Frugal Living: 25 new messages in 11 topics

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

25 new messages in 11 topics - digest

misc.consumers.frugal-living
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living?hl=en

misc.consumers.frugal-living@googlegroups.com

Today's topics:

==============================================================================
TOPIC: What's your monthly grocery spending?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/0abb53d245c656d6?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 3 ==
Date: Tues, Mar 4 2008 6:14 pm
From: Marsha

clams_casino wrote:

> Al Bundy wrote:
>> Please give us a clue as to what you are eating for $1.50 per
>> person. I spend more than your grocery budget just for myself.
>>

> That might just cover the TP, soap & washing detergent in our home.
>
> $180/mo comes out to 50 cents/person per meal.
>
> I'm not sure I could prepare 240 portions of soup for $180 (2x/day x 4
> people) without using a lot of water.

It doesn't look that difficult to me. If you have the time to plan
ahead, have freezer space, and don't use convenience meals, you can have
healthy balanced meals on a reasonable budget. Leave out the sodas,
expensive cereals, etc.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/424117/how_to_feed_a_family_of_four_on_200.html

Marsha

== 2 of 3 ==
Date: Tues, Mar 4 2008 6:16 pm
From: Jeff

AllEmailDeletedImmediately wrote:
> "clams_casino" <PeterGriffin@DrunkinClam.com> wrote in message
> news:_Ohzj.7991$XO4.1166@newsfe19.lga...
>> AllEmailDeletedImmediately wrote:
>>
>>> i can tell you that we spend 100/mon just on dairy & eggs.
>
>> Have you noticed the price of eggs lately?
>>
>> A year ago, we were paying $1.50/dozen at the grocer ($0.99 at Walmart).
>> Yesterday I noticed $2.59 for large eggs at the grocer.
>
> 2.75/doz for organic free range (not just cage free; they actually get to
> run
> all over outside) from my amish farmer. really orange yolks.

Are you buying directly from the farmer?

How much is the milk, how are you buying that?

It's been a couple years since I bought Amish produce (when I was taken
care of Mom in Ohio). But we used to go often and buy from some we got
to know pretty well. Eggs were about .80/dz and 10 gallons of raw milk
was about $10.00. I always thought the prices were pretty good, maybe
they just liked us english.

Even back then they complained about the price of energy. A lot of
people don't realize that they (even the very conservative) use quite a
bit of kerosene, gasoline and diesel. They just use it back at the barn
or house (kerosene). All the Amish I knew had stationary farm machinery.
I've since met Amish that live relatively modern lives (trucks and
digital cameras), I guess it depends on the local clan what you are allowed.

Jeff

>
> after sitting down and thinking;
>
> every 3 wks: 200 at the far away health food store
> 60 with my amish farmer for eggs & dairy
> weeks 1&2 total 100 at the nearby health food store for produce, milk
> (this incls 40 for csa during the
> summer)
>
> 360/3=120wk 120*52=6240yr = 520/calendar mon for produce and dairy
> add in about 100/mon for bf, cx. pork, turkey, tuna.
>
> so i guess we spend about 600-650/mon for the 2 of us. we don't eat out
> all that often, maybe 2x/month, usually breakfast. so round it up to
> 700/mon. this does include cleaning supplies and personal care items, but
> not paper products.
>
> expensive, i know. and i cook from scratch. speaking of which, my bean
> soup is whining at me. :)
>
> i'd like to put in a garden, but i'd guess that all the hoodlums will steal
> from it when prices start to rise. i've got no way to protect it.
>
>

== 3 of 3 ==
Date: Tues, Mar 4 2008 6:38 pm
From: Jeff

Al Bundy wrote:
>
> OhioGuy wrote:
>> I just read an article which stated that the average family of 4 here in
>> the USA spends $900 a month on groceries, plus more on eating out at
>> restaurants.
>>
>> I was shocked! Is this true?
>>
>>
>> We have a family of 4, and our grocery budget is only $180 a month. Until
>> last month, it was $160 a month, but we had to raise it a bit because many
>> food prices have gone up 20 to 30% in the past year.
>>
>> I know that most folks would consider me frugal, but I had no idea we were
>> getting by on 20% of what the average similar sized family was spending.
>>
>> How much do you spend on groceries a month?
>
> Please give us a clue as to what you are eating for $1.50 per
> person. I spend more than your grocery budget just for myself.

