on a house reduce your financial flexibility?
Credit freeze cost sometimes a bargain
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The cost of freezing and unfreezing a credit report is often worth it
Upside down on home? Take a deep breath
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Don't let the fear of being upside down on a loan force you into foolish decisions
Don't bother improving great credit
- There's no need to improve a credit score that hovers around 800
Should man prepay mortgage, or car loan?
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Deciding which of two loans to pay down first is tricky business
Don't raid 401(k) to pay plastic debt
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You could regret this decision for many years
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Saving you time and money each week since 1996
last update: July 8, 2008
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Inflation Fighters
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Save On Groceries Before You Leave Home
Some families throw away much of what they buy
Spend It Twice
Leveraging price matches
Free Vacation and Holiday Accommodation
The options and the realities
The Dollar Stretcher Community
Share what you know with your frugal friends!
Biggest Obstacle in Budgeting
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Is it utilities? Repairs? Gifts? Just what is it that throws a kink in your budget?
Any Single Frugal Folks?
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Frugal singles, unite!
Too Good for Everyday
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Are you saving something for a special occasion, or just saving it?
Line Drying
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Do you hang clothes out to dry? A nostalgic look at clotheslines
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
Become a Dollar Stretcher blogger. Send us an email with your idea for a blog. We're always looking for more great ideas to share with visitors!
Current Rates
Figuring capital gains tax on a rental
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How much to put aside for capital gains tax after selling a rental?
Dividend income tax for foreigners
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Argentine will pay a higher tax rate on company dividends
Short-sale mortgage forgiveness
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When homeowners are forced into a short sale, they won't owe tax on the forgiven debt
Taxes on cash settlements
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Cash settlement from a broken 99-year lease can offset the cost of a vacation home
Is disability income taxable?
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If your employer pays the premiums, your short-term disability is taxable income
Mortgage relief and taxes
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The IRS gives a break to homeowners who owe more than their home is worth
When a job relocation forces a home sale
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You might be able to exclude capital gains on the sale of a home if you move for a job
Credit card issuers know more about you than you think
Credit card company fraud departments monitor their cardholders purchases to detect unusual patterns or purchases
U.S. map: State statutes of limitation for credit card debt
Creditors have a limited time in which to file suit over unpaid credit card debt. Here are the statutes of limitation for all 50 states plus the District of Columbia
Renting a car with cash or debit card? Expect to try harder
Survey of 45 car agencies across the U.S. finds you can rent a car without a credit card, but you have to jump through more hoops
The true cost of canceling a credit card
Weighing the true cost of canceling a credit card with an annual fee: How much will it hurt your credit score?
On Social Security, with debt collectors calling
With a job loss and 5-year-old credit card debt and only Social Security income, a reader needs a lot of help -- starting with knowing her rights
Auto manufacturer credit cards: a deal on wheels?
Many of todayâ€(tm)s credit cardholders aren't interested in just any old rewards -- they're holding out for perks that come in the form of brand-new, all-leather-interior, fully loaded, shiny status symbols to adorn their driveways
My Good Intentions Backfired
I wanted to help but had no savings to give, so I looked for a loan to help them out
Two-Year Turnaround
When Scott graduated from grad school in 2006, he had a big pile of student loan debt. Now, 2 years later, he recently celebrated becoming debt free!
Investing from the beginning
You won't believe how much money Laura will have if she starts investing at her age
Payments Teach Responsibility? NOT!
Her dad wants to teach her responsibility so he is taking away her paid-for car and forcing her to buy a brand-new car
Getting Out of the Timeshare Trap
We may have lost $5,000, but at least we aren't paying $700 this summer on an unwanted vacation
For more Dave Ramsey Click Here
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