SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: "The Dollar Stretcher" is a FREE weekly newsletter.

To SUBSCRIBE send e-mail to: subscribe@stretcher.com. If you'd like the newsletter sent as a .txt file attachment to an e-mail send email to: subscribe-dollar-stretcher-attach@xc.org.

To UNSUBSCRIBE send e-mail to unsubscribe-dollar-stretcher@xc.org or unsubscribe-dollar-stretcher-attach. If you have a problem subscribing or unsubscribing send an e-mail to LWilson@xc.org and a real live human being will try to solve the problem.
Thanks!

PUBLICATION INFORMATION: Copyright "The Dollar Stretcher, Inc." 2000. ISSN 1527-2974
All Rights reserved. Copies may be distributed without alteration electronically free of charge. This newsletter may be reproduced, without alteration, for non-commercial purposes without prior permission.
"The Dollar Stretcher" is distributed via e-mail each week between Monday 1 A.M. and Tuesday 8 P.M. United States Eastern Standard Time. The newsletter runs approximately 36k in length. All articles are printed with authors' prior consents. It is assumed that any questions, tips or replies to questions may be reprinted.
The name and e-mail address of the sender will not be used unless specifically requested or approved. All letters become the property of "The Dollar Stretcher, Inc".

SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION is available by . The Dollar Stretcher reaches more than 105,000 readers every week.

MONTHLY PRINTED NEWSLETTER
If you'd like a sample of the monthly print version of The Dollar Stretcher, send $2 US along with your name and address to: The Dollar Stretcher, Dept OL, PO Box 23785, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33307-3785.

"The Dollar Stretcher" and Dollar Stretcher, Inc. does not assume responsibility for advice given. All advice should be weighed against your own abilities and circumstances and applied accordingly. It is up to the reader to determine if advice is safe and suitable for their own situation.

In this issue:

Introduction

10 Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas
by Deana Ricks and Angie Zalewski

Do You Debit?
Explaining the Difference Between Credit and Debit.
by Curtis Arnold

Wrap It for Less!
by Marybeth Henry

A Frozen Battery
Ask Bob: The Auto Answer Man

Tips, Quips, Quotes & Questions

Introduction
by Gary Foreman
gary@stretcher.com

Hello to all my Frugal Friends!
The days are getting shorter. Hopefully, your temper isn't getting short, too! Why not warm up a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy this week's issue? It might be just the pause that refreshes!

Before you go, we want to take a moment to wish a Happy Chanukah to all of our Jewish friends. May this be a time of joy and wonderment for you and your families.

All the Best!
Gary

10 Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas
by Deana Ricks and Angie Zalewski

What are you likely to have a lot of around the holidays?

Answer: food and fun!

What are you likely to have very little of around the holidays?

Answer: time and money.

Being short of time and money can make gift giving a chore. But we're quite sure ol' Kris Kringle never meant that giving presents would become a bothersome task. Planning ahead is the best defense against the last minute gift crunch, but inevitably a few unexpected gift obligations will pop up. If you are down to the wire, now is NOT the time to learn a new skill, like quilting. That precious baby quilt you hoped to make for your new nephew will have to wait. Instead, look to your current skills and resources for this year's Christmas gifts.

Here are some sure-fire, last-minute holiday gifts for those who find themselves with a long gift list, but short on time and cash:

