Tip #1: Park at the highest point in the parking lot so you can get a rolling start before starting your engine.

First of all, I don't come across many parking lots built on steep hills. But even if I did find one on a slope, how much money would this tip save, a nickel?

Tip #2: Overinflate your car's tires to reduce tire/road friction.

I realize fuel costs are high, but what about the cost of blowing up a perfectly good tire? Not to mention the danger of a vehicle blowing a tire on the highway.

Tip #3: Wear an ice vest during hot days and drive with the windows up and air conditioner off.

My feeling is this: if you can afford the extra $5,000 or so for a hybrid model, you should be able to pay the extra quarter or two it will cost to run the air conditioner. On top of that--an ice vest in broad daylight? At some point the embarrassment factor has to kick in. Where would someone buy an ice vest anyway?

The worst of these hypermiling tips can be life-threatening. Some folks turn off their engine as they exit the freeway off-ramp, coasting up to three miles before their vehicle's momentum runs out. Other maniacs take 50mph "death turns" around corners just to avoid braking. While I'm sure those maneuvers save a ton of fuel, someone stupid enough to risk the lives of everyone on the road just to save a few dollars shouldn't be allowed behind the wheel.

Saving money is important, but not when it puts lives at risk. A gallon of gas isn't worth your life--or anyone else's.

Earlier this month the danger was emphasized by the "dramatic rescue by French commandos and a German shipping company's ransom payout to recover crew and vessel," noted Lloyd's of London.

Last week, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), a division of the International Chamber Of Commerce (ICC), issued a warning that within the past 48 hours four ships have been attacked and hijacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden. The pirates are using automatic weapons and Rocket Propelled Grenades.

"If we do not respond robustly against the pirate gangs, these incidents which are now occurring with an alarming frequency are only set to further increase," said ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Director Pottengal Mukundan who called on naval vessels in the area to give more priority to protecting shipping.

The Gulf of Aden is an important trade route because of its access to the Suez Cannel--without this route ships would have to add 4,500 miles onto their journey from Europe to Asia. With growing risks of piracy it becomes not only dangerous for the crew, but harder and more expensive to insure goods and shipping.

Map of the Gulf of Aden

Confused? Let's dig deeper.

Case in point: the Honda Civic Hybrid.

The Honda Civic Hybrid can reach 42.2 mpg--excellent fuel economy by even the toughest standards. That's impressive--until you take into account that the gas-only Civic costs roughly $7,000 less than the hybrid model, and boasts a respectable 30 mpg of its own. Hmm...

Let us assume for a moment that gas prices will stay at current levels (roughly $4.00 a gallon), and drivers will travel the EPA-estimated average of 15,000 miles per year. Under this formula, U.S. News and World Report estimates that Civic Hybrid owners would have to wait 12 years--that's 144 months--before they'll save enough money in fuel costs to make up for their original $7,000 investment over the gas-only model.

But that's not all. According to InsWeb.com's auto insurance quoting technology, for a 30-year-old single male driver with a clean driving record, the Civic Hybrid will cost slightly more (roughly 4%) to insure with full coverage than its gas-only counterpart.

Here's another thing to consider: A report by the Automotive Lease Guide finds that hybrid vehicles hold less residual value than gas-only vehicles. After three years, a gas-only 2008 Honda Civic will hold 60% of its sticker value--2% more than the Civic Hybrid. Looking at it this way, maybe hybrids aren't such a steal after all. But not so fast.

Enter the Ford Escape Hybrid. The hybrid model runs just under $3,000 more than the conventional Escape, and at 32 mpg will make up the cost difference in under 5 years. And after three years, the Escape Hybrid is one of the few hybrids projected to maintain more residual value than the gas-only model.

So what's the deal--are hybrids worth it or aren't they? Should I follow the trend and go green, or stick it out with gas-only?

Well, as you've probably realized by now, the ultimate answer is: it all depends.

What model you choose, how many years you own it, fluctuation in fuel prices, average miles driven per year, and other factors contribute to a hybrid's long-term cost effectiveness.

For the commuter driving 40,000 miles every year, a hybrid's increased fuel efficiency would make it a great deal; if grandma's just looking for something that can handle her weekly grocery run, she should stick with gas-only. For a person who trades in their car for a new model every year, skip the hybrid; for the die-hard who plans on keeping their vehicle until the bolts come loose and it falls to pieces in the driveway, go green.

In the end, because hybrids are more expensive than traditional gasoline-powered vehicles, the fuel savings aren't substantial enough to make purchasing one cost-effective--at least not right away. If you can afford to pay more upfront in order to save some cash later, hybrids are a great investment. If you can't, you'd be better off sticking with gas-only.

