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The Frugal Life – Living Well With What You Have

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Looking For Mangosteen To Raise Your Energy And Your Immune System Levels?

Thai-Go is it! It far outshines Xango, Mango-Xan and Tahitian Noni!
Nature’s Sunshine’s new product is filled with healthful bioflavonoids and
powerful antioxidants. Thai-Go has an ORAC value of over 100,000. This
assures you the antioxidant amounts are tremendous. See the test results
compared to other products and the immuno-stimulatory response here:
http://www.theherbsplace.com/thaigo.asp
Thai-Go

la_dog_cat_food

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The Frugal Life News
September 27, 2004 Edition
https://www.thefrugallife.com

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A Note From Randal
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Hi Everyone,

Donna and I went to DC two weekends ago for the 1st Annual Green Festival. It was amazing to see many like minded individuals, companies and speakers. I also ejoyed sampling the different foods they offered too. I must say it was the first time I was at a conference and the only food selection was vegetarian. We were both very impressed and learned a lot of new information and many new resources to draw upon for our various ezines.

If you want to read more about the Green Festival organization just go to http://www.greenfestivals.com
Green Festival

We appreciate all you do to increase our subscriber base every week. We consider it an honor that you continually let your friends and family know about our sites and ezines.

Until next time,

Randal


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Frugal Finances –
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A Debt Into Wealth Client Asks…

Dear Greg,
I have started to pay off my debt using an accelerator of $323.00 per month. My problem is this: I owe $279,000 including my mortgage, which is $248,000. My principal and interest payment is $1626. Using your system, it will take me 14 years to pay all of this debt off.

However, I’ll be 68 with no money for retirement except my Social Security and a very small pension along with a little 401K from a previous employer. I estimate this will provide a total monthly income of $2,200.

If I don’t accelerate my mortgage payoff, it will be paid off in 2033, 29 years from today.

I’m not really sure when I would retire, but I’d like to stop working before 70.

Am I doing the right thing by paying off the entire mortgage without saving anything for retirement?

Thanks, Betty

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Hi Betty, Are you doing the right thing?

Yes!

Thanks for your question. Greg

Ok. Just teasing. Would you like more detail behind this answer? First, let me put the assumption that you won’t have anything for retirement into perspective. You’re expecting $2,200/month or $26,400/year. This is equivalent to having a $440,000 annuity paying 6% interest.

This is a LOT of money!

Your alternative to paying off your mortgage fast is to invest your $323 Payoff Accelerator until you’re 70 (which I estimate to be around 16 years from now).

Suppose you average 7% annual return on $323/month for 16 years. Total value of your investments would be $114,446.33 — and you’ll still owe $173,842.36 on your home.

At 6% interest, $114,446.33 will generate $6,866.78/year or $572.23/month. Add this to your $2,200 estimate and your monthly income will be $2,772.23.

You’ll also have a mortgage payment of $1,626 for another 13 years — until you’re 83 years old!

Subtract your mortgage payment of $1,626 from $2,772.23, and you’ll be living on $1,146/month until age 83.

If, however, you continue executing your Debt Freedom plan, by the time you reach age 70:

* Your home will have been paid off for 2 years… * You’ll have $39,024 cash in the bank… * You’ll have at least $248,000 equity in your home… * And you’ll be living on $2,200/month.

Now, let me ask you…

Is it right for ANYONE to be making mortgage payments until they’re 83?


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Greg Moore is the Architect of the Debt Freedom System,
“DebtIntoWealth — Lessons from My Journey to Debt Freedom.”
For your FREE Lesson 1, Click Here:


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Free Lesson #1 – Debt Freedom Course
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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 “Pay Everything Off as Fast As Possible!”


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Frugal Gardening
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Why Make Compost? Because It Saves Money!

Compost is one of nature’s best mulches and soil amendments, and you can use it instead of commercial fertilizers. Best of all, compost is cheap. You can make it without spending a cent. Using compost improves soil structure, texture, and aeration and increases the soil’s water-holding capacity. Compost loosens clay soils and helps sandy soils retain water. Adding compost improves soil fertility and stimulates healthy root development in plants. The organic matter provided in compost provides food for microorganisms, which keeps the soil in a healthy, balanced condition.

Find out how here:


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Frugal How-To – “Take Back Your Time”
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“Take Back Your Time” Day

Americans work nearly nine (9) full weeks longer per year than western Europeans do and take an average of two weeks off in comparison to five or six weeks vacation in western Europe which leads some to think that Americans are working themselves to death.

Spending so much time at work leaves little time for families, friends and neighbors, much less time for getting involved in our communities and to be a good citizen.

Stress and burnout cause health problems which cost our economy more than $200 billion a year in sick leave and work-related injuries.

On October 24, 2004, people will take the day off of work and participate in activities geared toward catalyzing a “much-needed national conversation about work/life balance and how we can reclaim it.

Much like the first Earth Day, this day is designated “Take Back Your Time” Day. Read more about it at their website and download a schedule of locations where there will be an event:


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Frugal Decorating
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Deodorize While You Kill Bacteria and Viruses

Essential oils will make your home smell wonderful without the dangerous air freshner chemicals that have been in the news. The big bonus is that you also get the anti-microbial properties of essential plant oils so you can kill germs throughout your home without bleach and toxic cleaning products.

