In This Week's Issue:
Protect Your Healthcare Insurance
Making sure that your claim is paid
A Buyer's Guide to Ebay
Much more than just an online garage sale
The Fastest and Cheapest Food on the Road
Keeping it inexpensive and nutritious
10 Travel Tips
Making that longed for vacation more enjoyable
Inexpensive Bachelorette Party
A great time for the bride-to-be and her guests for less!
Summer Is the Time for Teaching
Teaching skills can be fun and build confidence, too!
Why You Need to Start a Daycare
The 'basic math' of staying home versus working outside the home
Living Seasonally
Bring out each season's fullest potential
What Have You Got to Lose?
No cost weight loss
Make Your Yard a Work of Art
Garden designers share tips for easy, affordable outdoor artistry
Fun Factories
Free tours for the whole family
My Story
She turned a discarded wine crate into a small successful side business
Mother vs. Girlfriend
Caught between two payments
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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Scrapbooking On the Cheap
Having fun and being frugal can go together
Simplifying Your Life
Finding freedom in simplicity
5 More Ways Where Spending Money Could Save You Money
More smart ways to part with your hard-earned cash
Summer Fun
Inexpensive summer fun ideas
5 Ways to Brighten Up Your Bedroom, for Free!
A happier bedroom for less
Traveling for Tokens
Using "real" money to pay for vacations
Banish Blackheads
Forget the expensive 'pore strips'
Can't Afford to Get Organized
We'll show you a way
Broken Down Budget
Don't quit. Fix it!
Take Control of Your Time
And you'll take control of your life
Updated Kitchen Lighting
What works best in your kitchen?
Summer Event Savings
Plan ahead to save under the summer sun
Baby Food
Feeding baby healthy foods on the cheap
Garden Room Decorating
Add garden charm to wherever your room is
Can you help this reader?
Readers want your help!
Rent or Buy Foreclosure?
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: How to Improve Your Credit Score -
It is important to take control of your financial information
Last week's lesson:
Is Your Score Correct? -
How to make sure your credit reports are accurate
Your Story
Do you know a way to save time and money? Then please take a moment to "Tell Us Your Story"
Advertise Your Product or Website
Content for Your Website, Newspaper or Newsletter
Writers' Guidelines
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Inflation Fighters
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"SOS" Doesn't Always Mean Help
Our favorite butcher remembers his Marine Corps roots
Building a Casual Wardrobe
Updating your look for less
An Organized Shopping List
See at a glance what is needed
Sweetly Frugal
Satisfying the sweet tooth without breaking the bank
The Dollar Stretcher Poll
Will high gasoline prices change your vacation plans?
Property taxes trip up naive homeowners
Property taxes can add up to a hefty amount for homebuyers. It pays to know how they are calculated, and what to do to prepare for them
5 ways to finance 'bargain' properties
Buying low to later sell high may be on your mind with the current state of the real estate market, but do you have the money to take advantage of that Golden Rule?
4 frugal ways to entertain your kids
Here are four budget-friendly ideas for keeping your kids entertained this summer
8 rules to break to build wealth
Diverging from the traditional mind-set may put you on the right course to riches, says Robert Shemin, author of "How Come That Idiot's Rich and I'm Not?"
Getting the best deal
Saving money is the in thing these days. But some forms of extreme saving can be just plain gross
Creative retooling strategies for job hunters
These days you need to dig deep for creative strategies to land a job. Experts offer retooling tips to six jobless Americans that everyone can learn from
When creditors invade your bank account
Creditors can garnish wages and levy bank accounts until the debt is paid
Refinancing: Great deals ... if you qualify
If you've kept your credit score up and can prove your income, here's where and how to find the best refi deals
Tapping IRA for college may reduce aid
Using IRA funds for college can reduce your chances of getting financial aid
Mom's age opens up debt payment options
A 90-year-old woman has more debt payment options because of her age
Savings: Are better yields ahead?
