The Government Owes You Money

Never thought you would hear that, did you? You would be amazed at how much money is sitting around waiting to be claimed. According to reports, state agencies across the U.S. may be holding over $8 billion dollars in abandoned money. There are many places to start looking for gold.

• Most state agencies have websites with searchable databases. Begin at www.unclaimed.org and click on your state.
• The IRS has refunds waiting. Contact the IRS toll-free hotline at 800-829-1040 and talk to a customer service representative.
• The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation has unclaimed pension funds. Contact Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 800-400-7242; www.pbgc.gov
• HUD/FHA insured mortgages offer a refund on part of your insurance premiums for
  those that meet certain requirements. To learn more contact U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 800-697-6967; http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/comp/refunds/index.cfm

Income Eligibility: None

Free Emergency Food

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a Federal program that helps supplement the diets of low-income needy people, including elderly people, by providing them with emergency food and nutrition assistance at no cost. States provide the food to
local agencies that they have selected, usually food banks, which in turn, distribute the food to soup kitchens and food pantries that directly serve the public. Contact Food and Nutrition Service – USDA, Food Distribution Division, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302; 703-305-2888; Fax: 703-3052420; www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/programs/tefap/.
Income Eligibility: varies state to state. You must contact your local Food Stamp office to learn specific requirements for this program. Generally a family of 4 can make $26,000, although this figure is just an estimate.

FREE Medical Treatment for Abused Animals

Second Chance Fund sponsored by American Humane Association and Bayer Animal Health helps give animal victims of abuse or neglect a second chance at life by providing grants to pay for the cost of medical treatment for an abused or hurt stray animal. Contact: American Humane Association, Attn: Second Chance Fund, 63 Inverness Drive, East Englewood, CO 80112; (800) 227-4645; www.americanhumane.org; Email: scf@americanhumane.org
Income Eligibility: None

Make Over $40,000 and Get Free Health Care for Your Kids

Over 10 million children are eligible for this program and are not enrolled. Most states have the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIPS) which extends medical coverage to many children who may not be covered. A family of four living in Connecticut can make up to $43,240 and still qualify to get free health care for the kids. A family of four making $55,200 can join a health care program for their children and pay only $30 per month. Benefits and eligibility vary from state to state, so check with your state. Call 1-877-KIDS-NOW for more information about the Children’s Health Insurance Program or check out the Insure Kids Now website at www.insurekidsnow.gov
Income Eligibility: Family of 4 - $34,100, although this figure varies from state to state and by the age of your children. Contact your state office to learn about eligibility requirements.

Money for Auto Repairs, Car Insurance, Drivers Ed, or Just a Tank of Gas

There are federal programs as well as state programs to help people with limited incomes keep their vehicles on the road so that they can get back and forth to work, focusing on those trying to get off welfare. Some states will even give you money for drivers education or to pay for a drivers license. The issue, like the programs for free cars, is to help people make it to work. These programs are organized like a patchwork quilt in most areas involving federal, state, county and non-profit organizations. To start looking for programs like this in your area, contact your local congressman’s office or your local Social Services. They will not know about all the programs but can probably give you some starting places. Most branches of the Goodwill Industries have a Wheels to Work program. Other programs can be found by typing in the keywords "Wheels to Work" in an Internet search engine.
Income Eligibility: varies from program to program. Contact a program in your area to learn specific requirements.

Free Furniture

The Community Action Agency in Albany, New York offers free furniture for those with a need because of fire or other hardship reasons. Other agencies offer free furniture if you are moving into a Community Action Agency’s affordable housing or housing units operated by the agency. See if your local agency offers free furniture. There are about 1,000 of them around the country to help neighborhoods. To find an agency near you, contact Community Action Partnership, 1100 17th St., NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036; 202-265-7546; Fax: 202-265-8850; http://www.communityactionpartnership.com/
Income Eligibility: varies from program to program. Contact a program in your area to learn specific requirements.

Vacation Bargains

Get where you’re going for free by driving a car that a person or car-moving company needs moved there. Compensation may cover gas. Check newspaper classifieds ads for auto transport companies needing drivers. You can also fly to an exotic locale at low-cost delivering a package for an air-courier service. Most require that you pay an annual membership fee of about $50. Check newspaper travel sections for courier-service ads, or contact the International Association of Air Travel Couriers at: PO Box 1832, Ames, IA 50010; 515-292-2458; http://www.courier.org/
Income Eligibility: None

$500 to Help You Pay Your Bills

Emergency Assistance Grants offer up to $500 per year to individuals who provide sufficient evidence of need (e.g., water, electricity, mortgage bills). Contact The Lion’s Pride Foundation, Inc., c/o Delhaize America, Inc., P.O. Box 1330, Salisbury, NC 28145; 704-633-8250, ext. 3755; Fax: 704-656-4162; http://www.foodlion.com/LionsPride.asp
Income Eligibility: Determined on a case-by-case basis.

Free Money For Kids To Go To 79 Camps

The Salvation Army is concerned about the happiness of children, so they operate many children’s homes and nurseries. In addition, there are 239 camps children can attend as well as over 400 clubs. The Salvation Army wants to offer children a healthy alternative, so they can live their lives to the fullest. Contact the Salvation Army Office near you, or Salvation Army National Headquarters, 615 Slaters Lane, P.O. Box 269, Alexandria,VA 22313; 703-684-5500; www.salvationarmyusa.org
Income Eligibility: Must be in financial need

Utility Discounts for Medical Devices or In-Home Patients

No matter what your income, you may be eligible for a discount on your utility bill if someone in your home is dependent on a medical device that uses electricity. Or if you need heating and air-conditioning to care for someone with special needs. To find programs you may qualify for in your area you must search 1) your city or township government, 2) your county government, 3) your state government, 4) local nonprofit agencies and local development corporations, 5) as well as your utility company. Make sure you check with all of the following offices for help in locating appropriate organizations in your area like: 1) your local library, 2) your local elected officials, 3) your local United Way and, 4) all housing agencies in your area. Local government offices can be identified at www.govengine.com and your local United Way can be identified at http://national.unitedway.org/myuw/. Listed below is a sampling of similar local programs around the country. You can also contact your local Area Office on Aging by calling 1-800-677-1116 or go to http://www.aoa.gov/eldfam/How_To_Find/Agencies/Agencies.asp. You should also seek out your local community action agency near you to see if they have a program to help you. You can find your local agency at www.communityactionpartnership.com/about/links/map.asp or by contacting Community Action Partnership in Washington, DC at 202-265-7546

A lot of Local Utility Programs can be identified on the web by going to www.hud.gov then choose your state under the title “Information by State.” Most state pages have a link called “Renting Help Page.” Click there even if you are a home owner. Most Rental for both renters and homeowners. Help pages have a link called “Help With Your Utility Bills” which describes programs for both renters and owners.

Listed below is a sampling of the types of programs that are available around the country.