Well, I suppose a lot depends on how you buy. I've been eating a lot
of chicken lately at about .50/lb for a 10 pound bag. Usually I can find
some in season veggie I can get for under a $1/pound. I only buy fruit
in season, which drives the cost down and the quality up (.39/lb peaches
are much better than $1.50 /lb, a $2 watermellon is always better than a
$10 watermellon). Add a cheap starch (rice, pasta or potatoes) and you
can can, if you wish, eat well for not much money. Still $1.50 a day is
pretty cheap, it doesn't leave any room for extravagances.

Now, if you are buying prepared foods, and buying out of season, all
bets are off. The surprising thing is how much grains have risen in
cost. Well not so surprising with corn for ethanol demand, what a fiasco
that is.

Jeff

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Property tax: was How Will You All Adapt to $4.00 per gallon gasoline?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/27e47bb40833e110?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 5 ==
Date: Tues, Mar 4 2008 6:40 pm
From:

In article <47cd0f7a$0$6127$4c368faf@roadrunner.com>, <h> says...
>
> <josh@phred.org> wrote in message
> news:MPG.223685de13813323989819@newsgroups.comcast.net...
>
> >
> > Sure, our public schools could be more efficiently run, but do you
> > really want to live with the results of abandoning universal education?
> >
> Why should universal education be free? If "parents" can't pay to educate
> their kids and cope with getting them to school, they shouldn't be allowed
> to retain custody. They should lose custody immediately and permanently, and
> the kids should be adopted out. Besides, with the world popluation nearing 7
> billion no one should have more than one child anyway. That's a law I would
> love to see, and I would be thrilled if it could be enforced (tubal ligation
> performed immediately after every childbirth).

Given that any effort to enforce such a law in the U.S. would result in
widespread armed insurrection and the collapse of whatever government
was attempting to enforce the law, I think it's fair to disregard this
as a meaningful contribution to the discussion.

Within the realm of political reality, what alternatives do we have for
universal education, assuming we continue to recognize procreation as a
fundamental human right?

--
josh@phred.org is Joshua Putnam
<http://www.phred.org/~josh/>
Braze your own bicycle frames. See
<http://www.phred.org/~josh/build/build.html>

== 2 of 5 ==
Date: Tues, Mar 4 2008 7:20 pm
From: Shawn Hirn

In article <v2ers39k68agp8pigf86jfl4k941m9fpfb@4ax.com>,
Dennis <dgw80@hotmail.com> wrote:

> On Tue, 04 Mar 2008 08:02:27 -0500, Shawn Hirn <srhi@comcast.net>
> wrote:
>
> > That's the problem with the American educational system,
> >not enough is being invested to hire good teachers, and the
> >certification process is far too onerous and turns off good people
> >toward other careers.
>
> Agreed, that is one problem. The other is that the deadwood is not
> pruned like it is in most successful businesses. There are plenty of
> marginal teachers coasting on the public dime. Thank the unions,
> mostly.

Unions deserve some credit for sheltering ineffective teachers; however,
so does the economy. One reason ineffective teachers are not booted out
of the classroom before they earn tenure is that there is severe glut of
people willing to go into the teaching professions due to poorly
competitive pay scales. As a result, many school districts, especially
in impoverished school districts don't have the budget to attract more
and better teachers.

== 3 of 5 ==
Date: Tues, Mar 4 2008 7:24 pm
From: Shawn Hirn

In article <3aSyj.22739$y05.13636@newsfe22.lga>,
clams_casino <PeterGriffin@DrunkinClam.com> wrote:

> Logan Shaw wrote:
>
> > clams_casino wrote:
> >
> >> Average teacher salaries in our state are the highest in the nation
> >> when adjusted for the local cost of living. When pointed out to the
> >> local teacher's union, the reply has been that the US average is too
> >> low, not that the local teachers ($54k in 2005) are paid too much.
> >> Meanwhile, the teachers are on strike yet again. It's not uncommon
> >> for teachers here to be getting $70k/yr
> >
> >
> > Even though I think unions are, by and large, dumb and outdated, I
> > agree with the teachers' union in this case. Education is sort of
> > important, partly because it makes better citizens and better human
> > beings, and partly because without it, our economy is sunk, especially
> > with globalization where we now have to compete with other countries
> > more and more. And yet we pay teachers a lot less than other
> > professionals.
>
>
> Name a few (compared on an hourly basis). Certainly not a typical /
> average engineer, chemist or IT professional, for example..

