Saving Money

The Saving Money Journal Issue #67

2006-02-28T00:47:00.000-05:00

"THE SAVING MONEY JOURNAL"

"Helping You Save Money On Everything You Buy"

February 25, 2006
Issue #67

-----------------------------------------------------------

"THE SAVING MONEY JOURNAL".
You are receiving this newsletter because you requested a
subscription. Unsubscribe instructions are at the end of
this newsletter.

-----------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
-----------------------------------------------------------
-> Editorial:
-> Add Our Email To Your Address Book
-> Feature Article:
-> Weekly Tip:
-> Money Saving Ideas And Advice:
-> Question From Reader:
-> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information:

-----------------------------------------------------------
EDITORIAL
-----------------------------------------------------------

Welcome to the current issue of The "Saving Money Journal".
I would like to welcome you and all of the new subscribers
and I would like to take this opportunity to thank ALL my
current subscribers for their support and patronage. This
newsletter is for your benefit.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Well, my computer had another meltdown this week (as did I),
and so I'm working past my deadline to get this issue out to
you. Because of a cranky program, I've decided to included
the download for my special report within this issue instead
of sending you a second email. If you're like me, you hate
to spend time going through all the junk emails just to find
the gems.

You can always find the newest issue of my newsletter up on
my blog at http://howtostopwastingmoney.blogspot.com
each week. So, if you miss it, it's archived for you.

Here's the download information for my special report

www.howtostopwastingmoney.com/download.htm

Don't forget to read it. It's a real eye-opener.

www.howtostopwastingmoney.com/download.htm

If you enjoy this newsletter, please inform your friends about it
and tell them to sign up at:

www.howtostopwastingmoney.com/lp.html

They'll be glad they did.

Sincerely,
Barry Ferguson "America's Saving Money Man"

----------------------------------------------------------
ADD OUR EMAIL TO YOUR ADDRESS BOOK
----------------------------------------------------------

Add our email address to your address book and never miss a
copy of our newsletter!

Make sure you receive email from us. Sometimes, regular
"spam blocks" block legitimate email. Your action is
required to ensure you receive emails from us

Email: Barry@howtostopwastingmoney.com
Domain: www.howtostopwastingmoney.com

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FEATURE ARTICLE
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"How Saving Time Can Save You Money"
- by Barry Ferguson

© 2006 Barry Ferguson - All Rights reserved
www.howtostopwastingmoney.com

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Managing our time is a key component when it comes to saving
money. Without the proper discipline, saving money would
become a hectic chore that would eat away at our ability to
save money. When we have control of our time, it lessens the
stress we encounter each day and helps us to focus on what we
need to do to save money.

Understanding the value of money and the financial limits we
place on ourselves can have disastrous effects on our wallets
if we refuse to manage our time wisely. Making uninformed
decisions without the benefit of a structured plan can have
far reaching consequences if we do not take the time to set
priorities.

Time management is a skill that few master and even less get
around to doing. Juggling the time we have seems to be the
norm in our society and this in turn, has led many to feel
the effects of "burnout". When burned out, critical thinking
is lost. This special element is the key component to making
our plans come to fruition. Without it, our decison making
would never materialize and our finances would suffer from
mismanagement and neglect.

The key to saving money is using time to our advantage.
Planning out our shopping trips according to the time we
have is often overlooked. But this is an important factor
in getting things done.

When we go shopping, it is up to us to find the best way to
use our time to save money. To combat this, stores use
customer surveys in search of ways to keep us from leaving
too early. The longer we stay, the more prone we are to
making impulsive purchases.

To save both time and money, consumers need to be more
aware of all the ways that are available to save. Discounts are
there for the taking if you know where to look. The internet
has become a bargain lover's paradise because of the amount
of information that can be used to research sales.

Saving money through the use of coupons, coupon codes, and
discount cards are just few of the ways consumers can save but
unless they follow through with a plan the savings will never
materialize. Using lists and knowing the layout of the stores
can cut time from your shopping but if you are in a hurry to
get it done, forgetting items can cancel out any time or money
savings.

Time management is the process of making wise decisions to
achieve a set goal as well as the flexibility to save money.
Without proper time management, we can never hope to improve
our financial situation nor will we ever develop good habits.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Barry Ferguson is known as "America's Saving Money Man".
He is the author of four consumer oriented books which include
"How To Stop Wasting Money!", "The Saving Money Mindset",
"How A Family of Five Can Feast on $35/Week", and "7 Ways
To Get More For Your Money In The New Economy" and has
15 years of practical, real world experience saving huge
amounts of cash every time he shops!
How much do you want to save?

www.howtostopwastingmoney.com
www.feaston35.com

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*-----------------WEEKLY TIP-------------------*

Looking to buy a new car?
To see what types of incentives, rebates, and lease programs that are
available to consumers at any given time, try this handy tool that is
put out by AOL in partnership with Edmunds.com. This info is a must
before you start looking for a new car. Pick out a make and model,
click on the link, and the info will be displayed in a new window.
Copy this information to bring with you to the dealership to help in
securing the best possible price.

Remember, do your homework before making a decision to buy a
car. These hints are there for you to make use of to save yourself
big money.

http://tinyurl.com/bdypd

*-----------------WEEKLY TIP-------------------*

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MONEY SAVING IDEAS AND ADVICE
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TRAVEL GIFTS
Do you want to give the gift of travel? It's much easier by
way of travel cards. Several of the major airlines are now
looking to gain a stronger foothold in an industry that has
had it's share of problems over the past few years due to
bankruptcies and higher fuel costs.

You can buy $50 and $100 gift cards for American West Flights
at Right Aid, Longs Drug Stores, 7-Eleven, Staples, and Radio
Shack. You can also purchase America West gift cards of up
to $500 at Winn-Dixie and Kroger Stores. Plus you're able
to access these gift cards right from their website.

www.americawest.com or www.aa.com

Southwest Airlines sells gift cards valued at $10 to $1000 at
www.southwest.com

Continental Airlines offers gift certificates ranging from $25
to $10,000 that you can send right to the recipient from your
e-mail.

www.continental.com

HEALTH SAVINGS
If you haven't heard the news, cranberries have been proven
to destroy human prostate cells in lab experiment. What
makes them so potent? New research has confirmed that the
flavonoids found in cranberries interfere with the signals
that tell cancer cells to multiply. Just make sure that any
type of cranberry product must be mad up of 100% cranberries
or you won't get the full benefit.

Do a search online for cranberry coupons or visit:

www.thecouponclippers.com to save money.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SEASONAL SALES
Do you buy what you want when you want it or have you learned
the secrets that seasonal sales posses? The idea of buying
items during seasonal sales is nothing new but using it to
your advantage is. The best shoppers know that January is
the best time of year to get bargains on linens while April
brings out the big fashion markdown. We've all taken
advantage of the back-to-school promotions during July and
August as well as the the pre-winter sale during October
but have you sat down and made a list as to when each big
promotion occurs? Using this knowledge along with a little
detective work can nab you big bargains especially those
en-of-season clearance sales. Just waiting a even a few
weeks can cut as much as 50% off merchandise that retailers
want to clear out to keep their stores inventory up-to-date.
Comparison shop and check prices on the web and you'll find
the bargains are easy to come by.

INVESTOR SAVINGS
If you invest your money in CD's, you've probably noticed
that rates have shot up over the past six months. What you
may not be aware of is that you may not be getting the best
rate from your bank. The average rates are hovering around
4.00% mark but a little comparison shopping may net you rates
closer to 5.00% on the internet.

It now pays to buy CD's from either out-of-state or internet
banks whose low overhead can affords them to give higher
rates. In fact, some of the best rates you'll find come from
the online subsidiaries of regional banks that are looking to
expand their sphere of influence.

Minimum deposits have also fallen for you to take advantage
of these deals. The money invested is FDIC to $100,000 and
you can check out the Federal Deposit Insurance website at:

www.fdic.gov

Click on the link that says consumers and then on bank find.
Here, you'll be able get information on any bank and whether
they are FDIC-insured plus it has listings of bank HQ and
some useful information about the bank.

The fed is about to raise the lending rates one more time so
if you wait a month or so, you may be able get a much better
rate. Banks are fighting to get your business so let the
competition put money in your pocket.

                     MORE FREE MEDICAL CARE
EYE CARE

Looking for free eye care? Here's a way to take advantage
of something right in your backyard. In the community section
of your local newspapers, are ads run by groups such as the
Kiwanis, Lion's Club, or Elks Club.

These organizations offer free eye clinics and glasses to
people who may not be able to afford them. You can also
check out your state's office on aging and consumer
services.

www.eldercare.gov 1-800-677-1116

DENTAL CARE

1- If you're afraid of the going to the dentist because it
just costs too much, well, here's a way around that. In the
USA, there are over 50 dental schools that operate clinics
that provide everything from basic services such as check-ups
and fillings to more elaborate services such as implants,
bridgework, and dentures.

Each student dentist is supervised by a professor and the
work is all guaranteed. Many of the procedures are free
based on conditions set-up by the schools professors that
they are teaching their students.

To locate a dental school near you, log on to the American
Dental Education Association's website. Be sure to click
on the link that says "Dental Schools & Allied Education
Programs" to do your search.

www.adea.org

2- Check your state's dental society or association for a list
of participating dentists who do volunteer work for those who
cannot afford dental care.


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QUESTION FROM READER
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This question comes from a reader in Oakland, California:
Is is true that shopping on a empty stomach increases your
food bill but at least 50%? isn't that kind of high?

ANSWER:
The answer is yes and no. Yes, that it increases your food
bill but no for an increase of 50%. The actual numbers are
way beyond that. The experts claim then numbers are closer
to being double of what they spend when normally. But I'll
go one step further. Never shop after an emotional upheaval
or when your stress is at an elevated level. By shopping
with a clear mind, you can shop more efficiently and be more
economically conscious of what you are actually doing.
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Well, that's about it for this week's issue. Until next time.

Sincerely,
Barry Ferguson - "America's Saving Money Man"

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© Copyright 2006 The Get Wealthy Place LLC
-----------------------------------------------------------

Online issues can be found at

www.howtostopwastingmoney.com/newsletter.htm

If you do use the material, please send us a note
so we can take a look. Thank you.

-----------------------------------------------------------

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We will never share your name or email address with
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This email is never sent unsolicited. If you wish to
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Important. Put unsubscribe in subject line.

-----------------------------------------------------------

The Get Wealthy Place LLC
barry@howtostopwastingmoney.com
732-533-3813

Supermarket Shenanigans

2006-02-26T00:09:00.000-05:00

Has this ever happened to you?

You go into the grocery store ready to buy some food when
you find out that they've changed the whole store around?

Gets you mad, doesn't it?

Want to know why they do this?

To make quick cash from their shoppers.

You and I know this isn't the way to treat your customers
but it happens more than you think. And even when the
store is doing well.

Here's the reasoning behind it.

Stores are always testing out new ways to make money. Now
there's nothing wrong with that but to do it in a way that
confuses consumers and have them make impulsive purchases
goes against sellers ethics.

Stores won't admit to this and will tell you you're crazy
but we know what's happening.

What can you do to combat this.

First of all, slow down. Be aware of where items have been
moved to.

Next, stick to your list. Don't buy something else because
you can't find the item you're looking for. That's crazy.

Finally, if you still want to shop at the store, learn the
new layout and adjust your shopping accordingly.

Hope this tip helps you out.

Take care,
Barry Ferguson "America's Saving Money Man"

www.feaston35.com

The Saving Money Journal

2006-02-25T23:59:00.000-05:00

"THE SAVING MONEY JOURNAL"

"Helping You Save Money On Everything You Buy"

February 18, 2006
Issue #66

-----------------------------------------------------------

"THE SAVING MONEY JOURNAL".
You are receiving this newsletter because you requested a
subscription. Unsubscribe instructions are at the end of
this newsletter.

-----------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
-----------------------------------------------------------

-> Editorial:
-> Add Our Email To Your Address Book
-> ID Theft Alert
-> Feature Article:
-> Weekly Tip:
-> Money Saving Ideas And Advice:
-> Question From Reader:
-> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information:

-----------------------------------------------------------
EDITORIAL
-----------------------------------------------------------

Welcome to the current issue of The "Saving Money Journal".
I would like to welcome you and all of the new subscribers
and I would like to take this opportunity to thank ALL my
current subscribers for their support and patronage. This
newsletter is for your benefit.

-----------------------------------------------------------

This week I have uncovered some great savings for you and
some things you need to be careful with or else lose your
shirt. Saving money is not hard but does take a little
bit of ingenuity. Remember, it's your money and you
should be in control of it. Don't let anyone force you
to part with it unless you understand what you're getting
yourself into. value first and then price. Without that,
you'd be stuck with cheap items of inferior quality. Make
sure what you by is not only a bargain but one that will
last.

If you enjoy this newsletter, please inform your friends about it
and tell them to sign up at:

www.howtostopwastingmoney.com/lp.html

They'll be glad they did.

Sincerely,
Barry Ferguson "America's Saving Money Man"

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ID THEFT ALERT
----------------------------------------------------------

This fact may surprise you but a majority of businesses and
colleges still use people's SSN as their ID. If you're not
aware, this is the easiest way to have your ID stolen.
Rutgers College of New Jersey is the latest college to
finally change this awful practice. For years and years,
the USPS used it's workers SSN as their ID number, having
just decided over the past year that this could lead to
unscrupulous individuals stealing it's worker's ID's.

If your workforce still uses this outdated method, speak up
and have this changed immediately! It could be your ID that
may be stolen next!

----------------------------------------------------------
ADD OUR EMAIL TO YOUR ADDRESS BOOK
----------------------------------------------------------

Add our email address to your address book and never miss a
copy of our newsletter!

Make sure you receive email from us. Sometimes, regular
"spam blocks" block legitimate email. Your action is
required to ensure you receive emails from us

Email: Barry@howtostopwastingmoney.com
Domain: www.howtostopwastingmoney.com

-----------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE ARTICLE
-----------------------------------------------------------

"VOIP - The New Way To Save Money With Your Phone"
- by Barry Ferguson

© 2006 Barry Ferguson - All Rights reserved
www.howtostopwastingmoney.com

------------------------------------------------------------

The time for Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) has come of
age. You now have the ability to transmit your voice over
the internet without having to use another computer. The
biggest and best known of these companies is Vonage. With
these companies, you are now able to call any landline
from your own phone with the help of an adapter, thereby
eliminating the need for a landline.

By using your high speed internet connection, a simple
microphone, and speakers, you have everything you need to
make VOIP work for you. In the late 1990's, VOIP was
just getting stated but the quality was poor. With the
upgraded computer systems and cheaper high speed internet
connections, it has become affordable for every consumer.
Rebates abound and many companies are doing all they can to
win your business.

