Think you need a vacation now? Just wait until you're scouring dozens of booking sites, aggregators and airline Web sites to find cheap tickets for your next trip -- then you'll really be ready for a week off!

Unfortunately for weary travelers, there's no real shortcut to finding cheap airfare. As with any purchase, you need to shop around to get the best deal -- by trying different booking sites, altering your dates and waiting until just the right time to purchase. But if you're willing to put in a little time and effort, you could save big on your next flight. 

1. Buy Early
Especially during peak travel periods, making reservations late in the game can cost you a lot of money. Airline ticket prices typically go up in the last two weeks before flying, so if you're planning ahead, try to make the call before this deadline. And if you're traveling internationally, you'll want to book even earlier -- from three to six months in advance -- for the best deals. However, sometimes you can get lucky if you wait, which brings us to:

2. Buy Late
Often you can buy tickets at the very last minute for a great price, if the airlines have failed to fill their planes. Many airlines offer weekly newsletters that feature their best last-minute deals. You can also find many of them listed in our Travel Deals section, or at specialized sites like LastMinuteTravel.com. If you can stand the suspense, and if you are flexible with your itinerary and dates, you can find fantastic money-savers to very attractive travel destinations. For more info, seeBest Bets for Booking a Last-Minute Trip.

3. Shop Around
No matter how good it sounds, you should never book the first fare you see. Start your search by checking a few of the major online travel providers, like Travelocity.com, aggregator sites likeTripAdvisor Flights or consolidators like CheapTickets.com. Airfarewatchdog is another good source of low fares. Checking these sites will give you a preliminary idea of which airlines fly your particular itinerary, what the going rate is and what restrictions might apply. Armed with this information, you can head directly to the airline Web site to see if the same flights are any cheaper (some airlines guarantee to offer the lowest possible fares on their own Web sites). While you're there, check to see if the airline is running any sales or promotions to your destination.

If you don't see anything in your preferred price range, don't be afraid to bide your time and watch the fares for a bit. Most major booking sites have alert features that will e-mail you when your fare drops to a price you're willing to pay.


4. Know When to Buy
The hardest part of booking a flight is knowing when to stop tracking fares and make that final purchase. If you're flying within the U.S. or to select international destinations, Bing Travel (Bing.com/travel) can help you reach that decision, offering fare predictions for most major cities. Just plug in your itinerary and the site will advise you either to book now or to wait, depending on whether the fare is expected to rise or drop. Another useful site is the aforementioned Kayak.com, which offers fare history graphs for domestic and international flights, allowing you to see whether your fare is headed in an upward or downward direction.

Finally, keep in mind that many airlines launch fare sales on Tuesdays -- so if you decide to buy on a Monday, you may be gnashing your teeth when your destination goes on sale the next day.

5. Be Flexible
If you live close to more than one airport, check out the fares from all of the airports near you. Many online fare searching engines will ask you if you are willing to depart from or arrive in more than one city. Yes! Also, experiment with different travel dates; shifting your itinerary by a month, a week or even a few days can make a significant difference in fares. You'll usually find the lowest fares for travel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Keep in mind that just about every destination has a peak season -- and if you can fly any other time of year, you'll often pay significantly less.


6. Don't Forget the Discounters
As their nickname suggests, discount airlines can save you a bundle, but they're not always easy to find. Luckily for consumers, discounters are cropping up more frequently on aggregators and booking sites (Kayak now offers fares for JetBlue, Spirit and AirTran, for example) -- but there are still a few holdouts, such as Southwest and Allegiant Air, whose fares can't be found anywhere but their own Web sites. If you're traveling outside the U.S., don't forget to check the international discount airlines as well.

7. Use Your Frequent Flier Miles
Why pay a fare at all when you can use your frequent flier miles? Although redeeming miles has gotten more difficult in recent years, it's still a good option to consider, particularly if you're booking early; airlines designate a very limited number of seats on each flight as eligible for award travel, and these seats go quickly. For more on redeeming your miles, check out Frequent Flier Miles: How to Use 'Em, Not Lose 'Em.

8. Get a Refund When Fares Go Down
If fares go down after you've purchased your ticket, ask for a refund! You may not always get one, but policies vary by airline -- and many do not publicize the fact that they will refund you the difference if prices go down. It can't hurt to ask.

Yapta.com will track flights for you after you purchase and notify you if the fares go down. Orbitz.com has a Price Assurance guarantee, which entitles you to a refund if another Orbitz user books the same itinerary for less.


9. Consider an Air Pass
In order to promote tourism in their countries, many national airlines offer air passes at reduced rates for tourists. If you're planning to do extensive travel in one country or region, an air pass might be your most cost-effective option. For example, Qantas offers an Aussie AirPass for travel throughoutAustralia. For more information, see our guide to air passes. Planning an even bigger trip? Look into around-the-world tickets and fares.

10. Check for Deals and Discounts
Don't forget to check our comprehensive Travel Deals for the latest fare sales -- we post new ones every weekday. If you or your traveling companions are senior citizens or children, you'll want to take a peek at our senior and family areas as well.

Tips from Independent Traveler.

Thirteen might not be the luckiest of numbers, but 2013 could be a pretty good year to get on a better financial footing — if you're not fussy.

Now 2013 is the year I will finally use a 1991 calendar. While cleaning, I found a Laura Ashley desk calendar that was too pretty to use back then. The days of the week for 1991 match up with 2013. See www.whencanireusethiscalendar.com.

Now, 13 other tips for '13:

• No. 1: Use what you've got.

It is possible to make dinner out of what's at home at least one day a week. Need a use for small bottles of shampoo in the closet? My husband made a game out of regularly tapping into our stockpile. We got about three months of shampoo free.

• No. 2: Cancel a service.

"I canceled cable in 2002," said Gabriella Barthlow, a certified credit counselor and owner of the Alpha Advisory Group. She's saved thousands of dollars. She waits until a TV series is on DVD at her library.

• No. 3: Drag your feet until January when it comes to donations.

Tax rates could go up in 2013. So a charitable contribution could be a more valuable deduction if you send the check next year instead of by Dec. 31, according to Robert Shefferly III, certified public accountant, senior tax manager for the national tax office for Plante Moran in Southfield, Mich.

• No. 4: Watch ATM fees.

If you're out of town and not near your bank, it may be possible to avoid ATM fees by using your debit card at a nearby supermarket. Buy items that you can use — and get $50 cash back or more. Kroger allows up to $250 cash back on a debit card purchase if you go to a lane with a clerk; the self-check lane has a $100 limit for cash back.

If instead you go to an ATM that's not part of your bank, you'd typically pay your bank a fee of $1.57 and pay the ATM owner another $2.50 on average, according to Bankrate.com.

• No. 5: Bank one more buck.

Charge one dollar every single time you break a New Year's resolution. Make sure everyone in the house makes one promise — not to yell at the TV during a Detroit Lions' game, not to forget to put away the laundry. Put that money toward a goal.

• No. 6: Go to your kids and ask them how to save money.

"If the family is struggling economically, the kids know that in the household," said Gregory Downing, a former auto dealer and author of Entrepreneur Unleashed: Wealth to Stand the Test of Time.

It's OK to be upfront with older children, if your take-home pay was cut by 50% and you now have to buy your own health insurance, said the Florida father of three, ages 17, 13 and 11.

Children can be part of the solution, he said, noting teens need to work as well, even if only doing odd jobs for pay.

Back in the summer, my 14-year-old son told me to stop buying him T-shirts and hoodies. I had gotten into a bad habit of frequently picking up something cool and cheap. Nice, but he had too much. It's been an easy way to save $5 or $10 here and there.

• No. 7: Think "just in time."

Buying in bulk can save money, say freezing butter bought on sale during the holidays.

But "avoid overstocking your refrigerator and pantry," said Tomika Snodgrass, a vice president for RBS Citizens in Southfield. The mom of two buys only items for her weekly plan.

• No. 8: Don't clip coupons.

This anti-coupon tip sounds counterintuitive, because so much marketing works against it these days, said Laura Lee, author of Broke is Beautiful: Living and Loving the Cash-Strapped Life.

Shoppers who peruse bargain circulars, sign up for e-mails from stores, join Facebook groups and so on are constantly bombarded with deals. "Buying stuff involves spending money, not saving it," Lee said.

If you clip coupons, prioritize based on your budget.

• No. 9: Buy some bandages — and maybe a bed pan?

Some rules changed in 2011 and now you're required to have a prescription from a doctor if you want to be reimbursed as part of a flexible spending account for buying over-the-counter medicine or drugs.

But many do not realize that there are 32,000 services and items that would be reimbursed by FSA funds — and do not need a prescription for reimbursement, said Natasha Rankin, executive director for the Employers Council on Flexible Compensation in Washington, D.C.

She noted that on average people lose $138 after not filing for reimbursements or not spending the necessary amounts in flexible spending accounts. Online stores even sell items that qualify for FSA dollars.