That's easy. Just off the top of my head, the starting salary of a
retail harmacist, actuary, many accountants, the private practice
lawyer, pro sports player get a lot more in total compensation than the
typical teacher earns the first year out of school and for several years
thereafter. I am sure other people can come up with other examples.

== 4 of 5 ==
Date: Tues, Mar 4 2008 7:30 pm
From: Shawn Hirn

In article <fqicpi$ioo$1@registered.motzarella.org>,
"Dave" <noway@nohow.not> wrote:

> >
> > You saying the puppet in the white house is billions of years old? Or
> > perhaps you think he's got a time machine? That puppet in the white house
> > has no control over the dwindling supply of a non-renewable asset,
> > oron. -Dave
>
> If that is true then I assume we can expect you to not complain if the
> price of fuel doesn't drop under the next President...a Democrat.
>
> TMT
>
> (my reply)
>
> I might complain, but i wont bitch about the president not doing his job, as
> I know he is powerless. -Dave

What I expect when Obama is president next year is for the price of gas
not to increase as fast as it has under the current president during his
presidency.

It is foolish to expect any president to put forward policies that
significantly reduce the price of gas. On the other hand, it is
reasonable to expect our president to put forward an economic policy
that bolsters the value of the American dollar abroad and puts us on a
more even playing field with other nations as far as trade is concerned.
This is something President Bush has done an incredibly bad job of
doing. The plummeting value of our dollar on world markets is proof of
Bush's failed economic policy.

== 5 of 5 ==
Date: Tues, Mar 4 2008 7:39 pm
From: Shawn Hirn

In article <13spcn039skjdc7@corp.supernews.com>,
Jeff <jeff@spam_me_not.com> wrote:

> Dave C. wrote:
> >>> Again, the president has no influence over events that happened way back
> >>> before recorded history. Oil was formed. Oil is being used faster than
> > it
> >>> can reform. Oil therefore will run out. Soon. -Dave
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >> Thanks for proving you are totally naive.
> >>
> >> Hint - Oil consumption & limited supply does not account for the massive
> >> increase in price since GW was placed in office.
> >
> > You're like somebody worrying that a plane is going to crash and kill him,
> > while standing on the railroad tracks oblivious to the oncoming train. By
> > the time you get a clue..
> >
> > Look moron, if GW has done something to influence the price of oil,
>
> Forget Peak Oil for a bit, we'll get to it later...
>
> Everything he has done has influenced the price of oil.
>
> W has driven down the value of the dollar, remember that oil is priced
> in dollars. That is maybe $30/barrel. Did you know that one of the
> reasons for the Iraq war was the Saddam wanted to move off the dollar
> standard?
>
> Oil is traded on the futures market. Uncertainty raises the cost of
> futures contracts. That is somewhere between $15 and $30/barrel
>
> http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_11/b3975011.htm
>
> Oil is a commodity and is dependent on supply and demand. So what has
> happened to the country with second largest reserves in the world, Iraq?
> It's stalled below pre invasion levels. Currently that is 2 million bpd.
> As far as the their reserves, they have been damaged by post invasion
> policies with seawater seeping into the southern fields.
>
> What about talking the Saudis into ramping up production. George W
> Bush famously remarked (December 1999) that he would jawbone OPEC. Funny
> how oil was at $27/barrel at the time. The Saudis are laughing at W now.
> No one has any incentive to do anything to please the US. And why should
> W care, Exxon once again posted a record quarterly profit.
>
> Now, let's look at Peak Oil, exactly what has George W Bush done to
> lower the future consumption of the US? We're not at peak oil yet
> (probably another decade or so), but the hope for the future is just as
> mired as the Mideast Peace policy.
>
> At every possible Y in the road George W Bush has taken the path that
> has made *tripling* the price of oil possible.

