Dollar Stretcher Tips
Dollar Stretcher Tips courtesy
of TheDollarStretcher.com.
Email your time or money saving tip to Tips@stretcher.com.
No Down Payment
There are so many options and programs available that having
no money for a down payment should not create problems. Even
borrowers with troubled credit history can find 100% financing.
If your rate seems a little high, ask your loan officer about
doing a pre-payment penalty or an adjustable rate mortgage (aka
ARM). I do a lot of 100% financing and have found that most
first time homebuyers are payment sensitive. By doing a pre-payment
penalty and/or an ARM, your payment is much lower. Please make
sure you ask the details of the prepayment penalty. For example,
some pre-payment penalties will allow you to sell your house
to someone other than a close family member and the penalty
is waived. However, if you win the lottery or refinance and
pay the loan off before the prepayment term is expired, you
may have to pay a hefty penalty. Also, ask your loan officer
and realtor about doing a FHA loan, "rolling in" 3%
of your closing costs and using down payment assistance, if
necessary. All of these things should keep you from taking much,
if anything, to the closing table.
Billie
Sr. Loan Officer
Really Free Stuff
There's a free service, hosted on Yahoo, with a web site www.freecycle.org/.
You sign up to become a member, then you receive one email each
day listing all of the free items that are available in your
city, or surrounding suburbs.
So far, in one week I have picked up (from
within a 3 mile radius of my home) a patio table and 4 chairs,
crafts for my little girls to do outside, and 2 large dog crates
(for rescues). Tonight I am going to pick up a plethora of educational
software and a marble standing lamp.
Free membership, free goodies, from computer
equipment, cameras, clothes, Lego's, you name it. And best of
all the price is right!
Shelly
Fort Lauderdale
Released!
I thought I was really being smart buying an off-brand wrinkle
releaser at the dollar store. I hate to iron, and it uses electricity,
etc.
Today I started spraying a blouse with water
that I was going to get the wrinkles out by throwing in the
dryer for a few minutes, when right before my eyes the wrinkles
started to come out. So I went ahead and smoothed the fabric,
just like the wrinkle release products recommend, and my blouse
is now wrinkle-free. I tried it on several more of my blouses,
and a shirt of my husband's that is part polyester and cotton.
(The first ones were all cotton.) I had to use a little wrinkle
release on my husband's shirt, but not as much as usual.
No electricity needed, no hours standing over
an ironing board, no adding heat to the kitchen, and, best of
all, no chemicals sprayed in the kitchen.
Donna E.
Appliance Repair Made Easy
A great source of information on repairing your appliances is
your local appliance parts store. I recently repaired my own
electric dryer when the belt broke. I called the appliance parts
store to locate the part (after checking to make sure I knew
the exact model name and number). Not only did he have the part
but he gave me great instructions on replacing the belt that
were not listed in my appliance repair book. Cost: $20 and 15
minutes of my time.
Debbie P.
Cheap Clip
Why buy one of those fancy "Chip Clips" in the grocery
store? If my husband or I don't finish a bag of anything (not
just chips), I use one of those spring-hinged wooden clothespins
to close the bag.
Works just as well, and at something like $1.99 for a bag of
50, it's a lot cheaper than the plastic ones that will break
in a month!
Nancy
Dog Bed
I recently acquired a two-inch thick piece of foam, cut to accommodate
the size of my dog. I took an old vinyl tablecloth and made
a "pillowcase" to fit the piece of foam and sewed
the ends together. I placed my dog's eighty-nine cent rug on
top of her new "pillow."
Now, if my dog has an accident, it's easy enough
to wash off her "pillowcase," and it's inexpensive
to replace her rug.
Regina
Super Window Wash
I saw an ad the other day for a spray that would remove spots
from windows. My windows have been looking pretty shabby and
I thought I'd give it a try, but I nearly choked on the $8.95
(plus shipping and handling) that they were charging for a quart
spray bottle.
It occurred to me that since my sink scrub
powder "hadn't scratched yet," it wasn't likely to
start scratching my windows. I sprinkled a little onto a wet
rag, gave my windows a good rub down, and then washed them as
I normally do. Now my windows are spotless!