"People think they can't buy any products anymore," said Jeremy Miller, president of FSAstore.com. Miller notes that's not true.

Check with your sponsor about deadlines for spending and filing for reimbursements.

A new FSA cap hits in January. The maximum an employee can set aside is $2,500. If both spouses are working, the maximum allowed is $5,000.

• No. 10: Play make-believe.

If you could pretend to be a cowboy when you were a kid, why can't you imagine that one day you'll be able to retire? If you can believe it, you can save.

• No. 11: Create one "no-spend-zone."

One Saturday each month, don't spend any money. No fair pulling out plastic.

• No. 12: Save sentimental cash.

Examine the serial number on each $1 bill. Then, save bills that start with a special letter, like your first initial, said Samirian Hill, president of BudgetWise Financial Solutions in Southfield.

• No. 13: Go offshore.

No, not really offshore. But why not bank far from home? If you choose a financial institution that is a hike to get to, it could be difficult to empty that account, said Dorothy Barrick, financial counselor and group manager for GreenPath Debt Solutions, a national non-profit credit counselor. Of course, just pulling out a debit card from that bank would defeat the purpose.

The odd thought here: Don't just work for your money; work hard to avoid spending it, too.

Tips from USA TODAY. 

Prescription Medications

With today's rocky economy and rising healthcare costs, more and more of us are having a tough time paying for much-needed medicines. Here, expert advice on how to stretch your dollar -- without compromising your family's health. And we share tips on proper storage to make those meds last.

Take an inventory.

Bring a list of your meds and dosages to every appointment. And ask, "Why am I taking this? Do I still need it?" Your physician may suggest less expensive versions or eliminate medicines from your regimen if they're no longer necessary. He'll also check that the dosage is correct: "That's especially important for kids, since dosing is often based on weight, and young children grow rapidly," says Daniel Rauch, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics at New York University Medical Centers.

Start with generics.

Americans fill nearly 2 billion generic prescriptions each year. And for good reason: no-frills versions typically cost three times less than their brand-name counterparts do, yet they contain the same active ingredients and are just as strong. The differences are in the color, flavor, and texture. Talk to your doctor -- she may be able to help you cut costs by prescribing a less expensive generic antibiotic for, say, an ear infection. But if you or your child has food allergies, read prescription inserts carefully. Fillers, coatings, and other inactive ingredients are where allergens like corn and wheat often lurk. Find generic equivalents for your prescriptions, as well as warnings and info about side effects, at drx.com.

Pay $4 for generics.

Big-chain pharmacies, including Wal-Mart and Target, charge only $4 for 30-day treatments (and smaller supplies of certain antibiotics) of hundreds of commonly prescribed generic meds. And there are no extra fees or membership costs. Some grocery store chains even have programs -- at ShopRite, for example, you can buy a 90-day supply of certain medicines for just $10. Now that's a deal!

Ask for samples.

If there's no generic equivalent for a new prescription, ask your doctor if he can give you a free sample or a starter kit -- these are often available for newer drugs. That way, you can make sure the medicine works well before you pay for a large supply of pills you may not be able to use.

Know your formulary.

That's what health insurance companies call the list of medications covered under your plan, and copays vary based on the tier level of a drug. The typical copay for a tier-one, generic drug is about $10; a tier-two brand name is $20 to $35; and a tier-three, non-preferred brand name drug costs even more. Your formulary can change every few months, so check your insurance company's Web site for updates before you visit a doctor; your physician may be able to prescribe a drug from a different tier to save you some cash.

Tips from PARENTS.

1. Skip the detergent. Want to save 100% on laundry detergent? Don't use it. Modern washing machines work by agitating laundry in water. The agitation is enough to clean lightly soiled clothing. Don't believe that? The blog Funny about Money conducted just such an experiment and concluded, "By and large, all of the freshly washed clothing came out with an odor: It smelled of clean water!"

• one bar of soap.
• 3 gallons plus 4 cups of water.
• 1 cup borax.
• ½ cup washing soda.

Bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Grate the bar of soap with a cheese grater. Drop the pieces into the boiling water and cook until the soap dissolves. Pour 3 gallons of water into a large bucket. Add in the soap and water mixture. Add in 1 cup of borax and half a cup of washing soda. Stir until the ingredients thicken. Use about ¼ cup (the size of a normal laundry detergent cap) per wash cycle.

3. Use less. If you're using store-bought laundry detergent, don't pour in an entire capful. Laundry detergent caps have a line about halfway down -- the amount the manufacturer wants you to use for soiled clothes. See if you can use less and achieve the same result.  Unless my clothes are truly dirty, I only use about 2 tablespoons per load, about half the recommended amount.

4. Don't wash as often. I save the most on laundry by doing less of it. I'll wear the same jeans two days in a row, use the same towel for three showers, and hang up anything I've worn less than a couple of hours. It's all still clean, so why wash it again? I've cut down from five loads of laundry per week to three this way.

5. Don't buy dry-clean-only. A friend of mine buys dry-clean-only linen shirts for work. He goes through five shirts a week. Our local dry cleaner charges $2.50 per shirt, which adds up to $12.50 per week or $600 a year. For half that much, he could buy high-end washable shirts.

6. Buy store-brand detergent in bulk. You'll save money buying laundry detergent in huge sizes from warehouse stores, and you'll save even more buying the store's generic brand.

• Smart Spending on the go: Get our app for Android or iPhone

With the country mired in a recession, many American families are looking for ways to cut back on expenditures and trim their budgets. At the same time, parents recognize the benefits of taking time off to relax with their kids—and to escape the economic malaise. Here are some tips to save money on much-needed getaways.

• Check to see if you can save money by purchasing tickets to attractions in advance. Many amusement parks offer up to 20% off for advance booking. Check to see how far in advance you must book to qualify for the discount. Note that some destinations charge children by height, not age, so you may end up paying full price for your taller offspring. Also be on the lookout for coupons and discounts offered by groups such as AAA.
• Buy sunscreen, bug spray, and other supplies at home rather than at tourist destinations, which tend to wildly mark up such necessities.
• Rent a house instead of staying at a hotel. A weekly house rental is usually much cheaper than paying nightly hotel rates. This option allows you to cook in rather than eat out every meal. Renting a house is particularly attractive to larger families since most hotels only allow four guests per room.
• Choose a destination that's within driving distance. Driving is much cheaper than flying, and why not explore the treasures in your own backyard? If you must fly, don't fly direct. You can save hundreds of dollars on each ticket by making a connection.
• If you grocery shop at your destination, go to a market outside the tourist area. Small markets in tourist sites tend to be expensive!
• If you're traveling internationally, buy local food and avoid American food. Expand your palette and avoid paying a premium for imported fare. No need to pay $10 for a box of American corn flakes.
• Travel off season. Hotel rates, airfare, and admission prices are often deeply discounted during non-peak periods. Be flexible! Even traveling a few weeks before or after school vacation can save big bucks.
• Don't feel obligated to be on the go every day. Do the tourist thing one day, then have one day of down time. Vacations are meant to be a time to relax and get away from all the over-scheduling.
• Have a friend take care of your pets rather than board them. A week of doggie daycare can cost up to $300.
• Stay with family or friends who live near a tourist area. Alternatively, do a house-swap with another family.

Read more: Tips to Save Money on Family Vacations http://www.infoplease.com/us/travel/save-on-family-vacations.html#ixzz2TBRk91dz

1. Turn off the air conditioning. This doesn’t mean you have to suffer through sweltering heat, but you should be aware of the weather so that you can maximize efficiency and save money by using it only when needed. For example, if it is going to be a cool night, turn off the air before heading to bed and open a few windows.
   
   
2. Cook outside. Using the stove or baking in the oven can create a lot of excess heat that has nowhere to go except in your house. Consider taking meal plans to the barbecue grill outside so that you can keep your cool inside.
   
   
3. Let your laundry dry outside. If you have the ability to hang up laundry outside, let the sun and warm summer breeze do the drying for you. Even if you can’t hang up clothes outside, try using your dryer on a lower heat setting or only partially drying your shirts and letting them air dry the rest of the way. 
   
   
4. Replace your air conditioner filters. This can be easy to overlook, but a dirty filter can increase cooling costs. Dirty filters restrict the airflow and the efficiency of the air conditioner, which translates into more run time and higher cooling costs. Filters are cheap, so replace them regularly.
   
   
5. Plan ahead for future home and garden projects. As summer begins to wind down, it is a perfect time to be on the lookout for season ending sales. Landscape plants, tools, and other outdoor project materials tend to go on sale as people begin to look toward autumn and spending less time outside.

Tips from About.com Financial Planning. 

You’re paying more these days not only at the gas pump but also at the grocery store. Blame it on rising oil prices, disappointing crop yields, global warming, or the weak dollar. What it all means is that you need to find smart ways to save. These expert tips and strategies can help you slash your grocery costs without sacrificing nutrition.

1. Plan Ahead

Katherine Tallmadge, RD, says, "Take inventory of what you have on hand so you don’t overbuy. Create a detailed shopping list based on your needs and weekly menu plan, and take into account how you plan on using leftovers."