Exactly. What these Bush apologists fail to realize (or admit) is,
Bush's puppet master Tricky Dick Cheney lobbied congress to increase the
tax on foreign oil imports. Tricky Dick's reasoning was that his bosses,
the Texas oil barrens couldn't make a profit if they had to compete with
the lower prices of foreign oil if congress didn't impose an oil tariff.
Congress didn't impose an oil tariff, so Tricky Dick hooked up with the
Shrub to destabilize the Middle East oil market. The Texas oil barrens
have benefitted handsomely by having control of the White House by proxy
through Cheney and Bush. Every time Bush says anything about the
economy, the price per barrel of oil goes up. That is no accident.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Best credit card for international purchases
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/e7989ff39fb02022?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Tues, Mar 4 2008 6:39 pm
From: "John Weiss"

"George L Smyth" <OneMinuteHowTo@gmail.com> wrote...
>
> Bank of America (my bank) has an arrangement with Barclays, which is
> good. However, once well outside of Glasgow it appears that Perth and
> Inverness are the only other places they have machines. I'd rather
> not carry a large amount of money with me, so while these will be
> helpful, it looks like a credit card will be very helpful. If I can
> figure out which card will be most exchange-fee-friendly then that
> will allow me to fill in those times between the two locations.

Equivalent grades of Visa and Master Card are essentially the same with
respect to access and fee structure. A "Platinum" card may have a lower
network fee (e.g., 0.8% vs 1.0%). If you're shopping for a card, you'll
have to ask each bank about each version of each card you apply/qualify
for, because the agreements can vary a bit (or a lot).

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Tues, Mar 4 2008 7:16 pm
From: Shawn Hirn

In article
<cd79a977-a4ce-4112-8c7c-1c60047702fa@e6g2000prf.googlegroups.com>,
GLSmyth <george.smyth@gmail.com> wrote:

> I am going to be traveling to Scotland this summer, and expect to pay
> for most of my expenses by using a credit card. However, I do not
> know whether or not my card offers the best deal as far as exchange
> rate, transaction fees, etc., is concerned. I would be fine getting a
> card for the single purpose of using on the trip if I knew somewhere
> that would give me a comparison of these variables, but have not been
> able to find this information.
>
> Any suggestions on cards or where I can go to find a comparison would
> be very helpful.

You should check the web site called http://www.bankrate.com which is
highly recommended by Consumer Reports for people who are shopping for a
credit card or other bank services. This web site is a great resource
for comparing the benefits and costs of various credit cards.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: TEPHLON-coated drum
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/f48415e45c510b05?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Mar 4 2008 6:54 pm
From: Charles van Blommestein

I have bought a new Electric rice cooker tonight. I bought the
Procotor Silex 10 cup unit (I normally cook for only myself.)
This unit has a Tephlon-coated removeable drum for cooking rice.
*My ultimate goal was to buy a replacement unit for the 12 cup Tiger
brand unit that burned out it's heater core, last week. - I also
shopped for a unit that will allow me to steam veggies while cooking
the rice.
%This unit has no steaming "basket", per-se.

I am wondering how "safe"; if so I am to cook any food with the
coating of tephlon inside this drum.
I know that tephlon is SUPPOSED TO provide a non-stick surface.
I am just concerned with how SECURE this tephlon is coated on the
inside of this drum to withstand the certain scrubbing I will need to
do when I wash (clean) it.
And how "valuable" will this tephlon coating provide with only the
expected rice I cook in it?
Thanks for opinions.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Removing non-stick coating to salvage a pan?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/609894c6db4e02d3?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 7 ==
Date: Tues, Mar 4 2008 6:56 pm
From: jt august

In article <13sqsu7oben1n88@corp.supernews.com>,
"HeyBub" <heybub@gmail.com> wrote:

> Don't wash wooden salad bowls either.

How, then, does one get salad dressing and other residues off salad
bowls? Put them in the fireplace and season them? Just kidding, sorry,
I couldn't resist. But I am honestly curious how to clean wooden salad
bowls.

== 2 of 7 ==
Date: Tues, Mar 4 2008 7:12 pm
From: Kenneth

On Wed, 05 Mar 2008 02:56:06 GMT, jt august
<starsabre@net.att> wrote:

>In article <13sqsu7oben1n88@corp.supernews.com>,
> "HeyBub" <heybub@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Don't wash wooden salad bowls either.
>
>How, then, does one get salad dressing and other residues off salad
>bowls? Put them in the fireplace and season them? Just kidding, sorry,
>I couldn't resist. But I am honestly curious how to clean wooden salad
>bowls.
>
>jt

Howdy,

In my experience, wooden salad bowls can indeed be washed,
but it would be unwise to soak them for any length of time.

