11 ways to save money now

Don't let this recession keep you down. Grab the opportunity to build a stronger portfolio, cut the fat from your budget, and give yourself a head-to-toe fiscal makeover.

8 of 11
BACKNEXT
8. Reorganize your insurance drawer
The lousy stock market has down insurance company investment profits. This explains why your auto coverage is expected to climb 4% this year and premiums on your homeowners policies are set to rise 3% - even though your house is probably worth less today than it was last year.

This is a good excuse to rebid those services. Shop around for your auto coverage first, and then see what it will cost you to add homeowners insurance as well. Most of the time, you'll save money on a package deal.

As you shop for deals, get quotes on higher deductible options for auto and homeowners coverage, to see if you can lower your bill that way.

As for life insurance, Prudential, Banner, and ING are among carriers that are boosting rates, reversing a multi-year industry trend of falling prices. It's still worth shopping around if your policy is at least five years old and your health hasn't deteriorated.

Start your search online. But also consult with a broker - specifically, one who sells policies from multiple carriers. Brokers can help identify quirks in pricing, says Judith Maurer, CEO of Tampa-based Low Load Insurance Services.

NEXT: De-stress with the help of a health-care coach
Last updated May 08 2009: 10:58 AM ET
More Galleries
Cutting health care's cost These Money heroes -- one in the halls of government, the other on Houston's freeways -- aim to ease the financial pain of medical treatment. More
Best deals on clothes Money magazine's Best Deals on Everything: Your guide to the latest bargains in men's suits, women's shoes, cotton T-shirts and gold jewelry. More
Financial help for people with disabilities These Money heroes devote their energies to supporting the careers and economic health of those with disabilities. More

Special Offer
Market indexes are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer LIBOR Warning: Neither BBA Enterprises Limited, nor the BBA LIBOR Contributor Banks, nor Reuters, can be held liable for any irregularity or inaccuracy of BBA LIBOR. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2013 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer The Dow Jones IndexesSM are proprietary to and distributed by Dow Jones & Company, Inc. and have been licensed for use. All content of the Dow Jones IndexesSM © 2013 is proprietary to Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Chicago Mercantile Association. The market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2013. All rights reserved. Most stock quote data provided by BATS.