DOING YOUR BANKING ON LINE CAN HELP YOU EARN EXTRA INTEREST, BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR THE FEES.
    CONSUMER REPORTS MONEY ADVISOR RECOMMENDS THESE STEPS TO FIND OUT IF AN ONLINE BANK’S THE BEST BET FOR YOU: COMPARE INTEREST RATES, CHECK FOR FEES, LOOK FOR PERKS AND RESTRICTIONS, AND WATCH FOR RATE CHANGES, BECAUSE SAVINGS AND MONEY MARKET ACCOUNTS CAN CHANGE OFTEN.
  WE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT AND SHARE YOUR MONEY- SAVING IDEAS TOO.

Now that gas prices have topped the four dollar mark, you might look at what you drive, and how you drive it, more carefully.
  In wallet watch, we want to point you to http://www.fueleconomy.gov.
  It’s our government’s own website.
  And it tells you how to get the most mileage for your money, what “diesel,“ “hybrid,“ and “flex fuel” vehicles are, comparisons of the costs of running various vehicles, and what tax incentives are available for buying different models.

On A Hot day live we’ve had, buying an Ice Cream cone to stay cool sounds great, but remember Ice Cream is a splurge and if you’re watching your Wallet, it’s not the best way to save. In fact, when you have saved as much as you can everywhere, think about cutting back on your vices.
For instance, if you avoid buying an iced coffee at the drive thru on your way to work everyday, you save 3-dollars and 50 cents a day. That’s $1277 dollars a year. If you drink beer, cut back by one a day. That will put two bucks a day back into your pocket.
If you are a wine drinker like I am, then try to drink a tasty but less expensive domestic wine during the week and the more expensive wine you might prefer during the weekend only.
You’ve heard this one before; quit smoking!  You can save 2-thousand bucks a year and lots of money in the future on medical bills.
If you pay seven dollars a person to go to a movie remember for a Family of four that’s 28 bucks. It would be better to rent a movie for just Penny’s per person. Or check one out at the library for virtually nothing.
And smoking cigars has become the new rage, but remember, if you stop smoking just one a way, that will save you between five and eight dollars each week.

Of course as hot as it is, you’ll want to keep cool but not break the bank. In Wallet Watch, your ceiling fan could be costing you money.

For instance the web site http://www.consumerist.com  points out:
During the summer, set your ceiling fan to rotate clock wise to create a down breeze that cools you - that’s the wind chill effect.
Also you are mixing the cooler air from the lower part of the room through the warmer at the ceiling.
During winter, do just the opposite. Since hot air rises, setting it to *counter clockwise* mixes the warm air at the ceiling with the cool air at ground level.

With temperatures soaring to the 100 mark, going to the movies may seem like a nice air conditioned plan.  In this edition of “Wallet Watch,“ here are nine ways to save on going to the movies, courtesy of Smart Money.
  Seek out freebies, clip coupons, head to the drive in, check out independent theatres, buy in bulk, avoid reservation sites and their surcharges, trade up on snacks, go on off times and not Friday or Saturday nights, and join your theater’s loyalty club.

NINE ON YOUR SIDE IS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO WATCH YOUR WALLET, IN THIS CHALLENGING ECONOMIC TIME.

AND WE’RE ASKING VIEWERS LIKE YOU, FOR YOUR MONEY SAVING IDEAS.

TONIGHT WE WANT TO SHARE ONE IDEA WE RECEIVED FROM JULIE.
  SHE SAYS, IF YOU’RE TRYING TO SAVE ON ORGANICS, YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT WWW DOT ORGANIC GROCERY DEALS DOT COM.
  I LOOKED AT THIS WEBSITE AND IT HAS LOTS OF ADVICE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO FIND DEALS ON ORGANIC GROCERIES.
  THANKS JULIE; GOOD IDEA!

    WE WANT MORE OF YOUR IDEAS—SEND THEM TO OUR WEBSITE W-N-C-T DOT COM—JUST TYPE IN THE KEYWORDS: WALLET WATCH.

So how do you keep cool and save money too.
Well, I checked with the U.S. department of energy for these ideas.
Open your windows and use portable or ceiling fans instead of running your air conditioner especially at night. Don’t put lamps or TV’s near the a-c thermostat. Their heat can cause the unit to run longer.
    If you have a window air conditioner unit, trying running a fan to blow the cool air around the house. And if you A-C is old, consider getting a new one. They are more energy efficient and can save 50-percent on your energy cost.
  We want more of your money saving ideas, go to our homepage and use the keywords: wallet watch.

Want to put thousands of dollars back into your pocket? Well eyewitness news 9 trying to help and in Wallet Watch a couple of easy things to save big money.
First, hold the mother of all garage sales. Go through your closets and storage areas and be very critical of the things that are in there. If you haven’t worn it, used it, or eaten it then consider it junk that can go in a yard sale.  And don’t be afraid to do this about three times a year.  On of my colleagues says he has about 5-thousand dollars worth of stuff in his attic, but you can probably bring in on average about a thousand dollars a year.

And second, if you smoke. Stop.  If you smoke only a pack and a half a day, and you quit that could save you up to 2-thousand dollars in one year.

Here is a web site that has some more important tips: http://moneycentral.msn.com/articles/smartbuy/basics/7401.asp>

Father’s day is 10 days away - so how do you honor dad and save money? in Wallet Watch -*dollar stretcher dot com* - has an idea that dad would love. First, make a list of the jobs around the house that dad usually does. Then get each member of the family to act out one of them and take digital pictures of it.
 
But here’s the catch, make sure you show them failing miserably! Iike perhaps a child with the car hood up and grease all over his hands looking bewildered!  Then print the pictures on your computer, and make a poster that simply says, “We need you dad!“ with the pictures pasted all over it.

It’s a great way to make Dad feel special and the only cost is the paper it takes to make it. Belive me, it’s better than a tie!

We want to hear from you. Just type in “Wallet Watch” and let us know your great money saving ideas.

  FOR MANY PEOPLE, THEIR HOME IS THEIR MOST IMPORTANT INVESTMENT.
  NOW THAT HURRICANE SEASON’S HERE, BE SURE TO PROTECT IT.
  IN TONIGHT’S WALLET WATCH:
  YOU MIGHT NEED FLOOD INSURANCE, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE.
  FIND OUT YOUR LEVEL OF FLOOD RISK FOR FREE, AT FLOODSMART DOT GOV.
  CLICK ON ‘YOUR FLOOD RISK,‘ AND ENTER YOUR HOME’S ADDRESS. 
  YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE FLOOD MAP FOR YOURSELF AT MUNICIPAL OFFICES.
  USUALLY THOSE AT HIGHEST RISK LIVE IN COASTAL AREAS.
  IT TAKES THIRTY DAYS FOR NEW FLOOD INSURANCE TO TAKE EFFECT.