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In Today's Issue:

The Joys of Anticipation
Fill your home with things that you love

Give Yourself the Green Light
Why buy a kinetically powered flashlight

When Your Friends Struggle
There are ways to help

Shout® Color Catchers™
Is there a cheaper alternative?

Stretching Your Food Dollar
Saving on chicken and using radiant heat

Homesteading and Country Living
Happily living 'beyond the sidewalks'

Cleaning Grout
Former owners did a real number on the grout

Winterize for Savings
Preparing your home for winter's chill

Netflix, Inc.

Dress Like a Diva
On a thrift store budget

My Story
TV free and loving it!

Home Remodeling
Quick, painless ways to update your home on the cheap!

Surveys for Cash?
Can you make money taking surveys?

A Decision to Stay Home
Pursuing your dream of staying home with your children


Visit the Dollar Stretcher
Family Section!

Dollar Stretcher
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.

Reaping the Last Bounty
Harvest and preserve

Stuff!
Simple living lessons from a former packrat

Inexpensive Landscape Borders
Beautify your yard without draining your wallet

Working at Home
Meeting the needs of work and home

Out of Control Spending?
What to do when you are "The Unstoppable Shopper"

Filling Those Empty Walls
You're only limited by your imagination

Success as a Single Mom
One mom's story of survival

My Story
The $13 birthday party

Looking for Frugal Recipes?
Readers share where they find their best recipes

4 Steps to Your Future
Begin creating your own destiny

Finding Money for Emergency Savings
How can you save money for the unexpected crisis?

Replacement Value Insurance
Finding the best insurance value for your dollar

Halloween Costumes
Great costume ideas from our spooktacular readers

Tired Kitchen Cabinets
Save a bundle and revitalize your kitchen!

Can you help this reader?
Readers want your help!
Should a bad economy scare off this potential homebuyer?
Please take a look and tell us what you think

Reader's Tips
The smartest readers on the web share their frugal living ideas!

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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    The facts on the FDIC
    Consumers wonder how safe is FDIC's funding

    The McCain mortgage plan
    Sen. John McCain proposed spending $300 billion to buy bad mortgages. What impact will it have?

    Video: Save money on food by shopping once a week
    You can save time, gas and money

    Video: Co-signing on an auto loan
    Co-signing any loan is always risky business

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

    Will the federal mortgage plan help you?

    Video: Pricing your home
    The right price can thaw the freeze in home sales

    How soon will the rate cut hit you?

    4 burning questions about credit scores
    There's a lot of contradictory advice on how to improve one's credit score. So what's the truth?

    Video: Creating a budget
    It's easier than you think to create a budget. We'll show you how

    Borrowing from family, friends, strangers
    Better, or worse, than dealing with institutions?

    Video: Lowering your credit card rates
    Lower your credit card rate by investing just five minutes of your time

    Reaffirming a mortgage in Chapter 7
    If a mortgage wasn't reaffirmed, the homeowner can walk away from payments

    7 psychological money traps
    Does your brain trick you into bad money moves? You can outsmart yourself if you recognize these traps

    Video: When banks don't compete, you lose
    Bank mergers mean less competition, which can lead to higher fees

    Strike back against unfair card issuer
    There are several ways to make life uncomfortable for a badly behaving card issuer

    Reduce back taxes?
    Could the tax deal really be too good to be true?

    GM: Credit crunch hasn't killed loans
    GM's president of operations talks about auto loans

    Video: Save more money
    We offer you tips in this video to help you beef up your bank account and savings

    Fame & Fortune: Danica Patrick
    No surprise that this race car driver's first big splurge was a cool set of wheels

    Car buyers don't get 'cooling off' time
    Once you buy a car, you're stuck with it even if you have second thoughts

    Auto loan trouble?
    Single mom turns in car and worries about going to jail

    Most car loans not transferable
    A woman probably cannot assume a car loan from her relative

    Video: How to compare mortgage offers
    When shopping for a mortgage, compare rates as well as fees

    States offer foreclosure rescue loans
    More states may soon offer mortgage refinancing programs. Though limited in scope, they do provide another option

