How to squeeze a nickel

Here's hoping you find new ideas among these staff and reader tips

This article is the archived version of a report that appeared in June 2009 Consumer Reports magazine.

Bills & saving

• I pay most of my bills electronically through credit-card debit or bank debit. I'm never late and I don't have to pay penalties.
• The Web site at www.billshrink.com can help you analyze your cell-phone bill to determine whether you'll save money with a different plan.
• Call up your Internet, phone, and cable companies and try to get a better deal. I cut my Internet bill in half that way.
• Don't go to coin machines that charge to convert your change to bills. Some banks offer that service free.
• Set up a direct deposit into a savings account. You'll soon get used to not having that amount available in every paycheck.
• I put in a drawer every $5 bill I get as change.