Save Money On Gas, Energy, and Much More.

Use compact fluorescent bulbs in high-use fixtures, they use up to 75 percent less electricity. They also last about 10 times longer.

Turn off lights when leaving a room.

Unplug any electrical device that's not being used. Many appliances, computers, televisions and VCRs draw power even when turned off.

Use the Energy-Save option on your air conditioner, computer, etc.

Set the water heater's temperature to 120 degrees.

Turn your water heater off if you will be out of town for more than a couple days.

Instead of using the drying cycle on your dishwasher, set it to clean only and open the door when the dishwasher is done and let the dishes air dry.

Keep your refrigerator set between 36-40 Fahrenheit (2-4 Celsius), and the freezer between 0-5 F (-17 to -10 C). Refrigerators and freezers set too low can increase energy usage by as much as 25%.

Vacuum the condenser coils (underneath or behind the unit) every three months or so.

Use your oven's self-cleaning feature immediately after cooking, while the oven is still hot. This will reduce a lengthy warm-up time.

Use a microwave oven instead of a regular oven and save up to 50 percent on cooking costs.

Wash/dry full loads of clothes, use cold water as much as possible (save 2 - 4 percent on energy costs).

Hang your clothes to dry instead of using the dryer.

Close any leaks or gaps by doors and windows with caulking.

Set the thermostat as low as comfort permits. Each degree over 68°F can add 3 percent to the amount of energy needed for heating. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can slash your heating bill by 10% annually just by turning your thermostat down 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours a day.

Use kitchen and bath exhaust fans sparingly in the winter to keep as much heat as possible inside your house.

Close heating vents and radiator valves in unused rooms.

Make sure that heating vents are not blocked by drapes, plants, or furniture.

Use ceiling fans or windows fans instead of air conditioning, they use less electricity.

Set your air conditioner at a warmer temperature, you can save 1 to 2 percent per degree raised on cooling costs.

Keep the door and vents closed in unused rooms and save up to 3 percent on cooling costs.

Shade room air conditioners from direct sun to reduce their workload.

Regularly clean/replace the air conditioner's air filter and save up to 5 percent on annual energy costs.

On hot, sunny days, keep the curtains closed on windows facing south and west (save 2 - 4 percent on cooling costs).

Caulk and weather-strip around windows and doors and save 1 - 4 percent on cooling costs.

Don't place lamps or TVs near your air conditioning thermostat. The heat from these appliances will cause the air conditioner to run longer.

Keeping your tires properly inflated and aligned can increase gas mileage up to 3 percent.

Change oil regularly. Fresh oil will extend your engine's life and improve efficiency.

Choose the right octane. Using a higher octane gas than the manufacturer recommends offers no benefit, and it costs you at the pump. Unless your engine is knocking, buying higher octane gas is a waste of money.

Make sure your engine is tuned. According to U.S. government studies, an improperly tuned engine hurts gas mileage by an average of 4.1%.

Carpool whenever possible: to work, church, the store, etc.

Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Driving 55 mph instead of 65 mph gives you a 12.5 percent savings.

Avoid unnecessary idling.

Overdrive and cruise control improve fuel economy when you're driving on the highway.

Replace air filters regularly, replacing clogged filters can increase gas mileage up to 10 percent.

Get rid of the junk in your trunk. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk can reduce fuel economy by up to 2 percent.

Do multiple errands on the same morning or afternoon and plan out your trip ahead of time. Consolidate drives to locations that are close to each other. If possible, park your car in one spot and walk when you get there.

Use Online Bill Pay and save on gas & stamps.

Turn off the water while you brush your teeth.

Keep a jug of water in the refrigerator so you always have cold water to drink, instead of running the tap water until it's cold.

Take showers instead of baths. A 5 minute shower will use about 7.5 gallons of hot water, while filling a bathtub can use up to 20 gallons.

Fix Leaks. A one drop per second leak can add up to 165 gallons of water a month.

Only Run Your Dishwasher When Full.

If you don't have a water-saver toilet; put a clean brick, or a sealed plastic bottle filled with pebbles, or a weighted mason jar into your toilet tank. This displaces water so that less is used each time you flush.