1) 30% Rate Discount to Run Medical Equipment or Care for Paraplegic, Hemiplegic, Quadriplegic or MS Patient
Medical Equipment Discount Rate, Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Sacramento, CA
http://www.smud.org/residential/services/med_rate.html

2) Rate Discounts for Life Equipment or Special Needs
Services For Medical Baseline and Life-Support Customers, Pacific Gas and Electric California
http://www.pge.com/res/financial_assistance/medical_baseline_life_t/

3) Pay No More for Extra Electricity to Run Medical Machines Heating and Air-conditioning for Patient
Medical Baseline Allowance, Utility Consumers’ Action Network
San Diego, CA
http://www.ucan.org/consumer_info/Elec_Bill/reduce_utility_bill.htm

4) Get 25% Discount on Utility Bills with No Income Requirement
Medical Residential Assistance Programs, Municipal Services Division
Santa Clara, CA
http://www.ci.santa-clara.ca.us/pub_utility/pu_help_paying.html

Income Eligibility: varies from program to program. Contact a program near you to learn specific requirements.

Money for Registered Nurses in Financial Trouble

Nurses House, Inc. offers short-term financial assistance to ill and indigent U.S. Registered Nurses to help meet basic living expenses. Costs of medical and educational expenses are not funded. Contact Nurses House, Inc., 2113 Western Ave., Suite 2, Guilderland, NY 12084-9559; 518-456-7858; Fax: 518-452-3760; www.nurseshouse.org
Income Eligibility: Must need emergency financial assistance

$750 Rebate For Any Income Level

A rebate is another form of free money and it’s available for consumers with any income level as long as you buy the product. Utility companies around the country offer such rebates to encourage energy efficient products that will save you on your heating bill and save them from having to generate more services. Your local phone directory and library can help you locate your local utility companies. Be sure to check them all. Here is a sample of the kinds of programs available.

1) 70% on Insulation Purchases Up To $700
Home Check, Mid-America Energy Company; Des Moines, IA
http://www.midamericanenergy.com/html/ener

2) $20 for a Lamp and $750 for a Heat Pump
Conservation Services, Tacoma Power; Tacoma,WA
http://www.ci.tacoma.wa.us/power/ResidentialServices/default.htm

3) $600 for Installing an Add-On Heat Pump
Washington Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Marietta, OH
http://www.weci.org/rebates.html

4) 50% for Insulation Purchases Up to $200
Home or Business Energy Grant, Sawanee EMC; Cumming, GA http://www.sawnee.com/Energy/incentives.htm

5) $150 for a Dish Washer
Energy Star Appliances, Minnesota Power; Duluth, MN http://www.mnpower.com/energystar/special_offers/index.htm

Income Eligibility: varies from program to program. Contact a program near you to learn specific requirements.

Congressman Pushes Gov't to Help Refinance Home Loans in Danger

Congressman Pushes Gov't to Help Refinance Home Loans in Danger

A key congressman is planning a push to expand the federal government's role in stabilizing the housing market. Barney Frank (D., Mass.), the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, has proposed an initiative that aims to refinance as many as one million "distressed" homeowners out of high-cost loans using government assistance.

The proposal, which could cost as much as $15 billion over five years, would likely involve the federal government buying loans and then helping move borrowers into mortgages backed by the Federal Housing Administration. Certain loans, such as investment properties and those on vacation homes, wouldn't qualify.

In order to sell a loan to the government under the plan, the lender would likely be required to discount the loan to a level the borrower could repay.

Mr. Frank is working on another plan to allocate up to $20 billion in grants and loans that would allow states and municipalities to buy foreclosed or abandoned homes "at or below market value." Some of the money could be paid back to the federal government once the homes are resold.

You can read more about this at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120407391064395153.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Live in Pennsylvania? Get 24 months of your mortgage or $60,000 loan!

Many are saying it's great to live in Pennsylvania! This wonderful state has a forward-thinking program to help keep people from foreclosure. HEMAP (link: http://www.phfa.org/consumers/homeowners/hemap.aspx) is the Homeowners' Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program. This program was created by Act 91 in 1983. It is the only one of its type in the U.S.A. - but hopefully other government officials will be inspired by its success. HEMAP helps people who through no fault of their own are unable to make their mortgage payments. Pennsylvania residents are eligible for help for up to 24 months or for a maximum of $60,000 loan. What a great way to help families in Pennsylvania!
Title: HEMAP (Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program)
Description: Pennsylvania state assistance to families facing foreclosure
State: Pennsylvania
Age: All
Income: $10,000 - $1,000,000
Subject Category: Other
Money Type: Loan
Contact Info: 800-342-2397 Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency 211 North Front Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101-1406
Application Web Site: www.phfa.org/about/contact/telephonedirectory.aspx

100 Gallons of Oil to Heat Your Home

Through the Oil Heat Program, Citizens Energy provides eligible families a one-time delivery of 100 gallons of home heating oil if they live in cold weather states. The program provides heating assistance to eligible households, apartment buildings, shelters and Native American tribes in each state where the program operates. To see if your state participates and to find other state utility assistance programs, see: http://www.citizensenergy.com/english/pages/OilHeatProgram. To learn more about eligibility, contact: Citizens Energy Corporation, 88 Black Falcon Avenue, Suite 342, Boston, Massachusetts 02210; 617-338-6300; Fax: 617-542-4487; http://www.citizensenergy.com; Email: inform@citizensenergy.com
Income Eligibility: Determined on a case-by-case basis.

7,500 Maryland Seniors Can Fill Their Prescription Drug Donut Hole

7,500 Maryland Seniors Can Fill Their Prescription Drug Donut Hole

On Friday, Maryland's governor announced a new prescription drug plan that would make 7,500 seniors in Maryland eligible for subsidies to help them buy their medications. A deal was reached with CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, the region's largest non-profit health insurer, who has agreed to pay the annual $7 million cost of the program. The new plan would help senior citizens close a gap in Medicare drug coverage known as the doughnut hole. The average benefit would amount to $1,000 a person and depend on the senior's drug costs. About half of those eligible would spend less than $500 on drugs in the gap in coverage, and about 1,300 would spend up to $3,000, entitling them to more help. The subsidy would cover seniors with incomes from Social Security benefits or retirement plans up to about $30,000 for a single person. The Governor plans to introduce a bill next week to make the program official. To read more about this subsidy plan, go to: http://www.gov.state.md.us/pressreleases/080215.html

To find similar plans in your state, you can contact your local elected official at www.govengine.com. You can also see what sort of Medicare assistance is available to fill the donut holes in your health care benefits here: http://www.medicare.gov/bridging-the-gap.asp

$1,000 Small Business Grant

The Idea Cafe is giving out a Small Business Grant worth $1,000 to anyone who currently owns a business or is planning to start one. In order to access the application form, you must be a registered "regular" member of Idea Cafe, and not previously have received a cash grant directly from Idea Cafe. (Prior Idea Cafe grant finalists and semi-finalists are welcome to apply for this new grant.) The deadline is April 1, 2008. To learn more, go to: http://businessownersideacafe.com/small_business_grants/grant_information.php?grant_id=8
Application: http://www.businessownersideacafe.com/small_business_grants/grant_application.php?grant_id=8
Income Eligibility: None

13,000 Uninsured Received Care from 10 Clinics

Uninsured residents of Montgomery County, Maryland can get health care from any of the 10 non-profit clinics across the county. These clinics are a part of Montgomery Cares, a program created four years ago to care for uninsured adults who don't have health insurance. Fees are based on a patient's ability to pay, but no one is turned away. The clinics operate independently but receive financial support, and in some cases clinic space, from the county. To learn more about what these clinics offer or to find the nearest clinic, go to: http://www.montgomerycares.org/homepage.html

Other counties in other states, like California and Massachusetts, have also created similar clinics to help those who are uninsured. To see if your county offers help for the uninsured, contact your local Department of Health and Human Services. You can find them by dialing 411 and asking for your state capitol operator or by going to the web at www.govengine.com and clicking on your state.

