Price Match!
Week of November 22-28, 2009
Whenever you are making any major purchase, always ask if they price match. Remember that you as a consumer hold power to saving your money.

Visit your local library
Week of November 15-21, 2009
These days, libraries offer more than just books - they have plenty of DVDs for rent as well.

Make your own coffee!
Week of November 8-14, 2009
A cup of coffee at coffee shops can be nearly $5. Buy one each work day, and at the end of the year, you've spent approximately $1,300. Start brewing your coffee at home, and put that money back in your wallet.

Shop around for insurance
Week of November 1-7, 2009
You may not have to wait until the end of your policy to cancel your insurance, even if you pay annually. Look around for less expensive options.

Sell your "gently used" items
Week of October 25-31, 2009
If you have things that have been used, are in good condition, and you no longer need them, sell them! For example, do you have old books lying around that you will never read again? If not, sell them free on amazon.com or craigslist.com, or inexpensively at ebay.com.

Return unused things you already have
Week of October 18-24, 2009
Even if the company offers you a credit, perhaps you can use it toward something more valuable to you.

Double-check your utility bills for accuracy
Week of October 11-17, 2009
Look at your utility statements! Corporations aren't perfect, and sometimes they may bill you incorrectly. Look to see if there are mistakes that could save you some money.

Shop classified ads before buying new
Week of October 4-10, 2009
Looking for something specific? Shop the classified ads in your local paper, on their website, or at craigslist.com.

Cancel or reduce home newspaper delivery
Week of September 27-October 3, 2009
Cancel home newspaper delivery, or reduce frequency to weekends only, if that's when you are home. You can get the latest local news immediately on other days from their websites, such as SignonSanDiego.com, or local TV news websites.

Shop online to save money and receive extra discounts
Week of September 20-26, 2009
Shop online with Ebates.com - a free service that offers discounts and pays you back for your online shopping. Then use PriceProtectr.com to take advantage of price reductions AFTER your purchase.

Give gifts creatively and inexpensively
Week of September 13-19, 2009
Offer to give a service as a gift, like a night of free babysitting, or, give baked goods. Everyone loves cookies!

Plan a yard sale in the neighborhood
Week of September 6-12, 2009
Coordinate a neighborhood yard sale. The more people who participate, the more enticing it will be for passersby.

Adjust your thermostat for efficiency
Week of August 30-September 5, 2009
Turn your heater thermostat down 2 degrees in winter and up 2 degrees in the summer.

Disconnect electronic devices when not in use
Week of August 23-29, 2009
The easiest way to do this is to plug devices into a single power strip and then unplugging the power strip when the items are not in use. Electronic items continue to pull small amounts of power continuously even when powered down (this phenomenon is often referred to as "vampire power," probably because it is sucking the life out of your finances!)

Use your microwave rather than your oven whenever possible
Week of August 16-22, 2009
Use your microwave in the summer and your oven in the winter. During the dog days of summer, cranking up an oven can put an air conditioning system into overdrive. However, in the winter the warmth of an oven can lessen the load of your heating system. Leave the oven slightly ajar after cooking to let some heat escape into the house, but be sure to turn the oven off when done cooking.

Go to the matinee showing of movies
Week of August 9-15, 2009
Save money on going to the movies by going to the matinee.

Check out movies from your local library
Week of August 2-8, 2009
Join the library and check out DVD's and books, rather than buying or renting them. Visit the San Diego Public Library Web site to see exactly what is in stock at all San Diego County libraries.

Rent video games rather than buy them
Week of July 26-August 1, 2009
Join Gamefly to inexpensively rent video games, or get them from your local Blockbuster. If you own them, trade with your friends.

Buy a discount coupon book
Week of July 19-25, 2009
Buy an Entertainment book. Even better - share the expense with a family member or friend! The initial investment is as little as $30, but there's hundreds of dollars in entertainment and dining savings inside. Plus, you'll also get access to additional savings on their website. Buy as soon as it comes out, and you'll get nearly 18 months of savings!

