Do you really know how much you spend when you get behind the wheel to go for a drive?
Most of us think it’s a lot cheaper when we get the car and take off for places we want to go. But if you want to save money, you need to know your car, and how much its going to cost to crank up and head out.
There is a website that can tell you down to the penny. Its: http://www.costtodrive.com
I went to the sight and for a trip from my home in Greenville to Raleigh-Durham International airport, in my 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4WD I would drive about 95 miles
I would use 5.3 gallons of gas, and at today’s average price of $3.60 a gallon a one-way trip would cost me $19.07.  And that is just to drive one way.
Now the wed site says it uses the averages of your type of vehicle, its weight, the amount of gas it can hold and a standard for what other cars like yours get per mile to figure it out.
 

Again, the website is:
http://www.costtodrive.com

WHEN WE SEE RADICAL CHANGES IN THE BANKS AND WILD SWINGS ON WALL STREET, IT’S TOUGH TO TRUST ANYONE FOR FINANCIAL ADVICE.
 
  IN WALLET WATCH: U.S. NEWS OFFERS ADVICE FOR DOING A BACKGROUND CHECK ON A FINANCIAL ADVISOR.

  ASK TO SEE THE PLANNER’S A-D-V FORM, PART II.  IT SHOWS THE ADVISER’S BACKGROUND, SERVICES, AND FEES.
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CHECK WITH THE ADVISER’S STATE SECURITIES REGULATOR TO MAKE SURE THEY’RE LICENSED AND TO CHECK FOR COMPLAINTS.

  THE CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER BOARD OF STANDARDS INVESTIGATES COMPLAINTS AGAINST FINANCIAL PLANNERS AND LISTS DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS.

NAVIGATING THE FINANCIAL WORLD’S TOUGH, SO HOW CAN YOU AVOID THE SHARKS?
  IN WALLET WATCH: http://www.usnews.com OFFERS ADVICE FOR FINDING A FINANCIAL PLANNER.

  GATHER THE NAMES OF AT LEAST THREE PLANNERS.
  ASK FOR REFERENCES FROM FRIENDS OR RELATIVES.
CHECK DATABASES FOR THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PERSONAL FINANCIAL ADVISORS,
  AND THE CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER BOARD OF STANDARDS, WHICH REQUIRE MEMBERS TO PASS EXAMS.

  SCREEN FOR CREDENTIALS. LOOK FOR SOMEONE EDUCATED IN FINANCIAL ISSUES, NOT A SALESPERSON WHO’S TRYING TO SELL YOU A PRODUCT.

From time to time we all need a few ideas to remind us how to keep some of our money
On wallet watch, your banks should treat you with respect. If they don’t Switch to a bank that gives you free account maintenance and interest on both checking and savings. Turn off the TV—not during eyewitness news 9 of course!  If you keep the tube on you use more electricity and you’re exposed to a lot of guilt inducing ads.
Sign up for any free customer rewards program even if you don’t shop at the store very often.
if you are thinking of buying something employ the “30-day” rule. Wait 30 days and ask yourself then, if you still want it. Invite friends over instead of going out…its less expensive to have a cookout at home. Don’t spend big money entertaining your children. Make games out of ordinary stuff like tossing pennies in a jar.
Ask your credit company for a lower interest rate reduction.
Drink more water. A glass right before meal time helps digest food and keeps you from eating so much so you save money on your food bill. By the way, get that water from the tap – don’t buy one of those designer waters.

IN TOUGH TIMES, WE WANT TO SAVE MONEY.
  IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE HARD!
  IN WALLET WATCH: HERE ARE EASY STEPS FROM “THE SIMPLE DOLLAR.“
  TURN LIGHTS OFF, BEFORE YOU LEAVE.
  IF YOU SPEND A MINUTE TURNING OFF LIGHTS BEFORE A 2 HOUR TRIP, IT’S LIKE EARNING FIFTY DOLLARS AN HOUR.
  INSTALL A PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT.
  WHEN YOU’RE NOT HOME, IT ALLOWS HEATING OR COOLING TO TURN OFF, CUTTING YOUR ENERGY BILL.
  BUY APPLIANCES BASED ON RELIABILITY, NOT WHAT’S CHEAPEST.
  THEY MIGHT COST MORE, BUT IF THEY SAVE ENERGY AND LAST LONGER, YOU’LL SAVE MONEY.

  SAVING MONEY: THE SIMPLE WAY.
    IN TONIGHT’S WALLET WATCH: HERE ARE SOME TIPS FROM THE SIMPLE DOLLAR DOT COM.

SIGN UP FOR EVERY CUSTOMER REWARDS PROGRAM YOU CAN.
  THAT WILL BRING YOU SOME COUPONS AND DISCOUNTS.

MAKE YOUR OWN GIFTS INSTEAD OF BUYING THEM.
  YOU CAN MAKE CANDLES, BREADS, COOKIES, AND OTHER THINGS AT HOME EASILY AND INEXPENSIVELY.

