When completing your form be sure to carefully read all of fine print. Nothing is worse than waiting for mail to arrive with your rebate check only to discover that your refund request was rejected because of something that was overlooked. Also, be sure to print all of your information clearly, so that it can easily be read by person or machine processing your form.

Rebate requests require you to include your receipt as proof of purchase. Never send your original receipt unless rebate slip specifies that you must do so. Some stores will print a duplicate receipt for you, so be sure to inquire. If they are unwilling to do so, then in most cases a copy of your receipt will be accepted. It is recommended that you make a copy of both sides of your rebate slip, UPC, and anything else that you are required to send. That way you will have proof should trouble arise.

You will most likely have to wait 6-8 weeks to receive your rebate. Make a note on your calendar of date on which your rebate should arrive as it is easy to forget something that will occur 6-8 weeks in future. With a reminder on your calendar you'll know if your rebate doesn't arrive in mail as expected.

If you don't receive your refund after designated time period elapses, then contact rebate-issuing company to check status of your submission. If there was a problem with your rebate you may be able to clear things up with a simple phone call.

Follow steps outlined above and in a few weeks you will get to experience thrill of finding your mailbox filled with savings. After all of hard work you put into compiling your rebate submission you've earned every penny.

Copyright © 2004 Heather Wallace

7. Make every stock purchase with intent that purchase will be a long-term investment.

Do not trade in and out of your holdings. There have been many up and downs in stock market. The down markets only accelerate your income. GE has raised their dividend for 28 years in a row. Why sell it? 100 shares of GE ten years ago has turned into 1200 shares today due to stock splits, and that is not counting how many shares you would have now if dividends were being rolled back into more shares of stock through those years.

8. Understand that a lower stock price, after your initial purchase may be a blessing in disguise.

The income from your stock holdings should grow every quarter, no matter what total amount of your stock portfolio is worth. (If your Mutual fund declines in price from one year to next and if your income is not increasing (accelerating) from that fund, why are you in that fund?) A company pays their dividend not on how much their stock is worth in market place. For example, a company pays a quarterly dividend of 50 cents a share. A company has little control on how much its stock price is worth in market place on any given day. You will receive 50 cents a share per quarter whether stock price is at 50 dollars a share, or drops to $40 a share or goes up to $70. While stock is down at $40 a share your dividend reinvestment is loading up on more shares.

9. Develop a savings plan to add to your holdings each quarter to help your dividend reinvestments to accumulate more shares on a dollar-cost averaging basis.

The savings could be as little as $5.00 a week. Why put that savings in a savings account at 1.2 percent, when there are so many companies out there that are paying a 4 to 5% dividend yield and increasing their dividend every year? And since none of companies you are investing in charge a commission fee, all of that $60.00 a quarter you saved and invested would help your dividend reinvestments to dollar-cost average into your holdings. Every cent you save and invest would work toward your ROI (Return on Investment).

10. Read my book ‘The Stockopoly Plan’ soon to be released by American Book Publishing.

I believe it will profit you and your family for rest of your lives.

For more excerpts from book ‘The Stockopoly Plan’ please visit http://www.thestockopolyplan.com