Readers' winning tips
By Bankrate.com
We give away $100 each month to
Bankrate readers who come up with the month's best money-saving
tip, as rated by their fellow readers.
So far, we've given away a grand total of $7200! Here's
a list of the winners and their top-rated tip. And, check out the
tips in the running to win our contest this
month.
Thrift shop thrills
Get HDTV for (almost) free!
Save on airline luggage fees
"Instead of paying the airline $15 or more to check a suitcase
when you're going to visit friends or relatives, box up your clothes
and either mail them or send them by a parcel company. Make sure
you use a sturdy carton, and insure your belongings. I've even done
this when I was going to a spa resort; I just sent them to myself
in care of the manager. (Of course I made arrangements with her
to do this beforehand). I carried my toiletries and one change of
clothes in a carry-on, but the rest of my wardrobe was mailed. If
you're going on a business trip, perhaps someone in your firm's
destination office could receive your items and bring them to you
when you arrive. Just ship your clothes several days before you
leave home; then, stop off at the post office or package delivery
place prior to going to the airport when your trip ends. Not only
is it cheaper, but much easier: You don't have to lug your heavy
luggage through the airport!"
Lynn Buhlmann, Waco, Texas
Save money by reflecting sun away from
windows
"
Jacque Zirtzman, Manchester, Iowa
Save by teaching your teens about budgeting
"After attending a local financial seminar about budgeting,
we decided to include our teens with how we handle household money.
Here is what we recommend. Give them a set amount of money ... but
wait! With more money comes more responsibility! Give your teen
enough money to cover food (nongrocery), entertainment, savings,
charity and clothing. We started with $100 a month. They must be
responsible for buying their own clothes, paying for any food they
eat out and also cover their own entertainment expenses. Most important,
they have to give 5 percent to savings and 10 percent to charity."
Holly and Dwayne Johnson, Grayson, Georgia
Save with meal planning
"Every month I complete a grocery shopping list for items
for the coming month. I have put together a list of all the meals
my husband and I eat regularly then put them on the calendar based
on the amount of time it takes to cook the meal. Monday through
Friday get easy meals that allow me to cook them in 20 minutes or
less and all meals that take more than 20 minutes are saved for
the weekends. This way we buy all of our groceries at one time,
saving on our grocery bill, (we store meat in our deep freeze until
it's time to use it) saving on our gas bill with less trips to the
store and saving my time by having quick meals already planned out
for the week."
Leslie Damann
Evergreen Park, Illinois
Save on children's snacks
When packing kids' lunches, it is much cheaper to purchase a large
box or bag of a snack item and package it yourself into snack-size
zipper bags, instead of buying the prepackaged snack size packs.
Bonnie Piniero
Weymouth, Massachusetts
Say NO to mileage rewards credit cards
Instead of using an airline credit card that accumulates mileage, use a cash-back rewards card. The miles accrued on a credit card often have blackout dates and deadlines. Instead, earn money from your cash-back card and use the money to invest or buy the ticket after shopping for the lowest price.
Louie Gevero
Bellerose, N.Y.
Buy out of season
Buying your summer
clothes at the start of the winter season can save 50 percent to
75 percent on your wardrobe costs. Most retailers are making room
for their winter lines and clearing out their summer stuff.
The reverse works as well. We have winter clothes in our closets
that we bought last January and February at substantial discounts.
You'll get a ton of satisfaction out of wearing a $40 item for which
you paid $5.
Brian Thomas
Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Baking soda in the laundry
Adding
a little bit of baking soda to your regular wash
load makes clothes cleaner, brighter, fresher smelling
and costs a lot less than some expensive laundry
detergents. It's also good for pre-treating grease
and oil stains.
Maria Lee
Oceanside, N.Y.
Don't be afraid to bargain
My husband bought new tires, and just by the outright offer of a cash transaction the priced dropped $75. Who knew just saying "and if I give you cash?" could be a coupon in itself! So do yourself a favor, speak up, the worst that happens is nothing and you pay what you were going to anyway!
Megan McKeever
Bellmawr, N.J
Save electricity and
water
Because regular use of the dryer
is hard on fabric and uses a lot of electricity,
I hang my clothes to dry in the laundry room. I
have a dehumidifier there that keeps the basement
from being damp and helps speed the drying of my
clothes. The dehumidifier has the Energy Star logo,
which means it is a model that uses less energy,
thereby saving money. I use the water that the dehumidifier
collects to refill the toilet tank or to water the
outdoor plants on dry summer days.
