Utility Bills

Use the same company for cable, telephone and internet access. Often bundling these services together is more economical than paying for them separately. About $100 per month (before taxes and...

Use the same company for cable, telephone and internet access. Often bundling these services together is more economical than paying for them separately. About $100 per month (before taxes and fees) should cover all three services, and you'll get the added convenience of only dealing with one monthly bill. Sometimes companies offer lower promotional rates for the first 12 months, after which you may need to renegotiate the price or see if someone else can beat it. Often telling a company that you are considering other services is enough to get them to keep you on the promotional rate.

A home energy or utility audit is a great way to assess energy usage in your home to see where improvements can be made. It will reveal the efficiency of home heating and cooling systems, uncover any...

A home energy or utility audit is a great way to assess energy usage in your home to see where improvements can be made. It will reveal the efficiency of home heating and cooling systems, uncover any energy-drainers in the home and show ways to increase water and energy efficiency. You can conduct your own audit or ask for a professional's help. More thorough audits, sometimes done by utility companies, can also include an analysis of all the major appliances in the home and estimated energy consumption and cost per appliance. They can also analyze past bills and provide an estimate of how long it would take to recoup the value of home improvements in energy savings. Visit the U.S. Department of Energy's website at Energysavers.gov for more information. Some states are offering rebates or other incentives for energy audits as part of the government's stimulus program.

Inspect the duct work and insulation throughout the home to check for leaks. Look for holes in ducts, and for sections that should be joined but have separated. Look for dirty insulation, which is a...

Inspect the duct work and insulation throughout the home to check for leaks. Look for holes in ducts, and for sections that should be joined but have separated. Look for dirty insulation, which is a sign of a leak. Pay special attention to attics, which often have holes due to electrical wiring, chimney chases and recessed lights. For basements, look for gaps around duct work and plumbing. Also check window and door frames, and for cracked caulking around electrical outlets and switches. How to tell if there is a leak? Use an incense stick or smoke pen on a windy day, or turn on all the exhaust fans and see where the smoke goes. To fix, use a combination of weather stripping, foam board, caulk and expandable sealant. To seal ducts, use mastic, butyl tape, foil tape or other heat-approved tapes. For severely damaged ducts, it is worth spending a bit of money to get them properly fixed - you'll save more in energy costs than you'll spend to have the work done.

Some of our favorite tried-and-true tips that will show you how to save money every month. From your electric bill to your water bill to your cell phone bill and more, we'll give you the LOZO on...

Some of our favorite tried-and-true tips that will show you how to save money every month. From your electric bill to your water bill to your cell phone bill and more, we'll give you the LOZO on lowering those monthly bills.

If you're a Nascar fan, you're probably tuning into the Friday night Nascar Nationwide race (9/10/10 7pm ET ESPN2) at Richmond International Raceway. The event is headlined by Virginia 529...

If you're a Nascar fan, you're probably tuning into the Friday night Nascar Nationwide race (9/10/10 7pm ET ESPN2) at Richmond International Raceway. The event is headlined by Virginia 529 College Savings, a perfect fit with LOZO's mission to help people save money on everything!

In honor of the event and the sponsor, here are some of our favorite money-saving tips on all of these topics: Auto Repair, Event Tickets and College Savings.

CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs savings calculator provided by Energystar.gov. This is an Excel file you can download to calculate savings from switching your conventional incandescent bulbs...

CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs savings calculator provided by Energystar.gov.

This is an Excel file you can download to calculate savings from switching your conventional incandescent bulbs to energy-saving CFLs.

You provide inputs and the calculator figures out your savings based on: Number of units (bulbs) and their wattage, Electricity rate, Hours used per day, and Initial cost per unit.

The calculator is easy to use and it's a great way to see how fast the savings build.