Crammer Says "Buy a House!"

Jim Cramer of CNBC's Mad Money a few month ago urged home owners to torch their house for the insurance money. Now that the banking crisis is being averted, he is imploring everyone "that between now and the next six months you have to buy a house.” Why, he believes that the banks are sensing a bottom in the housing market. Check out his rants at CNBC.

Go Green and Save!

Reducing your impact on the environment can be easy and and save you money in the process. Here are four simple changes you can make to alter the footprint you and your home leave on the environment and put money back in your pocket.

Change your light bulbs. Energy saving Compact Florescent Light Bulbs can last 10 times longer and use 60% less energy than an incandescent bulb, which in turn can save 75% of lighting costs.

Install a programmable thermostat. If every household in America turned down the furnace and air conditioning when they are not home, we could decrease greenhouse gas production by about 35 million tons of CO2 and individually save about 10% a year on energy costs. In the summer, set your AC to 78 degrees while your home and give it a break while you are away. While in the winter, set the furnace at 68 degrees while your home and back it off to 60 degrees while your away. Program the thermostat to adjust the temperature shortly before you are due home.

Washing your clothes in warm or cold water can greatly reduce your energy consumption compared to washing with hot water. Warm water reduces your energy consumption by half while cold water can reduce it up to 90%.

Pump up your tires. Under inflated car tires can hurt your gas mileage by 3%. Check the inside of the driver's side door or car manual for your tire's proper PSI.

Going green doesn't have to be hard or costly. These four easy tips can decrease your effects on the environment and keep money in your bank account!