Have a light snack before you go shopping, and stick to your grocery list to help avoid impulse purchases or costly mistakes like falling for the displays at the end of the aisles.

Before you plan your weekly menu, check the ads to see what’s on sale and use coupons to take advantage of sales and money-saving coupons. You can even sign up online to receive coupons and email alerts from your favorite grocers.

2. Make Healthy Choices -- They’re Cheaper

Eating healthier foods can actually save you money, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. The researchers found that when families went on weight loss diets, they not only lost weight but reduced their food budgets.

The savings came from reducing portion sizes and from buying fewer of the high-calorie foods that tend to increase the amount spent at the grocery store. People tend to spend a lot on those "extras" -- foods that add calories but little nutritional value, like sodas, bakery items, and chips.

You can get more for your money if you consider the nutritional value of food for the price. For example, sodas and flavored drinks deliver mostly empty calories and could easily be replaced with less expensive sparkling water with a splash of a 100% fruit juice like cranberry.

"When my clients start eating more healthfully, their grocery bills plummet," says Tallmadge, author of the book Diet Simple.

She recommends comparing food prices based on the number of servings you'll get, along with the food's nutritional contribution. For example, a pound of peaches yields three to four servings. So when you divide the cost per pound, the cost is usually quite reasonable.

"The ideal food is nutrient-dense not calorie-dense, and the least expensive may be fresh, frozen, or canned," Tallmadge says.

And if you're craving something sweet?

Connie Diekman, RD, says, "Save money by passing on calorie-dense cakes and cookies. Instead, opt for seasonal fruit. Fruit is fat-free, high in nutrients and fiber, and a natural energizer."

Look for sales or coupons for light ice cream or nonfat frozen yogurt to enjoy with your fruit and you have a delicious, fat-free, low-calorie dessert.

3. Buy Produce in Season

Check the food section in your newspaper to find the best buys for the week based on fresh produce in season. Food in season is usually priced to sell. During the summer months, corn on the cob can cost as little as 10 cents an ear; at other times of the year, it may cost 10 times as much. Also, shop your local farmers' market for great deals on local produce; the prices won't include shipping costs.

4. Use Sales and Coupons

Planning meals around what's on sale can lower your grocery bills, especially if you also use coupons. Just make sure they're for items you would buy anyway. Sunday newspapers are full of coupons and sales circulars to get you started. It's also a good idea to stock up on staples when they're on sale. "Buy one, get one free" is basically a technique to get you to buy twice as much as you need at half the price. At some markets, though, the product rings up half-price -- so you don't have to buy more than one to get the savings. Use your freezer to store sale items that can be used at a later date.

5. Brown-Bag It

Making lunch and taking it with you is a great money-saver and an excellent use of leftovers for meals at work, school, or wherever your destination. "Packing your lunch not only saves you money, but you can control all the ingredients so they are healthy and low in calories," says Diekman, who is nutrition director at Washington University. Pack a simple sandwich, salad, soup, wrap, or a hearty snack of cheese. Use freezer packs and containers to keep food at the proper temperature unless you have access to a refrigerator.

6. Think Frozen, Canned, or Dried

Next time you're gathering ingredients for a recipe, try using frozen, canned, or dried foods. They may be less expensive than fresh, yet they are equally nutritious. Produce is typically frozen, canned, or dried at the peak of ripeness when nutrients are plentiful. Fish and poultry are often flash-frozen to minimize freezer damage and retain freshness. With frozen foods, you can use only the amount you need, reseal the package, and return it to the freezer. If it's properly stored, there's no waste. Canned foods are often sitting in a bath of juice, syrup, or salty water and usually require rinsing. Dried fruits are concentrated in flavor and a great substitute for fresh fruit. Also consider using powdered or evaporated versions of milk in soups, casseroles, mashed potatoes, or desserts. Buy the form that gives you the best price for your needs. 

7. Save on Protein Foods

When possible, substitute inexpensive vegetarian sources such as beans, eggs, tofu, and legumes for more expensive meat, fish, or poultry. Eat vegetarian once a week or more to increase your consumption of healthy plant foods while saving money. Eggs are an excellent, inexpensive source of protein that can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You could also try using a smaller portion of meat, fish, or poultry and extending the dish with whole grains, beans, eggs, or vegetables.

When you do buy meat, choose smaller portions of lean cuts. For example, lean cuts of beef are those that include the terms "loin" or "round." (You can tenderize lean cuts of meat mechanically or by marinating them.) You can also buy a whole chicken and cut it up instead of paying the butcher to do it for you or buy the cheaper "family pack" and portion it into airtight freezer bags.

8. Waste Not, Want Not

Before you toss perishable food into your grocery cart, think about exactly how you'll use it. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that Americans generate roughly 30 million tons of food waste each year. Using leftover vegetables, poultry, or meat in soups, stews, salads, and casseroles minimizes cost and demonstrates your creativity in the kitchen. For example, have a roasted chicken for dinner one night and use the leftovers for dinner the next night. Try topping a bed of fresh greens with vegetables, fruits, and slices of leftover chicken. Add a loaf of whole-grain bread, and presto! You've got a nutritious meal in minutes. You can also eat leftovers for breakfast or take them with you for lunch.

9. Go Generic

Consider buying store brands instead of pricier national brands. "All food manufacturers follow standards to provide safe food and beverage products of high quality," says Robert Earl, director of nutrition policy for the Grocery Manufacturer Association. Many grocery companies buy national-brand products made to their specifications and simply put their own label on the products. Read the ingredient list on the label to be sure you're getting the most for your money. Ingredients are listed in order by weight. So when you're buying canned tomatoes, look for a product that lists tomatoes, not water, as the first ingredient. Also look for simpler versions of your favorite foods. For example, buy oatmeal or simple flaked or puffed cereals that contain fewer additives and are less expensive (and often healthier) than fancier cereals.

10. Buy Prepackaged Only if You Need It

Unless you have a coupon or the item is on sale, buying prepackaged, sliced, or washed products comes with a higher price tag. Still, people living alone may find that smaller sizes of perishable products or bags of prepared produce eliminate waste and fit their needs best, despite the extra cost. You can also save money (and boost nutrition) by passing up the aisles with processed foods, cookies, snack foods, and soda.

11. Buy and Cook In Bulk

Joining a bulk shopping club like Sam's, Costco, or BJ's can be cost-effective if you frequent the club regularly. Bulk purchases can be a great way to save money -- as long as they get used. You might also look in your community for shopping cooperatives that sell food in bulk at a substantial savings. Cooking in bulk can save both money and time, says Tallmadge. "Prepare food in bulk and freeze it in family-sized portions, which saves time in the kitchen," she suggests. For example, making a big batch of tomato sauce will be less expensive (and probably tastier) than buying it.

12. Plant a Garden

For benefits that go beyond cost savings, plant your own produce. There's nothing better than a summer-fresh tomato from the garden. Tomatoes even grow well in containers if you don't have space for a garden, and some neighborhoods offer community gardening spaces. Start small, and see how easy it is to grow fresh herbs or a few simple vegetables. And if you invest a little time in freezing or canning your harvest, you can enjoy summer's bounty all year long.

Tips from WebMD.

1. From the heart: Tell Mom you love her, however you do it: with a hug, a note on the fridge, a letter in the mail, or straight out "I Love You!"


2. Play Mom to mom: Cook mom a meal — and make sure you clean the kitchen up afterward.


3. Make it home beautiful: Clean your room (and maybe the whole house) to perfection.


4. Make her proud: Get an A on your next test or paper, if you're in school.


5. Give her some of these funny printable coupons, for instance, "share the remote controller.
6. Teach her something useful: Offer Mom two or three sessions of computer assistance; you know more than she does, and most women over the age of 40 could use an upgrade of their computer skills.


7. Make a handmade momento: make a card, write a poem, take a photo, make a photo frame, make a memory.


8. Do the laundry or ironing, if that's a job that usually falls to Mom.


9. Share your energy: Invite her for a walk that lasts for at least a half hour, or a bike ride. 


10. Share her interests: Is there some volunteer activity your mom cares about? Help her out with her envelope-stuffing, money collection or phone calls, whatever needs doing. Does she like to read? Get a library book out by her favorite author. Does she like to dance or laugh? Put some music on, tell a joke!


11. Lend a hand: Help her with a project whether that's spring cleaning decluttering, painting the bathroom, or reformatting her resume.


12. Share some e-love: Send her a sweet email.


13. Share your life: Tell her the last names of three of your new friends, or something about your life that she'd like to know (Mother's do want to know).


14. Share your dreams: Tell her what you want to be and how you'd like your life to look when you grow up (even if you’re not sure), or move out.

Tips from About.com. 

