Week of 4/30/2008

Smart Ways To Save At The Pump 

When gas prices soar, it is more important than ever to save on fuel. Most people know not to use a higher octane fuel than their car requires and to keep their cars tuned and the tires inflated. Here are some other money-saving ideas that you might not have thought of.

1.  Check the gas guage. When the tank is half empty, start looking for a gas station. This gives you time to comparison shop. Avoid stations on interstate and busy highways which often charge $0.10 - 0.15 more per gallon than stations in less trafficked areas. Compare prices online at www.gaspricewatch.com or www.gasbuddy.com .

2.  Buy big-box gas. Wholesale clubs sell gas at member-only pumps for considerably less than regular stations. Even some supermarket chains are now selling gas at lower prices than regular stations. Check out their web sites for locations where they sell gas. Not all locations have gas.

3.  Don't let your car idle. If you're going to be at a standstill for more than a minute, turn off the engine. Think drive-thru windows at banks and fast-food restaurants and even traffic stalls. Idling consumes up to one gallon of gas per hour. It also wastes more gas than restarting your engine.

4.  Get rid of the drag. If you drive a pick-up truck, remove the rear gate. The gate creates a great deal of wind drag and can cut your gas mileage by as much as 10%. If you need a gate, consider using a cargo net.

Week of 5/7/2008

Frugal Gifts For Mom's Day or Any Day

Mother's Day is the largest holiday of the year for florists. Coming in the heart of spring, it's hard to imagine why anyone would want to fork over $40 or more to a florist for something you can get for nothing. Look at all the bloomin' things around you -- dogwood trees, forsythia, lilacs, azaleas. Why not make your own floral creation from nature's spring bounty; recycle one of those florist vases sitting around the house or decorate an old coffee can or glass jar; make your own greeting card; and Voila!, you have a Mother's Day gift that comes straight from the heart -- and not the pocketbook.  This idea can work anytime nature is cooperating.

Soon it will be graduation day for many high school and college students, and you probably want to honor the college grad to a greater degree than the high school grad.  Most people simply write a check for a gift. Luggage is another big graduation gift. Why not give a gift that keeps on growing. How about stocK? Start a DRIP (Divident Reinvestment Plan) or open a Sharebuilder account that the grad can maintain for many years to come, a gift that grows and grows over the years and one that teaches fiscal responsibility to boot.

And for any special day, don't forget the "work release" plan. Free that special someone from work that you can do yourself -- 5 free carwashes, free housecleaning twice a month for two months, free babysitting once a week for 4 weeks, or any gift of time (work release) that you know would be appreciated.