Save money on essentials

There are some things you can’t live without. BUT you can pay less for them.

1. Revisit your plans

Are you paying too much for your cell phone or your credit card? Check out Billshrink.com. This free Web site lets you enter in some information about your usage and compares this against other offerings in the market.

You'll get a personalized list of what other cell phone plans or credit cards would fit your needs and an estimate of how much you would save annually by switching.

2. Cut your auto insurance

If you’re still driving around in a rust bucket, you may want to consider dropping collision or comprehensive coverage. You may also want to consider raising your deductibles. This will lower your costs substantially. And what you do for a living can help you shave some dollars off your insurance. Some insurance companies give discounts for people in certain low-risk professions in a few states. If you're an economist, an accountant or a teacher you may be able to reduce your bill.

3. Cut prescription drug cost

Health care can be a huge drain on your wallet. But you can save money by knowing where to go. Some big box stores like Kmart, Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s have discount pharmacy services. Membership is not required to use the pharmacy services. If you are uninsured or have no drug coverage, make sure to tell your doctor. You may be able to get a healthy dose of samples. And think about pharmacy assistance programs. You may qualify for free or low-cost medicines. These are run mostly by drug companies. Keep in mind that you many have stringent income cut-offs. For more information, check out RxAssist.com, Partnership for Prescription Assistance at pparx.org and needymeds.org.