1. Make your own natural cleaners – This is a great way to save money and your health while scrubbing up. When you’re getting into heavy duty cleaning, chances are you’re breathing in a lot of fumes. Making your own cleaners means you know what went into it. Here are a few how-tos:
   * This is a homemade soft scrub that I have made twice so far. It’s simple and worked like a charm, turning my bathtub sparkly white again.
   * Sanitize your sink sans bleach, with baking soda, vinegar, soap, and water. Apartment Therapy tells you how, with great steps for cleaning your in-sink disposal too. (I’ve done this one as well and while it takes some time, it’s definitely worth it.)
   * AARP has an article on natural cleaners that clean and disinfect and The Daily Green shows you even more you can make at home.
2. Turn old t-shirts into rags – Have some really grimy stuff to clean, especially anything waxy or oily? Or do you just not want to buy anymore rags? No need! Turn old t-shirts you no longer wear into rags by cutting them up (after they’ve been washed!). Or maybe cut up that splotchy towel you discolored with hair dye…

1. Clean windows with a squeegee – Save money and time by cleaning windows (or any glass surfaces) with a squeegee. You always see them at gas stations but have you used one on your home windows? I’m an admitted paper towel waster when it comes to cleaning inside my house so I was happy to come across this tip, one professional window cleaners swear by. Not only will it save paper waste and money in the long run (not immediately since a squeegee costs more than a roll of paper towels), it also saves time! Here’s a tutorial on eHow.
2. Upcycle jars and bottles for organization – Organize and spruce up your office/craft room and vanity with recycled materials.
   * Pasta sauce jars become pencil holders
   * Glass soda bottles become bracelet holders
   * Plastic bottles become a jewelry stand
   I’m sure there are tons more on Pinterest but I felt like I was having too much fun browsing Pinterest for it to count as work. If you have other awesome upcycling organization ideas, add them in the comments!
3. Make your fridge more efficient – Have you ever vacuumed your refrigerator coils? Me either. I didn’t know it was a thing you were supposed to do. But apparently dust collects and makes your fridge work harder to keep cool. It’s recommended that you vacuum around the coils twice a year. Tips on eHow.
4. Replace your air filters – Just like those pesky refrigerator coils, dirty air filters are less efficient. So replace them on a consistent basis to keep your home running economically. How often you replace them will depend on what the specific filter recommends.
5. Sell and donate what you don’t need – While de-cluttering, sort through what items are in good saleable condition and what should be donated. Put two cardboard boxes in a common area for everyone in the family to drop stuff off at while cleaning up. Make money selling like-new items on Amazon, eBay, Craigslist, or by having a yard sale. Anything that you can’t sell, you can donate.

Tips from Kasasa.

Don’t Blow Your Budget on Meat

You don’t need to break the bank to do steak, chicken, or fish on the grill in style. Steven Raichlen, author ofThe Barbecue Bible and How to Grill, suggests skipping the porterhouse in favor of a great, inexpensive skirt or flank steak, forgoing boneless chicken breasts for cheaper, flavorful legs and thighs, and tossing back the priciest catch of the day in order to net yourself darker, grill-friendly seafood like mackerel or blue fish.

Dress Up the Old Standbys

If you’re sticking with the tried-and-true standards (chicken, burgers, hot dogs, bratwursts), add a simple, inexpensive element to elevate the flavor. “There are ways to make the classics taste like much more than they are,” says Rick Browne, author of 1,001 Best Grilling Recipes and former host of Barbecue America. Stuff some blue cheese, chopped bacon, or barbecue sauce inside your burger patties before they hit the grill. Split your hot dogs lengthwise, add some cheddar in the middle and wrap the whole thing in bacon. Or let your chicken steep overnight in your favorite marinade. Get creative.

Make Extra (But Not Too Much)

When you’re planning out your portions, be sure to grill enough for leftovers.  By putting that charcoal or propane to work just one time to cook food for a couple days, you’re actually decreasing your per-meal fuel cost. To reheat, sprinkle the meat with water or barbecue sauce, wrap it in foil, and cook over indirect heat for 5 minutes. Barbecued leftovers are still tasty the next day and can even be reinvented: Got some leftover pork roast? Browne recommends tossing it in the slow cooker and adding barbecue sauce. Just don’t make so much that you wind up throwing part of it away later on, because then you might as well be throwing your money away with it.

DIY Rubs and Sauces

Why buy at the store what you can make at home in almost no time at all? “It’s super easy to make your own rubs and barbecue sauces,” says Raichlen. Rubs are essentially spices in a bowl that you can mix together with your fingers, and most sauces start with a basic foundation of ketchup or tomato sauce and grow from there. And you can often whip up both with ingredients that you already have in the pantry. Find some recipes that strike your palate’s fancy, and test them out next time you fire up the grill.

Don’t Go Overboard With Fuel

Newsflash: People tend to waste fuel when grilling. Browne points out that many of us pour way too much charcoal onto our grills. There’s no need to dump an entire 10-pound bag of charcoal each time—three pounds should cook any meal for four to six people. If you’re using propane and cooking brisket or pork loin, you only need to put it on high for the first five minutes after the food hits the grill. After that, turn it on low and let it cook slowly. (And be sure to turn the propane off right away when you’re done—or at least right after you’ve burned off any leftover debris.)

Befriend Your Butcher

If you’re looking for the advance scoop on when your favorite cuts of meat will be going on sale, make friends with the people who work at your supermarket’s butcher counter. They’re definitely the ones with the inside track. Browne also suggests building up that relationship so you can find out which cuts have good prices because they’re not as popular. For example, lamb neck: Not many people use it, so it costs less, but it’s just as tasty as the far pricier cuts of lamb on display.

Invest in a Quality Grill

You don’t need to spring for a grill with loads of extra bells and whistles, but you do want to make sure you’re getting one that won’t fizzle out in two years (because constantly replacing sub-par grills is definitely not the best use of your barbecue budget). Browne recommends buying just enough grill for what your family uses—possibly going for a bigger grill surface if you entertain a lot. And you’ll want enough space on your grill surface to multi-task (think chicken on one side and corn on the other).

You’ll also always want to be on the hunt for sturdy construction, because you don’t want the grill to tip over or crash. Both Brown and Raichlen are fans of the classic Weber kettle grill as a dependable, basic option that will get just about every grilling or smoking job done. But Raichlen suggests going to weekend demos at local grill and barbecue shops to get a feel for what exact type of grill will work best for you.

Treat Your Grill Well

You want the investment you made in your grill to last as long as possible, so make maintenance a priority. Clean it off thoroughly before and after each use, get rid of the ashes when they’ve cooled, and oil the grate before and after each use. “If you take care of the grill, it could last forever,” says Raichlen. “I know some people whose grills are going on 25 years.”

Minimize Your Accessories

Don’t go crazy stocking up on complicated grilling equipment. Raichlen and Browne agree that you need two key grill accessories—a thermometer and tongs (avoid stabbing the meat repeatedly with a fork because some of the delicious juices will escape). Get a good, instant-read meat thermometer to ensure you’re always biting into food that’s cooked to the doneness you prefer. And snag a quality pair of long-handled, spring-loaded tongs, preferably with a scalloped end (all the better to grip grilled items and keep them from falling through the grate).

Do Your Homework

“The best way to save money is to not burn things and to do it right,” says Raichlen. If you’re a beginning griller, arm yourself with some knowledge before lighting that fire. Browne suggests checking out free how-to videos online that offer step-by-step instructions on achieving grilling perfection (YouTube is a good place to start). Raichlen recommends getting a good instructional book to arm yourself with the techniques you need to make the tasty, grilled magic happen.

Tips from REAL SIMPLE.

1. Meditate

If you're thinking meditation means twisting your body into an uncomfortable position and uttering "oohs" and "omms" for an hour, guess again. Any repetitive action can be a source of meditation, says Herbert Benson, MD, author of The Relaxation Response and director emeritus of Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine in Chestnut Hill, Mass. This includes walking, swimming, painting, knitting -- any activity that helps keep your attention calmly in the present moment.

When you catch yourself thinking about your job, your relationship or your lifelong to-do list, experts say to simply let the thought escape, and bring your mind back the repetition of the activity. Try it for just 5 to 10 minutes a day and watch stress levels drop.

2. Picture Yourself Relaxed

Is your mind too talkative to meditate? Try creating a peaceful visualization, or "dreamscape." To start, simply visualize anything that keeps your thoughts away from current tensions. It could be a favorite vacation spot, a fantasy island, that penthouse in New York City -- or something "touchable," like the feel of your favorite silk robe or cozy sweater.

The idea is to take your mind off your stress, and replace it with an image that evokes a sense of calm. The more realistic your daydream -- in terms of colors, sights, sounds; even touch and feel -- the more relaxation you'll experience.

3. Breathe Deeply

Feeling stressed evokes tense, shallow breathing, while calm is associated with relaxed breathing, says Michael Lee, author of Turn Stress into Bliss and founder of Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy in Bristol, Vermont. So to turn tension into relaxation, he says, change the way you breathe.

