Morning Deals: Sam's Club, flowers & gifts

Deal Of The Day:

Sam's Club: Free one day pass to Sam's Club

Other Morning Deals:

Flowers: Give your mother flowers this Mother's Day from Flowers.com!

Gifts: Save up to 50% on great gifts for mom at Drugstore.com!

Morning Deals: Ice cream, gift books & gift cards

Deal Of The Day:

Ice Cream: Free ice cream today at Carvel

Other Morning Deals:

Gift Books: Take 30% off select gift books for 4 days only

Gift Cards: Up to 25% off Merchant gift cards

Tips to curb your outdoor energy usage

Yep, the heat is on but don't let the warmer temperatures burn a hole in your wallet.

Keeping up on your home's exterior is key when evaluating how to save on your electric bill. Thanks to Progress Energy Florida, we've compiled some energy saving tips for your outdoor environment:

Roof replacement

Does your roof need replacement? If so, get a reflective roof. A reflective roof will reduce the amount of time your air conditioner needs to run, by reflecting the heat off of your home.

Install motion sensors

Motion sensors installed outdoors will save you energy because you won't have to remember to turn off the outdoor light fixtures when they are not in use. You'll also save money on your electric bill. Install motion sensors on your porch light, walkway lights, and garage light.

Think about your heat pump's placement

In order for an outdoor heat pump to run as efficient as possible, it needs maximum space. Keep it free of debris, and never stack or drape anything over it.

How about awnings?

Awnings can come in very handy to keep your home cooler in the summer. Install awnings over windows and doors that are in the sun during the day.

Stay away from the sun

Block the sun from your home as much as possible. Plant trees and bushes against the sun. Not only are they beautiful, but they save on your home's cooling bill.

Replace bulbs

Replace your bulbs with energy efficient ones! CFL, (compact florescent bulbs), use 75% less energy, and last ten times as long than normal bulbs that aren't energy efficient.

Vehicle emission testing could end in New Jersey

Say "bye-bye" to vehicle emission testing in the Garden State? A proposal by New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission says it will save the state $12 million by not requiring vehicle inspections every two years.

On April 25, 2010, a proposal to put an end to testing was discussed at an Assembly Budget Committee hearing.

Is waiting longer than two years for a vehicle inspection safe? Raymond Martinez, Motor Vehicle Commission chief administrator believes so. "Most people who have problems with their windshields or have problems with their brakes don't wait for the every two years." He believes that most people self-police their vehicles, in order to stay safe on the road.

New Jersey's transportation department is turning into a pay-as-you-go model, in order to save money in a cash-strapped department, in a cash-strapped state, according to a NJ.com article. Jim Simpson, a pilot, "We are … bringing an entrepreneurial approach to the department that questions the status quo and seeks cost savings," Simpson said. "Metrics are the key to running a large organization. If you’re not measuring, you’re not managing."

Louis D. Greenwald, Assembly Budget Committee chair points out that the "pay as you go" philosophy can very well lead to a crumbling infrastructure and tragedy, such as the Minnesota Bridge collapse that killed 13 people three years ago.

Click here for the lowdown.

Didn't file your taxes? You're not alone

Missed the April 15 tax deadline? Don't panic.

More than 9.2 million taxpayer accounts were recorded as delinquent for the 2009 tax year, according to an article by the Richmond Times-Dispatch. If you're late, what are your next steps? Long story short, just do it.

Here's what late filers should expect:

Expect penalties

If you're delinquent with your taxes, you should anticipate penalties. There's a fine for not filing by April 15, and there's one for not paying by the deadline. Want to make it stop? Pay as soon as possible.

Enclose a Form 9465 Installment Agreement Request

You've decided to file, so you should enclose a Form 9465 Installment Agreement Request. This is a request for a payment plan. On the form, you can write in how much you are willing to pay each month, and the time of the month that is best for you. You can get the form online, or by calling (800) 829-3676 and asking for one. The setup fee is $105, $52, or $43 depending on your income level and payment method. The form is for filers owing up to $25,000.

Better now than never

You're filing late and didn't pay. Don't fret. When you get the money, pay your taxes. Don't put it off any longer than you have to. Don't wait until you receive a tax bill from the IRS... that's just asking for trouble.

Try to get an offer in compromise

By getting an offer in compromise, the IRS will settle for less. Try to make a compromise when you know you will never be able to pay your taxes. The form is Form 656, "Offer in Compromise." There is an application fee of $150, but it's worth it if your taxes could be significantly less.