$40,000 Sign-Up Bonus to Buy a House, Start a Business

Beginning last month (January 2008), military recruiters are offering new select enlistees up to $40,000 to put toward their mortgage or to start a business under the new Army Advantage Program. The $40,000 requires a five-year commitment. Enlistees can receive lesser amounts for shorter terms. The money will be available after finishing the term. The new program will be tested in Cleveland, Montgomery, Ala.; Albany, N.Y.; Seattle and San Antonio before it's offered nationwide. To learn more, contact a recruiter in your area: http://www.military.com/military-report/40000-bonus-for-select-recruits

Free Legal Help to Fight Car Dealers and Repair Shops

When you can’t get satisfaction from the manager or owner, then it is time to bring in the big guns:

• Your state attorney general’s office is set up to handle automobile complaints. Sometimes all you have to do is send a letter to the attorney general with a copy to the business owner.
• Automotive Consumer Action Program (AUTOCAP) is a complaint handling system sponsored by the automobile industry for new or used car purchases from NEW car dealers only. To find a source in your area contact: National Automobile Dealers Association, 8400 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102; 703-821-7000; 800-252-6232; http://www.nada.org/
• Better Business Bureau (BBB) Auto Line is a FREE, out of court arbitration program paid for by the business community to handle automobile complaints between consumers and most auto manufacturers. Contact your local Better Business Bureau or BBB Auto Line, Dispute Resolution Division, Council of Better Business Bureaus Inc., 4200 Wilson Blvd., Suite 800, Arlington, VA 22202-1838; 703-276-0100; 800-955-5100; Fax: 703-525-8277; www.dr.bbb.org/autoline.

Get $540 To Buy Fresh Fruit

Seniors making up to $22,000/year can get as much as $540 to buy fresh fruit and vegetables from road side stands. Through the little-known Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, seniors in 40 states can have the government help buy their produce. Find out how much your state can give you to buy food. Contact the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 926, Alexandria, VA 22302; www.fns.usda.gov/fncs. To locate your State office go to www.fns.usda.gov/wic/SeniorFMNP/SFMNPcontacts2004.htm.

$100 to People with AIDS

Out of the Closet Foundation, Inc. is a foundation that provides financial support and scholarships to AIDS organizations and institutions, which have AIDS programs, with a focus on gay-related issues. Giving activities include $1,000 for 16 grants with a high of $100 and a low of $25. Contact Edward Maloney, Exec. Dir., Out of the Closet Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 20084, Cherokee Sta., New York, NY 10021; 212-472-3573. Additional address: OOTC Thrift Shop (AIDS Thrift Shop), 220 E. 81st St., New York, NY 10028.

Child Care

Money for Your Child Care Center

Child Care Works is a new partnership between the District of Columbia, eight area banks and three community organizations that make training, grants and loans available to licensed neighborhood day care providers to provide slots for 1,000 children. Maryland and Ohio provide special low-interest loans through their Department of Economic Development to fund child care centers. Even the Child Care and Development Block Grant provides money to develop child care centers and before and after school programs. Contact your state Department of Economic Development or your Child Care and Development Block Grant lead agency.

Free Child Care For Teens With Disabilities

48 states provide a subsidy to parents who qualify for childcare for children ages 14 to 19 who are physically and/or mentally incapable of self-care. Each state sets their eligibility requirement and the amount of funds they have available for this type of care. To learn what your state has to offer, contact your state Child Care and Development Block Grant lead agency.

Free Pre-School for Your Child

Head Start is preschool that has a great student teacher ratio and all teachers are certified in early childhood development. It prepares the children with school readiness, and research shows that these children enter kindergarten with the skills necessary to succeed. There are income requirements for acceptance into the program, but the program does allow 10% of the students to have higher incomes. And 10% of the program needs to be offered to kids who have a disability. To learn more about Head Start programs near you, contact your local board of education, the state Department of Social Services, or Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Head Start Bureau, 370 L’Enfant Promenade, SW, Washington, DC 20201; 202-737-1030; www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/hsb.

Pay Only $9/wk for Child Care at Local Nonprofits

Local non-profits around the country get grants from the United Way or other institutions and offer free and sliding scale day care services. The United Way spends about a third of its funds, about $1 billion a year, on programs for children and families.

For example, the Community Partnerships for Children Program in Brockton, MA provides child care for a family of 2 with weekly income of $210 for only $9.00 a week, and families of 4 with income of $1,000 a week can get care for $114 a week per child. There are about 500 local United Way Information and Referral Services around the country that can point you to local groups that can help you solve your child care problems. Look in the phone book for your local United Way agency, or contact United Way of America, 701 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-2045; 703-836-7112; www.unitedway.org.

$15,000 to Pay for Child Care

The Child Care and Development Block Grant gives money to states to help families meet their child care needs. Parents may choose from a variety of child care providers, including center-based, family child care and in-home care, care provided by relatives, and even sectarian child care providers. You can even get money to start a day care center! Income qualifications vary from state to state, and each state operates their programs slightly differently.

To find out how to take advantage of this program in your state and to learn the eligibility requirements, contact National Child Care Information Center, 243 Church St., NW, Vienna, VA 22180; 800-616-2242; http://nccic.org.

$500 Extra for Seniors and Disabled

The state of Pennsylvania offers up to $500 for seniors and people with disabilities who pay property taxes or rent. If you live in Pennsylvania, contact Department of Aging, 555 Walnut St., 5th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101; 717-783-1549. If you live elsewhere, contact your state Office on Aging listed in the blue pages of your phone book, or your state Department of Revenue.

Christian Scientists Get Free Money

The New Horizons Foundation provides financial assistance to residents of Los Angeles County, CA, who are over 65 years of age and active Christian Scientists. Contact New Horizons Foundation, c/o Gifford & Dearing, 700 S. Flower St., Suite 1222, Los Angeles, CA 90017-4160; 213-626-4481.

Grants and camperships are available through the Sunnyside Foundation, Inc. to underprivileged Christian Science children under the age of 20 who regularly attend Sunday School and are Texas residents. Contact Sunnyside Foundation, Inc., 8222 Douglas Ave., Suite 501, Dallas, TX 75225-5936; 214-692-5686.

Free Bus Ticket Home for Teens - 3/16/07

Greyhound Lines will provide free one-way transportation between any two points in the continental United States (excluding Alaska) for runaway children returning home through its Home Free Program, in conjunction with the National Runaway Switchboard. To receive a free ride home, children need to be between the ages of 12 and 18, and a missing person’s report must be filed for those under the age of 18. To access the Home Free program, call the National Runaway Switchboard at 800-621-4000; http://www.1800runaway.org/youth_teens/home_free.html
Income Eligibility: None

Work for Companies That Offer Free/ Discount Child Care

You may be surprised at the number of daycare centers offering services right inside company office buildings. In fact the federal government may be in the lead as they have over 1,000 child care centers that are sponsored by various governmental agencies. Talk to other moms and dads on the playground, call human resources departments, and even check with your local chamber of commerce. All may be able to direct you to companies providing this benefit. A directory of sites is available for $25 from the Work and Family Connection, 5197 Beachside Dr., Minnetonka, MN 55343; 800-487-7898; www.workfamily.com. Another resource is your local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency, who should be aware of programs in their area. To locate your local referral agency, contact Child Care Aware, 1319 F Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20004; 800-424-2246, www.childcareaware.org.