The AromaBall is a handy plug-in appliance with a ceramic plate that holds a small pad on which you add essential oils. Easy-to-use as a night light.

Get more info and/or purchase here:
http://www.theherbsplace.com/essentialaroma.html
AromaBall for
Deodorizer and Anti-Microbial Home Defense


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Frugal Pets
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Herbal Heartworm Program and Prevention

Robin Sockness works with pet owners with an individualized program and has currently worked with over 300 dogs. Herbs are safer and less expensive so it’s a win-win situation for all. Prevention programs are available also. Read more about it here: http://www.theherbsplace.com/heartworm.html
Herbal Heartworm
Program & Prevention


Free Information, Free Ecards, and Pet Foods Too!

Healthy Pet Corner provides lots of information and links for birds, cats, dogs, horses, rabbits, and reptiles. http://www.healthypetcorner.com
Healthy Pet Corner – Your Pet
Portal


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Frugal Tips From Our Subscribers –
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Shopping How-To
I’d like to share a few shopping tips.
 
Most stores have designated areas where you can find their clearance items. At Target, you can find alot of things on clearance on the ends of the aisles, called endcaps, closest the the walls and/or the center of the store.  I bought an $80.00 electric razor for less than $10.00.  I gave it as a gift.
 
In Wal-Mart and Sears, they usually have an aisle or two set aside for clearance.  Throughout the year I hit the clearance aisles and by December I have all my Christmas shopping done for pennies on the dollar.  
 
Clothing clearance is almost always setback by a wall.  I have not paid more than $10.00 for a shirt in over 10 years.  My last five pairs of jeans have cost me less than $30.00 in total.  One pair I got at Old Navy for $1.95.
 
I also only buy shoes on clearance.  Sears, Dillards and Famous Barr are excellent places to buy name brand shoes on clearance. I have several pairs of GBX and Sketchers and paid less than $30.00 per pair.  It pays to keep your eyes open, at Wal-Mart I found a pair of shoes for $8.00 with a Wal-Mart brand that were identical to a pair of GBX’s I had admired previously in a department store, but cost $85.00.  I even went back to compare the two and could find no difference except for the brand name.  The childrens sizes of the same size had still a different brand name on them.
 
Well, that’s all for now, I will post more later.


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What’s Going On In The Forum
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Maybe you can help these folks out with a few suggestions? Or post some of your own questions. LOG-IN TO POST Here’s the link:
https://www.thefrugallife.com/bulletinboard.html
Forum

Questions Needing Answers At The Forum

Cleaning Forum
1. I would like to know if it is actually helpful to clean furnace vents, as far as dust is concerned.  Also, do vents ever need to be replaced?  Our house was built in 1947.  Thanks! – Mary S in MN

Family Forum
1. Hello all! – We have evaluated our closets recently and realize that we own too many articles of clothing!  Does anyone know of a guideline of how many of each type of clothing we could get by with?  For example, how many shirts, pants, dresses, etc. do we need per person?
 
We wear most of what we own, but I think if we bought a little more expensive clothing (a good bit comes from Wal-Mart right now) we could own fewer pieces, wear them more often, and still get more wear out of them.
 
I am open to suggestions and opinions on this! thanks! donna


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Home Based Business Ideas
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Home Spa Party Plan – Make Bath and Body Products

Have you noticed how popular bath and pampering products have become? The HomeSpa Party Plan taps into that craze. Guests at HomeSpa parties will learn how to make bath salts, personalized perfumes, body spritzers and more using essential oils, while you make a nice income from Nature’s Sunshine. http://www.theherbsplace.com/essentialspa.html
Home Spa Party

Flint River Ranch – Oven Baked Pet Foods

If you have pets, they’ll love Flint River and you can make an income providing good pet foods and other pet products to friends, neighbors and your family. Pets keep eating, so customers keep buying. If you love animals, this is a very rewarding home-based business. With only 100 volume a month you can earn 19% on all sales. Websites are not yet available. http://www.healthypetcorner.com/FRR/busop.html
Flint River Ranch

Nature’s Sunshine Products – Herbs and Supplements

If you’ve been a natural health nut, you have a lot of information to share. Earn an income selling over 500 natural health products, beverages, essential oils, skin care systems, water filters, and more. Websites are also available for $15.95/month (plus an initial $19.95 set-up fee). http://www.theherbsplace.com/busop.html
Nature’s Sunshine
Products

Life’s Abundance Foods and Supplements

Life’s Abundance products by Dr. Jane Bicks and Dr. Barry Sears who developed the Zone Diet for Overweight Dogs. Besides dog, cat and horse products, they have a non-toxic line of cleaning products – safe for pets and children. Websites available for $10.95/month (plus an initial $20 set-up fee). http://www.healthypetcorner.com/HPN/busopform.html
Healthy Pet
Net


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Legal Disclaimer
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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 TFL staff be liable for any damages whatsoever resulting from any action arising in connection with the use of information herein.

TFL does not knowingly accept ads from advertisers deemed detrimental to TFL’s readers, however, publication of an ad in TFL does not constitute an endorsement for such product or service.

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.


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