Make certain that any new appliances you purchase, especially air conditioners and furnaces, are energy-efficient to save on electricity. Enrolling in load management programs and off-hour rate programs offered by your electric utility may save you up to $100 a year in electricity costs. At least once a year review your phone bills for the previous three months to see what local, local toll, long distance, and international calls you normally make. Call several phone companies, including wireless companies, to find an inexpensive calling plan that meets your needs. If you make very few toll or long distance calls, avoid calling plans with monthly fees or minimums. Check your phone bill to see if you have optional calling services you don't use. Dropping one option could save up to $40 a year. Compare per minute rates and surcharges for different prepaid phone cards and calling card plans to find the one that saves you the most money. Dial your long distance calls directly instead of using the operator. If you use a wireless phone, make sure your wireless calling plan covers the calls you typically make. Shop at the lower-priced food stores. Convenience and specialty stores often charge the highest prices. Compare price-per-ounce or other unit prices on shelf labels. Stock up on those items with low per-unit costs. Ask your physician and pharmacist for generic drugs whenever appropriate. Since pharmacies may charge widely different prices for the same medicine, call several. When taking a drug for a long time, consider calling mail-order or online pharmacies, which often charge lower prices. Select a checking account with a little or no minimum balance requirement that you can meet. Banking institutions often will drop or lower checking fees if paychecks are directly deposited by your employer To earn the highest return on savings with little or no risk, consider certificates of deposit (CDs) or U.S. Savings Bonds (Series I or EE). Once you select a type of savings or investment product, compare rates and fees offered by different institutions. These rates can vary a lot and, over time, can significantly affect interest earnings. If you have significant savings earning a low interest rate, consider making a large down payment or even paying for the car in cash. This could save you as much as several thousand dollars in finance charges. Shop for the cheapest loan. Contact several banks, your credit union, and the auto manufacturer's own finance company to find rates.