After a dozen or so $100+ fill-ups in a gas-guzzling pickup, a little gas-sipping hybrid seems like a great idea. But if you aren't careful, rushing to buy a hybrid without considering the costs could leave your checking account running on fumes.

"Building on legislation already helping save lives in California, I am happy to sign this bill because it further encourages safe and responsible driving," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "Banning electronic text messaging while driving will keep drivers' hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road, making our roadways a safer place for all Californians."

California joins 5 other states--Alaska, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey and Washington--who have adopted laws banning texting and driving, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.

This bill is meant to compliment a bill signed by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2006, which requires California drivers to use a hands-free device when talking on a cell phone and driving.

The texting bill, which goes into effect January 1, 2009, institutes a fine of $20 for the first offence, and $50 for each subsequent offence.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, "special event insurance is designed to provide financial protection if you have to cancel or postpone a gathering due to adverse weather and natural disasters such as hurricanes. Most policies also provide coverage for cancellation due to the death, illness or serious injury of a key participants in the event, such as members of the immediate family. Also, if an officiant, such as a minister or rabbi, or a key vendor, like the caterer, florist or photographer, does not show up, you can recover some of the costs."

So here is what I'm thinking: if your wedding gets rained out, you're out a lot of money and will more than likely not be having a great day. Depending on how much coverage you get, you will only recover some of the costs. Also, if your caterer doesn't show up, I'm pretty darn sure you get a refund. But wedding insurance won't help salvage your day.

The winery we are getting married at is pretty popular for weddings, so if our wedding were to get rained out, we would have to wait long time to get another date there. Wedding insurance won't be able to ensure that you get your venue on the next date you choose.

I know many people are thinking that "at least something is better than nothing," but if you are going to have to plan a whole other wedding, you're going to have to end up paying more anyway. But it is comforting that wedding insurance provides coverage for professional counseling when the cancellation or postponement of the event causes severe emotional stress (a doctor's note will be needed).

I think people will be better off talking to their caterers, florists, DJs, etc., to see what their policies are in case of inclement weather. This way you might be able to negotiate a price in case of bad weather and it could end up saving you money on a wedding insurance premium. And if all else fails, I heard Reno's a nice place to get married.

Wouldn't it be nice to flit around the word, whipping out the credit card whenever we liked without a care of the spending limit? Sure, but most of us don't have that kind of luxury. Monitoring our spending can be a pain, but is necessary to make sure all the bills get paid. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends these steps for creating a budget:

1. Start by listing all your income

2. List your "fixed" expenses--like mortgage payments or rent, car payments, and insurance premiums

3. List the expenses that vary--like entertainment, recreation, and clothing

By identifying necessary expenses, and prioritizing the rest, you can make ends meet on the basics: housing, food, health care, insurance, and education, and create plans to save money and pay down debt.

Since today "greenliness" is next to godliness, try some green home tips to keep more cash in your checking account. Using a programmable thermostat can save you 5-30% on your bill if it's programmed correctly according to the Department of Energy. Experts suggest keeping the winter temp around 68 degrees when you're home and 60 degrees when you're gone and at night. For the summer, keep the temps around 75 degrees when at home, and 80 degrees when you're gone. You can bundle up in a blanket or build a fire in the winter, and turn on a fan in the summer. Save money on your electric bill by shutting off unused appliances and turning out the lights when you aren't in the room.

Instead of running straight to the yellow pages for a handyman when the toilet won't stop running, ask a friend who is great at fixing things. Ask them to show you how they work their magic so you can help yourself in the future. If you haven't the time to deal with that leaking faucet right now, put a bucket under it to collect the water and use it to water plants. Are your carpets on the dingy side? It might be cost effective to rent a carpet steamer and clean your own carpets instead of hiring a professional. Do you have a yard maintenance service? Save a chunk of change by mowing your own lawn, and get a little exercise, too.

When was the last time you looked at your homeowners insurance policy? That long, huh? Take some time to go through and see what your coverage amounts, deductibles and premiums are. Another way to save yourself some money is by lowering your deductibles (but understand that you would have to pay more out of pocket should an accident or other problem occur). It could be time to update your coverage. Have you improved your home? Would those improvements be factored in if there was a fire or other disaster? Save yourself money and headaches by shopping around for the best deals.

Money Saving Tips Part 2: The Coupon Phenomenon and the Discount Grocery Store

Money Saving Tips Part 3: The Dollar Store

Money Saving Tips Part 4: The Farmers Market

Money Saving Tips Part 5: Black Friday Savings Tips

According to Time Magazine, the company lost more than $10 billion in 2007 and $14.7 billion in the first six months of 2008. As losses piled up, its industry ratings were downgraded, and financial experts suspected the company would fail within days.

