A NOTE FROM RANDAL

Hello Everyone,

Welcome new subscribers and thanks to all of you who have been sharing The Frugal Life News with others!

Hope you're enjoying this Spring weather and sometimes Summer like weather. We've been getting the garden ready by fertilizing and getting all the winter leaves up too. Here in Central Virginia, we have had strange weather but now it seems to be leveling off to being fairly consistent on the warm side. Hope your Spring/Summer is going well.

It's always nice to add new subscribers to our mailing so if you know anybody that might be interested, forward them this issue and suggest they join us!

Frugally yours,

Randal

FRUGAL FINANCES

Keep Your Goal... Change Your Plan!

Its hard to move forward while looking backward, but without looking backward we fail to give gratitude for accomplishment or learn from failure both necessary for future success.

2006 was a monumental year for Elizabeth, my wife, and me. It marked our 10-year Debt-Freedom anniversary. 1996 was a monumental year as well.

In 1996 we switched financial freedom tactics. With debt elimination accomplished, it was time to create enough income-generating wealth to give us the freedom to choose our rat-race exit date.

Our calculations projected we could reach this next milestone in 10 years 2006 provided our income stayed the same, our investments cooperated, and living expenses remained modest. We created a new Goal Card with 2006 as our date objective and designed a Plan to achieve it.

Then came the challenges...

Two months after accomplishing Debt-Freedom, my engineering job relocated itself to high cost-of-living San Jose, CA. No way I was going to get back into debt following a job.

Scratch 1 income...

In 2000 the Internet bubble burst, taking the stock market with it.

Scratch years of stock investing gains...

In September 2001, I launched DebtIntoWealth -- 10 days before terrorists attacked the U.S. with commercial jets.

Scratch marketing plan and remaining stock market assets.

You might think, given these "disasters," we were tempted to tear-up our Goal Card. And youd be right. But each disaster reminded us of the risk of being financially dependent on jobs and stock markets.

Instead of changing our Goal... we changed our Plan.

In 2006 as our Goal Card predicted -- we left the rat race. Like Elizabeth is fond of saying,

"Keep taking steps in a certain direction and youre going to end up where youre headed."

Disasters have a way of ignoring your well laid plans. Make a Goal Card... if you don't have one already. Change your Plan... if disasters make it necessary.

But by all means, get yourself and your family on the path to debt-freedom and job-independence today. I assure you... life's a lot more fun and disasters are a lot less disastrous!

Lessons From My Journey to Debt Freedom

Greg Moore is the Architect of the Debt Freedom System. Pay off all of your debt in 5-7 years using the money you already make. Find out why financial guru and best-selling author, Suze Orman, is advising her millions of followers to " Everyone should be agressively paying off mortgage debt as fast as possible." Greg offers Lesson #1 Free.

FRUGAL HOME COMMUNICATIONS

Free Directory Assistance For Any Phone

Here is a way to get directory assistance at no charge. You can read more here:

www.goodnewsnetwork.org/content/view/1433/31/

Long Distance, Prepaid Phone Cards, Cell Phones & Internet Service

3.9 Cent Long Distance With No Access Numbers to Dial

Prepaid Phone Cards

Plans for Cellular Phones

Internet Service

No hidden fees or charges!

Shop for Long Distance, Cell Phone & Internet Service

FRUGAL SHOPPING

Here is a tip to help with saving money on buying clothes constantly for your children. Consider swapping your child's clothes with other parents. Most times our children grow out of clothing so fast that it is hard to keep up with the growth spurts financially.

FRUGAL PETS

Natural Remedies and Herbal Heartworm Programs

Robin Sockness has worked with thousands of pets over the many years we have referred to her. She's great at what she does because she's seen such great success with her own pets and those she has helped. Herbs are safer and less expensive so it's a win-win situation for all. Herbal prevention programs available also. Get more information on Robin.

Healthy Pet Foods

Pet food ingredients can create a lot of health problems for our pets, and that can cost a lot of money with recurring health issues feeding the pockets of our veterinarians. Be an informed pet owner when it comes to what's in pet foods. You already know that you feel better if you eat right. Help them to feel better too.

Information Links for Pets

Healthy Pet Corner provides informational links for dogs, cats, birds, horses, rabbits, and reptiles. Visit Healthy Pet Corner.

FRUGAL TIPS

Nice Get Well or Birthday Gift for Female

I got this idea from my aunt. For a nice gift for a female that is not expensive. Take one of your old small clear vases and get a bag of jelly beans and a small bunch of pretty fake flowers from the dollar store or some place cheap. Put the jelly beans in the vase and then insert the flowers and wa-la. It is very cute and unique. My aunt gave one to my mom who is ill and she loved it.