I'd suggest a quick rinse with a bit of dish soap, and then
a quick pat dry...

All the best,
--
Kenneth

If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."

== 3 of 7 ==
Date: Tues, Mar 4 2008 7:36 pm
From: "HeyBub"

Peter A wrote:
>>>
>>> How are you "cleaning" it? Wiping it out with a paper towel should
>>> be sufficient. Do not ever subject an iron utensil (or maybe your
>>> skillet) to water.
>>
>> Water is not the problem, as long as you dry it after rinsing. I set
>> it on the still hot burner after rinsing. I never use soap on my
>> cast iron. I put a little hot water in it, scrub with a brush, rinse
>> and dry it on the burner. Then I rub it with a little oil or butter
>> before the next use. Soap will quickly remove the seasoning.
>>
>>
>
> I have 2 cast iron pans each about a decade old. They have great
> seasoning, and I regularly clean them with a weak detergent solution
> and a soft brush.

Why?

== 4 of 7 ==
Date: Tues, Mar 4 2008 7:40 pm
From: "HeyBub"

jt august wrote:
> In article <13sqsu7oben1n88@corp.supernews.com>,
> "HeyBub" <heybub@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Don't wash wooden salad bowls either.
>
> How, then, does one get salad dressing and other residues off salad
> bowls? Put them in the fireplace and season them? Just kidding,
> sorry, I couldn't resist. But I am honestly curious how to clean
> wooden salad bowls.

You don't get the dressings out. Just wipe the bowls. The oils and spices
from prior uses flavor subsequent salads with a unique palette of flavors
and aromas.

If you're not into adventures in sublime delights for the nuanced nose, use
styrofoam.

== 5 of 7 ==
Date: Tues, Mar 4 2008 7:46 pm
From: "JoeSpareBedroom"

"HeyBub" <heybub@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:13ss5hnqm5in1cc@corp.supernews.com...
> jt august wrote:
>> In article <13sqsu7oben1n88@corp.supernews.com>,
>> "HeyBub" <heybub@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Don't wash wooden salad bowls either.
>>
>> How, then, does one get salad dressing and other residues off salad
>> bowls? Put them in the fireplace and season them? Just kidding,
>> sorry, I couldn't resist. But I am honestly curious how to clean
>> wooden salad bowls.
>
> You don't get the dressings out. Just wipe the bowls. The oils and spices
> from prior uses flavor subsequent salads with a unique palette of flavors
> and aromas.
>
> If you're not into adventures in sublime delights for the nuanced nose,
> use styrofoam.
>

As usual, you are a complete idiot.

== 6 of 7 ==
Date: Tues, Mar 4 2008 8:36 pm
From: aemeijers

jt august wrote:
> In article <13sqsu7oben1n88@corp.supernews.com>,
> "HeyBub" <heybub@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Don't wash wooden salad bowls either.
>
> How, then, does one get salad dressing and other residues off salad
> bowls? Put them in the fireplace and season them? Just kidding, sorry,
> I couldn't resist. But I am honestly curious how to clean wooden salad
> bowls.
>
> jt
Sandpaper?

(Well, somebody had to say it...)

But seriously, yeah, you can wash wood- you just don't wanna SOAK it.
Get the semi-soft brush wet and soapy, run the bowl under the sink,
scrub briefly with the brush, rinse, and put in drainer upside down. Not
a big deal, if it is made of the right naturally-oily wood, or has been
treated with food-grade oil. I have an old laminated-wood cutting board
that I have been washing for 20 years, and it is only now starting to
fall apart.

aem sends...

== 7 of 7 ==
Date: Tues, Mar 4 2008 8:41 pm
From: Snowbound

In article <12mrs353vdpebirkhsdvpchmqkffd9lbea@4ax.com>,
PaPaPeng <PaPaPeng@yahoo.com> wrote:

> On Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:01:05 -0800, Oren <Oren@127.0.0.1> wrote:
>
> >On Tue, 04 Mar 2008 21:27:37 GMT, PaPaPeng <PaPaPeng@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >
> >>I am amazed so many white folks use the wok.
> >
> >Some even speak three languages: English, Redneck and Profanity.
> >
> >So! WOK off!
>
>
> Spoken like a true abused kitchen slave. Wife trouble?

