Thrifty Ideas

We asked how you pinch pennies these days, and you responded with a thousand suggestions. Our pick of the lot could save you thousands of dollars.

Drive a search engine. "I am very fond of Google Product Search, which lets you sort the results from low price to high. And I have always saved a ton of money by buying on eBay." -Teri Beahm, TX

Split the bills. "My husband and I don't generate a lot of trash, so we split the garbage-collection bill with a neighbor." -Debra Larrison, IN

Split the pills. "I have my doctor prescribe a double-strength dose of my pills, and then I cut them in half. That's one copay for twice the medicine." -Elmont Hollingsworth, Mount Pleasant, IA

Put the work in workout. "I figure I save $40 a week by mowing my half-acre yard myself, $125 a week by cleaning house, and $175 a month grooming my four dogs. Plus, doing all these chores keeps me so active, there's no need to join a gym!" -Bev Nord, Round Rock, TX

Give yourself more than credit. "I use a cash-back credit card, and I don't carry a balance. I get 5 percent back on gasoline purchases!" -Jeff Roberts, Yorktown Heights, NY

Shop consignment stores. "Most small towns have resale shops. I recently bought a wool winter coat, stylish and like new, for $7.-JoLynn Gates, IA

Postpone the "doughnut hole." "Don't include generic prescriptions in your Medicare Part D purchases. Pharmacies offer a wide range of generics (Wal-Mart has them for $4), whereas most Part D plans claim the 'average retail price,' which is much higher." -Jim Rogers, MA

Turn down one thermostat... "Keeping your water heater at 100 degrees Fahrenheit is adequate for most households, yet most settings are 125 degrees. I lowered mine, and I'm saving about $30 a month." -William [last name withheld], IA

…And raise another. "My greatest money saver is keeping my air conditioner at 77 degrees Fahrenheit, which has lowered my monthly electric bill from about $400 to $125." -Louise Daly, FL

Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!

Sweat the small stuff. "I save money by keeping track of everything I buy. I keep an envelope in my purse for receipts. At the end of the day I see where it's all gone. It's amazing how much you can spend without realizing it." -Pat Roesch, CT

Trim your premium..."Taking an inexpensive refresher course in driving safety earned me a 5 percent discount on my car insurance." -Robert DeBellis, FL

...Or comparison-shop it.” I had been with my auto-insurance company for 13 years and had no tickets or accidents. But when I went on the insurer's website as a new customer, the quote came back for $250 below my current rate. I was so mad I went with another company and saved $600!" -Joy Dove, West Jefferson, NC

Clean with vinegar. "Forget about expensive name-brand cleaning products. You can do a lot with white vinegar and salt, and they are not toxic." -Heidi Ross, CO