Deodorize While You Kill Bacteria and Viruses

Get the anti-microbial properties of essential plant oils to kill germs without bleach and toxic cleaning products. The plug-in AromaBall makes it quick and easy. Read more about the AromaBall for killing germs and deodorizing without chemicals.

FRUGAL LEARNING

Singing Success At-Home Study Course

The Singing Success Vocal Training Program, by celebrity vocal coach Brett Manning, is the only vocal training program that guarantees a full octave increase in your vocal range. And you can do it at home. You'll learn to sing as easily as you speak, completely eliminating vocal strain, and you will learn to master the techniques of vocal style, including runs, licks and trills. 100% guaranteed. Get a full refund if it doesn't do all it promises.

The best thing about it is that you can try it out and send it back for a full refund if it doesn't do all it promises to do. Read more about the Singing Success Program.

WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE FORUM

Give your advice for these questions at the Frugal Life Community Forum.

Automobile Forum
1. Can someone tell me what the labor cost should be to replace a waterpump on a 92 Ford Explorer?

Do-It-Yourself
1. Not quite sure if this is the way to ask this question but figure it cannot hurt. We have been keeping several months worth of food on hand. Home grown as well as store bought cans. At one time I saw a plan to make a storage rack for cans where you put the cans in the up hill side and they would be taken from the other end of the rack. Sort of like first in first out. But as you can probably guess, lost the plan. Does anyone out there have such a unit or a plan for one? Thanks, Tom in TN

2. Hi, i wish to install a small shower partition in my apartment and not use a shower curtain.since the area is very small i was thinking of installing glass - but that is working out to be very expensive. any suggestions as to how should i go about it. many thanks in advance.

Miscellaneous
1. By now most of you are aware of the issue surrounding predatory lending. This incorporates not only sub-prime mortgage lending, but also fair credit practices among many credit card companies/banks.

I have had a major problem with my MasterCard account through Bank of America. Several months ago, I accidentally went over my credit limit and was charged a $39 fee. This was not so bad, as it was my error. However, BofA also raised my interest rate from 7.9% to 21.9% with the same monthly bill! I called and have not been able to resolve the matter. Only last week I received a letter saying that my interest rate had been raised to 24.9% effective 01 May 2007. No reason was given to this increase. I have excellent credit and have not had any problems with monthly payments, no further over-limit charges, etc...

Fortunately, I am able to write a cheque for the full amount and did so yesterday. I also took great care in telling BofA exactly what I think of them and to cancel the account immediately.

Bottom line.... They lost a LOT of interest in the long term, made an enemy of their bank, and I wish to formally put in a complaint regarding their actions and tactics. Anyone know exactly who to send my complaint to?

Are any of you also falling victim to this type of predatory lending?

This is a VERY valuable lesson about not being in debt. Part of simplistic living is about retaining control over your own life and your money. Please do not find yourself in the same (or worse) situation as I did with a credit card company/bank.

Pets
1. Have recently found a recipe for brewers yeast and garlic powder to put in dog food to keep ticks and fleas away however I have not found anything for cats. My cats are all over the property and do come home with a tick periodically. I can find nothing for cats to keep those pesky critters off of them. Anyone know what I might put in their food to stop unwanted guests on my cats and in my house?

HOME BUSINESS IDEAS

Nature's Sunshine Herbs and Supplements

Make Your Own Bath & Beauty Products

Flint River Ranch Oven Baked Pet Foods

Healthy Pet Net Foods and Supplements

FORWARD TO A FRIEND

If you enjoyed what you read today, please forward this newsletter to your friends by clicking on the white envelope below --- or send them the link to this site.

COPYRIGHT, LEGAL DISCLAIMER & REPRINT INFO

© 2006 Randal J. Watkins

Information in The Frugal Life News (TFL) has been derived from sources believed accurate and reliable. In no event shall *The Frugal Life,* Randal Watkins, or the corporate sponsor, Sunshine Life Center, Inc. staff be liable for any damages whatsoever resulting from any action arising in connection with the use of information herein.

There is no remuneration for suggestions, tips, or ideas submitted by readers. All suggestions, tips, and ideas, submitted for publication in The Frugal Life, become the property of The Frugal Life, notwithstanding similar rights of the reader submitting such suggestions, tips, or ideas. TFL publishes readers' names with their suggestions, tips, and ideas unless a reader requests otherwise at the time of the submission.

Forwarding and Use of This Newsletter

You may forward this newsletter in its entirety and/or use this copyrighted newsletter on a website if you include the following credit:

Editor, Randal J. Watkins, of TheFrugalLife.com, provides this free newsletter to subscribers. Visit The Frugal Life website to subscribe or find frugal information to live well on what you already have. http://www.thefrugallife.com

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