Try this: Let out a big sigh, dropping your chest, and exhaling through gently pursed lips, says Joan Borysenko, PhD, director of Harvard's Mind-Body Clinical Programs. Now imagine your low belly, or center, as a deep, powerful place. Feel your breath coming and going as your mind stays focused there. Inhale, feeling your entire belly, sides and lower back expand. Exhale, sighing again as you drop your chest, and feeling your belly, back and sides contract. Repeat 10 times, relaxing more fully each time.

9. Try a Musical Detour

Music can calm the heartbeat and soothe the soul, the experts say. So, when the going gets rough, take a musical stress detour by aligning your heartbeat with the slow tempo of a relaxing song. And you might want to make that a classical tune. Research shows that listening to 30 minutes of classical music may produce calming effects equivalent to taking 10 mg of Valium.

10. Take an Attitude Break

Thirty seconds is enough time to shift your heart's rhythm from stressed to relaxed, Rozman says. The way to do that: Engage your heart and your mind in positive thinking. Start by envisioning anything that triggers a positive feeling -- a vision of your child or spouse, the image of your pet, that great piece of jewelry you're saving up to buy, a memento from a vacation -- whatever it is, conjuring up the thought will help slow breathing, relax tense muscles and put a smile on your face. Rozman says that creating a positive emotional attitude can also calm and steady your heart rhythm, contributing to feelings of relaxation and peace.

Tips from WebMD.

Are you a first-time home buyer eager to get into the market? Here are steps to take to help you decide whether you're ready to take the plunge.

1. Check the selling prices of comparable homes in your area. Web sites such asZillow and Homegain can give you a general idea of what you should expect to pay. You can also do a quick search of actual MLS listings in your area on a number of Web sites, including the site of the National Association of Realtors.

2. See what you can afford. Use Bankrate’s  mortgage calculator to see what your payment would be. To get a sense of the maximum you should spend, use MSN Real Estate’s home affordability calculator (below).

3. Find out what your total monthly housing cost would be, including taxes and homeowners insurance. To get a feel for the maximum amount you should spend, including taxes and insurance, use MSN Real Estate's home affordability calculator. In some areas, what you'll pay for your taxes and insurance escrow can almost double your mortgage payment. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average yearly premium can range from $477 in Utah to $1,372 for unlucky Texans.

To get an idea of what you'll pay in insurance, pick a property in the area where you want to live and make a call to a local insurance agent for an estimate. You won't be obligated to get the insurance, but you'll have a good idea of what you'll pay if you buy. For an idea of what you'll pay in taxes, Zillow publishes property-tax information for homes all over the country. Just remember that exemptions and the intricacies of local tax law (such as Florida's Save Our Homes value cap) can create differences between what a homeowner is currently paying and what you can expect to pay as a new homeowner.

4. Find out how much you'll likely pay in closing costs. The upfront cost of settling on your home shouldn't be overlooked. Closing costs include origination fees charged by the lender, title and settlement fees, taxes and prepaid items such as homeowners insurance or homeowners association fees. You can see what closing costs average in your state by looking at Bankrate.com's annual closing cost survey.

5. Look at your budget and determine how a house fits into it. Fannie Mae recommends that buyers spend no more than 28% of their income on housing costs. Go much past 30% and you risk becoming house poor.

6. Talk to reputable real-estate agents in your area about the real-estate climate. Do they believe prices will continue falling or do they think your area has hit bottom or will rise soon?

7. Remember to look at the big picture. While buying a house is a great way to build wealth, maintaining your investment can be labor-intensive and expensive. When unexpected costs for new appliances, roof repairs and plumbing problems crop up, there's no landlord to turn to, and these costs can drain your bank account.

So consider whether you're ready for the expense and effort of homeownership before pulling the trigger.

Tips from MSN Real Estate. 

Traditional thinking says you should expect to pay anywhere from 5% to 15% of your home's value on landscaping. Even at the low end of that range, you're looking at spending $10,500 if you live in the median-value American home worth $213,000.

That's tough to stomach no matter how much you love the outdoors. Thankfully, you can do it right and still spend a fraction of that amount. Here's how.

Get the most visual bang for your buck: First of all, realize that budget gardening can still be beautiful. Let's say you've got less than $1,000 to spend. The first things you should focus on are improving your soil and adding trees, recommends Joanie Clarke, a design consultant for Classic Nursery and Landscape Co. in Redmond, Wash. "You can spend $500 on plants, but they're not going to grow in clay or sand," she says. Clarke advises amending your soil with compost and other ingredients to improve its quality. Buying soil, in comparison, can cost as much as $27 a yard plus delivery. 

Take advantage of freebies

• Your city, your friend: Cities often give away free trees, mulch and compost. In Seattle, for example, groups of neighbors can request 10-40 trees from the city in exchange for planting and maintaining them.
• Demolition sites: These are great sources for bricks and stones, but make sure you have permission to remove them.
• Fellow gardeners: See something you like in a neighbor's yard? Offer to trade cuttings. Also, set up seed exchanges with other gardeners or check out existing exchanges online such as those on iVillage's GardenWeb and GardenHere.com.

Avoid costly mistakes: Really think about how you're going to use your outdoor space. If you plan a water feature but are annoyed by the noise of babbling brooks, you’re going to spend more money ripping it out and replacing it with something else later.  Take the time to educate yourself and you'll avoid common pitfalls such as planting a tree too close to your house.

Work with what you have: Preserving existing plants and trees can help you save the cost, materials and resources needed to establish a new planting. Educate yourself about plant care and pruning; that 12-foot magnolia in the back yard would likely cost you $65 and five years of growing to replace. (For tips on pruning, check out this page on the U.S. Forest Service site.) Similarly, knowing which areas in your yard are flood-prone and which are always in the sun can help you buy the right plants for the right conditions. Some areas might be better for swing sets or patios.

Hire yourself: The best way to save money in landscaping is to do as much work as possible yourself. A 3-gallon bush may cost $20, but the price skyrockets to $30 or $40 when it's planted by a landscaping professional. A $3-to-$4 perennial will cost about $12 installed.

Know when to hire the pros: There are times when it makes sense to hire a pro. Beverly Katz ofExterior Designs in New Orleans suggests hiring help for jobs that take more muscle or design skill than you have, such as creating hardscapes, while you take on more manageable tasks such as planting small shrubs and perennials. (You can find landscape architects at the American Society of Landscape Architects Web site and certified landscape designers at the Association of Professional Landscape Designers Web site.)

When using pros, try to get a packaged deal: Check out nurseries that offer landscaping services. Many will offer discounts on plant material to their landscaping customers. Classic Nursery and Landscape Company in Redmond, Wash., for example, offers a 20% discount on all plant material for one year to their clients.

Hire a consultant: A full landscape design that includes drawings and a planting plan can cost anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars to more than $1,000, depending on the complexity of the design and the overall budget of the project, according to Katz. A less-expensive route is to draw your own plan and hire a landscape designer to review it. "I charge $100 to $150 an hour to consult. I’ll make notes and add to the plan," said Katz.

Take a phased approach: Divide your plan into phases and pay as you go with funds on hand. You'll save on loan or credit costs and be able to evaluate your progress and adjust plans before moving to the next phase.

Time your purchases: Buy trees, shrubs, perennials, soil and mulch late in the season when retailers want to be rid of them. Depending on your region that could be early fall, a great time for planting because it gives the plant time to develop roots before the summer heat arrives.

Check alternate resources: Look beyond stores for bargains. Arboretums, botanical centers, plant societies and gardening clubs often hold plant sales. You can join The National Arbor Day Foundation for $10 and receive 10 free trees shipped to you at no cost. At Free Trees and Plants, a retail Web site that helps train and employ the disabled, you only pay shipping and processing fees on all your orders.

Buy small: Purchase small-sized plants; five 1-gallon Shasta daisies at $3 apiece cost the same as one 3-gallon plant at $15 at Armstrong Nursery in Carlsbad, Calif. Depending on the species, the smaller plants could double in size in two years, giving you more plant for your money.

Protect foundations: Roots can damage concrete blocks, driveways and sidewalks, so plant large trees at least 30 feet from those areas.

Divide: Look around your yard for any perennials that can be divided and used elsewhere in the landscape. A one-gallon perennial can cost about $9 at a nursery, but you can easily divide the one you planted last year into four plants, saving $27.

Compost: Save money on fertilizers and mulch by composting your own, using yard waste and food scraps. Compost piles can be made of recycled 2 x 4s and chicken wire. All you need is access to the pile and enough space to turn it every now and again. You'll pay as much as $5 per small bag of compost at your local home improvement store.

Think about maintenance: A large lawn is great if you don't mind mowing. But if paying a yard guy $50 a week is part of your plan, make sure that goes into your budget.

Be water smart: According the Environmental Protection Agency, outdoor water use constitutes almost 20% of total home water use. Look for plants that are drought-tolerant to save on your water bill.

Finally, be patient. Plants will not fully mature for a good two to three years, longer for trees and many shrubs. Enjoy the process — and the money you saved.

Tips from msn REAL ESTATE.

