How to Save money at home / Ways to overcome recession

Running your dishwasher at night rather than during the day could cut your bill by 40 percent. Taking advantage of such options as off-peak rates can save most consumers $100 a year during the day could cut your bill by 40 percent. Taking advantage of such options as off-peak rates can save most consumers $100 a year.

Turn off the water while you shave or brush your teeth. Don't leave the tap running when you don't need it. Placing a plastic soda bottle full of water in the tank of an older toilet can cut the amount of water per flush without the trouble and expense of replacing the toilet. You can save as much as 10% a year on your heating bills by simply turning down your thermostat 10% to 15% for 8 hours.

Open the coverings on your south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to enter your home and close them at night to reduce the chilly air you may feel emanating from cold windows. If you replace 25% of your lights in high-use areas with fluorescents, you can save about 50% on your lighting energy bill. Before hopping into the car, check GasPriceWatch.com and GasBuddy.com They post prices for thousands of stations, so you can find the best deal in your neighborhood, or for wherever you're headed.

When it comes to hotel rooms, book directly with the hotel, over using a travel website. The Radisson, for instance, guarantees you'll find the best room rates at its site -- or it will match the lower Internet price and knock off another 25%.  When you are spending the day with your kids at a park or an amusement center, avoid the added expense of buying food there; pack a lunch instead.

Savvy shoppers can get cash back on clothes and, well, just about anything at sites like Ebates.com and FatWallet.com. Select an eatery at restaurant.com and buy a $25 dining certificate for $10; print it out and hand it to your server.