Lower interest rates have depressed yields on CDs and money market funds. If the Fed stops lowering rates, it's good news for savers. Here's why
Utility payment plans have some flaws
Equal payments may sound like a great idea, but watch out that you don't get hit with a surprise bill at the end of the year
Fame & Fortune: Delta Burke
This actress learned lessons about life and finances the hard way
Laws prohibit abusive collector tactics
An abusive collector may be running afoul of state and federal law
Plant a garden, harvest savings
Gardening can save you money on fruits and vegetables -- if you do it right
Sinking luxury-car values
People nearing the end of their luxury-car lease may be in for an unpleasant surprise
No three-day return policy on new lease
The moment you drive a lease car off the lot, it's yours
Lender offers bizarre advice to couple
A couple unhappy with a loan will have to deal with the finance company
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
Ask Dr. Don
Lender not obligated to recast mortgage - Lenders often will recast a mortgage, but are not obligated to do so
Math says man shouldn't prepay mortgage - For at least one homeowner, prepaying a mortgage may be a mistake
Hard work will locate lost insurance policy - A little detective work should reveal the whereabouts of a missing insurance policy
FICO score over 780 is good enough - Worrying about boosting a FICO score above 780 is a waste of time
Annuity may be poor choice for mother - An annuity should not be used to replace the dividend stream of a woman's insurance stock
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
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Saving you time and money each week since 1996
last update: May 22, 2008
The Dollar Stretcher Community
Share what you know with your frugal friends!
My electric bill went up $60!
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Can leaving a computer on overnight drive up an electric bill by that much?
How long will gas last?
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So you're saving gasoline by not driving your car... how long can you keep the same gas in it without hurting the car engine?
Saving eggs
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She's got so many eggs she can't use them up in time. Members come to her rescue with ways to save them. Got another idea? We can use it
Have you ever made wind chimes?
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A discussion brought forth good directions for making your own from our own stretchpert in hobbies and crafts
Never visited The Community? We'll make it easy for you to make new frugal friends in the About These Forums section
Credit card consolidation
Methods for credit card consolidation and how to save money in interest and finance charges
Do-it-yourself credit cards studied
Based on her research of low-income women, a Harvard lecturer says they would be better served by a 'self-directed credit card,' allowing them to set their own credit card limits and restrictions
Reduce retirement risk: Diversify investments
Maturing Loans columnist Alan Klayman advises against the one-stock retirement bet and says the best way to generate income is through a well-planned income strategy
Why celebrity credit cards fail
We'll buy their branded clothes, their branded perfumes, their branded sheets -- but we won't use their branded cards to buy them. Why celebrity cards haven't found a place in our wallets
Advice for a credit card rookie
There are all kinds of credit cards with all kinds of different rules. Make sure you pick the right card for you
Credit card consolidation
Methods for credit card consolidation and how to save money in interest and finance charges
Canceling a credit card and your credit score
Elements to consider when canceling a long-standing credit card and how that cancellation will impact your credit score
GAO: Government pays massive credit card fees, too
Just like gas station owners and other merchants, the federal government pays interchange fees for credit card and debit card transactions -- and its bill is huge, says a new GAO report
The credit card-terrorism connection
Interviews with terrorism experts and readings of case studies from around the world reveal that the credit cards have become a favored tool of terrorists
Credit card travel tips
From airline frequent flier miles to foreign currency conversion, know the rules of the road before you hit the road this summer
Securing travel plans
audio
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Someone wants to know if it's important to buy travel insurance, in case the unexpected happens
Over the last 2 years, we have paid off more than $68,000 in debt
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For us, the secret is good, consistent communication
Joint Money Before Marriage
Audio
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Richard wants to get started on the right foot with his fiance, but his first idea might not be right
We Traded In Our Paid-For Car!
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Did we keep it and enjoy our reward? NOPE. We went looking for a NEW vehicle to have bigger and better
For more Dave Ramsey Click Here
Dollar Stretcher Blogs
U.S. citizens working abroad - A certain amount of income earned overseas can be excluded from taxes
Avoiding capital gains tax on a home sale - There is a time limit on taking advantage of the real estate capital gains tax exclusion
Home equity loan on a rental property A reader wants to use a home equity loan on one rental to pay off the balloon mortgage of another rental
No taxes due for some investors - It's true. The capital gains rate for some taxpayers is now zero. But the key word is "some." Are you eligible for this tax break?
Selling depreciated rental real estate
When you sell a rental property, part of the gain is considered a recapture of depreciation deductions
Deferring tax on condemned rental - Owners of condemned rental real estate can defer capital gains if they purchase another rental
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