[Benjaminna]

http://wishtv.static.worldnow.com/im...Dont-Waste.htm

SAVE $5,000 A YEAR

Reported and Web Produced by: John Matarese
Updated: 02/23/06 07:31:36

We'd all love to get a $5,000 raise!
But you don't have to ask your boss.
Instead, we hooked up with someone who knows how to save money ... to show how easy it is to save 5 thousand dollars a year.
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Karen Gibson is a graduate school student who also owns a home.


CUT WATER USAGE

"We either run the water into the sink...or use a big bowl."
For her and her fiancé, every penny counts....right down to how much water she uses.

"This is the showerhead...you can see its an energy efficient showerhead."
Karen's money saving secrets start with water use.
--She figures her flow reducing faucets save $10 a month, or $120 a year.
--By washing dark clothing in cold water, instead of warm, she saves another $100.

TRIM HEATING & COOLING COSTS

As for climate, she turns down her thermostat in winter... and up in summer.
Ceiling fans means she doesn't have to run the air conditioning as much.

"That will cool your kitchen? That cools the kitchen even if you have the stove and oven on."
--A programmable thermostat and one ceiling fan can cut your utility bill by $30 a month or $400 a year.

EAT AT HOME 1 DAY MORE

Meantime, Karen saves on her food bill by eating at home more ....

"That is the best way to save money...We dont eat out a lot"....
...and stocking up when beef and chicken is on sale.

"We have a lot of wings...They were on sale, buy one get one free this week!"
--Eating out just one day less each week saves Karen $25 a week, or $1,300 a year!

SAVE ON LUNCH COSTS

And when it comes to lunch, Karen bags it!


"I pack mine most everyday."
--A daily bag lunch saves $30 a week, or $1400 a year!
Another place she saves is at the mall.

"I rarely pay full, price for anything."
--By avoiding full price clothing and housewares, Karen saves another $500 a year.
"If it's not on sale, I dont buy it."

BOOST DEDUCTIBLES

Karen even gets her insurance marked down, by boosting her deductibles.

"We tried to get a $10,000 deductible but they wouldn't let us."
--Experts say raising your car deductible for 200 to 500, and your home deductible to $5,000 can save $200 a year.

HOLD ONTO YOUR CAR LONGER

Car payments? Not recently.

"My car is a 1991 and his is a 93, and theyre both paid for."
You dont have to be that frugal.
--But experts say keeping your car 7 years instead of 5 averages out to another $600 saved per year.

SAVE SPARE CHANGE

Finally, putting spare change in a jar every day...adds up to $300 by years end.
Grand Total: almost $5,000 a year.

You may not need to be as frugal as karen.
But by cutting your energy use, trimming back on lunches and meals out, and reassessing you insurance and phone bills, you too can save a few thousands.
That way you dont waste your money. I'm John Matarese.