Doreen B.
Corbett, OR
Detergent Stretcher
My mother told me to use some washing soda with the wash and
cut back on the amount of detergent that is used.
Cynthia T.
'Packrat' Cure
Here's my solution for reducing the amount of "stuff"
in your home, when you fear you might need it later.
Find some good sturdy boxes, some paper and
packing tape. Write a number only on the outside of the box.
Box up all the things with which you're not sure you can part.
Write a list of the things you place in each box, then seal
the box with packing tape, and store it in your basement, attic,
closet, etc.
After a year has passed, if you haven't had
to dig into the box, you can safely assume you'll never need
it again. Take the box to your local charity shop or a church
clothes drive and get a charitable contribution deduction on
your taxes.
If you have a strong will, open the boxes and
have a yard sale, but be warned! A friend of mine thought this
would work for her, until she opened the boxes and caved into
keeping everything again!
Mary in Kentucky
Demolition Derby
My honey and I were able to save a load of money by going to
demolition sales. In our area of Florida, a lot of folks buy
property, planning to tear down an existing building. However,
before the dwelling is removed, the pieces (flooring, toilets,
faucets, etc.) are offered for practically free.
You have to tear things out and prepare them
for use in your own home. It is a lot of extra work, but in
our case, we had more time than money. The pieces we have pulled
out of these homes are beautiful and we managed to have our
dream home built using 22% recycled pieces.
Ro B.
Kid-Safe Weed Killer
Instead of buying expensive weed killer, use ordinary white
vinegar. Put vinegar in a spray bottle and spray away. Weeds
will die within 3 to 5 days. It is safer than commercial weed
killer for pets and children.
Kathleen H.
Sundry Tracking
I keep track of the date I open large sundry items such as cleaners,
cotton balls, toothpaste, shampoo, etc. I started doing this
out of curiosity because some things seemed to last forever
even though I used them constantly, such as bulk shampoo. By
checking the date I first started using an item, I can better
gauge how many I need to keep on hand or how many to buy when
I come upon a sale.
This has saved me money because I always seemed
to buy extra items when they were on sale and ended up with
a lot more items than space. Now if I come upon a sale and know
that I have an extra item on hand (I keep a spreadsheet of my
extra items in my planner in my purse), I know I can let that
sale slide and wait for a sale closer to the time we should
be running out of that item.
Lisa
Instant Donuts
You can make your own donuts at home anytime with refrigerated
biscuit dough. Simply drop one biscuit at a time into hot oil
(a deep fryer works well, or use about a 1/4 inch of oil in
a skillet). Brown lightly on all sides and remove and drain
on paper towels. Roll in powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar or melted
chocolate and serve warm. Yummmmm!
If you purchase rolls of dough at four for
a dollar, this treat is very economical. You can also get fancy
and cut out the middle of the biscuit to make them look like
real donuts, cut out the middle after cooking and fill with
jam, or simply serve them plain and warm. And watch your family
devour them!
Lucy K.
Lanesville, Indiana
Travel Memories
I take a small, unlined notebook, a glue stick, a couple pens,
and markers with me when I travel. Pick a notebook that is a
little bigger than a postcard.
Save any little bits of paper, such as receipts
with store names, boarding passes, ticket stubs, restaurant
sugar packets, etc. Every night, glue in your bits, and in a
couple sentences, describe the highlights of the day. Also,
glue in postcards and leave room for photos to be added when
you get home.
I have done this on several trips, both domestically
and internationally, and looking back through the books, I'm
reminded of many situations that surely would have slipped away
without those memories!
Cheryl
From Kitchen to Compost
I got tired of running to the composter a couple of times per
day to get rid of the kitchen waste. So I started to put coffee
grounds, peelings, egg shells, etc. in a plastic bag in the
freezer. Once the bag is full, then I take it to the composter.
No more smelly kitchen and the freezing makes
the peelings, etc. break down quicker once they are in the composter,
so I soon have some organic fertilizer to feed to my plants.
Liz M.
Do you have a good idea for saving time and money? Send it to
Dollar Stretcher Tips, PO Box 141460, Bradenton FL 34280-4160
and we'll send you a copy of our print newsletter.
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