Many of the telephone companies have jumped on the bandwagon
to take advantage of the huge market that is available. AOL,
Verizon, Sprint, and even the cable companies have joined the
growing list. This is your chance to make competition work
for you to save money on long distance.

If you use instant messaging programs and enjoy IMing your
friends and family, VOIP has made these programs even better.
By using a microphone and a set of speakers you can combine
your instant messaging with VOIP to enable you to call and
talk to anyone in the world through your computer. But that's
not all, VOIP can even hook up a web cam or digital camera
and use video while speaking on the phone. Add some Instant
messaging and email and you can do multitask with losing
focus. VOIP's potential has yet to be tapped. This is a
strong argument for switching to VOIP from your landline.

VOIP has many advantages that are worth the small price. As
part of your package, you get many features that you would pay
for on a standard landline such as call forwarding, call waiting,
voicemail, caller ID, 3-way calling, caller ID block, repeat
dialing, and call transfer. This alone makes it a worthwhile
investment.

Many of the leading companies are trying to keep up with Vonage
by introducing features such as area code selection and the
ability to take your number with you. This is a great feature
that helps you stay in contact with family and friends if you move
by keeping your number local for them. This way they don't have
to make expensive long distance phone calls thereby saving
them money.

Regarding your savings, VOIP cost significantly less than your
standard telephone service. You can make unlimited long distance
phone calls and still get spend less than your landline. Combine
that with ease of use and you have everything you need to go
without a landline.

With the amount of high speed internet users increasing every month
VOIP is here to stay.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Barry Ferguson is known as "America's Saving Money Man".
He is the author of four consumer oriented books which include
"How To Stop Wasting Money!", "The Saving Money Mindset",
"How A Family of Five Can Feast on $35/Week", and "7 Ways
To Get More For Your Money In The New Economy" and has
15 years of practical, real world experience saving huge
amounts of cash every time he shops!
How much do you want to save?

www.howtostopwastingmoney.com
www.feaston35.com

------------------------------------------------------------

*-----------------WEEKLY TIP-------------------*

Here's a great tip for you that is not well known. If you
are staying at an independent hotel and you frequent them
through the FrequentDriverMiles.com program, most of the
participating hotels will reimburse you for your gas based
on the amount of miles you drove to get there. In essence,
they are paying your gas bill for the trip. You will need
a dated receipt on the day you arrived for proof, but it's
one incentive that pays to go on vacation.

This is an incentive that is gaining popularity among guests
because of the price of gas. Other incentives that are
available are bargain rates on rooms that are booked through
the program's website.

To find a member hotel close to your destination, visit:

www.frequentdrivermiles.com

*-----------------WEEKLY TIP-------------------*

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MONEY SAVING IDEAS AND ADVICE
----------------------------------------------------------

HOMEOWNER INSURANCE

To make full use of your homeowner's insurance, it's wise to
keep an inventory of everything in your house. You may think
this is overdoing it but studies show that those who are
unprepared, pay the heftiest price. If you have to make a
claim, you have a detailed list of information that the
insurance can use to make a determination.

When having any work done by contractors, ask for detailed
estimates of all work that needs to be done and then send
those estimates to your insurer. If they deny your claim,
you have the right to ask for the language in the policy
that allows the denial.

But beware, it's imperative that you have special riders for
things such as collectibles, jewelry, art, antiques, and
electronic equipment. Your policy may not cover these things
at all.

CAR INSURANCE

When the time comes to renew your car insurance policy, it's
best to start about 2-3 months before to shop and compare
prices. It never hurts to always be on the lookout for
cheaper prices. Compare not only prices but coverage options,
terms, and payments options. With the influx of new carriers
committing themselves to insuring cars in your state, you may
be able to get a better deal by shopping around. To compare
and get a list of all insurers in your state, go to:

National Association of Insurance Commissioners

www.naic.org

MOVIE RENTALS

If you enjoy renting movies, you may not like what I've
recently uncovered. If you rent DVD's from NetFlix, you're
in for a rude awakening. People who rent the most DVD's
from NetFlix (more than 11 a month) have the hardest time
getting the DVD's they want. They send up costing the
company more money than casual renters. When you rent from
NetFlix and take the top plan, ($17.99) you risk getting
sent to the end of the line for your selections if you
rent too much. Check the user agreement and you'll see.

MORTGAGE SAVINGS

Be wary of mortgage brokers. They have no obligation to get
their customers the best loan possible. In fact, many of
these brokers push loans that are only beneficial financially
to themselves instead of to their customers. They have
agreements with title agencies that end up ballooning the
closing costs. If your state allows it, find a title
company yourself. Ask them questions about charges, how
much these charges are, and what type of discounts they offer.
When you take control of your own mortgage, you'll be able to
save money and pay less for services rendered.

FREE MEDICAL CARE

The National Institute of Health (NIH) is funded by the federal
government and is one of the nation's leading research centers.
At the NIH, there are over a 1000 different research programs
being run that researchers are busy studying the newest
procedures in treatment of every type of disease. Researchers
are looking for patients to study and if your condition meets
the qualifications you could receive free medical care. at the
NIH hospital in Bethesda, Maryland.

To get more information and to see if you qualify, please
visit:

National Institute Of Health
Patient Recruitment
Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center
Bethesda, MD 20892

www.cc.nih.gov 1-800-411-1222

CREDIT CARD SMARTS

If you have a credit card issued by Chase, Discover, and MBNA,
you're in for a treat. These companies are now providing
temporary credit card numbers without any charge for their
members to avoid ID theft. These cards are used for single
transactions only and for when you are not sure whom you
are dealing with. The number is linked to your regular
account but the place where you are buying from never sees
your original card number. Many consumers are unaware of this
and can avoid getting themselves into trouble by taking this
small precaution. Call your card issuer for more details
about this program.

-----------------------------------------------------------
QUESTION FROM READER
-----------------------------------------------------------

This question comes from a reader in Colorado Springs, CO.
Is it just me or are free checking accounts really not free?
I see this advertised all the time but if you look at the
fine print, you'll see otherwise. What should I be looking
for when I open a new account?

ANSWER:
You're right. many banks seem to offer free checking but they
have loopholes that can cost you plenty. When you talk about
free, it usually means no minimum-balances are required nor
are there any monthly charges. But banks have begun sneaking
in little fees than are more than making up for lost charges.
Language such as being charged for using a debit card, talking
to a teller, and ATM fee. You name it, their trying it.
Your best best is to ask for a list of fees before you open an
account and determine if you will be using those services.
Make a list of the types of banking you do and narrow your
search down to banks that don't charge for those services.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Well, that's about it for this week's issue. Until next time.

Sincerely,
Barry Ferguson - "America's Saving Money Man"

-----------------------------------------------------------
© Copyright 2006 The Get Wealthy Place LLC
-----------------------------------------------------------

The Saving Money Journal Issue #65

2006-02-12T23:06:00.000-05:00

"THE SAVING MONEY JOURNAL"

"Helping You Save Money On Everything You Buy"

February 11, 2006
Issue #65

-----------------------------------------------------------

"THE SAVING MONEY JOURNAL".
You are receiving this newsletter because you requested a
subscription. Unsubscribe instructions are at the end of
this newsletter.

-----------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
-----------------------------------------------------------

-> Editorial:
-> Add Our Email To Your Address Book
-> Scambusters
-> Feature Article:
-> Weekly Tip:
-> Money Saving Ideas And Advice:
-> Question From Reader:
-> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information:

-----------------------------------------------------------
EDITORIAL
-----------------------------------------------------------

Welcome to the current issue of The "Saving Money Journal".
I would like to welcome you and all of the new subscribers
and I would like to take this opportunity to thank ALL my
current subscribers for their support and patronage. This
newsletter is for your benefit.

-----------------------------------------------------------
This has been a very trying week for my family and I due to
the scam and fraud being perpetrated by the online money
processor called Stormpay. Since I use Stormpay on one of
my sites as my merchant account, I've had nothing but
headaches trying to recover over $4800 in money that they
have stolen from my account. I have had to go to the police
and file theft charges, to the bank to file a charge that they
made unauthorized withdrawals from my account, and to call
my credit card company to also file charges that Stormpay
made unauthorized charges to my credit card. And to top it
off, I've had to file a report with the FBI. What a mess!

Stormpay has frozen over $8600 of my money from my business
and I don't know when I will see it but just the same, they are
no longer my merchant account. They originally had forced me to
drop Paypal from my website so now I'm giving them the boot!

I don't want you to feel sorry because these things have happened
to me. All I ask of you is to pray that my family recovers from this
and I get my money back.

See accompanying section on scambusters

I'm sorry but I just had to get this off my chest! Now let's go save
some money!!!

If you enjoy this newsletter, please inform your friends about it
and tell them to sign up at:

www.howtostopwastingmoney.com/lp.html

They'll be glad they did.

Sincerely,
Barry Ferguson "America's Saving Money Man"

----------------------------------------------------------
SCAMBUSTERS
----------------------------------------------------------

If you haven't heard about what is happening with Stormpay,
then here are the facts:

Stormpay has frozen the accounts of many online autosurfing
companies as well as legitimate marketers and is being
investigated by the FBI and the Attorney Generals from at
least three states. They have begun taking money from
members accounts without their knowledge and complaints are
piling up at the BBB in Clark, Tennessee.

Stormpay is an online payment processor similar to Paypal
and is used by millions of people and businesses around the
world to collect money from online auctions, autosurfing
sites, and to send money from one email address to another.

The problem here is, no one knew that they would do this.
They own a site called NetIBA, (this is straight right from
their website), is The Internet Identity Bureau (NetIBA) is
an identification database service who collects and verifies
voluntary information on Internet merchants and individuals.
Collected information is made available to various consumer
groups, complaint resolution groups (both government and
non-government), merchants, and law enforcement agencies
who are affiliated by NetIBA membership.

You can see the scam that can occur. By having the power
to verify anyone or any business, they can set up their own
business, verify it, steal your money, and then take off
without you being able to recover your money.

Getting to the bottom of this is a messy and rather painful
experience for many. Losing or having thousands of dollars
stolen is hard to avoid if the authorities are doing it to
you.

Even if you call the BBB in the place where the business
presides, you may not find any complaints lodged against the
business. But by the time complaints are filed, the
business has vanished, leaving a trail of deceit and despair.

Your lesson... always make sure of who you are dealing with
and protect yourself at all time or suffer the financial
fate that hundreds of thousands of people are now facing
with Stormpay.

----------------------------------------------------------
ADD OUR EMAIL TO YOUR ADDRESS BOOK
----------------------------------------------------------

Add our email address to your address book and never miss a
copy of our newsletter!

Make sure you receive email from us. Sometimes, regular
"spam blocks" block legitimate email. Your action is
required to ensure you receive emails from us

Email: Barry@howtostopwastingmoney.com
Domain: www.howtostopwastingmoney.com

-----------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE ARTICLE
-----------------------------------------------------------

"How To Avoid A Loan From Hell!"
- by Barry Ferguson

© 2006 Barry Ferguson - All Rights reserved
www.howtostopwastingmoney.com

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You're ready to buy that house or car you've been dreaming
about yet your credit rating is slightly damaged. Are you
setting yourself up for a bad loan?

The answer is yes if you're not aware of the contract terms
that are available to you. Many unscrupulous loan companies
are sticking one-sided loan terms into agreements which
saddle consumers with abusive conditions they can never hope
to repay. These types of loans are abusive even for those
with bad credit.

The cost of borrowing money has escalated with the rise in
interest rates and this coupled with emphasis on consumer's
credit rating has led to an upsurge in predatory lending.
Comsumers have to be careful about the loans that are
available and need to ask questions so they are familiar
with the loan terms. This way they avoid a bad loan before
they sign a contract.

Don't set yourself up for a bad loan just because you have
less than stellar credit. Be aware that you have options
available to you and a reputable loan company will work with
you to get you the best possible terms and conditions based
on more factors than just your credit rating.

Here are some important matters to consider before signing
those loan papers.

1- Don't pay any money upfront to get a loan. If you're
going to pay points, they are paid at closing. The only
money that should be paid upfront is an application fee and
many loan companies will waive that fee to obtain your
business.

2- Avoid balloon payments. This only makes it harder for
you to pay back the loan. Having to pay a large balloon
payment later on only defeats the purpose of the loan, it
is not cost effective, and if you are strapped for cash,
this type of loan has a 46% greater chance of foreclosure.

3- Don't borrow more than what you need or can afford to pay
back. Predatory lenders force consumers to borrow larger
amounts than what they can pay back forcing them to default
on their loans.

4- Be aware of all fees to be paid. Each lender is required
to send you a good-faith estimate of what your costs of the
loan will be within three days of when you apply for the loan.
You have the right to question each and every line of the
estimate. Many times, the loan company will waive or lower
some of the fees to retain your business.

5- Say no to high pressure tactics. Don't sign any loan
documents until you have a chance to have a third-party look
through the paperwork. This would mean a lawyer, an accountant,
or a local credit counselor who is affiliated with either the
National Foundation For Credit Counseling or the Association of
Independent Consumer Credit Counselors.

6- Shop around and compare loan terms, conditions, company
ratings, and costs. This way you have more information to go
by when putting a loan together. Too many consumers look at
just rates and fail to see beyond the hype.

7- Avoid prepayment penalties all together. This fee adds
to the cost of the loan and if you improve your financial
situation, this stops you from refinancing. You also need
to avoid the Rule of 78 which is an old method of calculating
interest that becomes a hidden prepayment penalty. Instead,
look for the word "actuarial". This means you will pay for
the actual length of time you use the credit.

With the rise in refinancing to pay off credit card debts and
the high cost of home purchases, it make sense to find a loan
that is not only affordable but one that you can live with
over time.

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Barry Ferguson is known as "America's Saving Money Man".
He is the author of four consumer oriented books which include
"How To Stop Wasting Money!", "The Saving Money Mindset",
"How A Family of Five Can Feast on $35/Week", and "7 Ways
To Get More For Your Money In The New Economy" and has
15 years of practical, real world experience saving huge
amounts of cash every time he shops!
How much do you want to save?

www.howtostopwastingmoney.com
www.feaston35.com

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*-----------------WEEKLY TIP-------------------*

Have you ever been denied when using your Visa or Mastercard
because you were making a purchase under a minimum amount?

It is illegal for any business to do so. Both Mastercard
and Visa have standards that require all merchants to
process purchases for any amount regardless of store or
merchant policy.

If you are denied, you can file a complaint with both Visa
and Mastercard by calling their customer service number.

