A home energy audit can identify ways to save up to hundreds of dollars a year on home heating (and air conditioning). This audit can be attained from your electric or gas utility company. You can ask if they audit homes for free or for a reasonable charge. If not, ask them to refer you to another qualified professional or ask your friends and neighbors for recommendations.

Also, you can save up to $100 a year in electricity costs by enrolling in loan management education programs and off hour rate programs that are offered by utility companies. You should contact your electric utility for information about such cost-saving programs.

First, you should compare low cost carriers with major carriers that fly to your destination. Sometimes the best fares may not be out of the airport closest to you.

Second, you may save some money by purchasing tickets at least 14 days in advance. Also, staying over a weekend or over a Saturday evening can save you money. Ask which days of the week and times of the day have the lowest fares.

Lastly, even if you use a travel agent, you should check airline and internet travel sites looking for special deals. If you are doing your search over the phone, be sure to ask for the lowest fare that arrives at your destination.

1. You should compare the seller’s asking price with the average retail price in a “bluebook” or other guide to car prices which can be found at many libraries, banks and credit unions.

2. You should have a mechanic you trust check the car from head to toe, especially if there are no warranties and if the car is being sold “as is.”

It might also be good to consider purchasing a used car from someone you know and trust. They are more likely to charge a lower price and point out any problems in the car’s history.

The cash for clunkers program is already proving to be a success. Within the past week, 8,000 eligible vehicles have been traded in for newer vehicles, all thanks to the cash for clunkers program.

So, go see the nearest dealerto you, and see if you can upgrade your car, while trading in your clunker. Who knows? You could end up with an amazing deal if you take part in the cash for clunkers program.

Saturday morning is reserved time to go out and cut your lawn.  At any given time during a Saturday morning, you are very likely to go outside in your neighborhood and hear the not-so-soothing grumbling of gas or electric lawn mower.  When it is your turn to cut the grass, what is the cost?

Besides the cost of getting sleeping neighbors a little ticked off, the cost of mowing your lawn can add up over the summer.  The mower itself isn’t going to be cheap.  Anything with an engine rarely is.  But then there’s the cost of the gas or electricity.  If you have an electric mower, the cost will be less, but your sacrifice is the cord of the mower allowing you to only reach as much of your lawn as the cord can go.  Gas mowers are where you will be paying a lot more.  The cost of gas isn’t cheap.  We all know that.  So where is the solution?

Remember hearing all those stories of your grandparents back in the day and how they had to cut the lawn with a heavy, clunky, unsafe machine that ran on man-power?  Well the answer to becoming more eco-friendly and wallet-friendly is in a very similar story.  Luckily for your day and age, those mechanical mowers have come a LONG way and are much safer, lighter, and easier to maneuver.  Not to mention cheap!  Guess how much it costs to mow your lawn each time… $0.00.  That’s a good deal!  Plus, your neighbors will be way less grumpy since they can sleep in!

Now, this isn’t an incredible amount, but did I mention my internship was unpaid?  Our trip to New York City was pure fun and excitement, but did it ever put a dent in our account.  Luckily for us, we had been saving and saving as much as we could for the entire year and a half we were married.

Although we were saving so much, we never knew what we were saving for.  I didn’t know until less than a month before I left for New York that I would be going.  But because we planned ahead for the unknown future, we were able to pay for all of our expenses and still have enough to live on when we got back.

What would we have done if we were slightly shy of the cost needed to go?  Totally disregard the experience and possibly never get connections needed for future success?  That would be one choice.  Another would have been to take out a small loan.  A loan from a respectable lender would have given us exactly what we needed in order to enjoy our trip.

Don’t let petty things stop you from being successful.  If you want to do something with your life, figure out a way to do it, and then execute.  Start saving now for that unexpected opportunity.  You never know when something great is going to drop into your lap.

Let’s say you’re addicted to coffee.  You have to have it every single day, probably multiple times a day.  Well how much do you think you’re spending on each cup?  When they all add up, how much are you paying per month?  Per year?  Coffee is really not good for your health anyway.  Same as carbonated beverages.  If you’re addicted to something that isn’t good for you, your health will suffer a whole lot more.  Why put yourself through that.  You’re paying to make yourself unhealthy.  Cut it out.  You’ll be so happy you did.

What are some other things people are addicted to that aren’t good for them?  Sugar?  Chips?  Vending machine products?  What about other stuff – stuff you don’t eat.  Like sitting on the couch watching TV for hours upon hours.  Video games.  Procrasinating.  We all have things we can work on to make our lives better, and when we do, hopefully we can save a bit of money here and there.

If you’re buying something everyday that you know isn’t good for you, try thinking about different things you can do to stop yourself from wasting the time, money, and health.  Go ahead and leave me some comments if you have any stories or questions.  Feel free!  (Pun intended)

Anyway, so when you buy, you should buy quality things.  You can buy some of the cheaper things sometimes, and it depends on the product, but you should just think it all through before you purchase.  Be smart and use common sense.  Protect your spending and spend wisely.  If you want something but don’t know if you should buy it or not, wait it out for two weeks or a month.  If you still want it after a period of time, go ahead and spend the money to make a quality purchase.  Otherwise, don’t spend the money at all.

What’s worse than having to regret a purchase?  Doing it over and over again…

This feeling is inflated when you go into debt.  You should always try to avoid late fees on bills and overdraft charges from your bank.  They will only cost you a whole lot more in the long run.  The total money spent will be so much, that you will always have that terrible feeling where you know you owe some money.  Try as hard as you can to not let this happen.

If you have done everything you can to stay out of debt, but absolutely have to, make sure you do it responsibly.  You should always be on top of your finances and know where they are going and where they are coming in – not to mention how much is going out and coming in.  If you don’t know this information, find it out.  Always get and keep your receipts when you purchase something, and keep a log or budget of where your expenses are.  This will help you know exactly what is going on with your finances.  Then you can guide your spending habits and gain some self-control over your wallet.

Get and stay organized.  Especially with your bills.  If you can automate your billpay, do it.  Then there is no excuse for getting your bills paid late.  Plus you will be more financially secure and in all, you will be much happier.

Your over-spending on clothes is bad for everyone.  Spend your money on stuff that is necessary and important.  Don’t replace the clothes you haven’t worn in a month but instead replace the thought that you have to get new clothes all the time.  It is absolutely ok to wash your clothes and wear them again – instead of just buying new ones.  Or heck, even wear them again without washing them!  Whatever makes it so you don’t spend more and more on clothes!

Especially if you’re going into debt to but stuff you don’t need, you’re ruining yourself and your family.  Going into debt for anything other than for a livable home can be very dangerous.  Do everything you can to keep your head above water.  If that means cutting out your shopping habits, by all means do it.  I dare you to try to keep your credit card looking like new.  If you can do that, comment and let us all know.