On Tuesday, the New York Times had reported AIG would file for bankruptcy as early as today. Just hours later, the paper reported the deal with the Federal Reserve.

AIG, a global power with assets topping $1 trillion, was seen by the Federal Reserve as too important to the global economy to fail.

I already had enough stuff to furnish an apartment. So when we kept carrying in more and more boxes from my future in-laws car, her car, and my car, my first thought was "holy crap."(I might have used an expletive there...) But as our apartment quickly filled up with boxes and shoes, lots of shoes, the realization that we need some insurance coverage in case our apartment gets robbed or destroyed due to a fire, wind damage, or any other covered disaster, became obvious. There is no way we could replace her shoe collection on our own!

The great thing with renters insurance is that it is affordable. The average renters insurance policy costs around $16 a month. Renters insurance protects your possessions in case they are stolen or damaged from a covered peril. There is also liability coverage in renters insurance incase someone falls in our apartment and decides to sue us.

The hardest part of getting renters insurance is creating a home inventory. As we unpacked, we made sure we noted the serial numbers off of her big ticket items (TV, computer, etc...) as well as took pictures of all her belongings. While this was time consuming, the home inventory serves two purposes: 1) if we do have to file a claim, we will have a list of all our possessions as well as how much we paid for them, which will help the claims process and 2) helped us decide how much renters insurance coverage we needed.

In all honesty, I was one of the naïve people who thought "I don't need renters insurance." But once we filled up our apartment, we both knew it was wise to purchase renters insurance. Now we get to compromise on what we watch on our renters insurance protected TV's.

Ike is so massive that it fills most of the Gulf of Mexico, with tropical storm winds that extend 275 miles from the storm's center. Roughly 3.5 million citizens live within the storm's projected impact zone.

The National Weather Service projects a storm surge up to 22 feet high, which could send flood waters surging as far as Houston, 20 miles inland.

Houston is home to over 20% of all U.S. oil refining capacity, and the site of a major fuel distribution channel. Oil prices have already jumped nearly $2 a barrel Friday as Texas coast oil refineries were forced to shut down.

Ike's outer bands are already causing flood damage to many areas in the Louisiana coast still recovering from Hurricane Gustav.

The question set is designed such that a consumer shopping for insurance at InsWeb, having completed the question set, would be in a position to receive auto insurance quotes from several insurance companies and/or their agents. These are consumers who indicated that they either currently were driving these vehicles or were interested in these vehicles.

The table below shows education level of the driver and the percentage of foreign car owners and US car owners.

From the above table, you can see that 36% of foreign car drivers have indicated they have a 4-year college degree or a postgraduate degree, whereas 20% of US car drivers indicate such. So it is logical to assume that the more educated a person is, the more likely they are to drive a foreign car.

The following table shows the top car makes for each level of education.

There was other demographic information that was linked to vehicle ownership; such as income (at a ZIP code level). While this information was not provided by the consumers themselves, the data was obtained by merging the InsWeb data with a database of ZIP codes. For example, this data showed that foreign car drivers lived in ZIP codes that tended to have higher levels of income than US car drivers. This shouldn't be terribly surprising given their tendency to attain higher levels of education.

There was other demographic information that was linked to vehicle ownership; such as income (at a ZIP code level). While this information was not provided by the consumers themselves, the data was obtained by merging the InsWeb data with a database of ZIP codes. For example, this data showed that foreign car drivers lived in ZIP codes that tended to have higher levels of income than US car drivers. This shouldn't be terribly surprising given their tendency to attain higher levels of education.

Interestingly, the data also showed that, foreign car drivers tended to be younger (average age 39.8) than US car drivers (average age 41.1). The top 5 most popular makes by drivers who obtained a 4 year degree are Maserati (53%), Aston Martin (53%), Saab (53%), Ferrari (52%), and Porsche (52%). What's the moral of the story? If you want to drive a nice car, study hard!

Interestingly, the data also showed that, foreign car drivers tended to be younger (average age 39.8) than US car drivers (average age 41.1). The top 5 most popular makes by drivers who obtained a 4 year degree are Maserati (53%), Aston Martin (53%), Saab (53%), Ferrari (52%), and Porsche (52%). What's the moral of the story? If you want to drive a nice car, study hard!

2009 Ford Focus RS

The RS, short for "Rallye Sport," is such a stylish car that it could be mistaken for a super-sleek, sporty rendition of a Civic Hatchback. It sports a Volvo 2.5-liter inline engine and a turbocharger that pushes roughly 300 horsepower--while still managing to produce respectable fuel efficiency.