Shop around for the best deal: ask your friends, check consumer guides, call insurance agents and try online insurance quote services.

Some companies that sell homeowners, auto and liability coverage will take 5 to 15 percent off your premium if you buy two or more policies from them.

Raise your deductible, the higher your deductible the more money you can save on your premiums. If you can afford to raise your deductible to $1,000, you may save as much as 25 percent.

You can usually get discounts of at least 5 percent for a smoke detector, burglar alarm or dead-bolt locks.

Review the value of your insured possessions at least once a year so you're not paying extra insurance for items covered that have dropped in value.

Reuse items around your house to save money instead of throwing them away. Here are some ideas:

Reuse plastic bags you get at the store as trash bags and for cat litter. You can also cut them into strips to make waterproof stuffing for outdoor chair cushions.

Use tissue boxes to store plastic grocery bags under the kitchen sink.

Save plastic dishes (such as margarine tubs) and reuse as bowls, storage containers, and flower pots.

Reuse old socks as dust rags, sock dolls, a cat toy (fill with old fabric and/or catnip & tie), sock gloves for polishing and cleaning, and covering golf clubs.

Reuse fabric softener sheets as dust rags.

Save small jars (like baby jars) to hold spices, screws, nuts & bolts. thumbtacks, paperclips, nails, seeds, etc.

Tin Cans can be made into luminaries, pencil holders, and ashtrays (ashcans).

Plastic jugs can be reused in a number of ways:
Make a funnel (cut off the bottom), toilet brush holder (cut off the top), or a handled scoop/dustpan (cut a section of the side off and the bottom).
Poke some holes into the cap and use as a watering can for your plants or garden.
For a bird feeder: cut out a section of the jug on the side opposite the handle, fill with birdseed and hang from a tree branch.
For storing clothespins: Cut a hole in a gallon-size plastic milk jug in the side opposite the handle, then cut about a half-inch from the bottom of the handle. Fill the jug with pins and use the handle to hang it on the line.

Old tooth brushes are perfect for detailed cleaning and polishing work.

Coated metal lids from frozen concentrate juice tops can be used for coasters for glasses, carpet coasters for table legs, or temporary cigarette ashtrays.

Old shower curtains can be used as a as floor liner to protect your car trunk from messes, and as a windshield cover.

Old mousepads can be used as knee pads when you garden or clean.

Egg cartons can be used to keep necklaces and bracelets separate, or to keep small items organized.

You can use an old laundry basket to store children's toys or as a cat or dog basket/bed.

You can use small yogurt containers as small flower pots, water pots when children are painting, individual moulds for jello, to start seeds for herbs or flowers, to make single serving gelatin or pudding cups for kids' lunches, or to store a lunch box snack in (such as raisins).

Instead of buying a new collar for your dog, recycle an old belt. Cut to size, and punch new holes as needed.

Convert an old dish-drying rack into an organizer for a child's coloring books. Use the silverware holder to house the pencils, crayons and markers.

Make a juice container for a child out of an empty honey bear container.

Use the Sunday comics for wrapping paper.

Save on your cable bill by selecting a lower service package from your cable provider.

Look for a bundled package that offers a discount to customers who combine their Internet, phone and cable TV services into one convenient monthly bill.

If you don't use the Internet that much, you can save money with a limited usage plan that restricts your access to certain times of the day or a certain number of hours per month.

Get rid of caller ID, conference calling and other unnecessary features.

Use electronic mail to stay in touch instead of the phone.

Avoid eating out at a fast food restaurants.

Bring lunch to work instead of buying, it's much cheaper (using leftovers can really save you money).

Borrow books, CD's, DVD's, videos, audiotapes, and children's games from the library instead of buying or renting them.

Cancel magazine and newspaper subscriptions (read the online versions or get them at the Library)

Shop at discount stores.

Clip coupons from the Sunday paper for groceries, or buy generic brands.

Take a walk.

Go for a hike at a park or recreational area.

Instead of going out, invite friends and family over for a game night.

Invite people over for a potluck dinner and have each person bring a separate dish.

Go to free high school and college sporting events.

Check the newspaper and Internet for open houses, festivals, library events and other free community gatherings in your area.

Go for a swim at a lake or beach.