Betsy Kiger
Arlington, Va.
Stretching one meal into two
When eating out, reserve half your meal and box it up for lunch the next day. This will save you the time it would take to pack a lunch and the money it would cost -- plus calories!
Nora Davis
St. Louis, Mo.
Time well spent on lists and fliers
Use a list at the grocery store,
and stick to it. What's even better is if you spend
five to 10 minutes carefully reading the coupon
and sale items flier to see what matches up with
your listed items. Although you may feel shy doing
this and you may have to buy different brands each
time you shop, that five or 10 minutes may save
you $5 to $20 each trip!
Sean Bixler
New York, N.Y.
Reduce, reuse, recycle!
Start a recycling program at work!
I recently purchased a small waste basket and placed
it in my office breakroom. I have encouraged all
my fellow employees to place all aluminum cans,
plastic bottles and glass bottle into the recyling
bin instead of the garbage. When full, I take the
recyclables to the recycling center and trade them
in for cash! Depending on where you live this could
add up to a tidy amount of extra monthly income!
Amanda Baxter
Crescent City, Calif.
Garden recycling
I love gardening but it often costs a lot to buy
new pots and seed starting kits. I began using my old milk jugs
and plastic lettuce containers to start my seeds. They make great
terrariums for seeds to start growing, and I reduce the amount of
plastic that I have to throw out.
Jessica Cartledge
LaGrange, Ill.
Treat your credit card
like a debit card
My wife and I treat our credit card
like a debit card. Any amount that we charge to
our credit card is transferred to our high-yield
savings account that is currently paying 5 percent.
At the end of the bill cycle, we pay the bill online
via our savings account on the day the payment is
due. Not only are we earning interest of around
$10 per month, we are using our rebate card that
pays 3 percent on all purchases. We are averaging
monthly checks of $35 from our credit card in rebates.
We are now charging every bill that we can to the
rebate card to earn the interest and the rebates.
Patrick Hardy
Cumming, Ga.
Turn off the TV
The best money-saving tip I've discovered
is getting rid of that ever-increasing cable bill.
When I moved into my new apartment three years ago,
I decided to buy some rabbit ears and forgo the
cable for awhile. So what happened? I saved $60
per month, $2,160 over three years, and lost five
pounds. The rabbit ears bring in seven network and
local stations, and I don't even miss cable. Why
pay for TV when you can watch for free? Live a better
life, turn off the TV.
Courtney Heins
Los Angeles, Calif.
Adjusted airfare refund
If you book a flight far in advance
of your departure date, monitor the price of your
exact flight. If the price happens to fall below
what you paid prior to your departure, contact the
airline and ask for a refund on the difference you
paid. My last trip to Hawaii resulted in a $120
refund, which turned into additional spending money!
Brenda Miller
Villejo, Calif.
Check your receipt after you have checked
out
It
is a good practice to check the price of the items
on a receipt after you have checked out. A lot of
times, the price scanned on the register does not
match what is advertised or posted in the store.
You could save a lot if you can catch all these
errors. There is also a growing trend -- especially
in supermarkets -- that if you catch the price discrepancy,
the first item is free and subsequent items will
be price adjusted.
Hon Chu
Oviedo, Fl.
Always check for a coupon
before checking out
When buying via the Web, use a search
engine with the keywords -- "coupon" and
the store's name. More than likely, multiple offers/codes
will appear to help save you money -- everything
from free shipping, 20 percent off the total purchase
or buy one, get one free. Every little bit helps.
Stephanie Zukerman
Schaumburg, Il.
Deluxe therapeutic bed
for $20
I wanted to replace my dog's eight-year-old
bed. I bought $20 worth of shredded memory foam
and replaced the filling. Now she has a new therapeutic
bed suited for an older dog, and I had enough foam
left to make a second bed and extra pillows. My
dog thinks this tip is a winner, and her joints
and little bones agree!
Elena Del Rio Parra
Atlanta, Ga.
Vinegar for cleaning fruits and veggies
Create your own vegetable-cleaning spray by filling
a spray bottle with one-part vinegar and two-parts water. Put your
fruits and vegetables in a colander and spray them well to remove
germs. Rinse with cold water and your food is ready to eat.
Frances DiMarco
Brecksville, Ohio
Odor-free cat litter
I buy the least expensive scoopable
cat litter. Then I add a small box of baking soda
and mix it in. This little orange box runs about
37 cents, and completely eliminates odors for a
fraction of the cost of the name brand litters.