Besides child care centers, some employers offer a dependent care assistance plan that allows you to pay for child care out of pre-tax dollars. Other employers offer direct subsidies to offset child care costs.

Free Help Fighting an Electric Bill or Stopping a Turn Off

The state utility commissions can help you fight high gas or electric bills. Some will even come out and make sure that your meter is not over charging you. They don’t have money to pay your bills, but they can negotiate payment arrangements with the company for you or suggest nonprofit organizations to help. For example, Maryland suggests the Fuel Fund for Central Maryland or the Maryland Energy Assistance program. The commission can also force the utility not to cut off your services because of medical emergencies or cold weather. For more information on how the state utility commission can help you, contact the State Utility Commission Office from the list below.

Alabama
Public Service Commission
PO Box 304260
Montgomery, AL 36130
800-392-8050 (toll free in state)
Fax: 334-242-0727
www.psc.state.al.us

Alaska
Regulatory Commission of Alaska
701 W 8th Ave., Suite 300
Anchorage, AK 99501
907-276-6222
800-390-2782 (toll free in state)
TDD: 907-276-4533
Fax: 907-276-0160
http://rca.alaska.gov/RCAWeb/home.aspx

Arizona
Arizona Corporation Commission
1200 West Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
602-542-3933
800-222-7000) toll free in state)
TDD: 602-542-2105
Fax: 602-542-5560
Email: mailmaster@cc.state.az.us
www.cc.state.az.us

Arkansas
Public Service Commission
PO Box 400
Little Rock, AR 72203-0400
501-682-2051
800-482-1164 (complaints- toll free in state)
TDD: 800-682-2898
Fax: 501-682-5731
http://www.arkansas.gov/psc/

California
Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Ave., Room 5218
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-703-2782
800-649-7570 (Utility Complaints- toll free in state)
TDD: 415-703-2032
Fax: 415-703-1758
www.cpuc.ca.gov

Colorado
Chairman
Public Utilities Commission
1580 Logan St., Office Level 2
Denver, CO 80203
303-894-2070
800-456-0855 (toll free in state)
TDD: 303-894-2512
Fax: 303-894-2065
Email: PUConsumer.Complaints@dora.state.co.us
www.dora.state.co.us/puc/

Connecticut
Department of Public Utility Control
10 Franklin Square
New Britain, CT 06051
860-827-1553
800-382-4586 (toll free in state)
TDD: 860-827-2837
Fax: 860-827-2613
www.state.ct.us/dpuc

Delaware
Commissioner
Public Service Commission
Cannon Bldg. Suite 100
861 Silver Lake Blvd.
Dover, DE 19904
302-739-4247
800-282-8574 (toll free in state)
TDD: 302-739-4333
Fax: 302-739-4849
http://depsc.delaware.gov/

District of Columbia
Public Service Commission
1333 H Street, NW
Suite 200, West Tower;
Washington, DC 20005
202-626-5100 (Consumer Services Division)
Fax: 202-393-1389
Email: support@dcpsc.org
www.dcpsc.org

Florida
Chairman
Florida Public Service Commission
2540 Shumard Oak Blvd.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0850
850-413-6330
800-342-3552 (toll free in state)
TDD/TTY: 800-955-8771
Fax: 800-511-0809
Email: contact@psc.state.fl.us
www.floridapsc.com

Georgia
Chairperson
Public Service Commission
244 Washington Street
Atlanta, GA 30334
404-656-4501
800-282-5813 (toll free in state)
Fax: (404)656-2341
Email: gapsc@psc.state.ga.us
www.psc.state.ga.us

Hawaii
Public Utilities Commission
465 South King St., Room 103
Honolulu, HI 96813
808-586-2020
Fax: 808-586-2066
Email: Hawaii.PUC@hawaii.gov
www.hawaii.gov/budget/puc

Idaho
President
Public Utilities Commission
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074
208-334-0300
800-432-0369 (toll free in state)
Voice/TDD: 800-337-1363
TDD: 800-377-3529
Fax: 208-334-3762
www.puc.state.id.us

Illinois
Chairman
Commerce Commission
527 East Capitol Ave.
P.O. Box 19280
Springfield, IL 62794-9280
217-782-7295
800-524-0795 (toll free in state)
TTY: 800-858-9277
Fax: 217-524-6859
http://www.icc.illinois.gov/

Indiana
Utility Regulatory Commission
Consumer Affairs Division
302 West Washington St.
Suite E-306
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-232-2712
800-851-4268 (toll free in state)
TDD: 317-232-8556
Fax: 317-233-2410
Email: jjohnson@urc.state.in.us
www.IN.gov/iurc

Iowa
Iowa Utilities Board
350 Maple St.
Des Moines, IA 50319-0069
515-281-3839
877-565-4450 (toll free in state)
Fax: 515-281-5329
Email: iubcustomer@iub.state.ia.us
www.state.ia.us/iub

Kansas
Corporation Commission
1500 SW Arrowhead Rd.
Topeka, KS 66604-4027
785-271-3100
800-662-0027 (toll free in state)
TDD: 800-766-3777
Fax: 785-271--3354
Email: public.affairs@kcc.state.ks.us
www.kcc.state.ks.us

Kentucky
Public Service Commission
211 Sower Blvd.
P.O. Box 615
Frankfort, KY 40602
502-564-3940
800-772-4636 (complaints only- toll free in state)
TDD/TTY: 800-648-6056
Fax: 502-564-3460
www.psc.state.ky.us

Louisiana
Public Service Commission
PO Box 91154
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-9154
225-342-4404
800-256-2397 (toll free in state)
Fax: 225-342-2831
www.lpsc.org

Maine
Chairman
Public Utilities Commission
242 State St.
Augusta, ME 04333-0018
207-287-3831
800-452-4699 (toll free in state)
TTY: 800-437-1220
Fax: 207-287-1039
Email: maine.puc@maine.gov
http://www.maine.gov/mpuc/

Maryland
Chairman
Public Service Commission
6 St. Paul St., 16th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21202-6806
410-767-8000
800-492-0474 (toll free in state)
TDD: 800-735-2258
Fax: 410-333-6495
Email: mpsc@psc.state.md.us
www.psc.state.md.us/psc

Massachusetts
Chairman
Dept. of Telecommunications and Energy
1 South Station, 12th Floor
Boston, MA 02110
617-305-3500
800-392-6066 (toll free in state)
TDD: 800-323-6066
Fax: 617-478-2591
http://www.mass.gov/

Michigan
Public Service Commission
6545 Mercantile Way, Suite 7
P.O. Box 30221
Lansing, MI 48909
517-241-6180
800-292-9555 (toll free in state)
Fax: 517-241-6181
Email: mpsc_commissioners@michigan.gov
www.michigan.gov/mpsc

