The Complete Idiot's Guide to Stretching Your Dollar

By Shannon M. Medisky

Book Overview

"An online expert and home economist gathers hundreds of practical-and surprising-tips." Everyone is being squeezed these days by the faltering economy, but nobody wants to give up the things that add... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1592579280
• ISBN13: 9781592579280
• Release Date: September 2009
• Publisher: Alpha Books
• Length: 193 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.8" x 9.2"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

A sound investment

Even though Ben Bernanke has declared the recession technically over, many of us are still feeling the economic pinch. Thankfully, Ms. Medisky has been kind enough to offer up this thoughtful, creative, and well-organized set of money-saving tips that are sure to help anyone spend a little more wisely. I've only had this book for a week, but I'm sure it has paid for itself three times over. And it will continue to do so - the tips will be just as useful when the economy bounces back as they are now. I would encourage this book to anyone.

Building Community while Saving Money

Stretching Your Dollar was full of helpful tips on how to avoid wasting precious dollars and time. Unlike most other articles and books I've read on this topic, Medisky recognizes that you don't have to go it alone. By establishing a strong network of family and friends that barter, share coupons, and sale tips, you can significantly extend your buying power, while strengthening your community ties. I also appreciate her focus on buying local. If you build relationships with restaurants, retail shops and other vendors, they're more likely to keep you in the know about upcoming specials and may even negotiate with you on the final purchase price of an item.

Recession Proof Your Lifestyle

One of our biggest expenses is our food costs. My wife loves to cook gourmet meals as well as bake. Sometimes she burns herself out, so we eat out, too. We have learned how to decipher our grocery flyers and apply it to our shopping habits. When a shopper knows the inside tips, it can bring about huge savings. The suggestions on eatting out wisly has also helped our bottom line. The savings is great. We have used the savings to enjoy some new entertainment ideas (Chapter 11). Bottom line is Streching Your Dollar has very easy and practical savings ideas. Everyone should get an update on how to save some of their hard earned money. It makes providing for your family much easier in this economy.

Timely and tremendous!

At 182 pages, Stretching Your Dollar is short and punchy. It's chock full of helpful advice and is careful not to turn its reader into a penny-pinching miser. It has many great recommendations as to where you can save and when you should go ahead and pay full price. Some of the suggested money-savers are things that you might already know, but most are new and creative ways to save money. I enjoyed this book and, by an order of magnitude, have already found myself saving much more than its cover price. If I can offer a single, money-saving piece of advice in this review, it's buy this book!

Totally Timely

"Timely" is an understatement. I have been feeling hammered by my lack of income. This book gives a real ray of hope in an upbeat fashion. The "Penny Pitfall" tips are tremendous. The one on page 112 (I won't give away) is definitely worth twice the cost of the book and will be a fabulous stress reliever. I assume this will not be available in libraries for a while. The savings the first few days after reading this book will definitely pay for the book and the shipping. A great tool.