Visa 1-800-847-2911
Mastercard 1-800-300-3069

What happens next is both Visa and Mastercard will notify
the merchant's bank and state that the merchant is not
following banking rules and regulations. Since the bank
and the merchant have a binding contract, the bank can
impose fines, and even revoke the merchant's right to
process Visa and Mastercard purchases if the merchant
will not change it's store policy

*-----------------WEEKLY TIP-------------------*

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MONEY SAVING IDEAS AND ADVICE
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CAR INSURANCE SAVINGS

The rental Car agencies and your very own car insurer are
keeping a big secret from you. Even though the cost of
renting a luxury car is at bargain prices, there is an
insurance trap that you, as a consumer need to be aware of.
Your personal auto insurance may protect you only up to
amount of your own car's value. But, if you have an accident
with your rental car, you may be liable for the difference
between the value and the actual worth.

Just because you can get insurance through a credit card when
renting a car, it doesn't mean the credit card company will
cover a luxury car. A credit card may have a cap on the
coverage amount and not even cover as much as your own car
insurance. Before renting, first check with your own insurer
and find out if it makes a wiser choice to pay extra for the
company's collision damage waiver.

ELECTRONIC BILL PAYMENT

If you're tired of paying for stamps every time you need to
send in a bill, there are now alternatives that can actually
save you money and do really work.

1- Many banks will let you send your payment directly from
your checking account for free but the downside is there is
a limit on the amount of transactions that you can do monthly.

2- You can use a new bill-paying service that is free called
CheckFree.

www.checkfree.com

They offer a tutorial of their service with FAQ's, security
measures you need to be aware of, and how it can save you
both time and money.

3- If you don't want to or can't use these services, then
there is an alternative solution called automatic bill
payment. You can have your utility, credit cards, car,
and mortgage loans deducted from either your checking or
savings account. You can have the option of installing
full, partial, or recurring payments that are handled by
your bank. You just tell them who, where and how much
to send each month and they do the rest.

PREPAID WIRELESS

For many cell phone users, the price of the calling plans is
getting out of hand. They either don't use all their
minutes every month or the plans start at a much higher
monthly charge than what they are willing to pay. Consumers
have begun switching to prepaid wireless phone cards to save
money each month and gain control over their phone. Prices
for phones run between $30 for a no-frills model to over $100
for a camera phone. What appeals to users is the idea of
having no contracts, no monthly bills , overage fees, or
early termination fees.

Here are some things you should look for when going prepaid
the prepaid route.

1- Look for cards that have minutes that don't expire for
at least 60 days.

2- Compare prices both online and off.

3- Watch out for some carriers that add fees to your prepaid
minutes such as a monthly usage fee. You should never have
to pay a monthly charge.

4- Always buy your minutes in bulk. They are much cheaper
and you can buy them according to normal phone usage.

5- Check the carrier to see how far and wide their range is.
You don't want to be limited in your calling area.

6- You can buy prepaid wireless cards at discount electronic
stores, office supply stores, and online retailers. Here
are a list of the biggest competing carriers.

1- Virgin Mobile
2- TracFone
3- Cingular
4- T-Mobile
5- Verizon

DEBIT CARDS

Teaching your teenage or college age children how to be
responsible spenders takes patience and the right tools.
Fortunately, teaching good spending habits just got a
bit easier. If you want to monitor their spending but
are scared of giving them a credit card, try using one
of the new family prepaid debit cards.

The Visa Buxx Card www.visabuxx.com
Allow Card www.allowcard.com

Are two of the best cards available that can aid parents
in monitoring their children's spending. These cards
will let you recharge the cards either manually or
automatically which means your children can't overcharge
or overspend the card.

Parents can logon to the website and review their kids
spending habits and patterns. Both sites have money
management lessons and a review of all fees and user
agreements.

COLLEGE SAVINGS

If you are trying to save money for your children's college
tuition, then you've probably heard about 529 accounts.
These accounts can be a great help in adding your savings
but many of the funds are not all their cracked up to be.
many of the funds have high expense ratio's and the returns
are nothing to write home about. To learn more about how
to use 529 Savings Accounts for college funds visit:

www.savingforcollege.com

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QUESTION FROM READER
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This question comes from a reader in Dearborn, Michigan
The stores I shop at always seem to be out of the items that
are advertised on sale. Is it worth it to get a rain check?
They never seem to have the item in stock when I'm there.

ANSWER:
Your answer is a twofold one. First I would find another
one if it is convenient for you. And second, yes it is
worth it. If the item is not in stock at the time it's
on sale, those rainchecks are like gold.

Why? Because if you don't have a coupon for it now, do
a search a you 'll uncover coupons that you can use with
the raincheck. It's like getting a double dip of savings.

One some tips for you to consider. If the store is out of
the item, talk to the store manager and find out when the
item will be back in and when they expect to put it out on
the shelves. It always gets more results if you go to the
top for your answers. Next, I would alter my shopping times
if you are able, so you can better take advantage of the sale
items. Try it for next few times you shop. You may see a
big difference.

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Well, that's about it for this week's issue. Until next time.

Sincerely,
Barry Ferguson - "America's Saving Money Man"

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© Copyright 2006 The Get Wealthy Place LLC
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Online issues can be found at

www.howtostopwastingmoney.com/newsletter.htm

If you do use the material, please send us a note
so we can take a look. Thank you.

-----------------------------------------------------------

The Get Wealthy Place LLC
barry@howtostopwastingmoney.com
732-533-3813

Some Supermarket Savings

2006-01-25T23:28:00.000-05:00

Say this three times fast! Some Super Supermarket Savings...
It's a real tongue twister!

But as hard as it is to say, that's as hard as some people
feel it is to save money at the supermarket.

Oh, they've tried and tried but they haven't found the secret
yet. Do you feel like you're one of them? Just not getting
enough for your dollar at the grocery store?

You see, there's a method to their madness. Stores want your
money and will do everything possible to get it, short of
stealing it, (don't think they've haven't already tried) to
add to their bottom line.

Now here's some information that may surprise you.

In the year 2004, over 90 million households saved themselves
$3 Billion on groceries with coupons. That's the good news.

Time for the bad news...

Over $315 Billion worth of coupons were thrown out and never
used. What a shame! To see that much money go to waste.
And that's what it is, a waste.

Coupons are a money-saver's secret weapon. But you already
knew that. But what you probably didn't know was, cutting
out coupons from the Sunday papers is the worst place to get
your coupons.

Here's a tip that can put a boatload of real cash in your
pocket.

Target your coupons according to what's on sale in the store
circular and what's on your list.

The question you're probably asking is...

There do I find the best coupons?

Do a search for coupon cutting services and you find the
answer.

Tomorrow, I will let you in on which one is the best. But,
you have to do the search first.

You'll find out why in tomorrow's tip sheet.

Till then,

Barry Ferguson "America's Saving Money Man"

-----------------------------------------------------------

Barry Ferguson is known as "America's Saving Money Man".
He is the author of four consumer oriented books which include
"How To Stop Wasting Money!", "The Saving Money Mindset",
"How A Family of Five Can Feast on $35/Week", and "7 Ways
To Get More For Your Money In The New Economy" and has
15 years of practical, real world experience saving huge
amounts of cash every time he shops!
How much do you want to save?

www.howtostopwastingmoney.com
www.feaston35.com

-----------------------------------------------------------
© Copyright 2006 The Get Wealthy Place LLC
-----------------------------------------------------------

Are You Saving Enough Money?

2006-01-24T23:23:00.000-05:00

"THE SAVING MONEY JOURNAL"

"Helping You Save Money On Everything You Buy"

January 21, 2006
Issue #62

-----------------------------------------------------------

"THE SAVING MONEY JOURNAL".
You are receiving this newsletter because you requested a
subscription. Unsubscribe instructions are at the end of
this newsletter.

-----------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
-----------------------------------------------------------

-> Add Our Email To Your Address Book
-> Editorial:
-> Feature Article:
-> Weekly Tip:
-> Money Saving Ideas And Advice:
-> Question From Reader:
-> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information:

-----------------------------------------------------------
EDITORIAL
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Welcome to the current issue of The "Saving Money Journal".
I would like to welcome you and all of the new subscribers
and I would like to take this opportunity to thank ALL my
current subscribers for their support and patronage. This
newsletter is for your benefit.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Well, another week has come and gone and what have you done
to save money? The more you procrastinate, the harder it
becomes to acquire those things you want in life.

We're about two-thirds done with January and are you on
pace to reach your goals?

The reason I mention this is because I get a ton of e-mail
asking me how do I save so much money and how can they
duplicate my success?

This is why I wrote "How To Stop Wasting Money! Yet when
people tell me it costs too much, they're missing the bigger
picture. The equate price with hardship and don't think
outside of the box. It goes way beyond the money itself.

Here are a few reasons why.

First, the amount of money you save each week, month, and
year will absolutely dwarf the cost of the book if you follow
the ideas spelled out. This is important. people want instant
fixes in their lives and expect you to do it for them. I've put
the key in the ignition, it's up to you to drive the car.

Second, cost is important when making a purchase but value
is the ultimate determination. The value you receive from
"How To Stop Wasting Money! will allow you to do more with
your money than you ever thought possible. Many of us are
caught up in a spiral of spending and wasting money and don't
know how to break free. This is your chance to do something
about your situation.

And finally, the difference between being frugal and being
cheap is defined as such:

Frugal is the art of knowing how to spend your money to get
the best value while being cheap has a negative connotation
which is based on the premise that you're not willing to buy
what you need no matter what the cost or value.

I don't want anyone to think that I'm just pushing my book to
make a fast buck. That's not the intention. I want you to
understand the reasons why I have priced it this way and how
much I want you to succeed.

Look, both my wife and I know what it's like not to have money.
We've both been poor and we've worked hard to help others
avoid that kind of life. This isn't some cheap, throw away little
book. There are powerful ideas that all add up to super savings
if you take the time to learn the principals. Your satisfaction is
more important to me than making a quick sale. My reputation
is on the line. I wouldn't stay in business very long if what I was
wasn't living up to my end of the bargain.

Just remember, I do appreciate you being my subscriber and I
wish you only the best.

If you enjoy this newsletter, please inform your friends about it
and tell them to sign up at:

www.howtostopwastingmoney.com/lp.html

Sincerely,
Barry Ferguson "America's Saving Money Man"

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----------------------------------------------------------

Add our email address to your address book and never miss a
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Make sure you receive email from us. Sometimes, regular
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Email: Barry@howtostopwastingmoney.com
Domain: www.howtostopwastingmoney.com
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FEATURE ARTICLE
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"Extended Warranties - Your Loss Is Their Gain"
- by Barry Ferguson

© 2005 Barry Ferguson - All Rights reserved
www.howtostopwastingmoney.com

------------------------------------------------------------

How much does peace of mind cost? When it comes to extended
warranties, it can add up to 30% of the item's price which
makes security an expensive measure indeed.

Extended warranties are supposed to be like an insurance
policy in case the product you purchase breaks down but this
isn't always the case. Some manufacturers will even
increase the length of the original warranty for a fee
which over time can cost more than the original item.

There are two types of extended warranties.

The first is where the manufacturer extends the original
warranty for an extra charge. Since many manufacturers
won't honor third-party extended warranties, it's best
to purchase it through the manufacturer so that the
consumer can have the item serviced by the company that
knows the item and won't go out of business leaving you
holding a worthless contract that cannot be used.

The second way is where a manufacturer contracts out the
warranty or service contract as they are widely known,
to a third-party provider. These service contracts do
not have any affiliation with the manufacturer and do not
insure the product as the manufacturer's warranty does.

From Consumers Reports to the Better Business Bureau to
the Federal Trade Commission, each cautions consumers
against buying extended warranties and even go so far
as to state that extended warranties are not a very good
investment.

For most electronic items, Consumer Reports found that the
cost of the extended warranty exceeded the cost of the
repair, thereby putting cash into the store's pocket.
Profit margins are small for electronics, especially when
stores have to keep prices low to compete. This has made
the extended warranty business a very lucrative one for
stores.

Store employees are encouraged to push these warranties onto
customers but not because they want you to have peace of
mind but for the commissions they bring. This has made it
increasingly difficult for the average consumer to say no.
Most salespersons will not give you the specifics of the
warranty nor do you have time to go over the brochure if
you can find it at the store.

In many cases, the extended warranty covers the same period
of time as the manufacturer's warranty, which means you are
paying for duplicate coverage, especially when it was free
to begin with.

Most electronic products have problems that occur either in
the first year when the product will already be covered by
the manufacturer's warranty or at the very end of it's life
when it's wearing out. Since most warranties cover only the
first three or four years of the product's life, those items
with longer life spans such as televisions, washers, dryers,
and home audio and video are more likely left out when their
problems start to happen.

According to Consumer Reports, less than 25% of items need
repair by the age of five which defeats the purpose of an
extended warranty. Improved product quality has also lowered
the need for repairs.

But this pales in comparison to the sneaky tricks warranty
companies play on unsuspecting consumers. These extended
warranties often come with certain clauses that excuse the
both the third-party and the manufacturer from having to fix
the product. A majority of the warranties do not cover
repairs that are needed nor damage by external substances.
This clause helps companies avoid fixing the product. They
concentrate their energies on covering those items that
don't break down or on the least expensive items. And to
go one further, some of these plans allow the company to
cancel the contract and refund it's price instead of
paying for an expensive repair.

The payoff for stores are enormous. Consumer Reports has
claimed that only 12-20% of the money paid for extended
warranties is ever used for repairs or claims while the other
80-88% is pure profit for the warranty company. And the
estimated profit margins for these warranties run between
50% and 60% of a store's sales. Combine this with the
fact that over 80% of consumer's never use their warranties
and you can see how important they have become to a store's
bottom line.

Here's how to avoid buying an extended warranty and still get
a useful life expectancy out of the product.

1- Research product reliability. Know which products have
good reputations and research the product. The more you
know the safer your choice will be.

2- Make sure the product comes with it's own manufacturer's
warranty that has at least a one year guarantee.

3- Compare manufacturer's warranties. As a consumer you have
this right. Retailers have to let you see the warranty that
comes with the product. They should have a copy on hand of
the warranty or they should open a box to show the warranty
papers to you.

4- If you purchased the product with a major credit card,
the card issuer may already have an extended warranty built
right in, and the coverage is exactly the same as the
manufacturer's.

5- Register the warranty as soon as you purchase the item
to validate coverage. Many consumers forget this part and
are left holding the bag when they are denied service.

Even though extended warranties are not a good idea, some
items you do need a service contract for. They are...