Here comes another TV ad for workout equipment or gym memberships. Who needs to spend all that money? Physical labor involved in chores and other normal activities, inside and outside your home, can help keep you physically fit and at the same time, save you the cost of hired help. Did you know that mowing the lawn burns around 300 calories every hour? Plus you pay somewhere in the neighborhood of $50 to have someone else cut it so those dollars stay in your pocket. Of course, it may not take an hour if you live in a city and your lawn is no more than a patch of grass. But there are other ways to stay trim that you may not have thought about.

Stairs

If you have stairs, you have exercise equipment. Take 15 minutes to just climb up and down. Even going up and down one step for that period, slowly at first and then rapidly, can become a great cardio workout.

Yardwork

In addition to mowing, you may be surprised to learn that an hour and a half spent trimming shrubs and weeding the garden can burn hundreds of calories too. You can work up a sweat raking leaves or hauling bags of mulch around the yard. Just picking up branches that fall after a storm requires walking and bending. Why pay someone else when you can use the exercise?

Family Dog

Your pet needs to get out and about as much as you do to stay healthy and besides, walking with a dog is more fun. The New York Times published a story on a study by Michigan State University that found the majority of people, 60%, who walked their dog met " federal criteria for regular moderate or vigorous exercise." A couple 15-minute outings per day give you and your pet a pleasant break.

Painting

Hiring a painter can be very expensive. In addition to applying the paint, think of the workout you give yourself when you climb the ladder and stretch to do ceilings, bend to reach corners or squat down to do baseboards.

Car Wash

Instead of spending money to have your car washed or waxed, do it yourself. Put some muscle into the wiping to improve the workout.

Musical Chores

Keep your energy up when you're doing laundry, folding the clothes, or ironing. Even when you've had a long day at work, putting on some music with a good beat can keep you moving and energized while you do chores around the house.

If you're interested in exactly how many calories various activities burn, check one chart published by Harvard Medical School .

Tips from Yahoo! Voices. 

Tips from The Utility Reform Network.

General

• Save your loose change. Putting aside fifty cents a day over the course of a year will allow you to save nearly 40% of a $500 emergency fund.
• Keep track of your spending. At least once a month, use credit card, checking, and other records to review what you've purchased. Then, ask yourself if it makes sense to reallocate some of this spending to an emergency savings account.
• Never purchase expensive items on impulse. Think over each expensive purchase for at least 24 hours. Acting on this principle will mean you have far fewer regrets about impulse purchases, and far more money for emergency savings.
• Use debit and credit cards prudently. To minimize interest charges, try to limit credit card purchases to those you can pay off in full at the end of the month. If you use a debit card, don't rely on an overdraft feature to spend money you don't have. With either approach, you'll have more money available for emergency savings.
• Are you looking for an effective way to establish a budget? Beginning on the first day of a new month, get a receipt for everything you purchase. Stack and review receipts at the end of the month, and you will clearly be able to see where your money is going.
• It pays to practice preventative dental care, since a good cleaning routine helps prevent fillings, root canals, and dental crowns, which are expensive and no fun.
• Most people don’t track what they spend and may not realize when expenses add up to more than their budget can handle. To keep track of what I spend, I put what I think I should spend for the month on transportation, food, entertainment, etc., into envelopes. This helps me avoid buying things I don’t need, and what’s left over goes into saving.
• Take advantage of discounts and/or incentive programs provided through your employer. For example, the company I work for offers discounted rates for computers, fitness center memberships, movie tickets and passes to summer festivals. Check your corporate intranet or talk to your human resources representative. And don’t forget the best deal of all – investing in your 401(k)!
• One way to establish a savings discipline is to “save” an amount equal to whatever is spent on nonessential indulgences. Put a matching amount in a cookie jar for expenditures for beer, wine, cigarettes, designer coffee, etc. If you can’t afford to save the matching amount, you can’t afford the $4 super almond low-fat latte.
• Take the amount the item costs and divide it into your hourly wage. If it’s a $50 pair of shoes and you make $10 an hour, ask yourself, are those shoes really worth five long hours of work? It helps keep things in perspective.
• Aim for short-term savings goals, such as setting aside $20 a week or month rather than long term savings goals, such as $200 over a year. People save more successfully when they keep the short-term goal in sight.
• Save money by buying items online, in bulk. Some companies even offer free shipping on large orders. Clearance items are sometimes available, and good savings can be found on non-perishable groceries and diapers. This saves time and money!

Food

• Substitute coffee for expensive coffee drinks.The $2 a day you could well save by buying a coffee rather than a cappucino or latte would allow you, over the course of a year, to completely fund a $500 emergency fund.
• Bring lunch to work.If buying lunch at work costs $5, but making lunch at home costs only $2.50, then in a year, you could afford to create a $500 emergency fund and still have money left over.
• Eat out one fewer time each month.If it costs you $25 to eat out, but only $5 to eat in, then the $20 you save each month allows you to almost completely fund a $500 emergency savings account.
• Shop for food with a list and stick to it.People who do food shopping with a list, and buy little else, spend much less money than those who decide what to buy when they get to the food market.The annual savings could easily be hundreds of dollars.

Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs

• Ask your physician to consider prescribing generic drugs. Generic drugs can cost several hundred dollars less to purchase annually than brand-name drugs.
• Find the lowest-cost place to purchase prescription drugs. Make sure to check out not only your local pharmacist but also local supermarkets, area discount centers, and mail-order pharmacies.
• Purchase storebrand over-the-counter medications. Storebrand medications often cost 20-40 percent less than nationally advertised brands. The savings could easily exceed $100 a year.

Banking

• Avoid bouncing checks or overdraft fees each month. The $20-30 you save by not bouncing a check each month would save you enough money to nearly fully fund a $500 emergency savings account.
• Reduce credit card debt by $1,000. That $1,000 debt reduction will probably save you $150-200 a year, and much more if you're paying penalty rates of 20-30%.
• Make your monthly credit card payment on time. The $30-35 you save by not being charged a late fee each month on one card would save you most of the money you need for $500 in emergency savings
• Use only the ATMs of your bank or credit union. Using the ATM of another financial institution once a week could well cost you $3 a withdrawal, or more than $150 over the course of a year.

Insurance

• Shop around for auto and homeowners' insurance: Before renewing your existing policies each year, check out the rates of competing companies (see the website of your state insurance department). Their annual premiums may well be several hundred dollars lower.
• Raise the deductibles on auto and homeowners' insurance: Being willing to pay $500-1,000 on a claim, rather than only $100-250, can reduce annual premiums by as much as several hundred dollars.
• Assess your need for life insurance coverage. If your children are now on their own, or if your spouse works, you may not need as much life insurance protection. The annual premiums on a term life policy would typically fully fund an emergency savings account
• Consider dropping credit insurance coverage on installment loans. Many consumers don't need credit insurance because they have sufficient assets to protect themselves in the event of death, disability, or unemployment. Terminating this coverage often reduces financing costs by three percentage points, a savings of about $1,000 on a four-year $20,000 installment loan.

Transportation

• Keep your car engine tuned and its tires inflated to their proper pressure. Doing both can save you up to $100 a year in gas.
• Shop around for gas. Comparing prices at different stations and using the lowest-octane (recommended by the car owner's manual) can save you hundreds of dollars a year.
• When driving, avoid fast start-ups and stops. Over time, you will save hundreds of dollars on lower gas and maintenance costs.
• Take fewer cab rides. Using public transit instead of cabs can save you $5-10 per trip or more. If you're a frequent cab user, the savings could complete ly fund your emergency savings account.
• Check all airlines for cheap fares. Since no website lists all discount carriers, also check out the websites of discount carriers like Southwest and Jet Blue, possibly saving you hundreds of dollars.

Housing

• Don't pay for space you don't need. Americans have relatively large houses and apartments. Think about more efficiently using space so you can purchase or rent less square footage.
• Live relatively near your workplace. While this isn't always possible, driving 5,000 miles less a year can lower transportation costs by more than $1,000.
• Refinance your mortgage to lower interest charges. Consider refinancing your mortgage to lower the rate and term. On a 15-year $100,000 fixed-rate mortgage, lowering the rate from 7% to 6.5% can save you more than $5,000 in interest charges over the life of the loan. For each $100,000 you borrow at a 7% rate, you will pay over $75,000 less in interest on a 15-year than a 30-year fixed rate mortgage. And, you will accumulate home equity more rapidly, thus increasing your ability to cover large emergency expenditures.
• Choose home repair contractors wisely. Favor contractors who have successfully performed work for people you know. Insist on a written, fixed-price bid. Don't make full payment until satisfactory completion of the work.

