12/15/11

If you have to have a car where you live, you know how expensive it can be to fill up your tank. Smartphone apps can help you find the lowest price on gas when you're out and about doing errands. The free app from GasBuddy.com helps you find the lowest price for fuel wherever you are; it scans more than 243 websites to track and find you the best prices in real time.

12/14/11

A lot of people will splurge on a designer handbag or accessory before attending an important milestone event, like a wedding or reunion. Instead of spending tons of money on something you may regret purchasing later, think green by renting instead. At websites like RentMeaHandbag.com and BagBorroworSteal.com, you can rent designer duds much like you would rent a DVD: You pay only for the amount of time you use it. Name-brand bags can be yours for as little as $10 per week.

12/13/11

City dwellers who rarely use their cars may want to think twice about keeping them. The total cost of gas, registration, insurance and payments (if the car isn't owned outright) can add up to thousands of dollars a year. A car that isn't a daily necessity can be sold to save money; when you do need a car, consider renting instead. This is an economical and ecological way to travel because you use the car only when you really, truly need it.