• Give the gift of service. Create coupons pledging your commitment to baby-sit, do yard work, make a home cooked meal or pet sit. A certificate for "One back rub every night for a week," or "Keeping your kids overnight on your anniversary," will mean more to a friend or loved one than any store bought trinket.
• Special Memory Book. For the hard-to-buy-for relative, make a Memory Book. Take a small blank book and write down some special, funny and heart warming memories about that person. If you have more time, pass the book around to other relatives and friends and let them contribute a short note. This is a gift that will be read over and over and cherished for years to come.
• Reindeer kitchen towel. If you have young children, make this keepsake treasure for grandmas and aunts. Paint the bottom of your child's foot with brown fabric paint, then stamp their footprint on the towel to form the deer's face. Then paint your child's hands green and stamp on the towel as the antlers. Add eyes and a nose with thumbprints. This is a precious gift for any relative who loves children.
• Photos of yourself and your family. It may sound egotistical but distant relatives and friends love getting photos. And it doesn't have to be a professional portrait. A good vacation picture will do the trick. Slip the photo into an inexpensive frame and you've got a wonderful gift.
• Refrigerator Art of the Month Club. Deana came up with this idea when her home was flooded with artwork her children created at school and church. She had too much to keep, but it was too precious to throw away. She made an official looking certificate that announced, "You've been enrolled in the Refrigerator Art of the Month Club" and stuffed it in a stocking. The certificate and wording is modeled after the Cake of the Month Club ads you see in magazines. Each month for a year, a piece of the child's artwork is slipped into an envelope and mailed to the gift receiver.
• Pinecone firestarters. Does your friend or relative have a fireplace? If so, a basket of pinecone firestarters is an inexpensive, useful, and beautiful gift. Collect pinecones and dip them in melted wax. The wax makes the pinecones burn longer. But don't run out to the craft store and buy wax, just melt candle stubs. Arrange in a yard sale basket and attach a note that says, "Help your cozy fire get off to an easy start. Add one or two pinecones with your kindling."
• Name plaque. Create a "plaque" by printing with your computer or by hand, the recipient's name on beautiful paper. Add the name's meaning in an elegant typeface or calligraphy. Place it in an inexpensive frame for an easy personalized gift. Make one for each family member as a lovely gift set. Another version of this gift is perfect for grandparents. Print a thoughtful poem on the paper and add the grandchild's handprints. This is sure to be Granny's favorite.
• Freezer meals. A night off from cooking is a gift every homemaker would love to get. Make a double batch of your most yummy casserole. Serve half of it to your family for dinner and freeze the other half. Present the frozen meal in a pretty baking dish with the recipe attached.
• A great green gift. Do you have a green thumb? Give a gift of a homegrown houseplant or herbs you've cultivated from seeds. Put them in decorated pots or baskets. Tie on plant care instructions with a ribbon.
• Sweet treats. Fill a canning jar with colorful candies. Tie a ribbon and tag around the neck of the jar and you have an instant gift. Add a note tag that says, "You are a real sweetie" or "I appreciate your sweet friendship." A jar could also be filled with small cookie cutters. Attach your favorite sugar cookie recipe.

Angie Zalewski and Deana Ricks are co-founders of the Frugal Family Network, Inc. They publish a popular thrift newsletter to help people live contentedly within their means and present workshops on stretching the family dollar. Visit them at www.frugalfamilynetwork.com (c) Copyright 2000, Frugal Family Network, Inc.

Do You Debit?
Explaining the Difference Between Credit and Debit.
by Curtis Arnold

About a year or two ago, I received a letter and a brand new ATM card from my bank. The letter bragged about the new and improved card that could now act as a debit card. So I exchanged the old card for the new one and tore up the letter before throwing it in the trash. Ever since, I have utilized the new card for--(tada!)--ATM transactions. To be honest, I didn't give the debit option a second thought.

I suspect that there are many people like me who know they have an option to use a debit card, but don't take advantage of it because they have a lack of knowledge or interest, or simply are in the habit of writing checks. While checks, ATM cards, and credit cards are fairly self-explanatory, many people fail to see much difference between a credit card and a debit card. So the questions are, is there a significant difference, and is one better than the other?

Credit. Every time you use a credit card, you are actually borrowing money that is made available to you by a bank or other financial institution. The institution pays the debt to the vendor, and in turn, you pay the money back to the institution. By signing up for a credit card, you agree to pay back the money that you borrowed, in addition to any interest drawn on the amount you borrowed.

Debit. Odds are, you have a debit card in your wallet or purse right now, since many ATM cards are programmed to have debit options. Issued by your bank, debit cards take funds directly from the money that you have in your bank account--in a sense acting like a check, just faster. With a debit card, you don't have to carry cash or checks, and it is very convenient to shop at a variety of places including gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and retail stores. They provide instant access to your money and are accepted worldwide.

Debit cards are used like credit cards, meaning that the store you are shopping at 'swipes' them, and then you sign off on the receipt. You don't have to show a picture ID, and there is usually no PIN number for you to punch in.

Maybe you still don't see much of a difference, besides where the money comes from and when you have to pay up. So which one is better to use? It depends upon how careful you are with your card and what you are using the card for.

The features that make debit cards convenient--instant access to your money, lack of a PIN number, and not having to drag out your photo ID when you use it--make fraud that much easier. Unless reported quickly, theft of your debit card can quickly devastate your bank account. This is where you begin to see a difference between credit and debit cards. Here's why:

Credit card companies are held to strict liability laws; the law limits consumer liability for credit card fraud to $50. For example if you notice suspicious charges on your credit card statement such as double billing or an incorrect charge, the credit card company is obligated to investigate if you send in a written request within 60 days.