My mother-in-law noticed the difference immediately!
Shaunna Privratsky
Fargo, N.D.
Sell your airline rewards!
If you have an airline credit for
free travel and can't use it, sell it. Some airlines
such as Southwest allow people to transfer free
travel vouchers. You can try selling your free flight
credit on eBay, through your local newspaper or
a free-ads paper. Many people will pay $200 to $300
for your round trip credit. Often, people find themselves
traveling on short notice and most airlines don't
offer good discounts for short notice flights.
Ron Hale
Linthicum, Md.
Editor's note: Some airlines do not allow
selling or transferring of vouchers. Check with
your airline first.
Check eBay first
Whatever I am looking to purchase,
I check eBay first. I have run into amazing bargains
for everything from baby clothes to flooring for
my home.
Monique L. Farmer
Omaha, Neb.
Save energy
To see your electric bill take a
nosedive, make it a habit to unplug non-essential
appliances when not in use. When away from home
or on vacation, these appliances can add dollars
to your electric bill. It’s worth the extra savings.
Aggie Cooke
Alexandria, Va.
Get the last drop of
gasoline!
When you're finished pumping gas
in your tank, turn the pump off and then squeeze
the pump handle. You'll get the extra little shot
of gas that was left in the hose. You've already
paid for it so you might as well take it!
Dan Lia
Clearwater, Fla.
Install a pellet stove!
Many technologies exist to help you heat your home
without running up a huge power bill. For instance, pellet stoves
use pellets made out of sawdust and other waste materials. It's
very economical to burn. Installing such a stove to either heat
your house or supplement your existing heating system will save
money on your fuel bills. Some models are designed to be inserted
into your home's fireplace.
Lynn Bulmahn
Waco, Texas
End dropped calls!
Experiencing dropped calls on your cell phone? There's
no need to get a new phone -- even if your phone is a few years
old. Take your phone to your service provider and request a software
upgrade. Typically, the service is free. Dropped calls can occur
when the software version is upgraded on the cell phone towers but
not on your cell phone.
Stephanie Evans
Lithia Springs, Ga.
Free 411!
Most cell phone providers charge a fee for dialing
411 information. Typically, it costs about $3 per call. I found
out that I can get the same service at no charge by calling 800-FREE-411,
or 800-373-3411.
Reginald Johnson
Bowie, Md.
DIY holiday postcards!
If you send out holiday cards, don't buy generic
expensive cards form stores or catalogs. Buy sheets of blank glossy
postcards, which are about $10 for 100, and design your own personalized
greeting on your computer! You save money by printing them with
your own color printer, and you don't have to buy envelopes. Plus,
postcards generally require less postage. This has really saved
me a lot of money over the holiday season.
Felicia Hubber
Missoula, Mont.
It pays to shut down!
Contact your energy provider to see if they have
any energy savings programs that you can participate in. FPL has
an "On Call" program that enables them to occasionally
cycle off our A/C system for brief periods of time when necessary.
In return, we receive a credit on our monthly electric bill, even
if they never cycle off your equipment. There are no out-of-pocket
costs to participate in this program. And because your A/C already
cycles on and off during normal operation, the main difference you'll
notice from On Call is getting paid for it!
Dana Clore
Tamarac, Fla.
More bang for your book!
It's frustrating -- when selling back used books
to a college bookstore, the bookstore will generally give you a
mere 5 to 10 percent of the original price and sell it again at
75 percent of the full price. To get a better price for your used
book, find out which classes will be using it, go to a class five
minutes early and announce to the students that you are selling
it for less than what the bookstore is charging for the same used
book. This gives both you and the students who are buying books
a better price. Everybody wins.
Michelle Norek
Quincy, Mass.
Slash your bills -- call and ask!
Last week I called my high speed Internet company
and asked them to lower my monthly payment and keep my services
the same. I was able to get a $20 discount on my bill for a year
just by asking. I also called my satellite company and had them
reduce my payments by $10 a month. Once again, I kept the same services.
Auna Sawicki
Haltom City, Texas
Small back-to-school savings + recycling!
When my daughter goes back to school she always needs
a pencil case. Rather than purchasing her a new one every year,
I allow her to pick out of my stash of new makeup bags that I get
as a "gift with purchase." It's a small savings but it
allows her to have a unique pencil case and saves one more thing
from going to the landfill!
Danielle Snyder
Erie, Pa.
Don't just throw it
away!