    Map of state housing finance authority sites
    Facing foreclosure and seeking state assistance? Use this map to locate your housing finance authority Web site

    'Seeking fun-loving, SF, high credit score'
    What you don't know can cost you

    Video: What does "FDIC insured" really mean?
    Knowing the details can protect your money if your bank fails

    10 winning ways to land the job you want
    Jobs are tight but you can still land the job you want

    Side business can hurt unemployment benefits
    If you're out of work and collecting benefits, some part-time work can reduce what you collect

    Link to state unemployment offices

    Chapter 7 and property taxes
    Chapter 7 bankruptcy wipes out nearly all the debt associated with homeownership

    Ask Dr. Don
  • Retirement question: pay tax now or later? - What you decide could affect how much you have to spend
  • Should I convert an IRA CD? - It could be a mistake
  • Delay Social Security Benefits? - Waiting until age 70 to collect Social Security can pay big dividends
  • FICO score over 780 is good enough - Worrying about boosting a FICO score above 780 is a waste of time
  • What's $29,000 worth after 18 years? - A bank deposit of $29,000 loses some of its purchasing power after 18 years
  • The keys to smart investing - Education and expert guidance are essential to making good investments
  • Don't accept low retirement CD yield - Shopping around for the right IRA CD provider can make a big difference in overall yield
  • Easy to move Roth CD to new institution - It's a piece of cake!


    • Financial Calculators
    courtesy of BankRate.com


    Frugal Living at The Dollar Stretcher
    Saving you time and money since 1996
    last update: October 10, 2008

    Inflation Fighters The Dollar Stretcher

    5 Tips for a Happy Thrifty Holiday
    Returning to the real essence of the holidays

    Get Your Hospital Bill Right
    Don't overpay on your hospital bill

    How a Full Pantry Saves Money
    Stocking up can be simple and inexpensive

    Teen Bedroom Decorating
    5 tricks that'll make your teens happy with their space

    Throw a Thrifty Tailgate Party
    Score with these winning ideas

    Dollar Stretcher Poll
    Has the economic troubles caused you to change your saving habits?
    Please let us know what you think!

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

    How much credit card debt do you have? - Readers share their balances, victories and anxieties concerning credit card debt

    Disability is, in practical terms, a stage of life - Living with disabilities can change your life. Are you disabled? Share your struggles and triumphs with others

    Where to find borax, lye? - If you've ventured into making your own laundry detergent or soap, you may have run into this problem

    Root Beer Popcorn Crunch - A new twist on an old trick! Popcorn snack is good for holiday gift giving - or enjoy it yourself

    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
    recent posts

    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

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  • 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
  • Are betting spoils taxable? - The type and amount of gambling winnings determine if they are reportable
  • Proof for claiming dependents - The IRS rules for claiming a dependent seem simple, but proving it can be complex
  • Rolling into a Roth - If a traditional IRA contains some after-tax contributions, it can still be converted


    • image

    Know the rules before you tap your 401(k)
    Transferring funds from a taxable retirement account into a "safer" investment vehicle can cost you if not done the right way

    Putting Away the Credit Cards
    Fed report on consumer credit shows pace of card use falls

    What happens to credit card debt if a bank fails?
    Would your balance or terms change?

    Balance transfers and your credit score

  • Should I time the market?
    The stock market is down, and Stephanie is tempted to invest in her 401k while the prices are good. But is it the right thing to do for her?
  • Mortgage Crisis
    Could they call in your mortgage if you've never missed a payment?
    • For more Dave Ramsey Click Here
    For Our Canadian Friends
  • Off and running
    Running is cheap, fun way to stay in shape. Here's how to get started
  • Buy now, pay later
    Deferred payment plans come with a hefty price tag
  • How to avoid buying a former meth lab
    There is almost no way to decontaminate fully a house used as a meth lab. Here's how to spot one before you buy it
  • Automakers put the brakes on incentive leasing
    Is this the beginning of the end of driving more can than you can afford?
  • How to find a good lawyer
    Whether you're buying a house or writing a will, we have tips on how to find a lawyer, plus links to lawyer referral services across the country
  • Staying connected
    How parents can keep in touch with their school-bound children without spending a bundle

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