Minnesota
Chairman
Public Utilities Commission
121 7th Place East, Suite 350
St. Paul, MN 55101-2147
651-296-0406
800-657-3782
TDD: 651-297-1200
Fax: 651-297-7073
Email: consumer.puc@state.mn.us
www.puc.state.mn.us

Mississippi
Mississippi Public Service Commission
Woolfolk Building
501 N West St.
Jackson, MS 39201
601-961-5440 (Southern District)
601-961-5430 (Central District)
601-961-5450 (Chairman & Northern District)
800-356-6429 (Southern District)
800-356-6430 (Central District)
800-637-7722 (Chairman & Northern District)
Fax: 601-961-5464 (Chairman & Northern District)
www.psc.state.ms.us

Missouri
Missouri Public Service Commission
P.O. Box 360
Jefferson City, MO 65102
573-751-3234
800-392-4211(toll free in state)
Fax: 573-526-1500
www.psc.mo.gov

Montana
Chairman
Public Service Commission
1701 Prospect Ave.
P.O. Box 202601
Helena, MT 59620-2601
406-444-6199
800-646-6150(toll free in state)
TDD: 406-444-6199
Fax: 406-444-7618
www.psc.state.mt.us

Nebraska
Chairman
Public Service Commission
300 The Atrium, 1200 N St.
P.O. Box 94927 (68508-4927)
Lincoln, NE 68509
402-471-3101
800-526-0017(toll free in state)
TDD: 402-471-0213
Fax: 402-471-0254
Email: celton@mail.state.ne.us
www.psc.state.ne.us

Nevada
Chairman
Public Utilities Commission
1150 East William St.
Carson City, NV 89701
775-687-6001
702-486-2600 (Las Vegas)
775-738-4914 (Elko)
800-992-0900 ext 87-6001 (toll free in state)
Fax: 775-687-6110
http://pucweb1.state.nv.us/PUCN/PUCHome.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

New Hampshire
21 South Fruit St, Suite 10
Bldg. No. 1
Concord, NH 03301-2429
603-271-2431
800-735-2964(toll free in state)
Fax: 603-271-3878
Email: www.puc.nh.gov
www.puc.state.nh.us

New Jersey
President
Board of Public Utilities
Two Gateway Center
Newark, NJ 07102
800-624-0241(toll free in state)
www.bpu.state.nj.us

New Mexico
Director
Public Regulation Commission
Consumer Relations Division
P.O. Drawer 1269
Santa Fe, NM 87504-1269
505-827-6940
800-663-9782(toll free in state)
800-947-4722(toll free in state)
TDD: 505-827-6911
Fax: 505-827-6973
Email: BarbaraA.Roel@state.nm.us
www.nmprc.state.nm.us

New York
Director
Public Service Commission
Office of Retail Market Development
3 Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12223-1350
518-474-1540
877-342-3377 - Complaints (complaints - gas, electric, telephone)
888-ASK-PSCI (275-7721) - PSC Competition Information
866-GRN-PWR (476-7697) - Green Power Information
Fax: 518-474-1691
Email: ronald_cerniglia@dps.state.ny.us
www.dps.state.ny.us

North Carolina
Consumer Services
4326 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-4326
919-733-9277
Fax: 919-733-4744
Email: consumer.services@ncmail.net
www.ncuc.commerce.state.nc.us

North Dakota
Public Service Commission
600 E. Boulevard Ave., Dept 408
12th Floor
Bismarck, ND 58505-0480
701-328-2400
800-366-6888 (toll free in state)
Fax: 701-328-2410
Email: ndpsc@psc.state.nd.us
www.psc.state.nd.us

Ohio
Public Utilities Commission
180 East Broad St.
Columbus, OH 43215-3793
614-466-3292
800-686-7826 (toll free in state)
TDD: 800-686-1570 (toll free in state)
Fax: 614-752-8351
http://www.puco.ohio.gov/puco.cfm

Oklahoma
Oklahoma Corporation Commission
P.O. Box 52000
Oklahoma City, OK 73152-2000
405-521-2211
800-522-8154 (toll free in state)
TDD: 405-521-3513
Fax: 405-521-2087
www.occeweb.com

Oregon
Consumer Services Division
550 Capitol St., NE, Suite 215
P.O. Box 2148
Salem, OR 97308-2148
503-378-6600
800-522-2404 (consumer services only-toll free in state)
800-553-9600 (toll free in state)
Fax: 503-378-5743
Email: puc.consumer@state.or.us
www.puc.state.or.us

Pennsylvania
Public Utilities Commission
P.O. Box 3265
Harrisburg, PA 17105-3265
717-783-7349
800-782-1110 (toll free in state)
Fax: 717-787-5813
www.puc.state.pa.us

Puerto Rico
Chairman
Public Service Commission
PO Box 190870
San Juan, PR 00919-0817
787-756-1425
Fax: 787-758-3418

Rhode Island
Public Utilities Commission
89 Jefferson Boulevard
Warwick, RI 02888
401-941-4500
TDD: 401-277-3500
Fax: 401-941-4885
www.ripuc.org

South Carolina
Consumer Services Dept.
P.O. Box 11263
Columbia, SC 29211
803-737-5230
800-922-1531 (toll free in state)
TDD: 800-735-2905 (toll free in state)
www.regulatorystaff.sc.gov

South Dakota
Public Utilities Commission
Consumer Affairs
500 East Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501-5070
605-773-3201
800-332-1782 (consumer affairs only)
Fax: 605-773-3809
http://puc.sd.gov/

Tennessee
Chairman
Tennessee Regulatory Authority
460 James Robertson Pkwy.
Nashville, TN 37243-0505
615-741-8953
800-342-8359
TDD/TTY: 888-276-0677
Fax: 615-741-5015
www.state.tn.us/tra

Texas
Public Utilities Commission
1701 North Congress Ave.
P.O. Box 13326
Austin, TX 78711-3326
512-936-7000
888-PUC-TIPS (toll free)
TDD/TTY: 512-9367136
Fax: 512-936-7003
Email: customer@puc.state.tx.us
www.puc.state.tx.us

Utah
Chairman
Public Service Commission
160 East 300 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
801-530-6716
800-874-0904 (toll free in state)
TDD: 801-530-6716
Fax: 801-530-6796
Email: psccal@utah.gov
www.psc.state.ut.us

Vermont
Public Service Board
112 State St., Drawer 20
Montpelier, VT 05620-2701
802-828-2358
800-253-0191 (toll free in state)
Fax: 802-828-3351
Email: clerk@psb.state.vt.us
www.state.vt.us/psb

Virginia
State Corporation Commission
P.O. Box 1197
Richmond, VA 23218
804-371-9967
800-552-7945 (toll free in state)
TDD: 804-371-9206
Fax: 804-371-9211
http://www.scc.virginia.gov/

Washington
Utilities and Transportation Commission
1300 S. Evergreen Park Dr., SW
Olympia, WA 98504
360-664-1173
800-562-6150 (toll free in state)
TTY: 360-586-8203
Fax: 360-586-1150
www.wutc.wa.gov

West Virginia
Public Service Commission
201 Brooks St.
Charleston, WV 25301
304-340-0300
800-344-5113 (toll free in state)
Fax: 304-340-0325
www.psc.state.wv.us