If something you purchased breaks or is damaged by
you, your kids, or malfunctions for any other reason -- don't just
throw it away! I've found that by writing the manufacturer (or,
e-mail to save on postage) you can usually get your money back or
a replacement. In the past few months, all five of my requests for
replacements and/or refunds were granted by the manufacturers. They
weren't all brand new items, either. Don't worry if you don't have
the receipt. Many manufacturers just need a model number or a proof
of purchase.
Melinda Egan
Riverton, Utah
Defensive driving discount
Complete a defensive driving course and then ask
your insurance company for a discount. The course can be taken online
for about $40 and can be completed in one afternoon. I saved $150
per year on my car insurance and the discount stays in effect for
three years!
Diane Miller
Athens, Ga.
Tax-free labor
If you are having something installed such as a furnace, ask
the vendor to separate the cost of the equipment from the labor
costs. Otherwise, they will combine them and you will pay taxes
on labor. Normally labor is not taxable if written separately. Check
your state's tax rules because some might differ.
Melany Day
Indianapolis
Pay less interest
If you take your monthly mortgage payment, divide it by 12 and
add that much to your monthly payment, you can cut seven years off
a 30-year mortgage -- depending on your interest rate.
Shannon Mesarch
Brook Park, Ohio
Stay ahead of your bills
If you have a low recurring payment, such as a student
loan or car insurance, pay double one month and then make the regular
payment as usual. The result is that you will always be a month
ahead giving you a cushion in case the mail is late, or something
unforeseen happens.
Richard Cavallaro
Rochester, N.Y.
Third-party fees you should
see
When sitting at your closing, ask to see invoices from
all third parties involved. We all know that courier fee isn't really
$30 to $55; and we also know that the credit report isn't $50 to
$100. Ask for your invoices. I do this for a living and am asked
to prove several things but the title company is never asked.
Atonia Rogers
Indianapolis
Unblock drains
Pouring half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed
by half a cup of vinegar, will open a clogged drain by dissolving
the gunk on contact. This will save money spent on expensive clog
removers and is environmentally friendly as well.
Stephanie Romac
St. Clair Shores, Mich.
Cheap pool
chemicals
Rather than using expensive pool store chemicals, use grocery
store products. Sanitizer or chlorine is just unscented bleach;
"pH Increaser" is baking soda; and laundry borax can be
used as a pH buffer. Buy in bulk when on sale and use coupons.
Virginia Borden
Sterling Heights, Mich.
Protect your wardrobe
The secret to maintaining the vibrant color of your clothes and
protect them from fading is to soak clothes in a vinegar and water
mixture prior to washing. Vinegar sets the color and protects from
fading too quickly. This works great with black jeans.
Lisa Penn
King of Prussia, Pa.
Full freezer uses less power
Keeping your freezer full will help it run more efficiently. If
you have empty areas, place plastic bottles filled with water. The
bottles work double-duty. You'll be more prepared for electrical
outages because the ice will keep things frozen longer and have
a safe emergency-water supply.
Dolores Dong
Charleston, S.C.
Don't miss out on government
benefits
Go to www.benefits.gov and fill out the benefits questionnaire.
It will locate any government programs you may qualify for. The
list is complete with names and addresses of agencies, programs
and what you need to do -- or be -- to qualify. I pulled up over
65 programs I had no idea existed! Try it! It's FREE!
Monique Noreiga
Hermosa Beach, Calif.
Frugal flights
When booking airline travel, be sure to compare the costs flying
from the various airports around your area. Don't just settle for
the closest airport. I've saved bundles of money by picking a major
airport 100 miles south of my hometown instead of the one 100 miles
north of it. And, I've cut costs by agreeing to take a smaller feeder
airline from my hometown's small airport to a major airport. You
can also save by traveling at different times of the day.
Lynn Bulmahn,
Orange City, Fla.
Save money on regular online
purchases
Once you find something that you would like to purchase online,
complete a quick online coupon search for that store and you will
receive instant savings on something you already planned to purchase.
A coupon search is easily completed on any search engine by typing
the name of the store and the word "coupon."
Jamie Juntunen
Kapolei, Hawaii
Save on prescriptions
People with low incomes and senior citizens should see if they qualify
for a prescription drug discount card put out by the drug companies.
On your prescription label, it should name the pharmaceutical company
(Pfizer, Lilly, etc). Look on the company's Web site for a link
to "prescription savings." My mother qualified, and now
gets her cholesterol medicine for $6 a month instead of $30!