Remind me again why Ford doesn't sell the Focus RS in North America?

2008 Opel Corsa OPC

Ok, so the Opel Corsa of yesteryear looked more like a Hyundai Accent than a sexy supermini. But the 2008 Opel Corsa OPC (known as the Vauxhall Corsa VXR in the United Kingdom) turns the page on that legacy of lameness. It's essentially a beefed-up, highly-stylized 2-door Saturn Astra with cooler wheels, a sleeker front-end and an awesome rear spoiler.

It hits 0-60 mph in under 7 seconds and clocks in at over 35 mpg. This mini sports car has it all.

2008 Lexus Hybrid LS 600h L

Who said hybrid vehicles aren't sexy? Ottoman wood paneling, four-zone digitally-controlled climate control, 19-speaker sound system, and parallel-park assist function are all standard.

It's sleek, it's stylish, and looks like--well, a Lexus. Need I say more? In short, you get all the best Lexus has to offer, plus the added benefit of hybrid technology. What more could you want?

Fisker Karma Hybrid

Just-launched Fisker Automotive is dedicated to providing quality eco-friendly premium cars. With the Fisker Karma hybrid, they're off to a great start.

The Karma might be the sexiest hybrid car ever to hit the roadways. Its body style is low, long, and wide--reminiscent of a Corvette on steroids. It can run 0-60 mph in less than 6 seconds, reach a top speed of 125 mph, and standard 22-inch rims are the coolest you'll ever see on a sports car.

The best feature of the car--other than its out-of-this-world appearance--is its two driving modes: Stealth Drive for quiet, economical performance (battery-only range up to 50 miles), and Sport Drive when you need some get-up-and-go. Oh, and did I mention the Karma comes standard with a full-length solar panel roof?

If you have $80,000 lying around (like former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, who has already placed an order), you'll be able to get your hands on this beauty in late '09.

5. Jurassic Park--It's not everyday that a Tyrannosaurus Rex chases you through the jungle. The T-Rex chasing after the jeep has become an iconic cinematic scene. Who doesn't think of this when reading "objects in mirror are closer then they appear" on a mirror? (A great parody of this is in Toy Story 2!)

4. Back to the Future--Marty McFly "invents" the skateboard to escape from the complete jerk Biff and his cronies in 1955. The best part of this chase is Biff crashing his convertible into a manure truck--need I say more?

3. Austin Powers in Goldmember--Austin's dad's Mini Cooper spy car chases the evil Dutch metallurgist Goldmember. I laughed so hard the first time I saw this (and every time after). The international man of mystery and company drive through the streets of Japan, eventually running the Mini into a giant dinosaur/lizard. People run and scream even though it is NOT Godzilla.

2. The Blues Brothers--It is a good thing Jake and Elwood Blues were on a mission from God, because I doubt they could have gotten car insurance on the Bluesmobile. They were chased by cops and country singers, drove through a mall, and destroyed more cars then any other movie characters. Perhaps the best dialogue was while the Blues were heading for Chicago--Elwood: It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses. Jake: Hit it.

1. What's Up Doc?--What, never heard of it? I'm not surprised. Let me explain why this is the greatest car chase ever. Picture it: San Francisco. A man and woman hijack a grocery delivery bike to evade mobsters, CIA agents, and a random old man who joins the chase when told to "follow that cab!" They ditch the bike and take a 60's era VW Bug decorated for newlyweds the wrong way down a one-way street. There is a freshly cemented road which gets driven over (twice), workers moving a large pane of glass, famous Lombard Street and, goodness me, a Chinese dragon. Not to mention that all the cars end up in San Francisco Bay! Not famous in the least but the best of all time!

Other Great Chases That Didn't Quite Make it:

Toy Story--Woody and Buzz Lightyear chase a moving van on a radio controlled car. They light a rocket when the batteries die.

I, Robot--Computer controlled cars malfunction and paranoid detective fights off crazy robots.

Golden Eye--Aston Martin vs. red Ferrari through Monte Carlo countryside. Classic James Bond.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith--Bullets flying at their minivan, while they reveal all the secrets they've kept: I knew I saw your dad on Fantasy Island!

The Italian Job (2003)--Mini Coopers drive off with a ton of gold. After seeing this movie I immediately wanted to go out and buy a Mini Cooper (I haven't because I made a deal with someone--long story).