Contact your local tax advocate to solve IRS conflicts

Are you in a disagreement with the IRS? If no resolution can be reached, call (877) 777-4778 to talk to your local tax advocate. He (she) may be able to help you out considerably.

Borrow from a financial institution

It makes sense to borrow from a financial institution if you can't pay your taxes. Why? The interest and fees are lower than the IRS's, and it's cheaper than paying the penalties to the IRS.

Morning Deals: Bagels & skin care

Deal Of The Day:

Bagels: Free bagel from Einstein Bagels when presented through May 2, 2010

Other Morning Deals:

Skin Care: Spend $60 on any combination of Olay and Covergirl products, get $10 off your order plus free shipping

More Skin Care: Get $20 back when you buy any RoC Brilliance skin care product at Drugstore.com!

Morning Deals: Cookbooks, flights & car rentals

Deal Of The Day:

Cookbooks: Free cookbook download for Emeril's 20th anniversary

Other Morning Deals:

Flights: Big savings on Spirit Airlines! Extra $15 off when you book your tickets with CheapOair.com

Car Rentals: Save up to 40% on seven major car vendors at CarRentals, LLC

Morning Deals: Pretzels, laptops & speakers

Deal Of The Day:

Pretzels: Free pretzel from Pretzelmaker.com

Other Morning Deals:

Laptops: Acer Aspire notebook - 3GB RAM, 160GB HDD, 15.6" TFT, refurbished (LX.PGX02.005) only $343.99!

Speakers: $10 off iHome stereo mini speakers - black only $39.99

Avoid these three life insurance mistakes

Buying a life insurance policy is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your family's financial future. It can also be one of the most confusing tasks.

The following are some mistakes to avoid when buying a life insurance policy:

Mistake No. 1:
Procrastination is by far the most common mistake made by the majority of people. Most assume that it is either too expensive or that they don't need coverage because they are young. Neither situation could be further from the truth.

Term life insurance is especially affordable, with policies starting at under $20 per month. As for age, the best time to purchase a life insurance policy is when you are young and healthy. Not only does it ensure that you will get the best rates possible, but it provides valuable protection for growing families that are not yet financially secure.

Mistake No. 2:
Purchasing the wrong policy is another common error. Life insurance is a complex topic with long-term implications, so it's a good idea to take your time and speak with an insurance agent about all your options. Cost, coverage, duration, tax consequences and other considerations should be addressed for your specific situation. Term, whole life and universal are just a few of the options available, so weigh your options wisely.

Mistake No. 3:
Not purchasing enough insurance can be a problem. It's easy to underestimate the cost of living when initially purchasing a life insurance policy. In addition to replacing an income or paying down mortgage and other debts, it's important to add in an inflation-adjusted cost-of-living increase plus extra expenses likely to be incurred in the event of a loss. Everything from yard care and maintenance to child care and tutoring may need to be supplemented in the event of the death of a spouse. Tally up the total cost--plus inflation--for all the services and support provided by the insured person and then use it as your starting place when obtaining a quote.

Life Insurance help?
Need help navigating through the complexities of selecting the right life insurance policy? Let Consumer United do the work for you. Contact our expert at 617-209-4299 or e-mail him at Aaron.Biedrzycki@consumerunited.com for a quote.

Morning Deals: Totes, contacts & kitchens

Deal Of The Day:

Totes: Free reusable shopping tote from Earthbound Farm

Other Morning Deals:

Contacts: Get ready for allergy season! Save $3 off a $25 order of eye drops at ACLens.com- use coupon DRY in instructions field at checkout!

Kitchens: Save up to 40% on brand names for your kitchen and bath at eFaucets.com!

Report shows consumers are cutting the cable cord

On the prowl for a cable and satellite alternative? Time to join the bandwagon.

A recent report issued by The Convergence Consulting Group claims that 800,000 Americans have "cut the cord" over the last two years on their cable television and now watch their TV online using services such as Netflix, Hulu and iTunes.

And, that number is expected to double by next year, growing to 1.6 million households by the end of 2011.

Is it time to pull the plug on your cable?

There are many sites online that offer free show streaming; from sitcoms to sports to special events. The caveat? It's not instant gratification like cable. It may take a day or even a week to see your program appear online.