Wisconsin
Consumer Affairs Program Director
Public Service Commission
Consumer Affairs Unit
610 North Whitney Way (53705)
P.O. Box 7854
Madison, WI 53707-7854
608-266-2001
800-225-7729
TDD: 608-267-1479
Fax: 608-266-3957
Email: jackie.reynolds@psc.state.wi.us
http://psc.wi.gov

Wyoming
Public Service Commission
2515 Warren Ave., Suite 300
Cheyenne, WY 82002
307-777-7427
888-570-9905 (toll free in state)
TTY: 307-777-7427
Fax: 307-777-5700
http://psc.state.wy.us

New Federal Gov't Plan to Offer Help for Foreclosures

Project Lifeline is the new trial plan that could help at-risk borrowers with all types of mortgages, not just high-cost subprime loans. The plan will involve six big home lenders and will allow overdue homeowners to suspend foreclosures for 30 days while lenders try to work out more affordable loan terms. The new plan applies to seriously delinquent homeowners, those whose mortgages are 90 days or more past due. You can read more about Project Lifeline here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18905411. To keep up with developments in Project Lifeline, go here: http://www.ustreas.gov/news/index1.html

President Signs Economic Stimulus Bill

The president has signed what is being called the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. Here is what you can expect:

1. Who can receive the rebate checks?
People earning between $3,000 and $75,000 can expect rebate checks between $300 and $600. Couple earning up to $150,000 can expect $1,200. Persons with children will receive an extra $300 per child. Includes social security retirement benefits and compensation and pension benefits paid to disabled veterans for purposes of determining income eligibility for rebates. Business would be given the expensing allowance for depreciable business assets to $250,000 and the maximum investment phase-out threshold for such expensing allowance to $800,000.

2. Who is not eligible to receive a rebate check?
Payment of a rebate is not available to a taxpayer without a valid identification number (i.e., social security number).

3. How can I get my rebate check?
To get any rebate, you must file a 2007 tax return and have a valid Social Security number. If you already filed your 2007 return, the IRS says you don't need to do anything extra.

The IRS will send out rebates - by mail or by direct deposit into your bank account - through the late spring and the summer. The rebates come in addition to any regular tax refund.

4. When will I receive my rebate check?
Legislation requires that the checks must be mailed prior to December 31, 2008. Most people can expect to receive a check this spring.

5. Who do I contact if I don't get my rebate check?
Department of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20220
202-622-2000
Fax: 202-622-6415

6. Where can I read more on the 2008 Economic Stimulus Package?
Here: http://www.irs.gov/irs/article/0,,id=177937,00.html

Living on a Shoestring Budget: Learn to be Content

One of the greatest struggles we have in a materialistic culture is learning to be content. Advertisements bombard us with reasons why we should not be content with what we have and who we are. To be sexually attractive, we must drink this drink. (Actually, most people see confidence as one of the most attractive qualities about a person.) To be content, you have to drive this particular vehicle. (Actually, contentment is a choice not dependent upon material possessions.) Companies want our money so many of them lie to us to get us to buy their products. They have to convince us that our lives are not complete without their product.

But those of us who live on a shoestring budget would go into substantial debt if we listened to what the media has to say. Instead we can take control of our lives and learn to enjoy them without the ‘must haves’ of the advertisements.

I used to be told all the time to take time to smell the roses. Taking the time to do so means relaxing enough to do something that does not create money or advance our careers. It is a foolish thing in the eyes of consumerism, but a must for those wanting to be content. We must take time to be ourselves and relax and enjoy living. This distresses us and re-centers us to what is really important.

Taking time to smell the roses reminds us to use all of our senses and see the beauty in everything around us. It is easy to get so absorbed in jobs and problems that we miss the sights and sounds and smells that add such beauty to our world.

Really smelling the roses demands full attention as well. We live in a world that teaches us to be fragmented. People can watch T.V., talk on the phone, do homework, and play with the dog all at the same time. This is really unhealthy because it causes internal stress. We were created to be whole people who could give our full attention to those around us and to the things we are working on. Taking time to smell the roses is essentially reminding us to take time to be whole people.

Learning to be content, whole people teaches us what we need and what we do not need. We do not need another outfit to like ourselves. We already do like ourselves. We do not need that candy bar to still our boredom. We are already fascinated by the people, animals, and plants we see around us. What a difference it makes in our checkbooks when we stop buying things because we are discontent with our lives. Learn to be content. It is likely that you already have everything you need. It is just a matter of re-evaluating your needs.

Living on a Shoestring Budget: Know Where To Shop

When I was in college, I was told that the Dollar General was the college student’s best friend. That was no lie. When living on a shoestring budget, it is amazing the difference it makes when you know where to shop.

The first thing I want to mention is the importance of getting over your fear of what others will think if you do not wear the latest fashion or eat the choicest foods. Life is more than food or clothing and a shoestring budget is too small for the choicest of either. Get over it. Here are some ideas for good places to shop.

Dollar General is often a good place to shop, though they will sometimes slip some items in that are more than what you would pay at another store. Price comparison will keep you savvy – so never let down your guard, even at bargain basement stores.

Second hand stores can be great to go to. I have a friend who is always finding treasures at a local Goodwill. There are a few in my area, and one of them is right across the street from some very rich neighborhoods. They will sometimes have barely worn clothing that someone got tired of and donated. Some of my favorite dresses came from second hand stores.

I was once introduced to a ‘clothing swap’. This is where people bring in their clothing that they have grown bored with or grown out of. It is all gathered together and then everyone is turned loose to see what clothing they would like to go home with instead of the clothing they donated. Whatever is not claimed is then taken to Goodwill.

Yard sales are also places to find great bargains. A friend of mine bought a T.V. and VCR for very cheap and they work just fine.

Another great store is the kind that gets overstocked items and out of date items. We have a store in an old warehouse that carries dented and outdated items for very cheap. I can save a lot of money by going there. The only problem with places like that is that you have to know what is ok and what is not ok to eat if it is past the expiration date. I have heard of people dying from eating pancakes from an old mix. Apparently the mix grows some kind of toxic mold after so long.

Aside from those options, cut and use coupons. Every little bit adds up to a lot when the day is done. Every dime helps when you are counting nickels to pay off the last of your bills.

Do research and know where to shop. If you only need a couple things, then maybe it is wiser to walk to a local store than drive to a more distant one. I may pay an extra thirty cents for milk at the local store, but if I were to drive to Walmart, then I just paid two dollars in gas to save thirty cents in the store. Know the options that will save the most money.

Living on a Shoestring Budget: Christmas Presents

One of the hardest times of the year for people to keep their checkbooks in order is Christmas time. There are so many presents to buy for so many people. We often face a mindset that says we have to buy presents and it is ok to procrastinate until the last couple weeks before Christmas to do so. Here are some ideas that could help.

The first one I have heard of is to buy Christmas presents for the following year right after Christmas while they are all on sale. Though this could be risky because there is a whole year to find new stuff or hope that the person does not buy whatever you got on their own, it is one way to find inexpensive gifts.

A second idea is to generate a list of who to buy for right after Christmas and then set aside one person per month or per couple months to buy something for so that you are not hit with one big bill all at once.

A third idea is to get creative. I like to wood burn clocks and other various projects. A piece of wood you could buy at Hobby Lobby for three dollars could become a piece worth twenty or fifty dollars or more depending on how much time and effort you put into the project. Many people appreciate homemade gifts more than store bought ones because of the time and thought behind what was given.

