MAKE A NOTE!! -- January 15th, 1999

CIRCULATION 1,807

A Free Twice Monthly Newsletter with Useful Information on a Wide Variety of Topics

Previous Issue | Back To 1999 Back Issues | Next Issue  

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

In This Issue:

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

RECYCLING CHRISTMAS CARDS

For those of you who can't bear to throw out those beautiful scenes, here are two ways you can use them over again. Debi Taylor-Hough, in her booklet "Simple Living", suggests using the cards with the flat backs as postcards. Simply cut the cover off neatly & then draw a line down the middle of the card and you have a postcard. Keep in mind the postcard cannot be smaller than 3 1/2 "x 5", and if you keep it no larger than 4 1/4" x 6" then you only pay 20 cents for postage. You can cut the covers to fit if you like. For more great ideas, subscribe to Debi's newsletter, by following the same directions listed at the end of this newsletter, but in the BODY of the letter put "subscribe simple-times". Another way to recycle the cards and help a good cause is to send them all to St. Jude's Ranch for Children, 100 St. Jude's St, Boulder City, NV 89006-0100 They can even have writing on the back. They use them to make crafts for fundraisers. POST IT...wherever you keep your Christmas cards or decorations.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

BUYING A CAR ONLINE

Over the years we have purchased a car ourselves and used a professional buying service. This time we decided to do it ourselves with the FREE online services and were very pleased. I tried several (Microsoft Car Point, AutoWeb, AutoByTel) and some were more accurate than others. Unfamiliar with these services? You use their web sites to research what car you want, usually new, and then tell them what you want and where you live. They put you in contact with a dealer in your area who is supposed to give you the good deal up front with no haggling. The sites have all the pricing, extras, & other info that you would need to make a good deal, so in most cases the dealer won't mess around with you because he knows you are an informed consumer. To walk you through it....do you need a new car? In the car advice column of the online/email newsletter "The Dollar Stretcher" http://www.stretcher.com/ they had an excellent formula. If you are spending 10% of the car's current value annually in REPAIR (not maintenance) bills then you should start thinking about a new car. Once you hit 25% of the car's current value annually, then you should get rid of it. We had definitely gone into the 25%. Next stop, the library to check out Consumer Reports Auto issue & see what the best car is for the money, reliability is the important thing for us. After you decide what you want, go to http://www.edmunds.com/ which has lots of wonderful information about dealer holdbacks, and other info that will help you in your decision, including a loan calculator. Then get an invoice price for what you want, the most accurate one I found was Kelly Blue Book's site which was right on the money at http://www.kbb.com/ While all of the car services did a good job, I found AutoWeb to be the easiest to use http://www.autoweb.com/ and they had superior customer service. I was contacted by a local dealer whose first offer was only a little over 3% over invoice (they say anything between 3-8% over invoice is considered a good deal). Loath to ever take the first offer, I asked if he might knock a little more off and he did, down almost another full percentage point. All this was done on the computer & phone & I haven't even had to set foot in a dealer's office yet. We decided to test drive to decide on which of 2 models we preferred, closed the deal & we should be getting our car early next month (it was a popular model, so we had to wait for it to be shipped). POST IT....on your computer web sites list, and with your car registration.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FUNERAL PLANNING & AVOIDING RIP-OFFS

Unfortunately this is something we don't always plan ahead for and yet it may be one of the most expensive purchases we make in our lives. And just like in any industry, there are always the few who prey on the weak and in this case grief stricken. The Dollar Stretcher (see link above) had a very in depth story of how to avoid the scams. He also recommended a web site that does the same thing, http://dragonet.com/funeral/ Also the "Tightwad Gazette II" book has a great section on funerals and saving money. Speaking for myself, I really don't want my family to pay any more than is absolutely required when I go, for dressing up an empty shell! A funeral can run anywhere from $5000-$20000, so educate yourself now, collect the info BEFORE you need it, so you will be prepared if necessary. One of the best things you can do is the join a nonprofit memorial society that will do the bargaining for you, and get you a better deal with less hassle. $25 usually buys you a lifetime membership; it might cost a little more if you join at the time of death, but will still save you. You can call the Continental Assoc. of Funeral & Memorial Societies at 1-800-458-5563 to get more info. The funeral home is required to provide you with a list, if requested, of the prices of all caskets. If the body is not being transported across state lines, or succumbed to a communicable disease, then embalming is not even required if you are having a closed casket ceremony. So check things out now BEFORE you need them, so it won't be so upsetting later. POST IT...with your wills (and you better have those wills! :)).