Our suggestion for cord cutters? A small set-top-box device called Roku connects your television set to the internet. Couple that with a monthly Netflix subscription and save hundreds per year on cable fees.

So, where can you find your programs on the Internet? Click here for the lowdown.

Celebrate Earth Day with 20 green iPhone apps

Happy Earth Day! Here are 20 green apps to use on your iPhone to help you celebrate:

CarCare - $4.99

CarCare comes in pretty handy when you have a vehicle to take care of. CarCare lets you know when you need any service done, such as a tire rotation or an oil change. CarCare does this by automatically calculating your gas mileage at the pump.

OffMaps - $1.99

OffMaps, by Felix Lamouroux, lets you access maps, and locations...wherever you may be. OffMaps also lets you search offline, because it the maps are stores straight to your mobile device.

RepairPal - free

RepairPal is there when an emergency strikes you and/or your vehicle. The app provides accurate repair estimates for your vehicle as well, and locates the nearest tow truck for you.

Traffic - $1.99

Wouldn't it be wonderful to know the traffic along your route so you have time to choose a different route? Traffic takes care of this for you. The app finds the current conditions in the area you choose, or the area where you are located.

Twavel - $1.99

Twavel calculates the CO2 emissions associated with your travel arrangements, and offers alternatives.

CouponSherpa - free

CouponSherpa gives great discounts on everything shopping, such as shoes, clothing, travel, jewelry, electronics, sporting goods, and books. Forget about the paper coupons, and stick with CouponSherpa.

CraigsMobileList - $.99

Search, browse, respond, and post to ads on your iPhone. How green is that?

Locavore - $2.99

For $2.99, you can check out government and NGO data of seasonal foods, by state. This way you won't have to google for hours to know what will be on your dinner plate.

Harvest - $1.99

With Harvest, you can select the best produce. This app gives you information on the healthiest, best tasting, and freshest produce around.

FoodMenus - $.99

You want to try out a new restaurant, but want to know the prices, and want to make your food choices healthy ones. With FoodMenus, you can search over 100,000 menus in the U.S., and be confronted with the healthiest items to order off each menu.

Green Sushi Selector - $.99

Find out more about the fish before you eat it. This app lets you know what fish are endangered, and what fish have been caught or farmed in ways harmful to the environment.

Seafood Watch - free

The Monterey Bay Aquarium informs consumers about the quality and origination of seafood at grocery stores and restaurants. Check out the information on Seafood Watch!

VegOut - $2.99
VegOut gives the up-to-date list of restaurants around the globe that are vegetarian, vegetarian-friendly, and vegan.

Drinking Water - $.99

Don't want to buy bottled water? Use drinking water to find water fountains across the globe.

TrackMyTour - free

Share your adventures with your friends and family through TrackMyTour. Regardless if you are biking, hiking, sailing, or just traveling, TrackMyTour is for you.

Trails - $2.99

Record, import, and export trails onto your iPhone. You can also geotag and geocode non-iPhone photos, and share with Google Earth!

iLocate - $.99

Ready for a vacation? Check out iLocate to search for national and local parks, beaches, theme parks, and amusement parks in the U.S.

FindGreen - free

Looking for sustainable businesses that are interested in making a difference? FindGreen searches everything from yoga centers to restaurants.

TheGoodGuide - free

On the search for healthy, safe and environmentally friendly products? Just scan the barcode, and check out The GoodGuides ratings for health, and environmental and social responsibility.

Greenpeace Tissue Guide - free

If you're looking for tissue and toilet paper, Greenpeace Tissue Guide can help you make the best decision.

Morning Deals: Caps, Angie's List & magazines

Deal Of The Day:

Caps: Be a Friend For Change today, on Earth Day, and receive an eco friendly cap - stop by your Disney Store for details!

Other Morning Deals:

Angie's List: Find reliable contractors and doctors when you join Angie’s List today -use promo code LOCAL to save 15%!

Magazines: Take an additional 15% off at Best Deal Magazines- enter coupon code PXCJ425 during checkout

Morning Deals: Toothpaste, Mother's Day & lip balm

Deal Of The Day:

Toothpaste: Free Burt's Bees toothpaste sample

Other Morning Deals:

Mother's Day: Save up to 50% on great gifts for mom at drugstore.com!

Lip Balm: Purchase $10.00 in Yes to Carrots and receive a free lip balm ($3.69 value) at drugstore.com!