For debit card fraud, your liability is $50 if you notify the bank within two days of noticing the fraudulent charges. After two days, your liability increases to $500, and up to your entire account balance after 60 days. So if you notice that your card is missing within two days and report it, you can only be made to pay up to $50. However if you report the theft after two days, you can be held responsible for paying for purchases or charges that you didn't make. Although many banks have started to implement voluntary plans to limit customer's liability to $50, there is no federal law regarding this issue.

The key to protecting yourself when you suspect that your stuff has been stolen is acting fast! The Federal Trade Commission offers an excellent resource that can help you respond quickly in case your wallet or purse is stolen.

In addition to stricter liability laws, credit cards also offer more consumer protection on purchases made. Use credit cards for very large or fragile purchases, and for objects that will be delivered to your home after the purchase; this gives you added insurance in case the purchase is damaged in route.

One final advantage of credit cards is that they are a great tool for consumers that are seeking to establish or reestablish an attractive credit history. Responsible credit card usage can improve one's credit rating Credit cards typically report account activity to at least one of the three major credit bureaus on a monthly basis. An attractive credit rating will improve your chances of obtaining favorable credit terms (low interest rates, low fees, etc.). for automobile loans, mortgages, personal loans, etc.

One pitfall that many consumers fall into is not keeping up with their debit transactions. This is like writing checks and not recording your purchases--you may end up trying to spend money that you don't have! If you're not good at recording your check transactions, you will need to discipline yourself to keep up with your transaction receipts.

Probably the main thing to remember if you are using a debit card regularly is that it's not just a card; it's ready access to your money. Be as careful with it as you would with your wallet if it had the contents of your entire bank account in it. &The National Consumers League is a good resource if you would like even more information on debit cards. It offers information and tips for responsible use of debit cards, including record keeping and theft report.

Now that I have learned all about debit, maybe I'll break my habit and dare to use my debit card now. But I'll probably take my checkbook just in case!

Courtesy of www.CardRatings.org. CardRatings.org features an independent, free consumer credit card ratings report which compares credit card interest rates, fees, benefits, rewards, rebates, annual fees, etc! The report is compiled by the consumer credit organization Citizens for Fair Credit Card Terms (CFCCT). CFCCT is entirely devoted to credit card research.

Our Sponsor

Free 35MM Camera - Just For Checking Us Out!

Snap to it and pick up this Kodak Pocket Camera for FREE! Just check out these *GREAT* Holiday stocking stuffers from Office.com, Fatbrain, One2OneServer.com, Free CDRom, & more. Got last minute Holiday shopping to do? Get it all done in one place... PLUS, get your FREE 35MM Camera! Visit TODAY!:

Free Camera

Wrap It for Less!
by Marybeth Henry

It's that time of year again, where we go through rolls and rolls of wrapping paper! What's a Frugal Mom to do? With a little creativity, you can save a bundle.

Here are some ideas:

Sunday Funnies Use the Sunday funnies. Especially for kids, this is a great way to wrap presents. Take the Sunday funnies (because they're color and more interesting) and use them to carefully wrap your gifts (so the receiver can read them again when the gift is unwrapped). If you know the receiver has a specific cartoon or cartoons that he/she really loves, be sure to put that one on the outside so he/she can see it. Wrap with a pretty bow to top off.

Old Greeting Cards Cut out old greeting cards. Grab brown paper bags, butcher paper or plain brown wrapping paper. Wrap the gift first, and then, using glue and glitter, paste the pictures from the greeting cards all around the gift for a special personalized touch. This also works with pretty stickers.

Rubber Stamps Stamp it! Rubber stamps are all the craze now. You can get rolling stamps, which give you a full line of repeated characters or just single stamps. Again, start with brown paper bags, butcher paper, plain brown wrap or tissue paper. Stamp to your heart's content and then wrap the gift. Again, this allows you to customize each piece of wrapping paper to the receiver's specific hobbies or interests.

Draw Draw It! This is a great activity for young children and makes a special "additional gift" for grandparents, godparents, close friends and more. Take plain white paper and let your little one draw or paint a picture on it. Wrap your gift in their art.

Dollar Store Finally, the dollar store is always a great place to find wrapping paper for less, and you also want to hit the "after Christmas" sales (if you have a place to store all the wrap) when everything is 50 to 75% off.

Happy Wrapping!