1- Projection, Plasma, and LCD TV's
2- Laptops
3- Digital camcorders

These high priced items are very expensive to fix and may
also be impossible to bring in for repairs. It is also a good idea
for any new type of electronic such as plasma TV's to get an
extended warranty because most of these products need to
have the problems debugged in the first few years of their
existence until they have a record of a repair history.

For these items you still must read and compare the included
warranties and make a decision as to whether the warranty is
worth the price.

Overall, extended warranties are a bad idea for consumers
and should be avoided at all costs. Don't be swayed by
fast-talking salespersons and always take your time in
determining if the extended warranty is right for you.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Barry Ferguson is known as "America's Saving Money Man".
He is the author of four consumer oriented books which include
"How To Stop Wasting Money!", "The Saving Money Mindset",
"How A Family of Five Can Feast on $35/Week", and "7 Ways
To Get More For Your Money In The New Economy" and has
15 years of practical, real world experience saving huge
amounts of cash every time he shops!
How much do you want to save?

www.howtostopwastingmoney.com
www.feaston35.com

------------------------------------------------------------

*-----------------WEEKLY TIP-------------------*

Did you know that every time you swipe your loyalty card at
supermarkets and pharmacies, your purchases are recorded
for the store's marketing purposes?

These records are now being sold to life and health
insurance companies to evaluate your your lifestyle and
to bill you accordingly. They can then base their prices
on your food and non-prescription drug purchases.

When you fill out the forms to get your store discount
cards, make sure you do not give them your SSN nor
should you give them permission to sell your information.

Always be vigilant with your personal information. It can
come back to haunt you later on.

*-----------------WEEKLY TIP-------------------*

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MONEY SAVING IDEAS AND ADVICE
----------------------------------------------------------

SMART CAR PURCHASING

1- Looking for alternatives to your local dealer when deciding
on buying a car? Why not use the auction listings found on
Ebay motors? This is a great place to find the car of your
dreams but how do you know whether the car is in good
running condition or not?

You can hire a certified car inspector through carfax.com
or ebaymotors.com for about $100. They will give you a
report detailing everything about the car and then send it
to you with their recommendation.

Once you've won the auction, you can have the car shipped to
your home address. Shipping costs do vary by the distance
of the vehicle and whether you choose an open or covered
transport.

Get 2-3 bids for this service. You can get a free estimate
from DAS at www.dasautoshippers.com

Using the auctions can save you a considerable amount of
money and you are assured that the car inspected will have
all defects reported to you.

All qualified passenger vehicle purchases are protected up
to $20,000 and all purchased parts & accessories are
protected up to $1,000 on qualified listings paid through
PayPal when using Ebay Motors.

2- Paying cash for a car just doesn't get the bang it once
did. As an incentive, more and more dealers are shying away
from giving discounts for cash. Instead, they are relying
more on financing to make their money as they are paid huge
sums from banks to finance their cars to customers.

If you take one of these finance deals, it is wise to look at
the fine print before you sign. If you want to pay off the
loan early (in the first two months) you may be assessed a
penalty or you may even void the finance deal thereby
having to pay the whole money up front with all of the
penalties, fees, and interest. This may also hurt your
credit score as the finance company will report those
penalties to the credit bureaus.

Get all the facts and see where you stand. Don't try to
play games with your credit. It can only end up hurting
you where you can least afford it... your wallet!

CAR INSURANCE

1- We all know how expensive car insurance can be so if
you have a less-than-perfect credit history it could mean a
rise in your rates. In 2004, rates dropped after four years
of increases and they have continued their upward move in
in 2005.

By fixing mistakes your credit report and increasing your
score, you can help lower your car insurance rates. Be
aware that your credit report has now become your path to
better rates for loans, credit, and better prices for home,
health, and life insurance, so it's up to you to be
prudent in exercising good judgment with your credit.

2- Higher premiums have also been linked to investment losses
by insurance companies. When the market drops, your rates
go up, but as usual, it takes time for your rates to drop
when they are making money.

3- For those of you who live in the city and don't own a car or
have car insurance, there's help for you. If you would like
to rent a car, you can save yourself some money by purchasing
a "Named Non-Owner Policy". It covers your liability when
you drive any car. The cost is based on your prior driving
record, age, and where you live.

You should also buy a collision damage waiver from the rental
car company to protect the rented car because the named
non-owner does not pay for damage to the rented car itself.

Named non-owner coverage does not include the collision or
comprehensive insurance that pays for fixing or replacing the
policyholder's own car if it is damaged or stolen. What
this type of coverage is specifically used for is in excess
of the liability coverage bought by the vehicle's owner.
In case of an accident, the vehicle owner's policy pays first,
up to the limits of the policy and then the named non-owner
coverage comes into play, only if the cost of injuries and/or
property damage exceed the owner's liability policy.

Take it for what it's worth. If you want to save some money
and you don't want to take out a regular insurance policy,
then this may be of service to you.

COUPON CODES

Coupons are not just for food. Nowadays, you can use coupons
for just about anything. Coupon codes are used to find
discounts on items sold throughout the internet.

Before using, make sure the code is correct, check the
retailers homepage for prices and offers, and do comparison
shopping to make sure you're getting a good deal.

Here are some good places to look for up-to-date listings:

www.keycode.com
www.allonlinecoupons.com
www.currentcodes.com
www.slickdeals.net
www.findsavings.com

If you are shopping for gifts, this can be a windfall for
your wallet. The discount is usually automatic unless it
comes with a rebate tied to it. Either way, it's a great
way to save.

CREDIT CARD SAVINGS

Most of us would love to be able to ditch the late fees if we
could but at what expense? That seems to be what's happening
now with some card issuers. The ads promoting no-late-fee
cards are gaining momentum but are they right for you?

Most of the cards won't let you miss deadlines for long. If
you do, you could be hit with high interest rates in excess of
30%. OUCH!! And if your payments are more than 30 days late,
any of those cards may report your lateness to the credit
agencies which could prompt other lenders to up their rates on
your other outstanding debts.

Another problem is the fact that not all of the penalties are
clearly represented. Once again, it is best to read all the
fine print or you will be paying more than just late fees.

Your best bet, as always, is to never buy more than you can
pay for and pay off your cards every month. No fees plus the
added benefit of staying within your budget. Credit is not
a right but a privilege. Use it accordingly.

-----------------------------------------------------------
QUESTION FROM READER
-----------------------------------------------------------

This question comes from a reader in Marlton, NJ.
I heard that cell phone numbers are going public soon. How do
I stop marketers from calling me and wasting all my minutes?

ANSWER:
Here is an excerpt from an email I just received from a friend
about this very subject: It reads:

FYI ...

Cell Numbers Going Public

JUST A REMINDER, less than 20 days from today, cell phone
numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you
will start to receive sale calls. YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR
THESE CALLS! These telemarketers will eat up your free minutes
and end up costing you money in the long run. To prevent this, call
the following number from your cell phone: 888-382-1222. It is the
National DO NOT CALL list. It will only take a minute of your time.
It blocks your number for five (5) years.

PASS THIS ON TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS.

You can register on line at:
http://www.donotcall.gov

Make sure that after you have signed up, you click on the link in the
email they send you. This is to complete your registration. You have
72 hrs. to complete the registration and then if a telemarketer calls,
you have the right to file a complaint against them.

------------------------------------------------------------

Well, that's about it for this week's issue. Until next time.

Sincerely,
Barry Ferguson - "America's Saving Money Man"

-----------------------------------------------------------
© Copyright 2006 The Get Wealthy Place LLC
-----------------------------------------------------------

Saving Money Journal Issue #59

2006-01-01T17:38:00.000-05:00

"THE SAVING MONEY JOURNAL"

"Helping You Save Money On Everything You Buy"

December 31, 2005
Issue #59

-----------------------------------------------------------

"THE SAVING MONEY JOURNAL".
You are receiving this newsletter because you requested a
subscription. Unsubscribe instructions are at the end of
this newsletter.

-----------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
-----------------------------------------------------------

-> Editorial:
-> End Of The Year Commentary:
-> Feature Article:
-> Weekly Tip:
-> Money Saving Ideas And Advice:
-> Question From Reader:
-> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information:

-----------------------------------------------------------
EDITORIAL
-----------------------------------------------------------

Welcome to the current issue of The "Saving Money Journal".
I would like to welcome you and all of the new subscribers
and I would like to take this opportunity to thank ALL my
current subscribers for their support and patronage. This
newsletter is for your benefit.

For most of us, the holidays are a very stressful time
both emotionally and financially and it goes without
saying that you've probably blew your budget but the
news isn't all bad.

Since today is the last day of the year, I thought it would
be appropriate to do an end-of-the-year issue focusing on
the good and the bad that has happened to all of us these
past 12 months plus ways we can make 2006 a much more
profitable and prosperous year.

If you enjoy this newsletter, inform your friends about it and
tell them to sign up at:

www.howtostopwastingmoney.com/lp.html

Have a happy New Year and may 2006 be your year to save big!

Sincerely,
Barry Ferguson "America's Saving Money Man"

----------------------------------------------------------
END OF THE YEAR COMMENTARY
----------------------------------------------------------

Financially, 2005 was a very hard year for many people in
the U.S.A. With two major hurricanes, Katrina and Wilma,
leaving death and destruction in their midst, devastation
was a common occurrence along the Gulf coast states as well
as Florida. These hurricanes did a tremendous amount of
damage to our economy and it affected many other parts of
our lives. This included higher gas prices which in turn
made consumer prices shoot up dramatically.

I don't have to remind you how just how high gas prices
soared and how it's going to affect your heating prices
this winter.

The war in Iraq has also taken it's toll on domestic spending
by increasing the budget deficit. It doesn't matter what your
views on the war, just remember, we're all paying for it
one way or another.

If you were in the market to buy a home, you not only
got sticker shock but interest rates climbed steadily
during the latter stages of 2005 and it made it difficult
to refinance without paying through the nose.

You've experienced the bad news now let's focus on some
good news for a change.

First, our country rebounded from the hurricanes by
donating billions of dollars, manpower, and love to help
their fellow Americans survive this tragedy. This showed
that if we all work together then we can change lives.
This is important because we all need each other to
survive. When we have someone we can count on, it
makes everything that much easier.

We received better-than-expected news about consumer
spending during the past couple of months which helped
jumpstart our our economy for the Christmas rush

We also saw the emergence of the internet as a full-blown
way to save money and it definitely put a major scare into the
local malls come holiday time.

---------------------------------------------------------

Now this is where you come into play. If you have been
following my newsletter, you have seen the incredible
amount of ways that you can save money. Since money
doesn't grow on trees it make sense then to keep what you
already have and make the most of it..

If you look at the economic forecasts for 2006, you may
see a gloomy outlook.

Here are some of the projected numbers:

GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT
2005
3.6%

2006
2.9%-3.0%

INFLATION
2005
3.4%

2006
3.7%

UNEMPLOYMENT
2005
4.5%

2006
5.0%-5.5%

INTEREST RATES
2005
4.5%

2006
5.0%-6.0%

If you notice, all the numbers are worse for 2006 than for
2005. But, if you know how to shop, you can blow those
numbers out of the water.

Learn how you can do it below:

www.HowToStopWastingMoney.com

This is a lesson that many are just finding out about. I've
been teaching these concepts for 15 years now and it makes
me laugh when I see so-called economists talking about
these ideas like they were just invented!

I hope you're excited about 2006 because we have some great
plans for you.

Now, if you're like the average household, then you're paying
about 13.5% of your after-tax paycheck to repay non-mortgage
type loans. This is a killer for those who can't pay their
credit card bills. Did you know that 4.8% of credit card
accounts were delinquent in 2005. This is why you need a
system that shows you how to manage your money and take
saving to a new level.

www.HowToStopWastingMoney.com

If you had any money invested in the Stock Market, you took a
big hit. The market ended with it's lowest annual move in 79
years as it finished down by .046%.

The S&P 500 rose only 3% while the NASDAQ gained only 1.4%.
Now you may look at the numbers and ask how does all of this
affect you? You're missing the point if you think none of this is
important. Our economy is headed for a weak 2006 and it's
going to cost you plenty if you don't have a money-saving plan
in place.

Remember, it's not HOW much you make but how much you
KEEP! Doing things the same old way gets the same old results.

Are you getting full value for everything you buy?

Are you doing everything you can to save money and take care of
your family?

If not, then 2006 may not be kind to you.

My family and I normally save between $8-10,000/year by carefully
using the techniques I outline in my book, "How To Stop Wasting
Money!".

Would you like to mirror what I do? Want to become a real
money-saving expert like me? Click the link below to take advantage
of my last sale of 2005. The book is still only $47 (50% off) until
the new year.

www.HowToStopWastingMoney.com

Hundreds have already done so and they have locked in their free copy
of the "How To Stop Wasting Money Action Guide" which is due to
be included with my book in late January. After that, the book will
go back to being sold for $97. Don't lose out. It could cost you
hundreds, even thousands next year!

-----------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE ARTICLE
-----------------------------------------------------------

"The Dirty Little Secrets The Supermarkets Don't Want You to Know"
- by Barry Ferguson

© 2005 Barry Ferguson - All Rights reserved
www.howtostopwastingmoney.com

------------------------------------------------------------

Being unorganized can add more stress to our already stressful lives
but how do we change old habits that continue to drive us crazy?

This is a question most people cannot answer.

The supermarkets are hiding dirty little secrets from you and it's
costing you plenty!

Shopping at the supermarket takes as much guts as driving an Indy
race car and is almost as dangerous. You see, most stores are set
up like mazes with the main idea being to keep you in the store as
long as possible to make you spend , spend spend.

As consumers, we are conditioned by the stores to buy their products
but they employ hidden psychological triggers that make us buy.
these include things such as music that played at different speeds that
force us to pick up the pace which in turn makes us spend more.

The music they play has been scientifically thought out to increase
consumer spending. This specially formatted music has a hypnotic
effect on shoppers and during holidays brings in huge profits for the
supermarkets.

Another dirty little secret that stores employ comes in the form of
discount shopping cards. These cards can give you big savings but
when they are scanned, your shopping history is downloaded by
the stores so they can tailor their products to your shopping habits.
Your likes and dislikes are there for the stores to take advantage of.

The next dirty little secret is contained in your store circular. The
way the circular is laid out, it causes confusion which in turn forces
consumers to overpay for items they thought were on sale.

Stores employ these types of confusion to get a leg up on their
competition. They need to keep consumers in the stores, interested
in their products, and buying or they will go out of business.

Stores have done survey and have concluded that consumers who
spend less than thirty minutes in the store spend an average of $1.70
per minute as opposed to those who stay in the store over thirty
minutes spend an average of $2.25 per minute. By laying out the
stores the way they do, stores count on impulse buying to make their
profits skyrocket.