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

BEST PLACES TO LIVE IN THE USA

Another thing we are in the process of doing (which is how I find most of my useful info....researching something for myself), is trying to find a place we want to live in a couple of years when my husband gets out of the military. For those of you in similar situations, here are 2 great web sites to check out. Money magazine does an annual list of the Best Places to Live in America. They break it up into regions and then small, medium, & large cities. They used polls to find out what was most important to folks in this situation & used that info to compile the list. Check out 1998's list at http://pathfinder.com/money/bestplaces and check out their cost of living calculator, where you punch in where you live, then where you want to live & it will tell you how much more or less you would have to make to have the same standard of living. Also the site has the capability to let you punch in what is important to you to get your own custom made list. For example, if your kids are grown you may not care about education in an area. If you are retired, then you may not care about employment statistics, etc. Another great site can tell you about neighborhoods in a certain zip code or part of a city. Punch in http://homeadvisor.msn.com/ie/neighborhoods/finder_.dl.asp POST IT...on your computer bookmarks list under "househunting" (and if any of you know anything about Fort Collins, CO send me an email. :)).

* * * * * * * * * * * * * **

MORE ON PET SUPPLY SAVINGS

Last month I touched on a wonderful company called Jeffers that sells all kinds of pet supplies. They are based in AL and have a refreshing, old-fashioned, customer is always right mentality. And I really don't know how they make any money, they sell stuff that even with shipping is cheaper than the military exchanges! Call for a catalog at 1-800-Jeffers or go to http://www.1800Jeffers.com/ POST IT...with your pet supplies.

* * * * * * * * * * * * **

VALENTINE TREE

This is a repeat from last year, but we have so many new readers that I hope the early readers won't mind the occasional repeat. This is a project from an out of print book called "Family Celebrations" by Ann Hibbard. Take a tree branch with lots of little branches, paint white if desired, & either lay it on your table or put it in a can of rocks/sand, or hang from a chandelier. Each member of the family makes 4 hearts out of colored paper, glitter, doilies, use your imagination. Attach a ribbon to hang each heart of the tree later. Be sure to leave one side blank to write things on. Four weeks before Valentine's Day (yes, in January), each family member takes one of their hearts & writes down something UNSELFISH they can do & then they read about an unselfish lady in Ruth 1:6-18. Once the person has done the unselfish thing, then they hang that heart on the tree. Three weeks before Valentine's Day write down a PROMISE you can keep & read about a promise made in II Samuel 4:4, 9:1-13. Once the each person has kept the promise they put their heart up on the tree. Two weeks before, something KIND & read about a kind father in Luke 15:11-24. One week before Valentine's Day write down something you can do to SHOW AN UNKIND PERSON GOD'S LOVE & read about it in Luke 10:25-37. Once done, hang the hearts. By Valentine's Day you will have a beautiful tree of hearts, a centerpiece, and a great conversation starter. Both young & old would like this one. POST IT...on your calendar.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

JOKE QUOTES :) (From Bob P.)

"Why is it that when we talk to God we're said to be praying, but when God talks to us we're schizophrenic?"

--Lily Tomlin

"Our bombs are smarter than the average high school student. At least they can find Kuwait."

--A. Whitney Brown

* * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * ** * *

QUOTE (From the Joanne S.)

This isn't really a quote, but a wonderful parable. A bit long, but I thought it was worth it. "There was a little boy with a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails & told him that every time he lost his temper, to hammer a nail in the back fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Then it gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed & the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man & draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. 

---Anonymous

Have you lost your temper recently?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FEEDBACK-FEEDBACK-FEEDBACK

~~ Taxes (1/1/99) Mrs. Debbie T. wrote to say that in her area the bigger firms are the ones with the bad reputation. So she recommended that wherever you decide to go that you should check with the Better Business Bureau before making an appointment. Check out their site at http://www.bbb.org/

~~ Christmas Recipes (12/98) Carol T. wrote to say that her family loved the candy cane cheese spread and Christmas Tree vegetable tray. Pam M. said she was also going to be trying the Candy Cane Spread. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

All for this issue. Pass this along to anyone you think might beinterested. And keep that feedback coming.

God bless,

Sharon ^i^

Editor, Make a Note

Make-A-Note@worldnet.att.net

TO SUBSCRIBE TO MAKE-A-NOTE EZINE

Send a blank email to: subscribe-make-a-note@hub.thedollarstretcher.com

TO UNSUBSCRIBE FROM MAKE-A-NOTE EZINE

Send a blank email to: unsubscribe-make-a-note@hub.thedollarstretcher.com

                              Back to Top of Page

Previous Issue | Back To 1999 Back Issues | Next Issue