Take your own water with you to the airport
Week of July 12-18, 2009
Bring an empty water bottle with you to the airport. Bottled water at airports is expensive. While you can't bring any liquids past security, you can bring an empty bottle. Put it in your carry on and fill it up at the water fountain as soon as you get past security.

Buy prescription medications 3-months at a time
Week of July 5-11, 2009
If you take a prescription medication on a regular basis, ask your doctor to write a three month prescription. Instead of paying three co-pays, you only pay one. Or, ask your doctor if he has samples that he could give you.

Watch for "Early-Bird" specials when eating out
Week of June 28-July 4, 2009
Go out for an early dinner and take advantage of the late-lunch menu discount.

Grow your own fruits and vegetables
Week of June 21-27, 2009
Start a small garden for herbs and vegetables. Digitalseed.com is a great resource specific to Southern California gardeners, with tips on what grows well in each season.

Make potluck dinners a way of life
Week of June 14-20, 2009
Have potluck dinners with family and friends. It's a great way to get together, try new recipes, and save money.

Join a food co-op
Week of June 7-13, 2009
Join a food co-op for your groceries, such as Ocean Beach People's Organic Food Market.

Filter your own water
Week of May 31-June 6, 2009
Buy a water filter instead of bottled water. You'll save money, and by not using plastic water bottles, you'll also help save the environment!

Find new food sources
Week of May 24-30, 2009
Look for new sources of food that you haven't tried before. Read books or online articles about local edible plants and begin planting them around your home and garden.

Use dryer sheets more efficiently
Week of May 17-23, 2009
Cut dryer sheets in half to double the value of each box.

Buy clothing that's easy to maintain
Week of May 10-16, 2009
Avoid buying clothes that require drying cleaning.

Use alternative transportation
Week of May 3-9, 2009
Use alternate means of transportation when possible. Take the bus to get to school or work, ride your bike or walk to your destinations, or carpool with co-workers.

Pay insurance premiums annually
Week of April 26-May 2, 2009
Get a lower rate by paying your auto insurance premiums annually instead of every six months.

Share meals when eating out
Week of April 19-25, 2009
When you eat out, share meals. Most restaurant meals are big enough for two people. If you don't have someone to share it with, split the meal in half and put half in a to-go box for next day's lunch.

Use a Health Savings Account for routine medical expenses
Week of April 12-18, 2009
Use a Health Savings Account to pay for routine medical expenses such as co-pays, prescriptions, and even some over-the-counter medications - all with pre-tax dollars.

Consider alternative long-distance telephone options
Week of April 5-11, 2009
Consider Internet telephone services instead of traditional home telephone service.

Use coupons aggressively
Week of March 29-April 4, 2009
Use an aggressive coupon strategy. Cut coupons from your Sunday newspaper on the items you frequently buy, and print more free from websites like Smartsource.com, Couponsurfer.com, or your local grocery store's website. Use them alone, or in conjunction with grocery store double coupon promotions and weekly sales flyer to save lots more on your grocery bill.

Share babysitting duties with neighbors
Week of March 22-28, 2009
Swap babysitting with neighbors, saving you the money of hiring one for an evening out.

Run your ceiling fans in the winter
Week of March 15-21, 2009
Run your ceiling fans in the winter. By changing the blade direction on your ceiling fan to create an updraft, you can help recycle heat throughout a drafty room. Most fan models have a switch on the base of the unit that allows you to change direction.

Reduce the temperature setting on your hot water heater
Week of March 8-14, 2009
Reduce the temperature setting on your hot water heater. This one does require a little effort, especially if your water heater is in an out-of-the-way place. Set the temperature to around 120 degrees. You can count on about a 5 percent reduction on energy bills for each 10 degrees you drop the water. While you are at it, consider a thermal blanket to insulate your water heater, particularly if it is stored in an uninsulated location that gets cold in the winter (garage, utility room, etc.).