Here are a few ways you can avoid these dirty little secrets and keep
more money in your pocket.

1- Make a list and get your coupons organized before you shop.

2- Put your list and your coupons in order of the aisles so you spend
the least amount of time in the store.

3- Know what food items you have at home so you don't buy
duplicates.

4- Set up your meals according to what's on sale and what coupons
you have.

Once you understand how supermarkets work, you can avoid
overpaying for your groceries and eat for less.
the least amount of time in the store

-----------------------------------------------------------

Barry Ferguson is known as "America's Saving Money Man".
He is the author of four consumer oriented books which include
"How To Stop Wasting Money!", "The Saving Money Mindset",
"How A Family of Five Can Feast on $35/Week", and "7 Ways
To Get More For Your Money In The New Economy" and has
15 years of practical, real world experience saving huge
amounts of cash every time he shops!
How much do you want to save?

www.howtostopwastingmoney.com
www.feaston35.com

------------------------------------------------------------

*-----------------WEEKLY TIP-------------------*

If you like to make coupons a part of your money-saving
lifestyle, then you need to seek out the coupon mom,
Stephanie Nelson. At her website, she has an incredible
amount of information relating to making coupons work
for you.

Go here to learn more:

www.couponmom.com

Anytime you can find information to help you save money,
go for it. I'm all in favor of finding more and more
ways to save.

She also recommends a few sites that can help you save money.

www.smartsource.com
www.boodle.com

Use them to keep more money where it belongs... in your
pocket!

*-----------------WEEKLY TIP-------------------*

----------------------------------------------------------
MONEY SAVING IDEAS AND ADVICE
----------------------------------------------------------

VACATION SAVINGS

When going on vacation, many of you have trouble keeping the
pounds off. here is a great website that can help you plan out
your meals by giving you the calories of many of the fast food
restaurants as well as regular meals from other restaurants.
This can help you avoid binge eating, unhealthy eating habits,
and keep you feeling better so you can enjoy your vacation

www.fatcalories.com

AIRLINE RIGHTS

Since many of you may be going on vacation soon, here are
some great tips for dealing with getting bumped or having your
flights delayed or cancelled.

What are your rights?

When your flight is cancelled by the weather it is considered a
force of nature and the airlines are not obligated to pay for any
extras. But, unlike many travelers who scream and yell to get
their way, being nice to the airline personnel can help you get
extra perks like upgraded meals and lodging. Being left stranded
for the night is no fun but neither is mistreating others. Remain
calm and show your care to others. You will be rewarded for
your kindness.

What you need to know...

If the plane is overbooked or a situation arises where there are
scheduled irregularities such as cancellations from mechanical
failure or missed transfers, you do have the right to ask for and
receive compensation. How much is up to the individual
airlines themselves.

All airlines want to get you to your destination and it's in their
interest (good public relations) to have you arrive at your final
destination as soon as possible. But things can and do go
wrong.

So before you go to the airport, log on to your airline's website
and print out the airlines "Contract Of Carriage", especially
Rule 240. These items spell out the compensation policies for
all situations - from providing passengers with meal tickets and
hotel rooms to the amount they will pay you back for overbooked
flights.

Remember, if you don't ask they won't help you. So be pleasant
but firm and you will get to your destination in the least amount of
time and inconvenience.

AIRPORT TIPS

When traveling from airports, print out your boarding passes and
tickets before going to the airport. This way you can avoid
people looking over your shoulder as you input sensitive personal
data into the machine. the instances of ID Theft is on the rise in
airports and you need to be careful.

-----------------------------------------------------------
QUESTION FROM READER
-----------------------------------------------------------

I've gotten a lot of feedback from subscribers who couldn't
believe the information contained about how to bypass the
automated phone lines and cut right to speaking with a real
live human being. But, they also wanted to know if they
could use this with a rotary phone So, here goes. I hope
I can explain this so you will understand it.

ANSWER:
In order to use this system, you need to have a touchtone
phone. Why? Because most of these phone systems are set up
for touchtone phones. These systems cannot handle a rotary
phone and automatically send you to an operator. But the
bad part of having a rotary phone is trying to work your way
into making these systems work for you. If you need some
information that the operator can't answer, then you will
have to find a way to get to the right party. So if the operator
cannot forward you to the right person or if you have trouble
because you can't input the right information into the system
then the advantage of reaching an operator is worthless. If
you have a rotary phone, do yourself a favor and upgrade. It
just makes things a lot easier for you. Phones are very cheap
now and you can do much more with a touchtone phone than
you could ever do with the old type. Hope that answers your
questions.

------------------------------------------------------------

Well, that's about it for this week's issue. Until next time. Have
a Happy New Year and keep On Saving!!!

Sincerely,
Barry Ferguson - "America's Saving Money Man"

-----------------------------------------------------------
© Copyright 2005 The Get Wealthy Place LLC
-----------------------------------------------------------

Chrismas Download Report - Shopping Safely Online

2005-12-21T23:11:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to send you a free Christmas gift today. This is
from my good friends at my-homebiz.com. Here's the link:

www.HowToStopWastingMoney.com/freereport.htm
You're probably getting some last minute gifts for loved ones
today but have you stopped to think about shopping safely
for those gifts?

www.HowToStopWastingmoney.com/freereport.htm
With ID Theft running rampant, it's hard to stop the abuse.
So, I'm giving you a gift that keeps on giving. Maybe one
day it will save you some big headaches form your ID being
compromised. At it's very least, it's a whole lot better
than the usual socks and underwear.

Once again, here's the link:

www.HowToStopWastingMoney.com/freereport.htm

Hope you enjoy it.

Till next time.

Barry Ferguson "America's Saving Money Man"

------------------------------------------------------------

What's Being Lazy Have To Do With Saving Money?

2005-12-21T22:59:00.000-05:00

Did you ever think that being lazy can save you money?

Well, think again!

Here's a great way to save money on others laziness.

Let me set the scene.

My wife and I went food shopping Friday night. We had
everything planned out beforehand. List and coupons
ready. We picked out our stuff and took a final spin
to the last aisle where the deli was.

Enter stage left - the Deli Manager.

We casually walk over and ask if anything's on sale.
Now we weren't expecting anything since it's close to
Christmas and everything's mostly gone... but that
night was different, very different.

The manager was carrying those plastic containers... you
know the ones you give to guests after a party with the
leftovers.

Anyway, the manager tells us that he's just putting out
some containers of meat ends. He comes right out and
tells us he's too lazy to put them in plastic wrappers
weigh them, and then put a price sticker on it.

We had that gleam in our eyes. Actually, my wife
grabbed my hand and nearly tore it off! You see,
those containers of meat ends (there where 4 of them)
each weighed over 2 and half pounds and were all
pre-sliced.

We had hit paydirt!!!! Why? Because in his laziness
he priced those containers at an unbelievable 80¢ each!!!

Man, we pounced on those like crazy! These meat ends
were regularly priced between $3.99 and $8.99/lb.
They included turkey, different kinds of ham, roast
beef, capicola, salami, and chicken. All BRAND NAMES!!

Now if you see where I'm going with this you're going to
smile. For $3.20 we got over 10 lbs. of meat ends that
probably should have cost us about $40.00.

So what can you use meat ends for?

How about making subs, putting them in soups and stews
(especially in the cold winter months here in New Jersey),
salads or even freeze them in the freezer bags for later.

Take it from me, when others are lazy, that's your
opportunity to save big.

Be watchful at the supermarket. There are always ways
to save. You can count on that!

Saving Money Journal Newsletter #55

2005-12-04T23:40:00.000-05:00

"THE SAVING MONEY JOURNAL"
"Helping You Save Money On Everything You Buy"
December 2, 2005
Issue #55

-----------------------------------------------------------

"THE SAVING MONEY JOURNAL".
You are receiving this newsletter because you requested a
subscription. Unsubscribe instructions are at the end of
this newsletter.

-----------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
-----------------------------------------------------------
-> Editorial:
-> Feature Article:
-> Weekly Tip:
-> Money Saving Ideas And Advice:
-> Question From Reader:
-> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information:
-----------------------------------------------------------
EDITORIAL
-----------------------------------------------------------

Welcome to the current issue of The "Saving Money Journal".
I would like to welcome you and all of the new subscribers
and I would like to take this opportunity to thank ALL my
current subscribers for their support and patronage. This
newsletter is for your benefit.

We are jam-packed with information this week and I've been
working overtime to keep you up-to-date. With Christmas
just around the corner, everyone wants to pick my brains
to find out how to save money this holiday.

We've got a lot going on these days. After many calls and
emails, I have decided to release an ACTION GUIDE to my
hugely successful book, "How To Stop Wasting Money! I've
been inundated with request to help explain all of the great
information contained in the book. For some, the 280 pages
are overwhelming and they don't know where to start. So,
here's what I'm going to do... I will have this Guide
finished by the end of the month and everyone who buys "How
To Stop Wasting Money!" will get it for free.

I will go in depth with all seven chapters and try to explain
how to get the most out of the book. I was planning to sell
it on it's own for $97 (it would be a huge bargain at that
price) but I want everyone who buys, to get the most for their
money.

I am also working on two more books as well as upgrading my
website. Please bear with me as things tend to go slowly.

Last, but not least, my "How A Family of Five Can Feast On
$35/Week" book has been getting huge radio airplay of late.
I've been doing massive amounts radio interviews all over
the USA and Canada the past week and I am booked till the
beginning of the new year. Check your local radio stations
for information. If you don't see or hear me on your favorite
station, please request them to book me so I can help everyone
save some money during the holidays.

Thank you all for making this newsletter so successful. It's
people like you who I appreciate the most.

I'll quit my babbling so we can get on with the NEWS!

----------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE ARTICLE
-----------------------------------------------------------
"7 Ways To Save Big On Your Grocery Bills"
- by Barry Ferguson

© 2005 Barry Ferguson - All Rights reserved
http://www.howtostopwastingmoney.com
------------------------------------------------------------
Spending too much at the supermarket has long been
something most consumers have gotten used to yet have done
nothing to combat.

It is especially apparent during the holidays when we are
all fixed for time and money. But there are ways to insure
that you never pay full price for anything.

Here are seven ways to help you avoid wasting money on an
item that makes up our second biggest expense behind mortgages.

First, know what items you have on hand. This is key. You
don't want to buy items you already have at home unless you
can can an unbeatable deal. This means take an inventory and
see what is sitting on your shelves. See what you can use right
away, and see what will remain.

Secondly, make your shopping list based on what you have, what
is on sale, and what coupons you have. This list will become
your menu for the week. When making this list, make sure your
list is done according to the store's aisles. This way you
don't have to walk all over the store wasting valuable time.
Once you finish one aisle, it's on to the next until you're
finished.

Stores have done surveys and they have found that consumers who
shop longer than thirty minutes spend an average of $1.70 per
minute while those that shop longer than 30 minutes spend over
$2.25 a minute. Armed with this knowledge, stores set up their
stores like mazes to keep us shopping for longer periods of
time. Because of this, shoppers become frustrated and end up
making impulse buying decision costing them serious amounts
of money.

The third way to save money on groceries is to use coupons.
That's no revelation but finding great coupons that are not
in our Sunday papers is. The secret to saving money on
groceries with coupons is to use coupon cutting services.
These services usually have over 300,000 coupons available
to pick from. To make those coupons work, you must target
them to everything on your list. Make sure you always have
at least four coupons for everything you buy to take full
advantage of the sales. There are usually limits set by the
store when purchasing items on sale and that seems to be four.
These coupons should also be set up according to the store
aisles to save time and money.

The fourth way to save money on groceries is to befriend the
store managers. Just like our parents and grandparents did,
we must use the human element and establish a relationship
with the store employees. When there is an unadvertised
special ready to go on sale, these store managers will become
your best line of defense against high prices. But beware,
do not abuse this privilege. Be genuine and the savings will
mount.

The final way to save money is by putting everything together
and using the store discount cards. many shoppers abuse their
use and don't realize they are worth real money. Many use
them the wrong way and it costs them dearly. Only use them
on the items you buy not on everything in the store.

By doing your preparation before you shop, you stand a much
better chance of saving money at the checkout. Shopping
smart means being prepared to save.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Barry Ferguson is known as "America's Saving Money Man".
He is the author of three consumer oriented books called
"How To Stop Wasting Money!", "The Saving Money Mindset,
and "How A Family of Five Can Feast on $35/Week" and has
15 years of practical, real world experience saving huge
amounts of cash every time he shops!
How much do you want to save?

www.howtostopwastingmoney.com
www.feaston35.com
------------------------------------------------------------

*-----------------WEEKLY TIP-------------------*
Here are a few tips to protect yourself when ordering online
this holiday.

1- Only deal with known sellers. Check out all others with
the BBB.

2- Make sure you know the extent of all charges. Get them in
writing first to avoid shock later on.

3- Pay through a credit card and look for an ecrypted web
address.

4- Do not give out personal information such as SS numbers.

5- Always document your purchases to keep in case of problems
later on with item.

6- Check your credit card and bank statements for unauthorized
charges or debits and report discrepancies immediately.

7- Contact seller about any problems.
Use these ideas as a guide to shopping safe on the internet.

*-----------------WEEKLY TIP-------------------*

----------------------------------------------------------
MONEY SAVING IDEAS AND ADVICE
----------------------------------------------------------
So, the winter heating blues are starting to get you nervous.

Here's some ways to make your home warmer and to fight back
against those high energy costs.

Let's start with:

Insulation-

1- Make sure you have adequate insulation between the ceilings
and roof. Attics are a major culprit when it comes to heat
loss.

Ducts-

1- Cover all attic and garage duct work with a minimum of 6
inches of insulation. Many homeowners forget this and lose
heat in this area. Heat will find it's way out of your home.
It's your job to seal every crack up or risk overpaying to
keep warm.

Windows-

1- First replace old, outdated windows with the new, energy-
efficient double-hung models.

2- If you are unable to do so, consider using storm windows,
weather-stripping, or caulk leaky windows to avoid heat loss.

3- Insulate with shades, coverings, or plastic sheeting. Close
all blinds and drapes at night but keep blinds open during the
day to let the sun in.

Ceiling Fans-

1- Energy Star-rated fans can save you $15-$25/year. Use them
in the opposite direction from the way you use them in summer.
Since heat rises, you want the fans to force the hot air back
down to where you are to keep warmer.

Water Heater-

1- Did you know that 11% of your home's heating bill comes from
the water heater? Lower your heater's thermostat to 120° F and
wrap it tightly in a thermal blanket.

Furnace/AC

1- 45% of your home's energy bill is reflected in your furnace/AC
usage.