Marybeth Henry is the author of FamilyCorner.com Magazine's Frugal Mom Weekly. This newsletter offers frugal ideas, tips, and advice each week to help you in your daily life. To subscribe, send any email message to frugalmom-on@mail-list.com or visit http://familycorner.com

Frozen Battery
Ask Bob: The Auto Answer Man
by Bob DeP

Hi Bob,
I really need your help with my car trouble. I own 90 Chevy Lumina (car). It was parked outside on the street in cold weather (-25 degrees C) for one night and next morning when I went to start my car it didn't start and sounded like my battery seemed dead. So I jump started my car and it started right up. But as soon as I took the cables off it would quit running.
I read your earlier article on this which suggested my alternator was dead. So I changed the alternator and started my car again. This time it started up okay and kept running even after taking off the booster cables. I thought my problems were over.
So to recharge my battery, I left it running and came inside. I went back to shut it off but it was already got turned off on its own. The headlights were very very dim. Once again battery didn't seem to have any power. I noticed the headlights were sort of flashing (going brighter and dimmer).
I don't know if my battery is dead or something else could be wrong. Can you please help? I don't want to walk in -30 degree C temperature for too long. Appreciate your help and hope to hear from you soon.
Raj

Raj,
You probably have 2 problems, one a frozen battery (when they are weak they will freeze) and a bad alternator. I bet the car just stalled on its own. Will the car start again if it is jumped and stay running if you remove the cables? If so, then I bet all your troubles are due to a poor battery. In addition, you really should NOT charge a battery with an alternator. It really is not designed for that. Basically, all it is meant to do is supply enough power to run the car. Anything left over, it sends back to the battery to replenish what was used during the start process. But, it should not be used to charge a dead battery.

Good Luck!
Drive Safely!

Bob
The Auto Answer Man

If you have a question for Bob send it to: AskBob@stretcher.com. He's able to answer many of them personally and we'll include the best questions in future issues of The Dollar Stretcher.

Our Sponsor

20% OFF All-Ink.com Inkjet Cartridges & Refill Kits!

Epson, Canon, HP, Lexmark, Compaq, & More. Save 65% and get a 110% Guarantee when you shop at All-Ink.com. Now you can afford to print.

Plus, you don't even have to leave home! We deliver to your door in 2-3 days. All-Ink.com will save you valuable time and hard-earned money.

Free Priority Shipping with $40.00 Orders. See what our customers have to say..."Your prices are out of this world! I have ordered ink form you many, many times, and it always arrives before the week is up. -S. Louis." When you order by Dec. 27th you will save an additional 20% on your order by using Coupon Code "dollar"! Join our Monthly Specials email list on our home page for your chance to save even more!

Tips, Quips, Quotes and Questions

We bought a kit home and were very pleased! The walls come in 8-20 ft sections (they are expertly packaged and arrived in premo condition via barge to Alaska) and fit together great. The company has been around for over 25 years so it isn't a fly by night operation.

The kit included everything we needed to build the house from the sill plates on up to the roof. The interior and exterior walls were included (preconstructed) with the windows, vapor barrier and exterior siding installed. Exterior doors were also included. The kit cost us less than it would have cost to purchase the lumber to build our home and was much easier and faster to put up. The quality was excellent. When you get done you have a structure that looks like a stick built house. All the interior and finish work is left to do (wiring, plumbing, insulation, sheetrock, etc.).

They have lots of floor plans to choose from and you can modify a floor plan to meet your needs (within reason) very easily. The finished product is better than we ever imagined. I highly recommend checking them out. www.farwesthomes.com
Terri F.

more advice on how to reduce costs when building a home at www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001218a.cfm.

I too, wanted to save an orchid, once. I went to a craft store (Michael's) and bought a canister of a flower drying desiccant. It not only worked quickly, but the orchid was preserved beautifully. I've since tried other flowers and fern leaves with good results.
And the best part? It's reusable!
Shar

more suggestions for preserving your special flowers at www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001218b.cfm

I got this idea while shopping for Christmas tree ornaments to pass out as gifts in the office. In the store, I saw the prettiest display. Clear wine glasses (which were for sale) were filled with gold tinsel. The effect made the glasses sparkle, and looked absolutely gorgeous under the lights. I decided instead of purchasing gifts bags, I would purchase clear coffee mugs ($1 each), fill with gold tinsel, and put the ornament ($1 each) inside the mug and tinsel. Then I "fluffed" the tinsel to hide the ornament. The effect was gorgeous, especially under the bright office lights, and the "package" turned into another gift!
Lynn J.

more holiday gifts and traditions at www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001218f.cfm

Please send your tips to gary@stretcher.com with "Tips" as the subject. If we use your tip or reply to 'Can You Help' in any of our publications we'll send you the next three issues of our print newsletter as a 'thank you'.