Survey says teens are infatuated with texting

Teens obsessed with texting? Go figure.

A recent survey by Pew Internet suggests that daily text messaging among American teens have skyrocketed in the past 18 months, jumping from 38 percent in Feb. 2008 to 54 percent in Sept. 2009.

And, get this, half of the teens surveyed send 50 or more text messages a day, or 1,500 texts a month, according to the report.

Older teen girls between 14- and 17-years-old lead the pack, with one in three sending more than 100 texts a day, or more than 3,000 texts a month.

The exception to the teen texting phenomenon? Younger teen boys are averaging 20 messages per day.

Looking for a cost-efficient prepaid phone? Consumer United has teamed up with TracFone's Straight Talk service which offers unlimited talk and text for only $45 a month or $30 for 1000 minutes/texts, 30 MB (about 300 pages) of mobile web access and free 411 calls.

Click here to learn more.

Morning Deals: Maid service, car rentals & flights

Deal Of The Day:

Maid Service: Free maid service For a lucky winner at Cleaningforareason.org

Other Morning Deals:

Car Rentals: Car rentals from $8.98 a day: 7 major car vendors, 15,000 locations!

Flights: Save big on Memorial Day airfare deals- plus extra $24 off. Promo code MEMORIAL9 and up to $15 off!

Morning Deals: Movie tickets, laptops & clock radios

Deal Of The Day:

Movie Tickets: Get a free ticket to Death at a Funeral when you sign up at Self.com (first 20,000)

Other Morning Deals:

Laptops: Acer Aspire AS5532-5535 AMD Athlon 64 TF-20 1.60GHz notebook - 3GB RAM, 160GB HDD, 15.6" TFT, refurbished (LX.PGX02.005) only $343.99

Clock Radios: $20 off Sony clock radio for iPod and iPhone only $49.99

Morning Deals: Popcorn, auto supplies & auto tops

Deal Of The Day:

Popcorn: Free popcorn coupon from Regal Cinemas

Other Morning Deals:

Auto Supplies: Get $30 off $399 w/code KEEP30 at AutoAnything.com

Auto Tops: Clean, protect and maintain your car's convertible top with convertible top care products from AutoGeek.net- great deals now!

Products to help with bathroom efficiency

Bathroom efficiency? Don't flush it down the toilet.

We've compiled some information from The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Design Trends Survey and EcoFriend.org. Here are some tips to maintain your bathroom's style, while increasing your bathroom's efficiency.

Curbless showers

Curbless showers save water and allow for universal access. The sloping shower floor directs the water straight to the drain. The showers are accessible for those in wheelchairs, and for those with ambulatory restrictions.

LED lighting
LED lighting is very energy efficient. The savings? LED lights last up to 10 times longer than incandescent lights, and uses only two to 10 watts of electricity.

Smart toilets

Water-saving toilets have never been in style more. Water-saving toilets use 1.6 gallons of water for every flush. Compare that to a standard toilet, that uses five gallons of water for every flush. By using a water-saving toilet, you are saving 100 gallons of water a day per household. Interested in purchasing a new toilet? Try the Home Core, all-in-one toilet. Designed by Dang Jingwei, the toilet is also a sink, mirror, and vanity table. The toilet also saves tens of liters of water that go down the drain.

Accessible designs

Accessible designs are designs that are universal. They can be used by everyone. Aging parents, young kids, and adults alike can share this space. Accessible design features include wide doorways and halls, and wheelchair accessible showers. This design is growing in popularity, because it benefits everyone.

Radiant heated floors
Radiant heated floors can save up to 1/3 of your heating bill. The catch? The floors cost four times more than a forced-air furnace. Radiant heated floors are a low voltage system that does not consume a lot of energy. Only a 15 to 20 amp GFCI-protected circuit is required to run the system. What exactly is a radiant heated floor? The floor consists of a mat with thin heating cables embedded within. This is installed under the bathroom floor, most efficiently ceramic tile.

Study finds that handling money minimizes pain

Forget the pain medications and the Ibuprofen. Instead, why not spend some quality time with your cash?

A recent study uncovered some interesting information regarding money and pain. People who physically held and counted cash in their hands, and then dipped their hands in a bowl of scalding water, felt less pain than those who didn't hold the cash.

Yep, the study suggests that handling dollar bills actually helps ease both physical and mental pain.