2- Replace furnace filters monthly. This can save you up to 5% a
month.

3- If you have an older home and are planning to be in your home
for a while, considering installing an energy-efficient model.
Many utility companies will give you rebates and great financing
that can help pay for itself in just a few years. You may also
qualify for rebates and tax breaks from the U.S. Government for
installing certain energy-efficient models. Check with your tax
accountant to see if you qualify.

Washing Machine/Dryer -

1- 10% of your monthly energy bill. Make sure you only use the
full loads and cold water. Don't skimp on cheap detergents. To
get the most efficient use, Energy Star certified machines use
50% less energy.

Kitchen -
Dishwasher-

1- 2% of your home's heating bill. To save money in the long run,
replace a pre-1994 model with a new Energy Star qualified model.
This will save you $25/year.

Refrigerator-

1- This uses 6% of your home's energy bill. The new (post 1973)
models with automatic defrost, and a top-mounted freezer use over
40% less energy.

Small Appliances-
Ovens, Microwaves, and Stoves

1- Small appliances use over 15% of your hom'es energy and most
of that is wasted energy. Try to use toaster ovens and electric
skillets for specialized jobs and save the other appliances for
the bigger jobs. This will cut down on energy loss and make it
easier to cook with.

Lighting-

1- This area uses 7% of your home's energy and is one area that
is the easiest to save money with. Replace your bulbs with
Energy star rated fixtures that use less electricity but give off
more light. Some of these bulbs may seem expensive but they last
much longer thereby saving you up to $60/year.

Doors-

1- Allowing cold air to infiltrate your home in the winter can cost
you up to 50% of your heating loss. Seal with weather stripping,
use door sweeps, and install storm doors to cut down on energy
loss.

Outlets-

1- Use easy-to-install rubber gaskets behind each outlet and switch
plate on interior and exterior walls. A pack of eight will cost you
about $2.00.

Air Vents-

1- Close the vents in rooms you do not use as well as dorrs so that
the warm air will stay in the areas you use.

Landscaping-

1- A key element in reducing your heating costs. Look to plant
trees, shrubs, and vines to use as windbreaks that create dead-air
spaces. These spaces should be at least foot from the house and
will insulate in the summer and winter.

2- Use of dense evergreen trees and shrubs planted to the north and
northwest are most common and block wind close to the ground.

Fireplaces-

1- Close damper when not in use and don't use in extreme cold. Loss
of heat is common in most homes.

2- Have fireplace inspected and fixed in Autumn so that you are able
to use it during the winter. It cost more to fix in colder weather.

Computers-

1- Turn off your computer if it is idle for more than 20 minutes. If
you are not going to use it, turn it off. Screen savers can use more
energy so be wise in it's usage.

There are many ways to save on energy. You just need to be smart in
your usage and find ways to stop heat loss.

-----------------------------------------------------------
QUESTION FROM READER
-----------------------------------------------------------

A reader from Montreal, Canada writes...
I'm looking for a way to avoid late fees on my credit cards.
It seems my check gets there late all the time even though I
try to send it on time. How do I avoid this?

ANSWER:
Here is a trick I use to make sure I never pay late fees. As
soon I get the bill in the mail I pay the minimum online to
make sure I avoid late fees. Then I pay the card off before
the due date. If you can't do this, send your payment in at
least 5-6 business days before it's due. remember, it has to
be there not just by the date but by the actual time of day.
Give yourself leeway so that it gets there on time.

------------------------------------------------------------
Well, that's about it for this week. Until next time. Keep
on saving!

Sincerely,
Barry Ferguson - "America's Saving Money Man"

-----------------------------------------------------------
© Copyright 2005 The Get Wealthy Place LLC
-----------------------------------------------------------

Saving Money Journal Issue # 54

2005-11-27T20:59:00.000-05:00

"THE SAVING MONEY JOURNAL"

"Helping You Save Money On Everything You Buy"

November 25, 2005
Issue #54
-----------------------------------------------------------

"THE SAVING MONEY JOURNAL".
You are receiving this newsletter because you requested a
subscription. Unsubscribe instructions are at the end of
this newsletter.

-----------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
-----------------------------------------------------------

-> Editorial:
-> Feature Article:
-> Weekly Tip:
-> Money Saving Ideas And Advice:
-> Question From Reader:
-> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information:
-----------------------------------------------------------

EDITORIAL
-----------------------------------------------------------

Welcome to the current issue of The "Saving Money Journal".
I would like to welcome you and all of the new subscribers
and I would like to take this opportunity to thank ALL my
current subscribers for their support and patronage. This
newsletter is for your benefit.

For most, this thanksgiving was a time to fill their bellies
with great food and to share the gift of family but for
others, just trying to survive is a painful reminder of
what natural disasters can do to our once pleasant lives.

I have a friend in Florida who is still trying recover from
Hurricane Wilma and that wasn't even as bad as Katrina or
Rita. And still others have lost a loved one this
Thanksgiving. If you can find it in your hearts to help
those who have been decimated by these disasters, please
do. Today is a day of thanks and we are all in this life
together... so please help those less fortunate than
yourself. Your gift can help someone who is thankful for
just being alive. Giving is a part of being thankful so
if you haven't made a donation yet, there is always a need.
Please fill it. If is was you who was in need, wouldn't
you want help? What you do for those in need will be
given a hundred fold to you later.

Thank you in advance.

----------------------------------------------------------

FEATURE ARTICLE
-----------------------------------------------------------

"The Art Of Shopping - What You Can Learn From Sellers"

- by Barry Ferguson

© 2005 Barry Ferguson - All Rights reserved
http://www.howtostopwastingmoney.com

------------------------------------------------------------
Everyone who sells is also a consumer but not all consumers
are in the business to sell. Knowing the tricks to becoming
a great salesman can give us insights to getting more out of
our shopping excursions.

When we understand the mind of the seller we can find ways to
improve our own shopping habits. The majority of consumers
are blind when it comes to dealing with sellers. If they
could only see why companies advertise the way they do, they
could avoid the pitfalls that these ads bring us.

So much money could be saved if we just took the time to
understand why these ads hit us like they do.

As consumers, it has been proven that we buy on emotion not
through logic. We buy to fill our wants and desires as
opposed to our needs. This is where we are at a disadvantage
when it comes to making sound buying decisions. We let our
hearts rule our wallets instead of thinking before we buy
and this leads to buyers remorse.

Successful sellers exploit those emotions to the fullest and
can wipe us out if we're not careful. This is why we must keep
our emotions in check when we are ready to make an important
buying decision.

Many advertisements aim for our hearts though we may not even
know what they are selling. We only know we need that item.
As consumers, we hold all the power yet we give that power up
without a fight. It is the job of the copywriter to reel us in
by hitting us emotionally and then to close the deal by appealing
to our desires with benefits.

If you can learn how to decipher an advertisement, you can
become a much better consumer. By seeing things from the
seller's point of view you will be able to make more logical
buying decisions instead of letting emotions rule your wallet.

Learning how sellers sell can be your source of huge savings.
Go on the offensive by understanding how the other side thinks
and acts. If you don't, you'll always be open season for predatory
sellers.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Barry Ferguson is known as "America's Saving Money Man".
He is the author of three consumer oriented books called
"How To Stop Wasting Money!", "The Saving Money Mindset,
and "How A Family of Five Can Feast on $35/Week" and has
15 years of practical, real world experience saving huge amounts
of cash every time he shops!
How much do you want to save?

www.howtostopwastingmoney.com
www.feaston35.com
------------------------------------------------------------

*-----------------WEEKLY TIP-------------------*

Today, we're going to concentrate on various tips to get more
out of your shopping excursions.

The first, is use your common sense. I see this so many times
that I question whether shoppers really understand what they're
doing.

Here's a good example. Consumers were out in force during
"Black Friday" and they all thought they got great bargains yet
many people wiped out those savings by going out to eat at
expensive restaurants because they were too tired. They didn't
plan out their shopping trip and certainly didn't get their
money's worth.

We all work hard for our money and it's a shame to throw it away
without getting full value.

The next way that we can get more out of our shopping excursions
is to plan out the route. How many times do you go driving
around without any idea where you're going? With the price of
gas still at $2.00 /gallon, it can get very expensive to drive
aimlessly around without direction.

A final way to get more out of your shopping is to cut your
shopping into smaller, more manageable chunks of time. This
keeps your mind sharp, your body from overexertion, and your
stress level at an even level.

Do yourself a favor and shop smart. It will be beneficial in
ways you can never imagine.

*-----------------WEEKLY TIP-------------------*

----------------------------------------------------------

MONEY SAVING IDEAS AND ADVICE

----------------------------------------------------------

If you are a teacher or student, there are ways for you to
save money on travel. By using discount travel cards, you
can save money on buses, airfare, hotels, as well as
museums, and cultural centers.

For students (12 and older)

International Student identity card (ISIC)

http://www.istc.org/sisp/?fx=istc_info

This card is accepted world-wide at over 106 countries and
offers over 32,000 discounts. You need to be a full-time
student, 12 years or older to qualify. You also get access
to 5000 student travel organizations. The cost is $22/year
and must be renewed yearly.

International Youth Identity Card

If you are 26 or under you can get similar savings with a
card known as the International Youth identity Card. This
also cost $22/year. It will net you discounted stays at
youth hostels around the world.

International Teachers Identity Card

If you are a teacher or professor, this card is for you. The
cost is also $22/year and has similar savings as the other two
cards.

These cards can be extremely handy if you book your travel
early. Not only can you save money but you'll get to choose
from great locations without feeling like you have to pinch
pennies.

-----------------------------------------------------------

QUESTION FROM READER
-----------------------------------------------------------

A reader from Ohio writes...
I'm a single guy and I like to take my girlfriend out for
dinner. Is there a way that I can save money when eating
out without looking cheap?

ANSWER:
Great question. This is one I get asked about a lot. Here's
a way to impress your girlfriend with your thriftiness and
still take her to a nice restaurant. Log on to:

www.restaurant.com
Here you will find ways to get gift certificates from well
known establishments for half price. It works like this:

You buy a fixed amount dining certificate ($25) that you pay
half the amount and then redeem for full face value at
selected restaurants or you can buy 50% off certificates
which range from $5 to $200 which you can redeem for half
off your meal at selected restaurants.

Here are a few other ways to get great deals.

1- To get 20% cash back on your dinner bill at participating
restaurants log on to:

www.rewardsnetwork.com (1-877-491-3463)

This service cost $49/year but if you dine out a lot it will
pay for itself very quickly.

2- Check Ebay for dining certificates from a myriad of dining
establishments. You can get great steals on $25 certificates
for usually $5- $7 + $1.00 handling fee. Just make sure you
get buyer protection to safeguard your purchase.

3- Become a regular. The easiest way to get upgrades and get
better service is by becoming "known" at the restaurant. We
have been going to a particular place for over 10 years and
not only do they give us great service but they give us extra
food, let us try new dishes for free, and they go out of
their way to keep us as regulars.

Being thrifty does have it's merits. Try it, your girlfriend
will be impressed at your inventiveness.

------------------------------------------------------------

Well, that's about it for this week. Until next time. Keep
on saving!

Sincerely,
Barry Ferguson - "America's Saving Money Man"

-----------------------------------------------------------

© Copyright 2005 The Get Wealthy Place LLC
-----------------------------------------------------------

Get In Touch With Your Inner Money-Saver

2005-11-21T00:03:00.000-05:00

Contrary to public opinion, money-savers are made not born. This is why we must learn how to shop prudently if we are to cope with the huge debt we have placed upon ourselves.

The search for the almighty dollar has caused us to strain our finances to the point where we are faced with some unhappy and unfulfilling choices. Buyer's remorse has become the norm when we see our credit card bills. We take on 2nd and 3rd jobs just to fill our lust for gluttonous spending and then have garage sales down the road where we literally accept pennies for our unneeded or unwanted items.

Sounds like a losing proposition to me.

So how do we change this?

The key is to get in touch with our inner money-saver. This is not a hard thing to do yet it is not within most of our grasp... that is, until we realize how far we have fallen.

There are many things that influence our actions. Moods, personal feelings, and beliefs are just a few of the things that can steer us down the wrong financial path.

To get in touch with our inner money-saver is to understand where we have come from and where we are going. If you can set up a plan for yourself, you've conquered the first demon.

Secondly, laziness is basically a product of fear, so we need to understand some of our fears. Are they holding us back? Are there memories that trigger a particular feeling or event? By learning how to associate certain actions with certain feelings, you can deprogram your fears and use them for inspiration, not perspiration

And thirdly, we need to make a conscious decision to do what is best for ourselves and not our egos. The more the emotional the shopping, the more money you will spend. Doing all the prep work before you shop put you on the offensive and allows you to concentrate on what you came in for to buy. It works whether you are food shopping, gift-buying, or buying for your family.

Our inner money-saver is open to bringing us happiness through logical spending and avoiding those impulse shopping habits brought on by the emotional part of the brain.

Think about the consequences of your action as you shop, not before, and certainly not after. When you combine the comparison shopping with good old-fashion detective work, you can boost your savings significantly.

Many people are under the delusion that it takes hard work and long hours to save money. This couldn't be more further from the truth. Most frugal consumers actually spend less time comparing prices and shopping than those that don't.

Saving money frees up both time and money. Two things most of us are dying to have. if you want to continue to have revolving credit card debts that exceed
$9800, then you need to sit down and carefully put together a plan that will maximize your savings and minimize the time actually doing the shopping.

To learn how to do this, here's your source...

www.howtostopwastingmoney.com

I don't like paying full price for anything yet I look for full value in everything I buy because that is where the savings occur. Believing in what you do can make all the difference. Let your inner money-saver guide you and the rest will be ... money in the bank!

-----------------------------------------------------------
Barry Ferguson is known as "America's Saving Money Man".
He is the author of three consumer oriented books called
"How To Stop Wasting Money!", "The Saving Money Mindset,
and "How A Family of Five Can Feast on $35/Week" and has
15 years of practical, real world experience saving huge amounts
of cash every time he shops!
How much do you want to save?
www.howtostopwastingmoney.com
www.feaston35.com
------------------------------------------------------------

Sincerely,
Barry Ferguson "America's Saving Money Man"

3 Money-Saver Traits

2005-11-18T15:18:00.000-05:00

"THE SAVING MONEY JOURNAL"

"Helping You Save Money On Everything You Buy"
November 18, 2005
Issue #53
-----------------------------------------------------------
"THE SAVING MONEY JOURNAL"

You are receiving this newsletter because you requested a
subscription. Unsubscribe instructions are at the end of
this newsletter.