  MASTER THE THIRTY DAY RULE.
  WHENEVER YOU’RE CONSIDERING MAKING AN UNNECESSARY PURCHASE, WAIT THIRTY DAYS AND THEN ASK YOURSELF IF YOU STILL WANT THE ITEM.

  IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE STICKING TO A BUDGET DURING THE HOLIDAYS, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
 
  IN WALLET WATCH: HERE’S AN IDEA FROM BETTER BUDGETING DOT COM.
  THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BUY GIFT CARDS FOR STORES YOU KNOW YOU’LL BE SHOPPING IN FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
  MAKE SURE THEY HAVE AT LEAST A YEAR BEFORE THEY EXPIRE. 

  KEEP THEM IN AN ENVELOPE WITH RECEIPTS, IN CASE THERE’S A PROBLEM WITH THE CARD OR AMOUNT. 
WHEN IT’S TIME TO GO HOLIDAY SHOPPING,  USE THE CARDS TO BUY GIFTS.
    YOU’RE PUTTING MONEY AWAY FOR GIFTS, MAKING SURE YOU SPEND IT ON WHAT YOU SAVED IT FOR. 

  IT’S NOT EVERY DAY THE I-R-S ASKS TO GIVE MONEY BACK.
    IN WALLET WATCH:
200 - THOUSAND PEOPLE IN THE CAROLINAS HAVE NOT CLAIMED THEIR ECONOMIC STIMULUS CHECKS.

    THEY’RE RETIREES AND DISABLED VETERANS, WHO HAVE THREE WEEKS LEFT TO FILE.
    THEY DON’T FILE TAX RETURNS BECAUSE THEIR BENEFITS ARE NOT TAXABLE.
  IF YOU GET SOCIAL SECURITY OR VETERANS BENEFITS, YOU HAVE TO FILE FOR YOUR REBATE, BY OCTOBER 15TH.
  IT’S MONEY FROM THE STIMULUS PACKAGE CONGRESS APPROVED THIS YEAR: GIVING AMERICANS AS MUCH AS SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS PER PERSON.

ARE YOU WORRIED THIS HOLIDAY SEASON WILL RUN YOUR WALLET DRY?
    IF SO, YOU’RE NOT ALONE - IN FACT RETAIL FORECASTERS ARE PREDICTING THIS SHOPPING SEASON WILL BE A ROUGH ONE.
    RELAX!
    NINE IS ON YOUR SIDE TO HELP YOU GET MORE FOR YOUR MONEY.
    IN TONIGHT’S WALLET WATCH, WHILE THE HOLIDAYS MAY SEEM WAY IN THE FUTURE: - NOW IS THE TIME TO GET A HEAD START ON EXTRA SAVINGS.
  LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE ECONOMY, THE STRUGGLING HOUSING MARKET AND RISING UNEMPLOYMENT: COULD ADD UP TO A MEAGER HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON.
  BUT SALES WILL STILL RING: AND MANY WILL GO IN THE STORES AND ON LINE, LOOKING FOR DEALS.
  HERE ARE A FEW IDEAS TO SAVE MONEY WITH HOLIDAY SHOPPING COURTESY OF MOOLANOMY DOT COM.
  LOOK FOR DISCOUNTS AND REBATES.
  FOR EXAMPLE: E BATES HAS DEALS WITH HUNDREDS OF MERCHANTS. 
CHECK YOUR CREDIT CARDS’ SHOPPING NETWORKS: MANY OFFER CASHBACK BONUSES AT MERCHANT PARTNERS,
YOUR PLACE OF WORK MAY HAVE AN EMPLOYEE DISCOUNTS PROGRAM - AND NOT JUST FOR ITEMS THAT YOUR COMPANY MAKES.
  IT COULD BE WORTHWHILE TO ASK YOUR BOSS OR THE H-R MANAGER IF ONE IS AVAILABLE FOR YOU.
  DEALSCANS -  KEEPS TRACK OF THE BEST DEALS FROM MAJOR ONLINE RETAILERS. YOU CAN DO BASIC SEARCHES FOR HIGHEST RATED DEALS, AND BEST DEALS.
  AND PRICEPROTECTR:
  IF YOU BOUGHT SOMETHING ONLINE, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS COPY AND PASTE THE U-R-L, AND GIVE THEM YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. IF THEY NOTICE THE PRICE DROP ANY TIME WITHIN THE PRICE PROTECTION PERIOD, THEY’LL SEND AN EMAIL YOUR WAY.

People are cutting back on expenses: even the normally recession proof medical care.
  In wallet watch: Forbes says many folks are not taking advantage of one way to save on health costs: health savings accounts, or h-s-as.
    They’ve been available since 2004.
    h-s-as allow people to save pretax money, to pay for health expenses anytime for the rest of their lives.
    The money can earn interest.
    In 2009: the maximum contribution you can make will be three thousand dollars for individuals and $5950 for families.