Home Heating and Cooling

• Ask your local electric or gas utility for a free or low-cost home energy audit. The audit may reveal inexpensive ways to reduce home heating and cooling costs by hundreds of dollars a year. Keep in mind that a payback period of less than three years, or even five years, usually will save you lots of money in the long-term.
• Weatherproof your home. Caulk holes and cracks that let warm air escape in the winter and cold air escape in the summer. Your local hardware store has materials, and quite possibly useful advice, about inexpensively stopping unwanted heat or cooling loss.
• Use window coverings to block or let in sunshine. In summer, use these coverings to block sunlight, keeping your house cool. In winter, open the coverings to let sunshine warm the house. You could easily save more than $100 annually while being more comfortable.

Clothing

• Look for sales at discount outlets. There are huge price differences between clothing on sale at discount stores and that sold regularly at many department and specialty stores, though keep in mind that prices at the latter are often deeply discounted.
• Consider purchasing previously-used clothes from Good Will, second-hand stores, or school or church thrift sales. With a little effort, you can find low-priced, high-quality used clothing items that can be worn for many years.
• Assess clothing in terms of quality as well as price. An inexpensive shirt or coat is a poor bargain if it wears out in less than a year. Consider fabric, stitching, washability, and other quality related factors in your selection of clothes.
• Clean clothes inexpensively. Wash and iron clothes yourself. If you use a cleaner, compare prices at different establishments. A 50 cent difference in cleaning a shirt, for example, can add up to $100 a year.

Communications

• Assess your communications costs. As Internet and wireless use grows, many consumers are overpaying for unneeded communications capacity. For example, if you have a cell phone and two phone lines -- one for your computer -- consider receiving personal calls on your cell phone so you can give up one of the phone lines.
• Communicate by e-mail rather than by phone. If you're on-line, e-mail communications are virtually free. Even for subscribers, landline and wireless calls often carry per-minute charges.
• Be aware of your cell phone costs and how to reduce them. Cell phone use has dramatically increased communications expenditures in many households. Understand peak calling periods, area coverage, roaming, and termination charges. Make sure your calling plan matches the pattern of calls you typically make.

Entertainment

• Research free or inexpensive entertainment in your community. Use local newspapers and websites to learn about free or low-cost parks, museums, film showings, sports events, and other places which you and your family would enjoy.
• Give up premium cable channels or better yet, cable all together. It's a lot cheaper to rent one film a week than watch one on premium cable channels that may cost more than $500 a year.
• Borrow books rather than purchasing them. Borrowing books and reading magazines at your local library, rather than purchasing reading material, can save you hundreds of dollars a year.
• Attend high school rather than college or pro sports events. High school sports events rarely cost more than $5 and are often free, with hot dogs and sodas typically costing $1-2. College and pro football and basketball games rarely cost less than $20, and their concessions are usually several times more expensive.

Family and Friends

• Plan gift-giving well in advance. That will give you time to decide on the most thoughtful gifts, which usually are not the most expensive ones. And if these gifts are products that must be purchased, you will have the opportunity to look for sales.
• In families, discuss limits on spending for gifts. These limits not only tend to reduce expenditures; they also be greatly appreciated by the least affluent family members.
• Socialize at pot-luck meals rather than at restaurants. Because one wants to be generous to friends and family, there may be huge cost savings here.
• Consider writing letters instead of making frequent phone calls. Thoughtful letters are usually far more highly valued than phone conversations, and they are often saved by recipients for future reading.

Tips from America Saves. 

For additional tips on saving on a tight budget, click here.

By Michele Johansen

Summer camps are a tradition for many families. For parents, camp is a great way to keep kids occupied and active when school is out; kids view it as an opportunity for having fun and making new friends. However, with the country still reeling from the recession, summer camps are falling off the list of many family must-haves as other necessities take a higher priority, such as mortgage payments and groceries.

You may not have to cross camps off the summer agenda, however—there are ways to make it more affordable. All over the country, camps are making adjustments to meet the needs of families by lowering fees and costs. In addition, you might qualify for discounts or even be able to write camp off as a tax break!

Discover Your discounts

One of the biggest ways to make summer camp more affordable is through a discount. If you (or your spouse) are a teacher, police officer, firefighter, or military personnel, you may be eligible for a discount. The amount depends on the organization through which the camp is run; it could be a waived registration fee (and those can be costly at times) or a specified percentage off the entire fee.

Another discount? Siblings! For families with multiple children, this is an easy way to save money. Although you may have sent your children to different camps in summers past, this is the year to look into a camp that you can send all your children to. Camps typically offer a discount based on the number of children you register, which could save you a few hundred dollars.

Pay early (book now!)

Many camps offer a discounted rate if you pay the entire amount early, as opposed to waiting until the last minute. You might save as much as $100, or more. The only caveat? Be sure your family's calendar is up to date when you register, because the fine print may include a no-refund policy.

Take advantage of tax breaks

Did you know that summer camps can qualify as a childcare tax break? If your child is 13 or younger, you can likely deduct the cost of camps from your taxable income. Consult with an accountant or look into this beforehand if it's something you're interested in.

Book shorter sessions

You may have always enrolled your child in full-day camp before, but to cut costs you can register kids for half-day camp. It's just as much fun for kids, but at a significantly reduced cost. The camp you're interested in may not advertise a half-day program, so ask about it if you're unsure. Another option is limiting the number of days your child attends. Instead of five days a week, try three or four.

Create-a-camp

This idea may be a bit of a stretch, but if you can recruit some neighbors and friends, it may work. A do-it-yourself camp is another affordable way to hold a summer camp with local kids. Coordinate schedules with interested parties and determine a week that camp can run. It will require some meetings among the adults, but you can split the work easily by having one or two parents a day run specific activities and outings. Be sure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to safety guidelines and snacks. There's no rule that says summer camp can't be homemade!

Camps for lower budgets

If you're looking to spend less than $600 per week on camp (private camps can cost around $700–$1200 per week), you do have options. Jill Levin, the West Coast Advisor of Tips on Trips and Camps, suggests that parents contact camps run by local county government or agencies, such as the Jewish Federation, the JCC, the Salvation Army, Campfire Boys and Girls, or the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. These camps offer a summer experience at a reduced cost because the sponsoring agency subsidizes the camp. Levin also suggests looking into financial aid, which is available at most camps. If you apply early, it is possible to get a 20–50% discount based on need.

More tips for cutting camp costs

It may be up to you to make a deal happen. Look for pricing options everywhere! It never hurts to call the camp and find out what, if any, deals can be made. Some ideas:

• Inquire about the possibility of volunteering a day or two during the camp session as a trade for reduced fees.
• Find out if transporting your child to camp instead of relying on provided transportation will save money.
• Determine whether payment plans are available.
• Ask if you can receive a discount for referring other children to the camp who subsequently sign up and pay.
• Check on discounts for signing your child up for multiple camp sessions.
• Camps may match the fees of another competing camp with lower rates; it doesn't hurt to ask!

Camping gear savings

If you do sign your kids up for camp, you may find yourself needing to buy some gear. Whether it's sandals, tents, sunscreen, or sleeping bags, these items can all add up to a hefty price tag! Here are some websites that can help you pack your child up for camp, while leaving you some money for your own adventures.

• CampMor: One-stop online shopping for camping needs, especially for sleepaway camps. Orders over $100 receive free shipping. See? Savings already!
• LabelYourStuff: You bought it, so don't let Junior lose it! Label Your Stuff provides personalized labels that you can iron or stick onto your child's belongings, ensuring that it all returns home to you for future summers. They even make allergy labels that will help staffers know how to keep your child safe. Through May 1st, you can receive 15% off orders over $40 with the coupon code SC2010.
• CampBound: Another online retailer for camping supplies. Here you'll find plenty of options for clothing, utensils, flashlights, and more.

Tips from Cozi.

Plan before you buy. Sketch your landscape design on paper before you start planting and building. Knowing exactly what you need and where you're going to put it helps avoid wasting money.

Decide how much design you want. Although it's less expensive to build a square patio or deck, it's no bargain if you find the result so unappealing that you don't use it. It may be worth it to pay a designer to create a space that you can really use.

Talk to a pro. You may not need to hire a landscape architect or designer to develop your whole project, but $50-$100 for an hour-long consultation is well worth the money if it saves you from costly mistakes later.

Buy in phases. Few people have the financial resources to landscape their property all at once. Divide your project into phases, and pay as you go with funds on hand. You'll save on loan or credit costs and be able to evaluate your progress and adjust plans before moving to the next phase.

Don't assume cheaper is always better. Economics of scale being what they are, home improvement warehouses typically offer the lowest prices for common plants and hardscaping materials, such as lumber. However, they may not have the selection and quality you find at more specialized sources. Also, a local specialty shop may provide more personal service, expert advice, and guarantees, which are all helpful if you're a novice. When installing a pond, for example, it may be worth it to pay more through a source that specializes inwater gardens, particularly if the staff can help you choose and install equipment. Plant prices may be higher at specialty nurseries, but many offer money-back guarantees on trees, shrubs, and bedding plants.

Accept cheaper when it's good enough. With some items, there's little difference in quality between top-of-the-line and economy. Why pay more? Take advantage of a home improvement warehouse's volume buying power for bargains on common annuals and perennials, mulch, pavers, and containers. Inspect plants closely, however. A "big box" store may not care for them the way a nursery would.