A fourth idea is to give time coupons. In the past I have given my mom coupons for a night off of doing the dishes or a good back rub. I think she has forgotten to cash in on them in every case, but she really loved the gesture. Maybe she is just storing them up for when she is older and has a harder time getting around.

A fifth idea is to draw names in the family so that you only buy one present for one person. Many people will put a dollar cap on this type of giving so that one person does not get a hundred dollar gift while another one only gets a ten-dollar gift.

A sixth idea I have heard about is to give money to some charity that the family likes. As a family you can decide on the charity and on the dollar amount and let that be your Christmas present.

One last idea is to go to a homeless shelter on Christmas and help out there. Those at the homeless shelter probably have no family to celebrate with, and those who choose to spend their time with the lonely are greater blessings than they could know. More suicides happen around the holidays than any other time. One of the greatest Christmas presents you could give is the gift of hope and love to one who otherwise would not receive any.

Living on a Shoestring Budget: Fun, Free Activities

One of the most important parts of living on a shoestring budget is deciding what your priorities are. Once those are determined you can plan your activities accordingly. For most people, one of the main priorities of life is to have meaningful relationships with those you care about. Contrary to popular habit of going out to eat and then going to the movies, there are many other activities that can be fun and free, or at least very inexpensive.

My first idea is to get out into nature. Go to a park or playground. There are many around that are free to get into. Not only is it good exercise to hike or play, it also cultivates good relationships. Instead of watching a movie where there is little conversation among friends, spend your time really getting to know the person. How do they respond in certain circumstances? What do they like? What do they dislike? What makes them laugh? What makes them cry? We are meant to be social creatures so go be social!

Another idea is to pull out a good game. Many fun conversations happen over a game of cards or a board game. Get one with lots of interpersonal questions and learn about your opponents. Make up a game and just be silly. I have heard it said that those who cannot laugh at themselves are very close to insanity.

Maybe you like football or Frisbee. Get a group together and get a game going. Kick a soccer ball around or shoot some hoops. These are all great exercise and can be great fun without costing a lot of money.

If it is summer and you are hot, play in a sprinkler instead of going to a public pool. Even adults can have fun playing around in a sprinkler on a hot day, and they do not have to worry about the lifeguard looking at them funny.

If you want to get really goofy and bring a smile to someone’s day, get creative. One time a friend sat in a shopping cart while someone else pushed her through the drive-thru at a fast food restaurant. She ordered water and received a laugh from the attendant who gave her the water.

If it is a nice evening out, go stargazing. Find someone with a really good pair of binoculars and see how many planets and gaseous clouds you can find that you thought were stars. Find the band of the Milky Way.

There are so many activities you can do to relax or be relational or have fun that do not cost a dime. It just takes a bit of shifting in our thinking to prefer those free activities.

Living on a Shoestring Budget: Be Generous

One of the most interesting phenomena I have found in living on a shoestring budget is that when I am generous, I can still pay off my bills just fine. Somehow I always have enough whether it is through another person being generous to me or whether it is that I somehow spent less this particular month than other months. There are a couple things I want to mention regarding generosity.

First of all, one of the most important keys to living successfully on a shoestring budget is attitude. When we think more highly or more lowly of ourselves than we ought to, that is a sign that something deeper is going on. People who think more highly of themselves than they ought tend to look down upon others and that is noticeable.

These people either think they do not have to give to those beneath them or they take pity on the poor souls and give out of that pity. This is not a generous attitude, it is a selfish attitude that will not get the person very far in life nor in friendships.

On the other hand, there is the person who thinks more lowly of himself than he ought. This person either will not give because he thinks it does not matter or he will give because the other person deserves it more than him. Maybe he thinks it will help people like him if he gives. This, also, is not a generous attitude. It is an attitude either of fear or self-pity, and it also will not get this person very far in life.

A generous person is one who really likes himself and really likes the people he is around. He gives because he wants to give and he knows that it is more blessed to give than to receive. This is a person people like, and this is a person who will find blessings coming back his way even though he did not give for that reason. This is where the phenomenon happens. The truly generous person is taken care of.

For those who really do not have money to give, there are other ways of being generous. Giving quality time to another person is often even more helpful than money. Having a hospitable heart that allows people in need to come in for a shower and meal shows great generosity.

As another idea, find a homeless program and give of your time. Volunteers are always needed and welcomed at many places. I have worked with the homeless on a couple occasions and always find myself blessed in return. Being generous really does help in tight situations.

Living on a Shoestring Budget: Budget

Believe it or not, keeping some sort of budget really does help. When we do not think about all the bills we have to pay, it becomes easier and easier to blow a paycheck in one shopping spree and have nothing left over for bills. A strict budget is not always necessary, but being mindful of what you have and what you are paying for is important.

First of all, lay out all your bills and figure out how much money you will have left over after those bills are paid. Do not forget things like water and electric. If you support a function, figure that money in. I am paying back school loans so I have to figure those into my budget. Also remember when those quarterly or yearly bills are due. I have to remember months in advance when my car insurance bill is due so there is some left over in my bank account for that non-regular bill. If at all possible, set aside some money for a rainy day. Then figure out what you have left.

With what is left, how much will you need for food, gas, other essentials? What can you cut out from your ‘wish list’ to put to other essentials?

Then keep track of your spending throughout the month. It is easy to spend hundreds more than usual without even realizing it when we don’t keep track of our spending. It is even easier to get in more trouble when we are given money. I so quickly spend an extra $10 on three $10 items always forgetting that I had already spent the money. It is the same reason lottery winners almost always go into greater debt than they were before.

One thing to keep in mind when dealing with a budget is that it is not helpful to get stressed out and worried. Stress and worry does not change the situation we are in, they only keep us from thinking clearly and they put undue pressure on our physical bodies. Fear is a natural response to a probable or real problem, but it is only helpful in so far as it tells us something is wrong.

For example, when I look at my credit card bill and realize I do not have enough to pay it off, my first response is anxiety. But the problem is that when I let that anxiety stay around, I start focusing on the problem instead of the solution. Fear has told me something is wrong but then I must remove fear from me and start thinking of a solution for my problem. Is there extra work I can do for someone? Should I start a part time job? Can I hold a yard sale?

I would suggest not getting a loan to pay off the bill. Find some way to pay it off that will not cause a problem in the future.

Keeping a budget is really helpful in keeping on top of finances. In fact, ditching the credit card is really helpful in keeping inside your budget. You cannot buy an item if you cannot pay for it. Knowing you are not going into deeper debt every month is a good thing.

Living on a Shoestring Budget: Waste Not

One of the most challenging parts of living on a shoestring budget is learning not to waste so much. There are some simple ways not to waste and there are some ways that take more effort. Every little bit helps, though.

For starters, it is so easy to waste food. I try to keep my fridge pretty empty so that I use everything that is there before it goes bad. If I do not use something on time, I know to either not buy it again or not buy so much of it. It can be easy to get bored with the food choices, but that can be changed by changing the way we think and speak. I can think, ‘I am getting so tired of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches’ and let that become my reality, or I can think ‘I am so thankful that I have food to eat and a fridge to put stuff in.’ This keeps things in better perspective.

