Terms of Use Here are some ideas to help you create a savings plan. Whether you want to go on a dream vacation or save money for any big expenditure, try following these steps. Check out the simple budget worksheet in the Related Content section for help. Step One Of course, you won't be able to dip your toes in the water until you first set your sites on how much your piece of paradise will cost. Tally up your transportation, hotel, dining and entertainment cost estimates, and then divi  More...

Terms of Use: BREADS AND GRAINS Look for bargains on day-old bread and bakery products. Buy regular rice, oatmeal, and grits instead of the instant and flavored types. Try whole-grain bread and brown rice to add nutrients and variety to family meals. VEGETABLES AND SALADS Look for large bags of frozen vegetables. They may be bargains and you can cook just the amount you need, close the bag tightly, and put the rest back in the freezer. Foods at salad bars can be costly. Some food items—   More...

Terms of Use For quick cost cutting on your food expenses, try this : If you buy lunch each day, try brown-bagging it instead. If you brought the same items you purchased at the deli or restaurant, you could likely save at least half the cost. If you are hooked on a daily latte, you could cut your cost in half by ordering a misto (brewed coffee with steamed milk, as opposed to espresso with steamed milk). Of course, skipping the coffee shop and brewing your own is cheaper yet. If you  More...

Terms of Use Car travel tips: Use a map and highlight the routes you want to take before you start. Judge distances and driving times beforehand so you can avoid cities during high traffic peaks. Ask tourist offices for specific maps, scenic route suggestions, and current traffic delay information. Use small grocery bags with handles to hang in your car for your garbage. Freeze your small containers of juice or water to serve as additional freezer packs in your cooler. Helps to keep these d  More...

Terms of Use With gasoline prices on the rise, there has never been a better time to tune up your car and practice energy-wise driving techniques. Below is a list of tips that will not only improve your car's gas mileage, but also improve your car's overall performance and safety while reducing wear and tear on your car's engine. Driving Tips The first place to start is to drive smart. By simply practicing efficient driving techniques you can improve your car's fuel economy by   More...

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Terms of Use For quick cost cutting on your next car rental , try this: Go off-site. Renting from airport car rental facilities is often more expensive. Check out nonairport locations to see if you can save on rental rates. Go on-line. Check out rental rates on sites such as Expedia, Hotwire, Priceline, Travelocity, Kayak for the lowest rates by city or airport location . Be sure to compare all-in costs including taxes and fees . You can also go directly to rental car web sites to l  More...

Terms of Use For quick cost cutting on your prescription drugs, try this : Cut your bills in half by buying generic drugs instead of name brands. Buy your prescriptions via mail order through a drugstore chain or your company health plan. Slice your pills. Sometimes you can save money by asking your doctor to prescribe a double dosage of a drug and then splitting the pills in half. Shop around. Pharmacies sometimes charge very different prices for the same drugs. Websites such as w  More...

Terms of Use Plan Ahead Before you head to the store, keep in mind your family's needs. What does my family like? How many of us will be eating? What do the kids or older people need? How much money did I budget for food purchases? Will we be eating away from home, so that I should buy less food? Will friends and relatives come over for meals? Plan the menus for your family meals. Your family needs and tastes Good nutritious foods Variety of foods keeping in mind texture, color, fl  More...

Terms of Use For quick cost cutting on your electricity bill , try this : Contact your utility company . Many offer a free home-energy audit . You may find that making simple changes like running the dishwasher at night rather than during the day could reduce your electric bill by up to 40 percent . Off-peak rates and other options can save you $ 100 a year . Be sure to check out the savings possible under load management programs , too . With these programs , you can get discounts   More...