In another set of experiments, Discovery.com reports that those who held the cash were soothed and eased of pain. These people were able to "shrug off the emotional pain of social exclusion."

Kathleen Vohs, a consumer psychologist at the University of Minnesota's Carleton School of Management in the Twin Cities, states, "When people are reminded of money in a subtle manner by counting out hard currency, they experience painful situations as being not very painful."

Vohs adds, "You could think about being able charge yourself up before you encounter pain. When I used to run marathons, I would've maybe wanted to be reminded of money first."

Before a painful experience, the message here is to dip your hands into some cold, hard cash. Don't be afraid to count it, either.

Eli Finkel, a social psychologist at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, says, "These findings are groundbreaking. If real-world poverty follows the principles of these laboratory demonstrations, then confronting social rejection or physical pain should be experienced as more painful for poor people than for wealthier people."

Click here for the lowdown.

Paper coupons are preferred in New Jersey

In New Jersey, consumers are choosing paper coupons over online discount codes.

Why? According to an article by NJ.com, analysts say it's due to the overwhelming number of shopping malls in New Jersey. In fact, the Garden State boasts the most malls per square mile in the entire country. It makes sense that consumers favor printable paper coupons to hand over to the cashier at the mall, instead of shopping online.

How does the rest of the country pan out? New Yorkers prefer online discount codes, while Missourians are on the lookout for grocery coupons, according to RetailMeNot.com, a Web company that compiles coupons and discounts from the Internet.

RetailMeNot.com's founder, Guy King, talks about the growing popularity of coupons, in the online-discount or paper-coupon debate.

"Our take on it is that the recession almost made it OK to use coupons. It was suddenly a logical thing to do rather than be embarrassed about it." King observes that the recession made coupons a normality. It's no longer uncool to use coupons. If you do use coupons, you'll save money, and saving money is cool. Especially in a recession.

Since the recession, King's online traffic has doubled to 13 million users. As for online discounts, King believes the users will grow even after the recession. Why? "Everyone can get a discount without worrying about what the people in the queu will think." No one has to know, except for the paper-coupon clippers in New Jersey.

Morning Deals: Cupcakes, groceries & restaurants

Deal Of The Day:

Cupcakes: Stop by for two free cupcake bites at Cinnabon

Other Morning Deals:

Groceries: $15 coupon for Peapod

Restaurants: Now get 60% off Dinner of the Month Club purchases and get a free $10 gift certificate with every order- use code TREAT!

Morning Deals: Benefiber, Earth Day & hand repair

Deal Of The Day:

Benefiber: Free sample of Benefiber from Walmart

Other Morning Deals:

Earth Day: Celebrate 40 years of Earth Day with up to 40% off in our Green and Natural store at Drugstore.com

Hand Repair: Spend $30 on Burt's Bees and get a Healthy Hands, hand repair kit- (a $12.99 value) at drugstore.com

Twitter unveils 'promoted tweets' ad platform

Popular microblogging site Twitter plans to unveil a new ad platform called "promoted tweets," targeting only two to 10 percent of its thousands of users with initial campaigns from brands including Starbucks and Best Buy, as a way to monetize the social-media juggernaut.

The news has the online world all in a flutter because Twitter estimates that its users are creating 50 million messages, or tweets, per day.

In a blog post Tuesday, company co-founder Biz Stone says the company took its time "because we wanted to optimize for value before profit."

According to the site's blog, a percentage of users will start to see tweets promoted by their partner advertisers--brands including Sony Pictures, Red Bull and Virgin America--at the top of some search results pages.

Twitter.com is a social network where users can send 140-character messages or "tweets" to friends, family, and followers. Twitter is being used to communicate about one's day, and to keep up to date with social relationships.

However, the benefits of Twitter don't stop there. The service is also used to find or promote deals, coupons and savings for consumers.

Consumer United is currently using Twitter to promote samples and coupons for consumers as soon as we come across them.

Follow Consumer United on Twitter for daily savings and updates.

Morning Deals: Music, hotels & flights

Deal Of The Day:

Music: Free music download of Every Subway Car by the Barenaked Ladies

Other Morning Deals:

Hotels: Hotel sale- save up to 50% on rooms at top vacation spots. Take $15 off with promo code USHOTEL15

Flights: Save on airfare- take $10 off all flight tickets. Redeem coupon code TRAVEL10 for domestic air travel. Lowest airfare guarantee!

