Your One-Day Financial Makeover

10:00 a.m. Cut heating and utility costs. 
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that the average family spends $1,400 a year on energy bills. This past season, prices soared up to 45 percent, partly due to increased demand. To lower your bill, surf over to energy.gov, the U.S. Department of Energy's website. Go to Information for Consumers and click on "Your Home." You'll find the Home Energy Saver, a handy energy-audit tool. By entering information about your house―the year it was built, the number of windows, the type of heating system - you'll generate tips for improving its energy efficiency. The more specific you are, the more detailed the advice. You won't have time to fix all these things now, but you can print out a list and follow up this weekend. For example, investing just $33 to $100 in a programmable thermostat―which you can set to lower your home's temperature at night and raise it in the morning―can slice 5 to 30 percent off your heating and cooling costs, according to the Department of Energy.

Average annual savings: $1,000 if you live in an extreme climate, like Vermont; $450 if you live in a milder one, like San Francisco.

11:00 a.m. Scrutinize your wireless, long-distance, and Internet bills. 
If the cost of staying connected makes you want to become a hermit, scout for better rates at lowermybills.com or billsaver.com, free comparison-shopping sites. LowerMyBills.com allows you to search 18 categories of services, including long-distance carriers and Internet access. When you find a rate you like, call the provider directly. (Both sites conduct background checks on companies listed.) RS testers saved, on average, $150 a year on long distance, $100 on cellular service, and $80 a year on Internet access. Savings vary, based on location and whether you want to go with a brand name. For instance, one tester reduced her monthly Internet-access fee from $24 to $10 by switching from AOL to a local service.

Average annual savings: Up to $80 a year on Internet service, $150 on long distance, and as much as $100 on cell-phone bills. 

 

Midday: Entertainment

Noon. Convert coins to cash, get a library card, and swap your gift cards. 
After a lunch break, get ready to take a walk or a drive. Gather up all your spare change and go to one of the free or cheap change-counting machines that are available in many grocery stores and banks (for a nationwide listing, visit theunderstory.com). One tester turned up $143, which she then put into an interest-bearing savings account. While you're out, sign up for a library card. Borrowing hardcover books instead of buying them can save even the casual reader, who buys an average of four hardcover books a year, about $70. Once you're back, hunt down any unused gift cards you have and go to swapagift.com. For a $4 listing fee, you can buy, sell, or trade your unused cards for those of merchants you prefer.

Average annual savings: Library card, $70. Found money, varies by household. Gift cards, $25 to $50 (assuming you would otherwise have let the cards languish in your desk drawer).