If you need help remembering how good you have it on a shoestring budget, visit some homeless people or help out with a homeless ministry. I am always a lot more thankful for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches after that.

Another tip for ‘waste not’ is to keep organized so you know what you have and what you need to accomplish your tasks. It is annoying when I pass by the cooking oil section and think, “Oh, I think I need some of that.” Then I come home and find two unopened bottles. Keeping organized and remembering what you have helps out a lot.

If you want to go farther, keep your house at a lower temperature in winter and just wear more clothing. I am someone who gets cold easily, but I have found that I can keep the house cooler just by changing a few activities. First of all, I like candles and candles produce heat. Lighting enough of them helps warm the house. I have also found that if I lift weights or exercise a bit, that warms me right up. I also like curling up in blankets. The less heat I can pump into my house, the lower my electric bill is.

Then there is the rule of ‘half’. Sometimes instructions tell us to use much more than we really need to use. I have found this to be true when I do laundry. I will usually put one fourth of a cup or less of laundry detergent in my washing machine and my clothes still come out clean enough for my satisfaction. The same can often be said of dish detergent and shampoo.

I also suggest walking instead of driving to places close by. Or get a bike for longer distances. The way gas prices are increasing, it is not a bad idea.

On the more extreme side, I have heard of people who will fill buckets with shower water while waiting for the shower to get hot. That water can then be used for other purposes like watering a garden. There are many ways we can learn not to waste which cuts down on bills.

Living on a Shoestring Budget: Food

There are many areas in which food come into play when dealing with a small budget. One of the biggest areas is the amount of food we eat. Most people in rich countries eat way more than they need to. Cutting down our dinner is healthier on the body as well as healthier on the pocket book.

Keep in mind that we teach our bodies what they want. Unfortunately many have lost the art of hearing our bodies respond with what they need. I have noticed that when I eat lots of sugary foods, then my taste buds start to crave sugary foods whereas my body tells me that it needs vitamins and minerals and proteins, etc by getting sluggish.

On the other hand, when I feed my body lots of vegetables and fruit, I start to crave the healthier foods. My mind becomes more alert and my body has more energy. I am telling my body what to hunger after and my body responds with a ‘yay, you are taking care of me’ or an ‘I feel like crap’.

So what does this have to do with living on a shoestring budget? Believe it or not, when I eat healthier, I also tend to eat less meaning I spend less money on food. An alert mind and a body that feels good helps me make good decisions all around.

Speaking of cravings, I have heard it said that when people get a craving, they should fill it right away or else it will grow and grow until they end up eating way more than they would have originally. Believe it or not, this is a lie. We train our minds how to think. If I have a craving for chocolate, my natural tendency would be to try not to think about chocolate which would make me think about chocolate even more until I just could not contain myself anymore and I had to buy that 2 pound box of chocolates and eat half of it in one evening.

I have learned, however, that I can change my craving by changing my speech. If I tell myself that chocolate tastes good and would make me feel good but I cannot have any, then I am telling a part of myself that it is being denied a good thing. Instead, if I tell myself that eating chocolate would make me feel sluggish and that I would prefer to spend that money on, say, a new set of pens for my new journal, then the craving quickly passes.

We must train ourselves to think differently regarding what we eat and the amount we eat. When living on a shoestring budget, it is so helpful in keeping costs low as well as keeping healthy. A healthy body helps morale stay higher, which helps sustain through the narrow place.

Living on a Shoestring Budget: Vision

One of the best ways I have found to keep myself from spending too much is to develop a vision for my life. Where am I going and what am I doing? It is said that people without a vision perish. I know how depressed I can become when I feel like my life is going nowhere. Stirring up a vision brings hope and a challenge to overcome.

How does that help when living on a shoestring budget? People without vision spend their lives looking all different directions and spending money in areas of all those different directions. Vision oriented people do not waste time or money on things that do not help them achieve their goal.

By waste, I do not mean spending money on things that matter. Buying food or maybe the occasional flowers for your girlfriend are things that matter. Buying tons of video games or novels when your dream is to become an architect or accountant is frivolous and unproductive. It is important to buy things that help you achieve your goal instead of things that become a distraction.

Once you have a vision for your life, another thing you can do is find people around you who share the same vision. Not only will they help you keep focused, but they may also have resources you can borrow so that you do not have to spend money on them. My mentor is often loaning me books to read that help educate me in the area I want to move into.

For those who have a hard time creating a vision, here are some helpful suggestions. First of all, pay attention to those things that make you cry. Is it the homeless children? Is it the lack of stewardship we have shown the earth? Is it the beauty of the night sky? Whatever makes you cry is something that stirs deep within you for a reason. Check into different jobs that are a part of that passion and see what it takes to get one of those jobs.

Second, pay attention to those things that give you a great sense of accomplishment apart from what anyone else is thinking. I feel really good when I write something I think is great. It does not matter what anyone else thinks about it. For that reason, I am looking at different writing options.

Third, what are you really good at? Often times those things we are really good at play some part in whatever job would really make you happy. People tell me I am good at counseling. That does not mean I am to become a professional counselor, but it could mean that counseling will play some role in my life.

Then, once your vision is created, you can get to work on weeding out those things from your shopping list that do not really matter in helping you accomplish your goal.

Living on a Shoestring Budget: Needs

Living on a shoestring budget is hard on anyone, but especially those who struggle with materialism. Sometimes it is hard to separate what we really need from what would feel good at this particular moment. A meal out here, a new outfit there, it all adds up and causes the budget to be tighter. Why are we so driven to make sure our ‘feel good’ needs are met before our long term needs?

At the root of this problem, I have found that we are all looking for wholeness and completeness. We want peace and good feelings. When there is brokenness and/or pain, we look for ways to either cover up the pain or make the pain go away. Drug addicts temporarily cover up their pain by altering the state of their minds. Compulsive shoppers try to cover up their pain by finding a new outfit or new gadget. Some watch tv or movies all the time in an attempt to distract themselves from their pain.

The problem with this is that we have trained ourselves to respond to pain in unhealthy ways. We want to ignore the pain instead of getting to the root of it. We teach ourselves that we can keep ignoring it until it goes away, but that does not happen fully until the pain/source of pain is healed completely.

Therefore, short of finding healing for the inner unrest, those who live on a shoestring budget must teach themselves to sort out what they need and what they are using to try to cover up the pain.

One example is food. Americans have a tendency to eat way too much and spend more than they need on that food. Those who have not eaten for a number of days will say the hardest part was getting over the boredom of not eating because food is as much entertainment as it is nourishment. Therefore if we get tired of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, it is easy to crave some big meal at a restaurant. Our emotions tell us that we will die if we do not fill this craving. Then, despite the limited dollars in our pockets, we go out to our favorite restaurant and spend on one meal what we may have spent on five or ten meals otherwise.

Another problem is boredom. Some bored people think that a new gadget or outfit will ‘heal’ their boredom. We may have way more than we will ever need at home, but in our search for meaning and purpose, we get bored of life the way it is and want to change it the only way we know how: shop. After all, is that not what commercials do? They tell us that our lives will be infinitely improved if we buy their product. It is a lie.

What we really need to be happy is to know who we are and why we are here. Keep this in mind before you head to the store to spend more money.