-----------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
-----------------------------------------------------------
-> Editorial:
-> Feature Article:
-> Weekly Tip:
-> Money Saving Ideas And Advice:
-> Question From Reader:
-> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information:

-----------------------------------------------------------
EDITORIAL
-----------------------------------------------------------

Welcome to the current issue of The "Saving Money Journal".
I would like to welcome you and all of the new subscribers
and I would like to take this opportunity to thank ALL my
current subscribers for their support and patronage. This
newsletter is for your benefit.
Well, another week has come and gone and we're getting close
to holiday shopping season. I hope all of you have been
taking my advice throughout the year so that you can make
this holiday an easier one to shop for as well as a less
expensive one.

As many of you already know, I've just released my new book,
entitled "7 Ways To Get More For Your Money In The New
Economy". It's free and you can find it in the download
area of my website.

www.howtostopwastingmoney.com/downloadarea.htm

I have some great information this week that I know you can
use. Please, try to put it to good use. Information is only
good if it is acted upon.

Also, to keep up to date with my postings, you can find my
blog at the following location.

http://howtostopwastingmoney.blogspot.com

Come on over and post your own thoughts. If you've got some
information that others can use, don't hesitate to go get
involved. Everyone is welcome.

Thanks
----------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE ARTICLE
-----------------------------------------------------------
"3 Traits That Every Successful Money-Saver Possesses"
- by Barry Ferguson

© 2005 Barry Ferguson - All Rights reserved
http://www.howtostopwastingmoney.com
------------------------------------------------------------

When we speak about saving money, the old axiom that the
cream rises to the top ultimately proves correct.

Like any pursuit, saving money is not for the faint at
heart. Only those that are willing to invest more than
a passing fancy will reap the benefits of huge savings.
During holiday seasons, the key to elevating your savings
is not just knowing how to shop but learning when and where
to find bargains.

The majority of consumers are truly lost when it comes to
saving money. From finding high value coupons to knowing
how to compare prices, too much money is left on the table
when it comes time to pay.

During hard economic times, savvy shoppers have the edge
needed to get ahead. The skills acquired in getting full
value allows those consumers to keep more money in their
pockets and boost their spending power by more than double
the average person.

In order to create a savings bonanza every time you shop, a
consumer needs to possess three traits and be able to put
those traits into action.

1- Always have a plan.

Until you know where you're going, you will never get there.
A strategic plan of action allows you to set a course with a
perceivable end. Plans can be altered but if you have no
plan, you'll always be going around in circles.

2- Use all available resources and information to get full
value for purchases.

The more resources you have at your disposal, the easier it
is to find and pay less for what you want. The internet is a
consumer's biggest money-saving resource. Information is all
around, and if you are willing to do a little digging, you
will find the bargains. Comparing not only items for sale but
different stores goes a long way in getting the best price for
any item. By using price books, a savvy shopper never buys an
item unless they know they need it and have the comparable
prices on hand. Coupons are everywhere but if you know where
to look, you can find one for everything you buy, thereby
lowering your costs and improving your shopping.

3- Laziness is not an option.

Time is a luxury for all of us but those who know how to use
their time wisely never need to be lazy. A savvy shopper
finds the bargains because they actually look for them. They
know when items go on sale and are there to scoop them up.
They also know how to bargain and don't accept the price
marked if they know they can get a better deal. Doing your
homework before you shop allows you to save time without
having to drive around all day looking for bargains and
gives you more time for the pleasures in life. Once you've
learned the secrets to becoming a savvy shopper, you will
build the proper habits that can build massive savings for
years to come.

If you can possess these particular traits, you have a much
better chance of saving money wherever you shop than the
average consumer. Your power lies in exploiting these secrets
for you and your family's benefit.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Barry Ferguson is known as "America's Saving Money Man".
He is the author of three consumer oriented books called
"How To Stop Wasting Money!", "The Saving Money Mindset,
and "How A Family of Five Can Feast on $35/Week" and has
15 years of practical, real world experience saving huge
amounts of cash every time he shops!
How much do you want to save?

www.howtostopwastingmoney.com
www.feaston35.com

------------------------------------------------------------

*-----------------WEEKLY TIP-------------------*

When giving gifts this holiday, stay away from bank gift
cards. With excessive fees and short periods in which to
cash in, these gifts only give to the banks.

If you must give these cards, here are things to look for:

1- Check fees on issuer's website or on the sleeve of the
card itself.

2- Pick cards that have no expiration date or maintenance
fee at all.

3- It is better to give retailer cards instead. They usually
have no fee to purchase them and have longer periods in which
to use.

4- If you recieve one for the holidays, check terms before you
use it and cash it in immediately before you lose an purchasing
power or have to pay a fee.

For bank cards, the average maintenance fee is over $2.50/month
after the first 6 months plus there are high purchasing fees
when you decide to get one. Only the Discover card has no
purchasing fees. 1CardVisa is the worst of the bunch. Their
fees are the highest out there for not only buying but cashing
in. In fact, there is a $25 charge if not used within 6 months.
be careful with these bank cards. Do your homework and compare
all information before you make a final decision. It could cost
you more than you think.

*-----------------WEEKLY TIP-------------------*

----------------------------------------------------------
MONEY SAVING IDEAS AND ADVICE
----------------------------------------------------------

If you are planning to donate to a charity during the
holidays, here's the right way to go about it. Make
sure the charity is reliable. Log on to www.give.org
(which is the online home for the BBB Wise Giving Alliance).

You will be able to check out hundreds of charities by
comparing how much they spend on expenses as well as how
much of a % they give to charitable projects.

One such organization that puts most of the money it gets
to worthwhile projects is www.worldvision.org. It is a
Christian relief organization that helps children and
families from around the world with useful gifts such as
livestock, rabbits, schooling, as a means of sustenance.

If you would like to donate in the name of a family member
or friend, you can give them a gift certificate from
www.justgive.org. You can pick the amount and they can pick
the charity. There are over 1 million charities to choose from.

-----------------------------------------------------------
QUESTION FROM READER
-----------------------------------------------------------

A reader from Iowa writes...
I've gotten a couple of overdue bills from my children's lab
tests that date back to last year. The lab says my insurance
company won't pay for the tests so when I called my insurance
carrier, I was informed that the tests were not part of the
covered well-child care visits. It has costs me over $120
in charges because of this. How can I avoid this charge and
is there anything I can do about it in the future?

ANSWER:
Sorry to hear about that but these are the loopholes that
most insurance carriers will not reveal to you until it's
too late. Here's what you need to do. Every time your
child's pediatrician asks you to go for any type of tests,
have him write a note to the testing service stating that
these tests are needed because of a certain condition. By
relating them to another condition, the insurance carrier
will pay the full amount unless there is a deductible
involved. This way you're covered and you've lessened the
out-of-pocket expenses.

------------------------------------------------------------

Well, that's about it for this week. Until next time. Keep
on saving!

Sincerely,
Barry Ferguson - "America's Saving Money Man"

-----------------------------------------------------------
© Copyright 2005 The Get Wealthy Place LLC
-----------------------------------------------------------

No portion of this publication may be reproduced or
transmitted without the express written consent of the
publisher or contributing editors and or writers.

**Att. Ezine Editors/Site owners**
Feel free to reprint this article in it's entirety
in your ezine or on your site as long as you leave
all links in place, and do not modify the content,
and include our resource box as listed above. If
you need any additional articles, please check out
our article archives for new content that you can
use in your ezine or on your website - FREE

Online issues can be found at
http://www.howtostopwastingmoney.com/newsletter.htm
If you do use the material, please send us a note
so we can take a look. Thank you.
-----------------------------------------------------------

Reality Check...

2005-11-14T22:53:00.000-05:00

Today, I got a reality check. You see, I send out these
messages yet I rarely ever get to speak to any of you.
But today was different.

One of my subscribers downloaded my newly released free
ebook called "7 Ways To Get More For Your Money In The New
Economy" and was so impressed that he needed to talk to me
right away so he called me on the phone. We chatted for
about 20 minutes talking about his financial problems, his
credit card problems, and his concerns.

I know each of you has his/her own concerns about how to
make ends meet. Maybe some of you are looking for someone
who understands their situation. Today's conversation was
just that.

I know what it's like to not have money. I know what it's
like to be behind on your bills, and I know what poverty
looks like (having seen the poor sections of my wife's
country, the Philippines). So, it was good that I was able
to talk with one of you.

I try my best to impart my knowledge and my experiences so
that I can help you find ways to save money.

I don't want any of you to feel that I am not accessible.
We're all in this world together and if we can help each
other, we all can improve our lives. Isn't that what it's
all about?

Keep those questions and those testimonials coming and if
there is something you want to tell me, go to my blog at:

http://howtostopwastingmoney.blogspot.com

This way I can keep up-to-date with those items you need
help with.

I am working harder than ever to keep your trust! In the
next few weeks I will be emailing you a survey (don't worry,
it will be short, I promise you!) asking what information
you want me to concentrate on so that I can help you the most.

Take care,
Barry Ferguson "America's Saving Money Man"

-----------------------------------------------------------
Barry Ferguson is known as "America's Saving Money Man".
He is the author of three consumer oriented books called
"How To Stop Wasting Money!", "The Saving Money Mindset,
and "How A Family of Five Can Feast on $35/Week" and has
15 years of practical, real world experience saving huge
amounts of cash every time he shops!
How much do you want to save?

www.howtostopwastingmoney.com
www.feaston35.com
------------------------------------------------------------

Have You Tried This?

2005-11-13T22:26:00.000-05:00

There are many low-cost ways to save money. In fact, I've
built my whole buiness on that very same idea.

But saving money goes much further than just having good
idea. Implementing those ideas into your everyday life.

What if you could save heaps of cash by getting things for
free that others pay good money for?

Each day, my wife and I try to come up with ways that we can
lessen the financial burdens that life throws our way.

We've been very fortunate that we have good friends and can
rely on them for help. We've built a network that has helped
us in more ways than we can imagine!

Would you like to know this money saver?

I'm talking about BARTERING...

Bartering is the one of the easiest and most cost-effective
ways to save money. Yesterday was a great example of this.

I never pay anything to have my hair cut. The girl who cuts
my hair works at a hair salon in the mall and cuts my whole
family's hair for free (all five of us). Since my wife is
such a great cook, she makes Filipino dishes (the hairdresser
is also from the Philippines) that our friend adores. She
does for us and we do for her.

Another great way we save is through another friend of ours.
He loves to fish. He caught some blufish last week and this
week he caught a shark. In return, we gave his wife rides to
the mall to go shopping for some gifts. Returning favors can
lead to great savings for everyone in involved

What I want you to understand is, if you have a talent, offer
it to your friends in exchange for their talents. The savings
are great and everyone makes out. Get your own network together
and watch your savings grow!

Till next time,
Barry Ferguson "America's Saving Money Man"

-----------------------------------------------------------
Barry Ferguson is known as "America's Saving Money Man".
He is the author of three consumer oriented books called
"How To Stop Wasting Money!", "The Saving Money Mindset,
and "How A Family of Five Can Feast on $35/Week" and has
15 years of practical, real world experience saving huge
amounts of cash every time he shops!
How much do you want to save?

www.howtostopwastingmoney.com
www.feaston35.com
------------------------------------------------------------

How To Save Money At The Gas Pump

2005-11-13T01:26:00.000-05:00

Gas prices have been falling lately. In fact, they're even lower than pre-Katrina levels. Here in New Jersey (Monmouth County), the lowest price I've found is $2.09. I use three different services to retrieve the cheapest gas prices whenever I need to go anywhere.

They are

www.gasbuddy.com
www.gaspricewatch.com
www.fuelmeup.com

These are great services to use. They have saved me tons of money and have made it easier to avoid overpaying for gas.

Here's a great tip to making it work.

If you have any type of spreadsheet program like Microsoft Excel, set up a database where you can track local prices. You can import prices from your local retailers and watch the trends. Usually stations at busy intersections fight for customers so they keep their prices lower than stations without competition. I can track each station without doing much work and it saves lots of money on gas when I have to drive distances to make speeches or attend meetings.

The savings can literally pay for the tolls, and with it being a business expense, I get double savings. You know, every little bit help. In fact, the cumulative nature of saving money can really add up. This is why learning the proper way to save money can keep more of it in your wallet and saves you time on the back end.

So for all those that think that saving money is hard, it sure beats having to work a second job, not to mention it's a great feeling to know you are managing your money correctly. I can put the money to better use and still have time for family activities. No more crying about never having money to do things. The money is always there.

Barry Ferguson "America's Saving Money Man"

-----------------------------------------------------------
Barry Ferguson is known as "America's Saving Money Man".
He is the author of three consumer oriented books called
"How To Stop Wasting Money!", "The Saving Money Mindset,
and "How A Family of Five Can Feast on $35/Week" and has
15 years of practical, real world experience saving huge
amounts of cash every time he shops!
How much do you want to save?

www.howtostopwastingmoney.com
www.feaston35.com
------------------------------------------------------------

How To Dispute A Credit Card Purchase

2005-11-11T20:59:00.000-05:00

"THE SAVING MONEY JOURNAL"
"Helping You Save Money On Everything You Buy"
November 11, 2005
Issue #52
-----------------------------------------------------------
"THE SAVING MONEY JOURNAL".
You are receiving this newsletter because you requested a
subscription. Unsubscribe instructions are at the end of
this newsletter.
-----------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
-----------------------------------------------------------
-> Editorial:
-> Feature Article:
-> Weekly Tip:
-> Money Saving Ideas And Advice:
-> Question From Reader:
-> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information:
-----------------------------------------------------------
EDITORIAL
-----------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to the current issue of The "Saving Money Journal".
I would like to welcome you and all of the new subscribers
and I would like to take this opportunity to thank ALL my
current subscribers for their support and patronage. This
newsletter is for your benefit.

Have you ever had one of those weeks when everything went
totally wrong? This week has been a real nightmare! I've been
adding more content to my site, working overtime to release my
new book but technology gave me a cold slap in the face!
My server (the computers that power the site) went down, the
software I bought to design my book covers wouldn't work, I
couldn't make some of the pages work properly, and then I lost
some information. UGH!!! But I've finally got everything back
on line. A little late but there's some great info for you!

I'm hoping my graphic designer will have the book cover done by
Monday so that I can release it to the web. There are a lot of
people interested in it! We're growing and I want you all to be
a part of it. That is why I have dropped the price of my book
in half to $47, so that everyone can save!

Today is also a very special day! If you notice, this is our
52nd issue. We've been online for a year since I released my
book, "How To Stop Wasting Money!" It's been my pleasure
serving you and helping you with your money saving problems.
I an so thankful for all the emails I get from satisfied
customers and new subscribers that it gets me even more
excited to improve this site so you get more out of it.

