Our Services FAQs Online Education About Us Testimonials Contact Us Home

Client Log In

Mission

Management

Affiliations

Board of Directors

News

Commercials

Agency Newsletters

The Advantage Advisor

Volume 4 / Issue 6 / 2009

In this issue:

Shop thrift stores and yard sales

Make the most of your local library

Stay cool without the AC

Thrift store and yard sale deals

Shopping for clothing and household items can be very costly, but there are options to outfit yourself, and your home, at bargain prices.

Thrift stores and yard sales are great places to look for deals.

When looking for clothing items, don’t be too quick to dismiss these options. As people clean out their closets and evaluate their wardrobes, they often have perfectly good items of clothing that they can no longer wear. Some fickle fashionistas simply get tired of clothing quickly. These people often have yard sales or donate their unwanted clothing to thrift shops.

Yard sales are a particularly good place to look for maternity clothes and baby clothes.

Often these clothes are practically new and are being sold for a fraction of their original cost.

Children outgrow things at a very rapid pace. Moms and dads are looking to recoup some of their cost as they purchase new clothes for their growing child.

You can also easily find inexpensive toys for children at yard sales and thrift stores. Remember that anything made of a hard material, like plastic, can be easily cleaned and disinfected. (Note: While you can find many great children’s items at yard sales and thrift stores, never buy a used car seat for your child. These should always be purchased new for safety reasons.)

Yard sales and thrift stores are also the perfect places to find items for your home. People are constantly getting rid of patio furniture, end tables, lamps, chairs and various other household items and decorations.

The key to yard sale and thrift store shopping is to be organized and know what you need so that you don’t end up spending too much money.

On the web site BeingFrugal (www.beingfrugal.net), which is dedicated to frugal living, writer Lynnae offers some good tips for yard sale shopping trips.

Here are some other tips courtesy of BeingFrugal:

Make a list so you stay on task.
Carry lots of change and batteries with you. Sometimes the person holding the garage sale doesn’t think to have change on hand. And if you’re buying something battery operated, you’ll want to test it out first to make sure it works.
Don’t be afraid to haggle. Ask the seller if he or she would be willing to accept a lower price. The worst thing that can happen is that the seller will say no.
If you visit a yard sale early in the day that has high prices, but also has items you like, revisit it later in the day. The seller may lower prices as the day wears on and items are still unsold.
Leave the kids at home if possible. It will keep them from getting bored and allow you to focus on the task at hand.
If an item is in a box, open the box and inspect it to make sure you’re getting what you expect.
With a little thought and planning you can get great deals for just about anything you could need.

Dear Debt Monkey

Q: I’ve been hearing a lot of debt relief advertisements that say my creditors must accept a settlement offer for less than I owe. Is this correct?

A: The short answer is no. Your creditors do not have to accept a settlement offer.

Now for the longer answer ...

A whole crop of businesses (often called “debt negotiators” or “debt settlement” companies) have popped up making many false promises about how they can help consumers pay back only a fraction of what they owe their creditors. Some of these companies even masquerade as law firms giving consumers a false sense of security.

Many of these debt settlement companies charge high, up-front fees before they even attempt to settle a debt on your behalf. If the company is not able to get your creditors to accept a settlement offer, you may have to hire a lawyer to get your money back.

There are many other potential negative aspects to debt settlement including a decrease in your credit score, negative notations on your credit report and possible tax implications.

The fact of the matter is that if you legitimately owe money, your creditors do not have to agree to accept less than the full payoff amount.

If you need help with unmanageable debt, the best place to start is with a credit counseling session by calling (888) 511-2227.

Learn to love the library

If you’re looking for some free summer fun, look no further than your local library. Libraries offer a lot more than just books.

Let’s start with the books though. Most libraries carry new releases and if your local branch doesn’t have the book you’re looking for, you can request it from another location. If you’re a voracious reader who buys books, you’re likely spending at least $15 a month…that’s $180 a year. Checking out books at the library costs you nothing (as long as you return it on time) and you don’t have to store the book.

You can also check out movies and video games at the library. Renting from the local rental store can be costly, but at the library it’s all free. Some libraries host game nights for teenagers where they can play the latest video games against their friends, without the expense of owning the gaming system. Some library web sites offer free music downloads, ebooks or audio books. Libraries also carry most popular magazines, saving you the cost of a yearly subscription.

Most libraries also offer free internet and computer access. If you’re looking to cut back on your expenses, you might want to drop your internet service subscription at home and take advantage of the free access at the library.

Libraries can also be a source of entertainment and education. Most libraries have baby and toddler story times as well as after school programs for kids. Libraries usually have a summer reading program for kids and book clubs for kids and adults. Sometimes, the also offer basic computer classes and informational workshops.

If you’re not sure where your local library is, you can find a comprehensive list of the libraries in your state at www.librarysites.info. Then spend some of your summer exploring the activities it has to offer.

Tips for keeping cool without AC

The lazy, hazy days of summer are upon us and if you don’t have air conditioning, it could make for some hot months at home. Here are some tips for keeping cool without the added cost of AC:

Invest in ceiling fans. They can cool off a room by 5 to 7 degrees.
Open the windows in the evening when the temperature drops, and close the windows, blinds or shades in the morning when the temperature starts to rise. Use fans to circulate air in the house.
Consider putting an inexpensive heat reflecting film on windows and doors that are always exposed to the sun.
Keep yourself cool by wrapping ice in a towel and wetting your wrists and other pulse points with cold water.
Drink lots of water and stock your freezer with popsicles and fruit.

The Advantage Challenge

ACCS is challenging you to ...

Reduce your utility bills this summer.

Dry your clothes outside instead of using the dryer.
Avoid using your air conditioner and try some of our tips for “Keeping cool without AC.”
Make an effort to grill outside instead of using the oven.
Turn off the lights. Not only will this cut down on your electric bill, but it will eliminate another heat source from your house.
Turn off and unplug unused appliances that can drain energy when not in use.

Testimonial

“Your staff is friendly, caring, and knowledgeable about every aspect of my circumstance, and they were an immense asset to me through these troubled times. I am well on my way to being debt free, and the feeling could not be better. Thank you for your part in restoring my life. I will always be grateful.”

- Eric

Back to newsletters

For confidential credit counseling, get started
with our free no-obligation online intake form.

Click to Get Started>>

Get Free Immediate
Debt Counseling!

· Avoid Bankruptcy
· Reduce High
Interest Rates
· Stop Harassing
Creditor Calls

Call 866-699-2227 >>