DEBTSMART® EMAIL NEWSLETTER
ISSN 1538-6740
May 7, 2003 Issue 51

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

==> Excerpt from, "Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt"

==> Future Wealth

==> Household Math™: Cutting the Budget

==> Your Social Security Statement

==> What Are You Tolerating In Your Life?

==> DebtSmart® Resources

==> Subscribe/Disclaimer Information

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COOL QUOTE

"Most choices are driven by immediate results." 
--Dr. Phil

Click below for quotes from all previous newsletters: http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/030507_en.cgi?04&7428

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LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER 
by Scott Bilker

Hi,

I recently found my way to the Bureau of Printing and Engraving's web site at bep.treas.gov. They list many fun money facts. Here's one that I found interesting:

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Legal Tender: A Definition

Section 102 of the Coinage Act of 1965 (Title 31 United States Code, Section 392) provides in part:

"All coins and currencies of the United States, regardless of when coined or issued, shall be legal tender for all debts, public and private, public charges, taxes, duties and dues."

This statute means that you have made a valid and legal offer of payment of your debt when you tender United States currency to your creditor. However, there is no Federal statute which mandates that private businesses must accept cash as a form of payment. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether or not to accept cash unless there is a State law which says otherwise. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Regards, 
Scott

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EXCERPT FROM "TALK YOUR WAY OUT OF CREDIT CARD DEBT"
by Scott Bilker

CHAPTER 1: THE BANKS ARE AT OUR MERCY

A GREAT PAYING JOB 
Everyone wants to get out of debt, but few are willing to do the work it takes to make this goal a reality. As it turns out, looking into all your credit options is going to be one of the best paying jobs you'll ever have. That's because the money you save more than compensates you for your time.

If you have high-rate debt and spent just 10 hours per year working on getting better deals, you might easily save $1,000 or more. That's $100 per hour!

In this book I make 52 phone calls that take 403 minutes (6 hours, 43 minutes) and save $43,147.68. Let's do the math on that. What a fast way to make/save $6,423.97 per hour, which works out to be $107.07 per minute! Not bad, huh? And the great news is that you may...

Click below to read article:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/030507_en.cgi?05&7428 

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FUTURE WEALTH 
by Damien Del Russo

With tax time passing, it may be time for some to evaluate their finances. Like many people, I am interested in retirement, and what my finances will look like when I retire. Or, put another way, when my finances will allow me to retire. I've done a fair bit of study on the subject, reading books such as "The Wealthy Barber," "The Millionaire Next Door," and "Rich Dad, Poor Dad," among other publications on debt, saving, and investing. One common theme, especially for those without huge incomes...

Click below to read article:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/030507_en.cgi?06&7428 

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HOUSEHOLD MATH™: CUTTING THE BUDGET 
by Scott Bilker

Susan spends 30% of her income on housing expenses, 30% repaying her credit card debts, 20% on all taxes, 10% on groceries, 5% on clothing, and saves what's left over. She decides that she wants to pay back her debt more quickly and to do that she needs to do a few budget cuts. Susan cuts the grocery bill by 25%, the clothing spending in half, and dedicates all the money she used to save toward the credit card debts. How much, by percentage, of her income is now being used for repaying credit card debt?

Click below to solve problem:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/030507_en.cgi?07&7428 

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YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY STATEMENT 
by Doris Dobkins

This week, I received in the mail my Social Security Statement. These annual reports are always very interesting to me as I'm anxious to know what the government will send me for my monthly income when I retire.

Here's an example of what a typical Social Security Statement might...

Click below to read article:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/030507_en.cgi?08&7428 

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WHAT ARE YOU TOLERATING IN YOUR LIFE? 
by Michael Angier

In order to be successful it's critical that we become clear about what we really want and why we want it. But the flip side to that is to also be clear about what we DON'T want. We all have things in our life that, at best, don't serve us. Many of these things actually detract from the quality and satisfaction of our lives. What we've found to be helpful is to create a...

Click below to read article:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/030507_en.cgi?09&7428 

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DEBTSMART® RESOURCES

DebtSmart® Books, software, reports, in-print and downloads:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/030507_en.cgi?01&7428 

Archive of DebtSmart® Email Newsletters online:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/030507_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/030507_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/030507_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 © 2003 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.