The Foreclosure Rental Trap - Tips on Budgeting

Jon Quinton is a freelance writer, currently working for ‘Us For Homes’, the UK’s premier For Sale By Owner website
Moving house can be quite a stressful experience, not only are there lots of things you need to plan, there are also lots of costs involved. To help remove some of this stress it really helps to plan your budget in advance, and to try and think of every possible cost. This might not be the most pleasant of experiences but it will definitely help your move go a lot smoother. This post goes through a few of the forgotten about expenses that can catch you out when moving home.

Packaging
It’s well worth getting some quotes from packaging companies, as the cost of buying in boxes can add up quite quickly. Packing everything into boxes makes moving home ten times easier, so it’s definitely an expense worth planning for. If you can’t afford boxes, start collecting old used boxes from family and friends. Read the rest of this entry

There are 5 main sources with which to secure a personal loan, all with their own distinct advantages and disadvantages. The higher your credit rating is, the more options you will have from which to obtain a personal loan.

1.) Banks / Credit Unions
To get a personal loan from a bank, you need to have a very good credit rating and the patience to wade through a ton of paperwork. The bank will want to know EVERYTHING about your financial situation, from how much you make per year to how much debt you currently hold. A personal loan from a bank will generally have a very competitive interest rate.

2.) Credit Cards
Perhaps the easiest loan to get, credit cards are everywhere in todayís society, and you need one to practically exist in America today. However, many people get into debt problems with their credit cards, as it is very easy to just swipe the plastic and forget about it.

Read the rest of this entry

Family Food Crisis
The Dollar Stretcher Blog
by Gary Foreman
gary @stretcher.com



Dear Dollar Stretcher,
I only have a little money to spend on food this month, about $80 for a family of 4. What kind of meal suggestions can you give?
Thank you.
Red

Feeding a family of four on $80 is a challenge. But, for many families, it’s a reality. And, although it is hard, it is not impossible.

Begin by checking your resources. You may have more resources available than you think. What do you already have in your pantry? Probably not a lot, but when you’re struggling every bit counts.

Check to see what other sources of food might be available to you. Don’t hesitate to ask for help. Your local food pantry is there for a reason. Many churches and synagogues also have pantries. If you have trouble finding one contact a couple of churches. They should be able to point you in the right direction.

Another private source for help is Angel Food Ministry. They’re able to provide a box of food worth approximately $65 for $30. There is no qualification required. Check their site to see if there’s a location near you .

SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program) or as it’s more commonly known “food stamps” is designed to help families who need assistance to buy groceries. Over 40 million people receive SNAP aid each month. You can find out more at the government website .

If your children are in school find out what lunch assistance is available. Knowing that they’re eating well at noon will make your life a little easier.

You might also be able to trade some manual labor for food. Check with local farmers or fruit/vegetable stands.

Once you know what resources are available to you it’s time to think about what to buy. You’ll want to shop the perimeter of the store. The cheapest foods (and often the healthiest) are usually found along the side and back walls of the grocery store. Avoid all the prepackaged and processed foods.

Rice, potatoes, pasta and flour are all relatively inexpensive and filling. Use these items as the foundation of your meals. They’re easy to cook and can be used in a variety of ways. For centuries they’ve been the main part of the working person’s diet.

Every meal does not have to include meat. In fact, you’ll need to resign yourself to the fact that meat will be an occasional treat during the month. Ask the grocery butcher when they mark down meat that’s near it’s expiration date for clearance. That’s your best bet for affordable meats.

Study depression era strategies. Basic, filling foods fixed in an engaging manner. One example is Clara Cannucciari. She’s a great grandmother who has a video series showing depression cooking. You can find one of her videos here . See if your local library has older cookbooks. Or cookbooks with traditional recipes.

In season vegetables offer nutrition and add flavor to your meals. Add them to potatoes, rice or pasta to create variety and interest to your meals.

Beans are an excellent, inexpensive source of protein. Not only are they cheap, they come in a variety of flavors. Buy them raw or dried and prepare them yourself. You can find instructions on the web or most cookbooks.

Also remember that soups offer a low cost meal. Start with whatever veggies you have and add potatoes, rice or noodles.

When you have very few dollars to spend, it’s important to make your purchases count. So know how you’ll use something before you buy it. Waste is not an option with a really tight food budget.

The task may seem very difficult, but be encouraged that others before you have successfully fed their families on a very tight budget. I’m sure that you can do it, too.

______________________

Gary Foreman is the editor of The Dollar Stretcher.com HYPERLINK “http://www.stretcher.com/”website and HYPERLINK “http://www.stretcher.com/subscribe/subscribeDS.cfm”newsletters. For more information about living on a bare bones budget.