Additional Stories on the Dollar Stretcher Website This Week:

How to Shop for the Holidays
Without wrecking your finances
http://www.stretcher.com/brm/001213a.htm

Mortgage Rate Analysis
Time to take a look at your loan options
http://www.stretcher.com/brm/001214.htm

Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas
by Deana Ricks and Angie Zalewski
You're running out of time. Now what?
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001218c.cfm

The Difference Between Credit and Debit
by Curtis Arnold
Those card don't all work the same
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001218d.cfm

Wrap It for Less!
by Marybeth Henry
Pretty...not, pretty expensive!
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001218e.cfm

Holiday Gifts and Memories
Looking for some great ideas?
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001218f.cfm

Let's Bake A Tradition
by Ashley Ocampo
You'll enjoy the taste today and the tradition for years
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001218g.cfm

Lower Rates
What a Fed cut will mean to borrowers, savers
http://www.stretcher.com/brm/001208a.htm

Online Brokerages
We rank them for you
http://www.stretcher.com/brm/001211b.htm

Holiday Decorating for Pennypinchers
by Kathleen Wilson
Not a lot of cash to decorate with panache
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001218k.cfm

Plastic for Teens
Cardmakers lure the next generation
http://www.stretcher.com/brm/001211a.htm

Holiday Stuffing Recipes
by Brenda Hyde
No holiday dinner is complete without stuffing!
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001218m.cfm

Ask Miserly Moms: Inexpensive Holiday Gifts
by Jonni McCoy
Some last minute saving ideas
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001218n.cfm

Disabled Debt Disaster
by Gary Foreman
Health problems have created a financial crisis
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001218p.cfm

Home, Sweet Home
What's the ultimate do-it-yourself house?
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001218a.cfm

Preserving Memories
She wants to save flowers from a special occasion. Here's how
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001218b.cfm

Getting Started
Immigrants struggle to establish credit in America
http://www.stretcher.com/brm/001208.htm

Swept Away
Do your homework when using a sweep account
http://www.stretcher.com/brm/001212.htm

Not Just for Teenagers Any More
by Bernadette Engel-Whitley
Why not go back and get that degree?
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001218h.cfm

A Waste Not Snowman
by Amanda Formaro
A fun family holiday craft
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001218j.cfm

Future Counts?
One day, you might vote at an ATM
http://www.stretcher.com/brm/001212a.htm

Ask Dr. Don
Marrying into bankruptcy and loans requiring interest-only payments
http://www.stretcher.com/brm/001213.htm

Ask Dr. Don
Refinancing with bad credit and investing vs. prepaying mortgage
http://www.stretcher.com/brm/001211.htm

Frozen Battery
Ask Bob: The Auto Answer Man
Can your battery actually freeze?
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001218r.cfm

===================

FOR YOUR SMALL AND HOME BUSINESS

Good Online Ads
by Bob Osgoodby
What makes for a great online ad?
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/001218q.cfm

Early Warning
Reading, heeding the warning signs that your business is in trouble
http://www.stretcher.com/brm/001211c.htm

Small Biz Advisor
Know the difference between being a contractor and an employee
http://www.stretcher.com/brm/001212b.htm

See You Soon
To build repeat online business, offer low prices, high security
http://www.stretcher.com/brm/001213b.htm

Ho Ho Ho?
Employers replacing holiday gifts with performance pay
http://www.stretcher.com/brm/001208b.htm

2000 in Review
13 events that shaped small businesses
http://www.stretcher.com/brm/001214b.htm

I Would like to:

go to the Front Page

Subscribe to "The Dollar Stretcher" free weekly email newsletter

visit the Problem Solving Center

visit the Dollar Stretcher Library

browse the 'by author' index

search 'by date' index

check out Past Issues of Newsletter

"Can You Help This Reader?"

drop by 'Tips, Quips & Quotes'

send email to the Editor of "The Dollar Stretcher"

Copyright 2000 "The Dollar Stretcher, Inc.". All rights reserved unless specifically noted.

Write to the Dollar Stretcher at:
Dollar Stretcher
PO Box 23785
Ft. Lauderdale,
FL 33307