Line dry your clothes. Line drying your clothes has many benefits that can save money. Eliminating the dryer cuts down on utility costs needed for its operation, but also prevents added cooling costs for your home. The only issue is space, but most of us have a little space somewhere in the house.

Follow the directions. Following the manufacturer's recommendations makes sure that no expensive mistakes occur as the result of use. Many people overuse cleaning products to try to get done more quickly, with the only result being a hiked up cleaning budget. The directions give you an idea of how much is needed to get a cleaning job done.

Share a steam cleaner. Go in with a few friends or family members and purchase a nice steam cleaner together. Work out a plan for everyone to have access to it for routine maintenance, and the occasional emergency.

Buy easily cared for fabrics. Look before you buy. A dry-clean only, no iron blouse may look great on you but is it worth the added cost of the dry cleaners or home dry-cleaning products. You probably can't stay away from all special care items, but reducing them in your home can reduce your costs.

Find a Review. Before you buy into the latest cleaning craze, find out if it really works. Post a thread in the housekeeping products forum. Talk with friends and family members who may have used the product already. Check out the product reviews on this site.

Maintain. Use maintenance as a weapon against tough jobs that will require more effort and tools. Setting up a cleaning schedule will help you build mainenance of chores into your daily life. Letting jobs go too long will only take more time and money at a later point to fix.

Tee Off. Like golf? Buy clubs, shoes, and other gear for 20 percent less than retail at www.golfdiscount.com (call 888-394-4653), says Elizabeth Cline, author of The Bargain Buyer's Guide.

Sweat For Less. One way to get in shape cheap: Sign up for a class at a local community college (as little as $35 a semester). Then, use your ID to work out at the gym. Save $255 on the typical annual cost of a gym membership.

Blow Cold. A solar attic fan (about $375) pushes hot air out of your attic, cutting the work required of your air conditioner and typically trimming your electric bills by about $100 a summer.

Slow Down. What's the rush? Driving 55 mph burns 15 percent less gas per mile than driving 65. The typical driver can save $135 a year this way.

Wear It Well. Find beautiful clothes in consignment shops—but not just any consignment shops. "Go to the shops closest to the richest neighborhoods," suggest Ken and Daria Dolan, who host the syndicated radio show The Dolans. Snag a $250 designer dress for $70.

Trim The Fat. Once a year, put all your finances under a microscope. A prime cost-cutting target: unnecessary insurance. For instance, you may be able to drop the credit-life insurance that is often buried in the contracts for cars, major appliances, or mortgage loans. Sure, doing this might save you as little as $4 monthly, but you'll reap a bigger benefit: that special sense of satisfaction that you get from dumping something you don't need.

Colors. When building a home or replacing a roof, select a roof based more on energy efficiency than on how it looks. Light-colored roofs, such as white, galvanized metal or cement tile, do the best job of reflecting the sun, and cool quickly at night.