As I mentioned last week, we are in the process of expanding
this site so there is a lot more information for you to discover,
more archived material to go back to if you missed anything,
and more ways for you to save.

To celebrate my first anniversary of this site, I have finished
writing my new book, "7 Ways To Get More For Your Money
In The New Economy". It is a FREE book and I will be releasing
it to you first before anyone else because you are special to me.
You can download it from my new download area which I will
be stocking as time goes by.

Here's the link:

www.howtostopwastingmoney.com/downloadarea.htm

I hope this book will help you even more to change some of your
money-wasting habits so you too, can keep more money in your
pocket!

----------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE ARTICLE
-----------------------------------------------------------
"How To Dispute And Resolve A Credit Card Purchase"
- by Barry Ferguson

© 2005 Barry Ferguson - All Rights reserved
http://www.howtostopwastingmoney.com
------------------------------------------------------------

In an age where the majority of purchases are made with
a credit card, there comes a time when you will need to
dispute a credit card purchase.

None of us are immune to this problem. Some of the problems
that lead to disputes can be attributed to buying an item
that didn't live up to expectations and had to return it, you
may have either not received an item or received the wrong
item that you purchased online and need to contact the
manufacturer, or you may have been charged the wrong price.

These problems can be settled very easily if you know the
proper procedure yet most consumers are in the dark as to how
to go about this.

All credit card purchases are protected under the Fair Credit
Billing Act. This law gives the consumer the right to
withhold payment on items that are of poor-quality or damaged
merchandise that was purchased with a credit card.

Under this law, the consumer and the merchant both need to
make a concerted attempt to resolve the dispute before the
card issuer can put a hold on the credit card payment.
According to the Fair Credit Billing Act, the sale must be
for more than $50 and must have taken place within 100 miles
of the consumer's home address. As a matter of deference to
their customers, most credit card issuers don't enforce this
rule, though they have every right to do so.

In order to make this work, the consumer needs to...

A- Return the defective merchandise back to the place where
you bought it and keep detailed records of who, when, and what
you talked about. It is imperative that you keep good records
for evidence.

B- Resolve the problem with the merchant. Give the merchant a
chance make amends.

C- If the merchant won't resolve the matter, put your
complaint down on paper. Outline the problem and what you
have done to resolve the dispute, in a short detailed letter.
Make three copies. One for the merchant, one as proof that
you tried to resolve the dispute for the credit card issuer,
and one for your records.

D- Notify the credit card issuer that you are disputing a
charge. You have 60 days from the time the disputed charge is
sent to you.

E- Make sure you have your account number, closing date of the
disputed charge, a detailed description of the item, and why
you are disputing the charge. Send all relevant information
that will make it easier for the credit card issuer to side
with you such as the dispute letter, all persons contacted and
spoken to at the merchant's place of business, pictures of
merchandise (if applicable), and what you want the credit card
issuer to do. If you don't ask for help, they won't give it
to you.

F- Next, this is very important. Send your letter by certified
mail, return receipt requested, to the credit card issuer at
the address for billing inquiries and not the same address
where you send in your payment.

Once this is done, the credit card issuer cannot legally charge
you finance charges on the disputed item(s) until a decision
regarding your inquiry has been made. The issuer will then
contact the merchant, hear his side of the story, and then make
a final decision. If the issuer sides with you, you will owe
nothing. If, on the other hand, the issuer sides with the
merchant, you owe money for both the item and all finance
charges.

When disputing a credit card charge, time is of the essence.
You must move very quickly when informing the issuer of your
intentions. This must be done before the charge is due for
payment. You cannot dispute a charge once you have paid for it.

If you follow the proper procedure and have enough evidence,
you will always win your disputes.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Barry Ferguson is known as "America's Saving Money Man".
He is the author of three consumer oriented books called
"How To Stop Wasting Money!", "The Saving Money Mindset,
and "How A Family of Five Can Feast on $35/Week" and has
15 years of practical, real world experience saving huge amounts
of cash every time he shops!
How much do you want to save?

www.howtostopwastingmoney.com
www.feaston35.com
------------------------------------------------------------
*-----------------WEEKLY TIP-------------------*
If you are looking to travel during the holidays, here is
some good advice. Be careful where you rent a car. It
seems cash-strapped local and state governments are slapping
new taxes on car rentals. They are doing this to bring in
some much needed cash generating revenue to pay for new
sports stadiums, road and bridge work, museums, firehouses,
and government programs. And guess who helps fund these
items? You do and you have no say in it. You may end up
paying more than double your quoted rate because of these
new taxes.

Here's how you can avoid those taxes.

First, compare prices at different airports as well as
different rental agencies. Second, take a look at flying
through a different airport. It may end up being cheaper
to fly through a less populated airport. Lastly, always
ask for total charges including taxes. This way you know
the FULL price instead of being surprised later on.

*-----------------WEEKLY TIP-------------------*
----------------------------------------------------------
MONEY SAVING IDEAS AND ADVICE
----------------------------------------------------------
With the holidays coming up fast, here are some more websites
that you can use to help you find the best deals for holiday
shopping. Use common sense and make sure you can afford
these gifts. Don't bury yourself with charges you can't pay for.
Use these sites wisely. They are there to help you.

1- www.pricerunner.com
2- www.shopping.yahoo.com (Yahoo shopping)
3- www.shopzilla.com
4- www.pricegrabber.com
5- www.nextag.com
6- www.shopping.msn.com (MSN shopping)
7- www.shopping.com
8- www.smarter.com
9- www.become.com
10- www.refurbishdepot.com

Happy shopping!
-----------------------------------------------------------
QUESTION FROM READER
-----------------------------------------------------------
A reader from Michigan. writes...
I have some few questions re credit card.

1. Is it true that every time we had a declined
application, it can lower our credit score? We just
started using a credit card, and every time we apply for
another card, we have been refused. Our credit card right
now is from credit union with a $500.00 credit limit, and
we just started using it last August.

2. There were so many offers of credit card reaching
our apartment every week. There were some that say
"You are confirmed" with this offer. What is the
meaning of that? Capital One keeps sending offer to us
like that. We did not take a look at it since we know
that we will be declined again.

3. Is it safe to apply on line on credit cards?

ANSWER:
Wow! What a great set of questions!
Let me try to explain this in the simplest terms so that
you'll understand how to make credit work for you and how
to gain control over the credit card companies.
First, your names were found from "lists". These databases
of names do not have your credit history on them per say,
but they are considered "Leads" for them to make money from.
Even though it says you are pre-qualified or are confirmed,
you still must apply and you can still be turned down. It really
is just an inducement to choose their card. When a credit card
company offers you credit in the mail, it doesn't affect your
credit like an application would. If it did, we'd all have negative
numbers on our credit report.

You made a wise choice in obtaining a credit card from a
credit union. The next thing you should be getting is a
store credit card from one of the major stores such as Sears,
Target, J.C. Penny, Macy's, or Lord & Taylor. After a few
months of using it wisely and paying it off monthly (only use
it if you've done your homework and found a better deal), you
should have enough credit to obtain a Visa, MasterCard, or
Discover card. Most of these companies will be climbing all
over each other to have you get their card. This is where you
will be in the driver's seat.

The best way to get a great deal is to do comparative shopping.
We do this by keeping all offers you receive during the past 30
days and then narrowing them down to the best 5 offers. make
sure you have all the offers clearly written out so that when
you contact them you can ask for your terms and and your best
% rate. Just be careful you get everything in writing before
signing up for a card. Once you sign up, it is considered a
contract and you must abide by the terms.

As for applying online, it is very safe. Just make sure the
website you are applying at is encrypted and has a positive
rating from the BBB (Better Business Bureau).

------------------------------------------------------------
Well, that's about it for this week. Until next time. Keep
on saving!

Sincerely,
Barry Ferguson - "America's Saving Money Man"
-----------------------------------------------------------
© Copyright 2005 The Get Wealthy Place LLC
-----------------------------------------------------------

Do You Have A Little Ben Franklin In You?

2005-07-01T22:34:00.000-04:00

Do you have a little Ben Franklin in you?

What I mean is, do you have the same type of saving money
mindset that Ben Franklin had?

He coined the phrase, "A penny saved is a penny earned".

This statement is almost 300 years old yet it's just as
relevant today as it was back then. In fact, it's
probably more relevant because of how our economy is going.

Why?

Today, more than ever, learning how to save money on
everything you buy is a trait few people have mastered
and few people know how to use.

Are you a good money saver?

Have you mastered the art of getting the best price while
still getting full value?

Just saving a few bucks here and there will not help you
turn the corner to a brighter future. Instead, changing
your mindset should come first and foremost.

Ben Franklin was a man of many talents who mastered the
art getting the best deal. He grew rich, not because he
was cheap, but because he knew the importance of being
frugal when the time called for it. He is one of our
founding fathers. He took chances when he had all the
information at hand. He also knew the importance of
being organized. Doing this allowed him to prosper,
create new inventions, and live life to the fullest.

Six months of the year is gone. Have you met your saving
money goals? With the 4th of July right around the corner,
it's a good idea to take a few pages from the life of Ben
Franklin and make some changes in your life.

Remember, it's your life and only you can make those
changes. I want to see you get ahead in life. It's not
easy to struggle. I've been there, done that. It's not
a great feeling. Give yourself every opportunity to
better your life. Ben Franklin did and became a man for
the ages.

If you need help getting started, check out my book, "How
To Stop Wasting Money! You'll be glad you did.

www.HowToStopWastingMoney.com

I will do whatever I can to help you prosper. Remember,
you are not alone. When you succeed, we all succeed!

Have a Happy 4th of July.

Are You Protected From ID Theft?

2005-06-27T17:31:00.000-04:00

The news hasn't been good over the past few months. Large companies have lost sensitive data that could compromise your good name and financial security. It has even spread to Asia where fallout from the theft of private information has caused the US government to jump into the fray and introduce legislation to protect consumers rights.

By now, you've probably heard how credit companies have lost sensitive data which contain credit card numbers, social security numbers, names, addresses, and other financial information that could put you in financial peril.

If you don't believe you could be a victim, take a look at some of the losses and the amount of people who have been affected.

MCI
Laptop stolen which contained credit information of it's users. Over 16,500 affected.

DSW Shoe Warehouse
Credit Information of over 1.5 million users breached and over 96,000 check documents
of buyers lost.

Card Systems
Had biggest data breech in history with over 40 million people affected including 200,000 credit cards actually stolen. And to top it all off, the company illegally retained data for research even after transactions were completed, which is against the rules handed down by Visa and MasterCard.

Bank Of America and achieve
Had over 676,000 customers information stolen by a theft ring over the past 4 years in which workers from the branch unwittingly gave out information.

CitiFinancial
In May 2005, Citifinancial had over 3.9 million cardholders affected because of lost computer tapes.

After hearing all this, have you taken steps to make certain that your credit and personal information is not compromised?

To make sure you are not affected, take a look at your credit card bills and check for any unauthorized charges. Contact the card issuing company immediately and alert them of the problem. Consumers should also get a copy of their credit report and notify the affected company.

Always be on the lookout for any type of fraud when it involves your credit.

Here are some things you can do to keep ID Theft at bay.

1- Shred all personal documents when you no longer need them (such as credit card receipts, sensitive data, credit card offers from the mail)

2- Make sure you drop off your credit card bills at the post office instead of leaving them out in the mailbox. Thieves have been known to rifle through mailboxes looking for outgoing credit card bills.

3- Keep up-to-date with your credit report and notify them of any instances of suspected fraud.

4- Never give out sensitive information unless you are certain it is needed. Too many people have a been taken in by trusting the wrong people.

Safeguarding your information will go a long way in keeping your information from being compromised.

To find out more how to keep more money im your pocket and keep from having your ID compromised go to:
http://www.HowToStopWastingMoney.com

Saving Money - Are You Doing Enough?

2005-06-20T00:42:00.000-04:00

Dear Fellow Money Savers,

It is estimated that we, as consumers, waste an average of 30% of our paychecks on items we don't need or pay way too much for the items we buy. Since 1990, spending is up 30% and debt is up an astounding 80%. What this tells us is, the average consumer is not only buying more but putting much more of a strain on their parcheck, forcing most to overextend themselves with their credit cards.

To become a savvy shopper takes more than just knowing where the best deals are. You need to develope a new attitude. A new way of doing things. This new attitude must become a way of life. If you fall back into your old way of shopping, you run the risk of becoming a bad statistic. The average revolving credit card bill for Americans now stands at over $8500 and shows no signs of letting up. This is not the direction a good money saver should be moving towards.

Finding the best deals takes patience, good timing, and lots of prudent reasearch. Just like saving for retirement or picking stocks, learning how to become a great shopper takes commitment and organization. When you are organized, you are better prepared to spend wisely.

Shoppers are not born, they are made. This holds true no matter how much you make or where you work. It takes understanding of how stores are laid out, how sales are set, and what tricks marketers use to lure you in and close the sale.

Most consumers are in the dark when it comes to how manufacturers think. If you think like a marketer, you will be able to buy with confidence because you have the inside information that can aid you in getting a better deal.

A thrifty person is not someone who buys on impulse but rather, knows how much they have to spend, how much they can spend, and whether spending the money now is a wise choice or not. Impulse buying is the bane of every intelligent shopper but one that all of us have done at one time or another.

A savvy shopper uses all the tools available to them and makes their decision based on information provided by those tools. These tools can aid in overcoming the relentless hard sell that marketers rely on to make you buy.

Whenever you go out to shop, whether it is to your local mall, the supermarket, or online, there are rules that must be followed in order to get the most value for the least amount of money.

Here are five ways to stay within budget and still get value.

1- Always make a list. Know what you want to buy beforehand.

2- Shop and compare prices and terms before you buy. Remember, the first price you see is not always the best. Use it as a starting point and a guide.

3- Stick to an amount you are willing to spend and don't go over. This will save your pocketbook unneeded grief when the credit card bill comes in.

4- Ask yourself if you can live without the item. Don't fall into the habit of rewarding yourself with an item because you've worked hard or you've been a good person lately. Excuses don't pay bills.

5- Keep a price book with you at all times and use it as a guide to get the best price.

Shopping doesn't have to be a chore if you prepare yourself beforehand and organize your priorities. If you can do this, you will succeed at becoming a saving money expert.

You can find more money saving tips from my book "How To Stop Wasting Money!" at http://www.HowToStopWastingMoney.com It is the ultimate money-saving guide.

Sincerely,
Barry Ferguson "America's Saving Money Man"

2005-03-19T21:06:00.000-05:00