Time your purchases. When you buy can be as important as where you buy. Lumber for outdoor projects is often cheaper during winter months. Save money on trees, shrubs, perennials, soil, and mulch by buying late in the season. Don't rush out to buy newly released plant varieties, which may be expensive initially because supply is low and demand is high. When production catches up in a few years, prices will likely drop.

Shop online and mail-order sources. Catalogs and web sites expand your choices, especially for rare plants and specialized products. Shopping online or by phone is convenient, and prices may be lower than in stores, but don't forget to include shipping costs when comparing prices with local sources.

Check alternate resources. Look beyond stores and catalogs for bargains. Arboretums and botanical centers often hold plant sales, and neighbors may have extra perennials to share. Some cities offer free mulch and compost, and construction and demolition sites can be sources of bricks and stones.

Be sociable. Being neighborly cuts costs. Share the rental fee for tillers, chippers, or other heavy equipment with others on the block, then take turns and save.

Tips from Better Home and Gardens.

3 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast Halves, cut into 1 1/2 inch chunks $3
1 can of Pineapple chunks in juice (reserve 1/2 c. of juice) $2
1/2 lb. hickory bacon $2
1 med. red bell pepper, cut in chunks $.80
1 med. green bell pepper, cut in chunks $.80
1 med. yellow pepper, cut in chunks $.90
1 large red onion, cut into chunks $1.40
1/4 cup of Hickory BBQ Sauce $.50
4 Baking Potatoes, scrubbed clean $2
1 stick of Land O'Lakes Margarine, softened $.50
1/4 cup of fresh chives, snipped $.40

Using metal skewers, or wooden skewers that have been soaked in water for 30 minutes, thread the chicken chunks, pineapple chunks, slices of bacon,  onion chunks and all bell pepper chunks, alternating.

Mix reserved 1/2 cup of juice from pinapple can with the 1/4 cup of hickory BBQ wauce. Mix well and brush over the skewers.

Heat grill to medium heat. Cut baking potatoes in half and wrap each half in foil.

Place on the grill for 15 minutes, and then add the skewers to the grill. Cook until the chicken and bacon are done, approximately 10 minutes, turning skewers, and baste with the remaining Pineapple juice/BBQ sauce mixture. Grill for 3 minutes longer.

Meanwhile, mix the softened margarine with the freshly snipped chives. Mix very well.

Remove skewers and baked potatoes from the grill. Serve the grilled chicken, veggies and fruit with the baked potatoes, topped with the chive butter.

Note: Since this dinner only costs approximately $15 you may choose to add bread or a light dessert to this dinner. Enjoy!

Tip from Naugatuck Patch.

Spring is here and opening day of the baseball season is less than a week away. And while professional sporting events might not seemingly fit into everyone’s budget at the moment, there are many simple ways that individuals can affect theirs spending so that attending a game is not as costly as it seems. In a follow up to our recent post on saving money while on vacation, here is a list of 9 easy ways to save money while attending a Major League Baseball game this season.

If Possible, Buy Tickets in Person (in Advance)

Most sports fans have probably purchased tickets online at least once, but there is a noticeable problem with doing this: processing fees. Whether you are purchasing one ticket or ten, it is not unusual to be charged a fee for each ticket. Then there are shipping charges if you want the tickets mailed to you. If you have the luxury of living near the stadium, it makes a lot of sense to go to the ticket office – most of which are open 8-5 Monday through Friday – and purchase tickets in advance. For instance, I had to buy tickets for a group of friends for opening days at Angels stadium. Tickets for the cheap seats were $19.00 online, with a $5.25 service fee — I needed 16 tickets. The total cost would have been $388, or $24.25 per person. Since I live only ten miles from the stadium, I decided to see if there was a better deal to be had by purchasing the tickets in-person. Luckily, the box office was running a promotion that was not advertised online – buy three tickets get one free (plus there were no service fees). As a result, I ended up really only paying for 12 tickets. The total cost ended up being $228, or $14.25 per person. Total savings were $160, or 41%.

Comparative Shopping

If you do not live close enough to the stadium to purchase tickets in-person, there are some alternatives to buying tickets directly from the team. Especially if the game is same-day or next-day, there are a lot of websites where ticket holders are try to get rid of their tickets, usually at discounted rates. This can include sites such as craigslist.org or stubhub.com. Buying tickets from fans on these sites help you to avoid service fees as well. If you are wary of these options, or are looking for specific tickets (or you are buying in bulk), search online for special promotions. Like most online retailers, many major league teams run promotions throughout the season that are redeemable the day of the game. A simple Google search can help you to find what promotions are not openly advertised, and can be a helpful way to save money on the ticket price.

Choose Games Based on Price

These days many teams offered two-tiered ticket pricing: the first tier are normal-priced, and apply to games against most teams; the second tier is typically 30% greater, and applies to either the reigning World Series champions, league or divisional champions, and big-market teams such as the New York Yankees or the Boston Red Sox. If it is not important to you which club you see your home team go up against, then avoiding these games would make perfect sense. Depending on which stadium you choose, certain teams also offer discounted prices for day or night games during the week, which are generally cheaper than weekend games. Additionally, a lot of teams offer special mid-week promotions, such as the $5 Wednesday night tickets that The New York Mets currently offer for select weeks. Of course these are offered in limited numbers, and may be associated with certain restrictions such as when they and how many can be purchased. It is suggested to call your local team for more info.

Buy Tickets in Bulk

Even before the economy took a turn for the worse, many teams began offering discounted rates for tickets purchased in bulk. This can include multiple tickets purchased for the same game (see earlier example), or a group of tickets purchased together as a package for dates throughout the season. Tickets purchased in bundles typically include a good discount, and if you are traveling with a large group (usually over twenty) you can expect the savings to be even greater. You may have to contact the organization directly for more details, but just as is the case with any other industry, businesses understand the merits of customers that bring a lot of business to the table and will likely offer discounts to them.

Park Off-Site

One of the biggest hidden costs in attending a baseball game is parking. And in many cases, parking costs can be close to the ticket price. However, there are ways of avoiding this. If you are attending a game in a downtown urban setting such as the Yankees Stadium, San Diego’s Pet Co Park or San Francisco’s AT&T Park, you can take mass transit to the stadium. Alternately, you can find parking in a nearby neighborhood and walk to the stadium. If you are attending stadiums in less urban settings, you can typically find parking off-site for a discounted rate. These types of lots are also more inviting for tailgaters.

Tailgate

Tailgating is more traditionally associated with football than baseball, but there is a growing trend among baseball fans to get to games early and hang out with other fans in the parking lots. For fans that like to have a couple of beers when they are at the game, this is an obvious way to offset the $10 brews offered inside the park. If you don’t drink, it is a way to congregate with other fans, talk baseball and eat your own food – if they don’t allow it inside the stadium. Every season I see more and more fans coming to games early with their own barbecues, that are presumably saving lots of money and probably eating better food than what is offered inside.

Bring Your Own Food and Water

As was mentioned above, tailgating offers the fan an opportunity to eat and drink prior to the game, while bringing their own supplies and saving money. Many stadiums still do not allow outside food inside the stadium, but some do. You should check with your local team to see if this is an issue or not. Bringing your own meal, snacks, and water to the game can also be a useful way of cutting costs, due to the fact that prices for common food items are typically much greater inside the stadium. From my experience, the average cost of a 16oz bottle of water at a professional baseball game ranges $4- $5 dollars each. This is a lot more than what you could get this for at a grocery store, or if you were to bring your own refillable bottle of filtered water from home.

Don’t Buy Souvenirs

As we mentioned in our Spring Break article, a good way to save money is to avoid impulsively purchasing things you don’t need. It is widely known that apparel, hats and other souvenirs at the stadium are priced higher than they are at outside retailers. In some cases, the price inside the stadium can be twice as much. If you could see yourself wanting a hat or a t-shirt of your favorite team to wear at the game, why not buy it before hand? In any case, thinking about whether you will want or need a hat before you get to the stadium can help to avoid unnecessary costs while at the game. This can include: sunblock, sunglasses,fans, hats, etc.

Don’t Rule Out The Cheap Seats

Another common sense way to cut costs at a game is to opt for the cheaper seats. The pricing spectrum is pretty broad at sporting events, and cheaper seats can sometimes be just as good as some of the pricier ones. For example, tickets at the new Yankee Stadium range from $14 – 2,625. It could be argued that you get what you pay for, but for many people looking for ways to cut out unecessary expenses, going for cheaper seats is a good start to taking a large chunk out of your total expense. Also, if you attend a game that is not sold out, many ushers will allow you to move from the cheaper seats to the better seats once it becomes apparent (usually by the 5th or 6th innning) that these seats are not occupied. Of course, make sure this is alright with an stadium employee before you do so, because it can be embarrassing to be asked to leave your seats when the true ticket holder shows up!

Tips from The Skrinkage.