Modify your car insurance deductibles
Week of March 1-7, 2009
Raise car insurance deductibles if you have emergency funds in place. If you have a solid emergency fund in place to easily cover deductibles, it might make sense to increase those deductibles on your auto insurance policy. Raising deductibles from $250 to $1,000 can save you a few hundred dollars on insurance - just be sure you can afford that $1,000 in the event something bad happens.

Plan meals around what's on sale
Week of February 22-28, 2009
Instead of just planning your meals based on a cookbook or whatever you can dream up, plan all your meals around what's on sale in your grocery store's flyer. Look at the biggest sales, then plan meals based on those ingredients and what you have on hand, and you'll find yourself with a much smaller food bill than you're used to.

Reduce your energy bill with a programmable thermostat
Week of February 15-21, 2009
These devices regulate the temperature in your house automatically according to the schedule that you set. When you're not home, it allows the heating or cooling to turn off for several hours, saving you on your energy bill. A programmable thermostat can easily cut your energy bill by 10 to 20%.

Exchange used books, CDs, and DVDs
Week of February 8 - 14, 2009
Easily exchange books, CDs, and DVDs you've grown bored with via inexpensive services like www.PaperBackSwap.com. The best part? You'll get new books (or CDs or DVDs) to enjoy, mailed right to you - for free.

Cancel or suspend unused memberships
Week of February 1 - 7, 2009
Cancel memberships, such as gym, warehouse clubs, etc., if you no longer use them often enough to justify the cost. Or if you are considering canceling, call the company to mention you are canceling - they may offer you a lower rate. If you do not want to cancel, consider suspending your service. For example, ask to suspend your gym membership if you are going on vacation for an extended amount of time, or you know you will not use it that month.

Turn down the heat!
Week of February 1 - 7, 2009
For every degree you lower your home's temperature during the heating season, subtract 5% from your bill, according to the Alliance to Save Energy.

Check for new deals on service plans
Week of February 1 - 7, 2009
Take the time to see if service plans have changed. Companies (i.e. cable, telephone, internet, wireless phone) sometimes come out with new plans, and they may now offer a plan with more minutes or services for the same price or less. Or, perhaps if you move all your services under one company, you will eligible for a bundle discount. Will they personally call you to tell you? No!

Drop your land line
Week of February 1 - 7, 2009
If you have a good cell-phone plan that you use almost exclusively, get rid of the dead weight on your finances and drop your land line. You could reclaim $20 to $50 or more each month.

Pull the plug on idle appliances
Week of February 1 - 7, 2009
Turn off your appliances. Appliances that include a clock or operate by a remote, as well as chargers, are using electricity even when you're not using them. Of the total energy used to run home electronics, 40% is consumed when the appliances are turned off.

Refer-a-Friend to North Island
Week of February 1 - 7, 2009
We'll give you a $25 Visa gift card for each person you refer to us that opens an Island Checking account, plus one other account. There's no limit! More details.

Dine in
Week of February 1 - 7, 2009
Instead of dining out, cook together at home as a family. Even borrow a cookbook from your local library and try some new recipes. If you must dine out, check out the deals at www.restaurant.com, where gift certificates to certain restaurants are offered at less than half price.

Save money on prescriptions
Week of February 1 - 7, 2009
Look on the manufacturer's website for coupons or special offers, or ask your doctor for samples. Doctor's offices receive samples from sales reps and they may have what you need. Or, transfer your prescriptions to a new pharmacy. Frequently pharmacies offer a gift card or other incentive for transferring your prescriptions to them.

Consider a prepaid phone
Week of February 1 - 7, 2009
Go prepaid for a while if you can. Are you paying $50 a month for a cell phone that you hardly use? If you always have lot of leftover minutes each month, perhaps you are a good candidate for a prepaid phone, even just for a short time.

Save on a roadside assistance plan
Week of February 1 - 7, 2009
Check to see if your auto insurance carrier offers a free or reduced-price roadside assistance plan. No need to renew your AAA membership!