DEBTSMART® EMAIL NEWSLETTER
ISSN 1538-6740
November 20, 2002 Issue 39

Tools for financial success!
A Free E-Mail Newsletter from DebtSmart® Online and Press One Publishing.

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Publisher: Scott Bilker, mailto:publisher@debtsmart.com
Editor: Richard Crammer, mailto:editor@debtsmart.com 

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For instructions to SUBSCRIBE, and DISCLAIMER, see bottom of this email.

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IN THIS ISSUE

==> Cool Quote

==> Letter from the Publisher

==> 9 Steps to Get Organized For Financial Success

==> Household Math™: Which Sale is Better?

==> Survey: How Organized Are You?

==> Wanting a Newer Car

==> Holiday Special

==> Bad Customer Service

==> Eight Steps to Tackle the Money-Saving Process

==> Slashing Grocery Bills

==> DebtSmart® Resources

==> Subscribe/Disclaimer Information

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COOL QUOTE

"I say 'try'; if we never try, we shall never succeed." 
--Abraham Lincoln

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LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER 
by Scott Bilker

Hi,

Cars, homes, and a warranty were some of the responses to the question of last issue's survey on "Best Buying Decisions."

You can read all the survey results by clicking below:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/021120_en.cgi?04&7428 

This issue's survey has to do with being organized. Are you organized? I am with some stuff, like the finances, but in other areas I need to improve (like the garage).

The Fed has reduced interest rates again. How will this affect your credit cards? It won't. Credit card interest rates have been climbing higher over the last year and you know that these banks aren't going to reduce their rates when they don't have to. That's why it's so important for us to keep them on their toes by playing them against each other!

Regards, Scott PS: Be sure to check out the holiday special because it ends in only 24 hours!

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9 STEPS TO GET ORGANIZED FOR FINANCIAL SUCCESS! 
by Scott Bilker

The beginning of my financial life was when I received my driver's license. Before that I rode my bicycle around and had no bills. Well, I needed a car, right? I had to get to work so I could pay for the car, to get to work.

That's what started the bill cycle. The car was used (pre-owned), so I didn't have any payments, but I was using my gas credit card to get around. So it didn't take long for the bills to start arriving in the mail.

I soon realized that I had to do something. I had to get organized!

Here are the 9 quick steps to getting organized for financial success--today!

1) Filing system. When it comes to getting organized, everything needs a place, a home, a spot. The basic...

Click below to read article:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/021120_en.cgi?05&7428 

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HOUSEHOLD MATH™: WHICH SALE IS BETTER?

Two stores are having a sale. In Store #1 the deal is take 25% off, then take an additional 25% off. In Store #2 the deal is take 50% off. Which store has the better deal?

Click below to solve problem:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/021120_en.cgi?06&7428 

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SURVEY: HOW ORGANIZED ARE YOU?

This weeks lead story is about getting organized financially. Being organized is surely the key to success in any undertaking so I wonder just how organized we think we are.

Please add you comments about being organized by taking this issue's survey!

Click below to respond to survey:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/021120_en.cgi?07&7428 

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WANTING A NEWER CAR 
by Gary Foreman

Gary, My husband and I are in quite a bit of credit card debt and my husband wants a newer car. We have a 14-year old Acura Legend and it has over 190,000 miles on it but we can't afford another bill until we get out of debt. If all goes as planned we should be out of debt within about two and half years. But that could be longer if something comes up. He says that his car won't last two more years. We are trying to save a little bit but we don't have any money to put down on a car. We have money to pay our bills which is not the problem. We just don't have a whole lot of money left over after paying our bills. What would you suggest we do about this situation? Thanks, --Mary

Hubby's desire for a newer car is understandable. He's right. His car is old. But a dependable car is only...

Click below to read article:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/021120_en.cgi?08&7428 

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HOLIDAY SPECIAL (must act right now)!

*Two books for the price of one plus special gift!

Want to give the gift of financial freedom this holiday season? How about 2 copies of my book, "Credit Card and Debt Management." But that's not all! If you act today, and I mean right now, you'll also receive the No Bills Complete Financial Suite, a $59.95 value, FREE as a gift. That's two copies of CCADM plus the CD, for only $19.95 plus shipping! The total retail on this is $99.85! You save $79.90! Act now! This offer ends in 24 hours! By the way, it's a 100% satisfaction guaranteed offer!

Take advantage of holiday special by clicking below:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/021120_en.cgi?09&7428 

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BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE 
by Chris Peruzzi

July 14th, 2002 I got a call yesterday at 8:00 AM.

I don't like getting calls at 8:00 AM at work or at home. Obviously, there's nothing I can do about the work calls but the home calls, I'd like to think that this is an open invitation to be rude. Normally, I will vent my displeasure at the calling party unless they are family or a very, very, very, dear friend. And even then, the calling party should prepare him or herself for the slew of foggy insults headed his or her way.

Of course, there is always the emergency as well. The question is how do you define, emergency. I have a simple rule of thumb. Unless the first sentence in their mouth has any of the following words...

Click below to read article:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/021120_en.cgi?10&7428 

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EIGHT STEPS TO TACKLE THE MONEY-SAVING PROCESS 
By Gregory Thomas

Part 8: Track Your Results

All throughout this money saving journey you want to keep this process as organized and structured as possible. You'll find that a lack of organization will not only frustrate and make things more difficult for you, but it will be nearly impossible to track your results.

Tracking your results is one of the MOST important steps to the money saving process. If you do not...

Click below to read article:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/021120_en.cgi?11&7428 

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SLASHING GROCERY BILLS 
by Rachel Paxton

Even the thought of spending a lot of time tracking grocery prices from store to store gives me a headache. I know a lot of people who keep detailed notes of every grocery item they regularly purchase and routinely note the price fluctuations at the grocery stores they frequent.

I used to not pay attention to grocery prices much at all. I have never been one to...

Click below to read article:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/021120_en.cgi?12&7428 

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DEBTSMART® RESOURCES

DebtSmart® Books, software, reports, in-print and downloads:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/021120_en.cgi?01&7428 

Archive of DebtSmart® Email Newsletters online:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/021120_en.cgi?02&7428 

How to use DebtSmart® articles FREE in your e-zine or on your web site:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/021120_en.cgi?03&7428 

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HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO THIS NEWSLETTER

All recipients of DEBTSMART® EMAIL NEWSLETTER have signed up voluntarily for the newsletter via our website.

TO SUBSCRIBE to this newsletter click on the below link and complete the subscription form:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/021120_en.cgi?00&7428 

Please contact mailto:comments@debtsmart.com with any comments, problems, or concerns.

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The author(s), Press One Publishing, and DebtSmart.com shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly by the information contained in this email newsletter and/or at the DebtSmart.com web site. The information, methods and techniques described may not work for you and no recommendation is made to follow the same course of action. Every effort has been made verify the accuracy of all content contained herein. However, there may be mistakes; typographical, mathematical or in content. This email newsletter and the DebtSmart.com web site have been created for your entertainment only. You must always seek the proper professional advice before taking any financial or legal action. You have been warned.

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Copyright © 2002 Press One Publishing. All rights reserved. Please do not reprint, or host on your Web site, without explicit permission. However, if you found this newsletter helpful, we grant you permission, and strongly encourage you, to e-mail it to a business associate or a friend. Thank you.