Get smart at home
Take the chill out of soaring fuel costs by making some easy and efficient changes around the house.
22. Seal your ducts. Drafts can reduce the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems by 20 percent.
23. Program it. A programmable thermostat can save you $150 per year in heating bills.
24. Tend your garden. Plant trees and shrubs to shield your home from sun and wind and save up to 30 percent!
Limit meals out
The average family spends $325 a month eating out--that's $3,900 a year! Cutting back just a little will save a bundle.
25. Bring your lunch. It's cheaper and healthier! Buying lunch five days a week costs an average of $1,300 per year--and that's just a $5 meal each day. By purchasing lunch only three days a week, you can save more than $500 a year.
26. Pack your snacks. Buying sodas, water and snacks at the office quickly adds up. Buy these items in bulk, bag 'em and bring 'em to work--you'll save about $2 a day. With 260 working days in a year, that comes to $43 a month in savings, or $520 annually.
27. Eat out less. Have one fewer dinner at a restaurant every month and save an estimated $60 to $90. Don't drink alcohol when dining out and you'll save even more.
28. Jump-start your day at home. Make your own coffee and heat your own milk, or use flavored creamer, instead of buying a latte. You'll save $3 a day, or more than $1,000 a year.
Bonus tip
A day without spending: Go one day each week without reaching into your purse at all. You'll net an average of $20 a week, or more than $1,000 a year.
Save on the road
With prices at the pump skyrocketing, use these tips to keep your car humming for less.
29. Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving wastes gas and lowers gas mileage by 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent around town. Save 14 to 94 cents per gallon by driving without attitude.
30. Keep it under 60. As a rule of thumb, expect to pay an extra 20 cents per gallon of gasoline for every 5 miles per hour you drive over 60.
31. Lose weight. Remove unnecessary items from your vehicle. You'll spend 6 more cents a gallon to haul an extra 100 pounds in your car.
32. Clean it up. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent--or up to 28 cents per gallon.
33. Put on the pressure. You can improve your gas mileage by approximately 3 percent by keeping your tires properly inflated, saving you around 8 cents per gallon.
34. Buy cheap gas.Find the best deals near you.
Bonus tip
Join AAA. In addition to roadside assistance and maps, being a member entitles you to a wide range of discounts.
Dial down your phone service
With some minor changes to your existing plan, you may save at least $100 per year.
35. Lose long distance. If you make less than $10 per month in long-distance calls, drop this service and purchase a phone card instead. You can save $120 a year.
36. Check your cell-phone bill. Cell-phone packages are constantly changing. Call to check on the newest rates and packages--you may be able to save on out-of-area calls, text messaging and person-to-person calls within your network. Compare the plans available in your area.
For money-saving tips on a monthly basis, try two trial issues of ALL YOU magazine.
Invest your savings wisely.
Return to allyou.com.