Morning Deals: Bags, DVD players & notebooks

Deal Of The Day:

Shopping Bags: Free reusable shopping bag from Kroger Co.

Other Morning Deals:

DVD Players: Magnavox Full HD 1080p Blu-ray disc DVD player with HDMI, SD card slot, $160 off! Refurbished only $69.99

Notebooks: Acer Aspire AS5532-5535 AMD Athlon 64 TF-20 1.60GHz notebook - 3GB RAM, 160GB HDD, 15.6" TFT, only $343.99

Morning Deals: Rice, Angie's List & magazines

Deal Of The Day:

Rice: Free Uncle Ben's rice sample

Other Morning Deals:

Angie's List: Find reviews on the services you need at Angie’s List- use promo code “SAVE TEN” for $10 off!

Magazines: Take an additional 15% off at Best Deal Magazines. Enter coupon code PXCJ411 during checkout

30% off coupon for H&R Block's tax prep services

With the Thursday, April 15 tax deadline literally around the corner, there's still time to take advantage of some last-minute savings from H&R Block's tax prep online services.

The crew over at Savings.com are offering a 30-percent off coupon here for the top-notch online edition of the trusted tax preparation company.

According to the crew at H&R Block, the economy and recovery is topping the list of what's important to taxpayers this year.

“The questions from taxpayers certainly echoed the tough financial times we are in,” says Jennifer Love, vice president of communications for H&R Block. “Families are struggling and saw the free hotline as a valuable lifeline to some tax-related stress relief.”

Taxpayers from across the United States, as well as some in Iraq, Australia, and Hong Kong, sought advice from H&R Block tax experts during the 24-hour hotline on March 25.

Questions ranged from traditional tax topics on unemployment, energy efficiency and life changes, to the quirky, like questions from a state lottery winner or a new lawyer wondering if the bar exam qualifies as a tax deduction. (It doesn’t. The cost of the exam and any review courses, are nondeductible personal expenses. Likewise for the CPA and other professional certifying exams.)

Click here for the 30-percent off coupon.

Save money on your home energy bill

Every year, the average American household spends roughly $100 annually due to the energy consumption from their power devices that are plugged in but not being used. In fact, the United States Environmental Protection Agency sums up the national energy cost to a spine chilling $10 billion per year.

It's important to know how much each appliance is costing you. Knowledge is power ... literally.

Thanks to a recent article, we've broken down your energy bill by the cost of each appliance.

Heating and cooling systems - 45 percent

45 percent of your bill goes to heating and cooling systems. Energy-efficient furnaces, air conditioners, and insulation need to be focused on in order to save money on your bill. Get an energy audit performed by your utility company to identify the problem areas and see how you can make the energy from your heating and cooling systems more efficient. Easy ways to cut down include using a ceiling and attic fan, buying a programmable thermostat, and insulating your attic and windows.

Dishwashers - 2 percent

Dishwashers account for 2 percent of your bill. As long as a high-efficiency dishwasher is used, more energy is being saved than by hand-washing dishes.

Washers and dryers - 10 percent

Washers and dryers collectively account for 10 percent of your energy bill. Energy-saving models work the best, and save the most. When thinking of buying a new model, make sure the cost is offset by the savings over a reasonable amount of time. Front loading machines are more efficient and can reduce energy used by 25 percent.

Hot water heaters - 11 percent

When it comes to water heaters, there are different options. Tank-less water heaters can save up to $50 a year in energy, and solar hot-water heaters are becoming popular. An easy fix? Grab an insulation blanket and wrap it around the hot-water heater. Set the heater to 20 degrees below normal, and save up to 10% percent on costs.

Refrigerators - 6 percent

French door models (freezer and fridge side by side) are less efficient. Replace ice makers with trays, and you're set for energy-saving success!

Electronics - 4 percent

Always unplug your electronics when you are not using them. $100 a year can be saved if you don't leave your computer and monitor running 24 hours a day. With your computer on sleep, you can save 80 percent and you can cut CO2 emissions by up to 1,250 pounds a year.

Lighting - 7 percent

Buy CFL light bulbs. Why? Lighting costs will be reduced up to 65%. Install timers that automatically turn on and off your lights and save even more.

Other - 15 percent

Miscellaneous items cost 15 percent of your bill. These items include cellphone chargers, toys, PDAs and home-security systems. Make sure to umplug every item for maximum savings