Becki Harris
Logansport, Ind.
Cancel your land line
Most cell phone companies offer coverage and plan choices that meet
most regular phone needs. So why not cancel your land line and use
your cell as your main phone number? If you count on your land line
for Internet access, see if your cable or satellite company offers
it. You can save several hundred dollars.
Anthony Lazaro
Durham, N.C.
Big tax refund = loan to Uncle
Sam
If you're getting a large tax refund it means you've given an interest-
free loan to the government. Change the withholding status on your
W-4 form to more accurately reflect your actual tax. The extra money
in your paycheck can then be invested earlier in the year to earn
you even more money.
Kevin Tanguay
Bronx, N.Y.
Beef up your 401(k)
Each time you receive an incremental raise, contribute half to your
401(k). If your raise is 6 percent, increase your contribution by
3 percent. You'll still see an increase in your net pay and your
401(k) will grow much quicker. Continue to do this until you've
reached the maximum contribution allowed.
Vicki L. Robinson
Palmyra, N. Y.
Saving money on magazine subscriptions
If you are hoping to subscribe to a magazine, a trip to your doctor
may be the answer. Doctors' waiting rooms usually have a variety
of magazines with the special subscription cards inside. These special
offers can knock 40 to 60 percent off of the annual subscription
rate. Check with the receptionist before you take anything but they
probably won't mind.
Shakeel Khan
Hanover Park, Ill.
Save on printing costs
If you own your own business, use a computer program such as Microsoft
Office to create your own letterhead. If you have a quality printer,
it will look professional. You'll save by not having to go to a
professional printer for letterhead.
Andrew Gerth
Kansas City, Mo.
Shop at garage sales
I live in a very affluent area of Atlanta and I frequent garage
sales as much as I can. I have gotten a Coach purse for $1, Pottery
Barn and William Sonoma items that costs more than $100 -- for $1
or $2. Your best bet is to go on Fridays -- the best stuff is there
early and you can find a great deal. Go a couple of weeks and you
will be hooked -- it's amazing what people are willing to give away.
Traci Rogers
Alpharetta, Ga.
Online bill payment
Check with your bank to see if they offer online bill-paying services.
Many banks are now offering free online bill payment as a way to
entice new customers. If your bank does charge for this service,
threaten to move your business elsewhere. You'll save money on stamps
and you'll always have confirmation that the payment was received
by monitoring your account online.
Derek Espeer
Kansas City, Mo.
Save on gift wrap
When buying wrapping paper, choose carefully.
I buy a beautiful yet versatile type so that I can use it for several
occasions instead of one. Plus, it doesn't get torn up sitting in
the closet until next year. I bought an off-brand "Old world
style" silver wrapping paper and used it for Christmas, a birthday
and an anniversary.
Andrew Gerth
Kansas City, Mo.
Shop around for home insurance
With the cost of homeowners insurance skyrocketing,
I went to my state's Department of Insurance Web site, which I found
by doing a search on Google. There I found a Homeowner's Insurance
Rate Guide that listed all the companies doing business in my state
by county, name, phone number, financial rating, premium rates,
complaint index and type of policy they sell. I switched carriers
and reduced my annual premium by several hundred dollars.
Susan Wallace
Prosper, Texas
Cut the grass at cut-rate prices
Lawn mower repair shops often have used, reconditioned
mowers for sale and the prices are often competitive with even the
best discount store chains. They also stand behind what they sell,
should anything go wrong. I recently purchased a shiny, like-new
self-propelled mower, in tiptop condition, with all the latest features
for less than a new, barebones model would cost at a discount store.
And, discount chains usually cannot service what they sell as they
lack repair facilities.
Lynn Bulmahn
Orange City, Fla.
Use your closing date wisely
When you use a credit card to make a purchase, use a card whose
statement closing date has just passed. For example, on the 14th,
use a card with a statement closing date of the 9th or 10th. That
way, the balance for today's purchase won't be due until the end
of the billing period for the following month.
MJ Stigliano
Rahway, N.J.
Save on medications
Call several pharmacies to compare the cost of a prescription if
paid out of pocket, not using an insurance plan. Some will charge
your full deductible amount, no matter what the prescription costs.
It may be less expensive to simply pay in cash. Also, often you
can save more by buying in multiples of 100.
Patricia Sparks
Kissimmee, Fla.