"My wife's cooking is so bad (how bad is it?), the flies have all
chipped in to buy us a screen door!"
--Rodney Dangerfield

==============================================================================
TOPIC: DO U LIKE VERY MUCH
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/1cc760d39e6bbd3c?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Mar 4 2008 7:12 pm
From: smiling.viji@gmail.com

do u like me

but i like me
do u like beauty see to me

***************************************************************************
http://hollywood154.blogspot.com
***************************************************************************

==============================================================================
TOPIC: eyeglasses
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/704f1c7f43520862?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Mar 4 2008 7:54 pm
From: Terryc

The Real Bev wrote:

> If, OTOH, you just want different focal-length glasses for more-or-less
> close work at different distances and are normally hyperopic, various
> dollar stores will be able to provide you with a full wardrobe for --
> you guessed it -- a buck each.

Nope, you got the purpose, but not the earlier point for the post. These
$1 each are only magnifyers, which you can easily match, but they don't
fix other problems.
>

==============================================================================
TOPIC: I wish I would have started doing this sooner!!!
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/092435e0b909610b?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Mar 4 2008 8:07 pm
From: rutgerskevin

Check out my new website about my efforts to make money on the
internet. Let's make some money together.

http://www.freewebs.com/rutgerskevin/unemployedhelp.htm

==============================================================================
TOPIC: FREE DOMAIN with every HOSTING ACCOUNT at www.UpIn10.com
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/448b4504328605e2?hl=en
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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Mar 4 2008 9:04 pm
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==============================================================================
TOPIC: Telling salesman the drive out price on a car purchase up front?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/e35842ebffa4f381?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Tues, Mar 4 2008 9:46 pm
From: "zcarenow@yahoo.com"

You guys/gals are awesome. I will take your advice and responses to
heart! I really appreciate this!! Printing out this thread right now!!!

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Tues, Mar 4 2008 9:50 pm
From: "zcarenow@yahoo.com"

On Mar 3, 1:44 pm, skark...@gmail.com wrote:
> A new car is a big ticket item. So, expect to spend some time or
> expect to pay little more.
>
> I wouldn't suggest telling the dealer what you are willing to pay.
> Here are the steps you need to take:
>
> 1) Decide which vehicle and what options you want. You have to
> finalize this... otherwise, everything becomes hazy at the time of
> purchase.
> 2) Do your own research (Edmunds) and determine the price.
> 3) If you know of anyone who has the same vehicle, ask to see the
> receipt. If not, find a relevant newsgroup and request for the price
> people have paid. Compare the price with Edmunds' and document the
> lower price for the base and for each of the options.
> 4) Invite quotes from 4 or 5 dealers. Tell them exactly what you want
> and emphasize that you don't want anything else unless they give it to
> you for free.
> 5) Pick the dealer that gives you the lowest quote. If the total price
> is less than your research, go ahead and buy. If not, ask if they can
> beat your research amount.
> 6) Visit the dealer, but be prepared to leave empty handed. Decide in
> the first 15 minutes whether the dealer looks like he'll honor the
> quote or is he going to add more costs.
>
> I personally would let go of $100 or so if that meant less haggling
> and less heartache and resulting in time savings. You have to decide
> how frugal you want to be.
>
> After you make the purchase, don't go out of your way to find out if
> you paid too much.

So don't come up with drive out price? If i don't , i would think the
dealer would add more fees to the car that would drive up the drive
out price which is the reason i wanted to come up with a drive out
price to begin with.

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TOPIC: Mortgages are much more difficult to get
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/0c9b5ddf2c0f9c2c?hl=en
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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Mar 4 2008 9:56 pm
From: szo1og2snnhmkgccx4xm@gmail.com

It's just so terrible! with the sub-prime mortgage market causing all
this finincial chaos and the huge leap in forclosure rates in the last
12 months or so.

----------------------------
Need information about mortgages? There is lots of good info available
at http://www.best-homeloans.com Be sure to see
http://www.best-homeloans.com/FHA-Secure-Loan.html
if you are in the US and facing forclosure!

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Tuesday, March 4, 2008

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