Ask for clearance items
Always ask for clearance items in a home appliance store. You won't
usually find them advertised. They are often simply discontinued
models. We got a great deal when we replaced a water heater and
couple of faucets. We specifically asked if any of these items were
on clearance and got a $259 heater for $25 and a $209 faucet for
$75.
Seema Rao
Fremont, Calif.
Let 'em know who's the boss
You always have the choice to take your business elsewhere, use
that choice to your advantage. I recently had my radiator replaced
and it failed within two weeks. The dealer told me that the radiator
was covered by the warranty, but not the installation costs. I would
have to pay for the installation of the new replacement radiator.
I told him that I was not happy with this arrangement and that I
have been a loyal customer for over eight years. I then told him
that if he wanted me to continue to be his customer in the future,
he would waive the installation fee. If he no longer wanted me as
a future customer then he would make me pay for the installation.
It was his choice. I got the radiator installed for free!
Dave Hajdasz
Meriden, Conn.
It pays to write a letter
If you feel that you have been genuinely ripped off, write a reasonable
letter to the company. Businesses want to keep their customers happy.
I received $600 in airline vouchers when I wrote to the airline
about the deal we got when we agreed to be bumped from an overbooked
flight. I also picked up a free vacation day for several co-workers
and myself by writing to our personnel office about an unfair benefits
change. If you feel you are truly in the right, don't let others
tell you nothing can be done.
Suzanne Summers
Falls Church, Va.
Get more from your health
insurance
Many medical insurance plans do not cover costs
for new glasses, dentistry, massages or health spas. However, most
carriers do have agreements with providers of these services to
offer significant discounts. Before paying full price for a service
not covered on your policy, contact your insurance company to find
out what other health-related partners they've contracted with and
start saving."
Jennifer Maslowski
New York, N.Y.
Rack up the frequent flier
miles while you dine out
Some frequent flier programs allow members to
register for their dining program, in which they give you 10 miles
for every dollar spent at participating restaurants. Go to the airline's
Web site to see if they have a dining plan and register for free.
Pay the restaurants with a credit card that earns additional miles
to really make the most of these programs. You can easily earn hundreds
of miles per meal!
Benita Crittle
Pepper Pike, Ohio
Free airline tickets
When you are traveling and your flight is overbooked,
the airline will ask volunteers to give up their spot. If you agree,
you will usually have to wait a couple of hours for the next flight,
but in compensation, they will often offer round trip tickets good
for one year and sometimes even money. If you can handle the inconvenience,
you just got yourself a free trip and some extra spending money.
Ryan Reyes
Fontana, Calif.
Saving on gas
When filling up your gas tank, try to fill up
during the cooler times of the day such as early morning or later
at night. Since the gas is cooler it is more condensed and you will
get more gas for your money.
Miguel Morales
Tucson, Ariz.
Scratch and dent
When shopping for a major household appliance
(washer, dryer, oven, refrigerator, etc.), browse the yellow pages
for companies that sell "scratch and dents". These companies
buy slightly tarnished appliances from major retailers at rock bottom
prices and pass the savings on to you. The appliances may have a
minor scratch or dent that is not visible to the naked eye. Savings
can be more than 50 percent off the manufacturer suggested retail
price.
Ryan O'Connor
Ellicott City, Md.
Long distance
To prevent long distance companies from "slamming"
you (notifying your company that you want to change your long distance
company without your authorization or knowledge) just call your
telephone company and ask for a "pic freeze" to be put
on your account. This freeze prevents ANYONE from changing your
long distance company without your approval. This is never advertised.
S. Hurston
Bothell, Wash.
Save money and gas
After the pump stops automatically, do not try
to "top-off." The amount of pressure needed to deliver
fuel is not enough in short bursts. Therefore, the dollar meter
runs but you are not getting the fuel for those last few drops.
Andy Ginsburg
Las Vegas, Nev.
Save time and money by paying
electronically
Many credit cards and utilities now have free electronic payment
options that allow you to make payments instantly online or have
the money deducted from your bank account automatically. So there's
no longer a need to run out and buy stamps or write checks just
to pay your bills!
Mark Cantor
Mayfield Heights, Ohio
Don't be shy ... ask for a
better deal!
I discovered that my cell phone plan was no longer the best offer
out there. I called my cellular service provider and asked if they
could match the offer that I had seen. They immediately offered
to not only beat the rate, but also to increase my minutes and throw
in free long-distance. My cell phone bill is now half of what it
was plus all the extras. It doesn't hurt to shop around and ask
your current provider to match competitive offers.
Kristy Wilson
Middletown, Ohio
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