(Toss-Up states are close to the national averages of 60% American cars vs. 40% foreign cars.) (See Vehicle Origin Chart)

Of all American cars in the database, 42% are in Democratic states, 38% in Republican states, and 20% in Toss-Up states (see Party composition graph). Of the foreign cars, 50% are in Democratic states, 30% in Republican states, and 20% in Toss-Up states.

If we look at individual states by ranking the percentage of American car market share, the states with the least amount of American cars (See Table 1) are mostly Democratic. The states with the least amount of foreign cars are mostly Republican.

However, if you rank by domestic auto dominance 1st (see Table 2), you will notice that only two out of the top 10 states are Democratic states (one of which is Michigan - a state that you would expect to be dominated by American cars because of the abundance of auto plants that exist there), while six are Republican states.

Does this mean that Democrats love our country any less than Republicans? Is it reasonable to conclude that somebody driving a Ford is more patriotic than somebody driving a Toyota?

All car and driver data for this article was taken from InsWeb's database of consumers who shopped for Insurance and submitted a lead between January 1st, 2008, and August 25th, 2008. All political data was taken from Pollster.com's main page on August 29th, 2008 (http://www.pollster.com/).

Hurricane Ike, a fierce Category 3 hurricane, isn't far behind. Due north of the Caribbean on Friday, computer models are predicting it could reach the Gulf of Mexico or the Florida Keys within days.

Tropical Storm Josephine is making its way across the Atlantic, and has the potential to reach hurricane status.

• Emergency supplies should always be kept on hand. Canned food items, bottled water, flashlights, a battery-operated radio, sheets and blankets, plenty of winter clothing, essential prescription drugs and emergency cash should be close at hand at all times.

 

• An emergency evacuation plan should be in place for every member of the household.

   

• Install storm shutters or cover windows to prevent window breakage. Check for loose siding on your home and secure it if necessary. If you need to evacuate, turn off all your utilities and disconnect any electrical item in your home.

   

• Last but not least, review your insurance coverage! As a homeowner, you should review your insurance coverage often so you'll have time to make any necessary changes to your policy. What are you covered for? What's excluded? How much is your deductible? Do you need more coverage? Do you have flood insurance?

   

Even though I feel healthy and go to the gym, go for bike rides and go running, you just never know what is going to happen. While Jackie is finishing up college, we are dependent on my income. Since life insurance is meant to replace lost income, it makes sense for me to get a life insurance policy.

Even though my family consists of me, my fiancée, two cats, and a lizard, they all come with their own expenses. If I were to perish, then how would my fiancée afford to pay the rent, buy food, buy pet food, pay the bills, and my final expenses? The amount of life insurance we need is enough to cover my income and to cover my final expenses.

The last thing I want is to leave my fiancée in debt. Another good reason to buy a life insurance policy now is since I am young, and presumably healthy, my life insurance rates will be lower than if I waited until I was older to purchase a life insurance policy.

So after we decide on what caterer we are going to use, my fiancée and I are going to decide what life insurance policy we need. While it is hard to think about protecting her financially should something happen to me, it is something that we must consider and figure out. On that cheery note, I'm off to the gym...

Gas-wasting tip #1: Accelerating extremely slowly.

Punching your vehicle from 0-60mph in 6 seconds doesn't help fuel economy, but neither does accelerating at a snail's pace. While accelerating slowly may seem like a great strategy, it actually bogs down the engine and uses more fuel. Not to mention it's extremely annoying...

Keep your bank account healthy and find a happy accelerating medium.

Gas-wasting tip #2: Turning the air conditioner off and rolling down the windows on the highway.

Rolling down a vehicle's windows creates extra drag, making the engine work harder. In most newer vehicles, it's actually more fuel efficient to roll up your windows and enjoy the cool breeze of the air conditioner.

Besides, who wants to battle mid-summer rush hour without air conditioning?

Gas-wasting tip #3: Trucks driving with the tailgate down.

While it may seem like a good idea to lower a truck's tailgate, doing so actually decreases fuel economy. When a truck's tailgate is raised, a protective air bubble will form in the bed, making the truck a bit more aerodynamic.

So next time you spot someone driving with their tailgate lowered, do them a huge favor and give them a link to this blog posting.

Gas-wasting tip #4: Driving halfway across the city to buy cheaper gas.

This is the most ridiculous tip of all. "Gas is $3.90 down the block, but it's $3.86 five miles down the road. Hmm..."

Unless you're going to save a substantial sum, just fill up at the nearest gas station. The gas you burn travelling to a more distant location will easily eliminate any savings you might enjoy. How much money are you really going to save by buying gas at a station that's $.04 cheaper anyway? A quarter or two per fill up?

Even if you do save a little, isn't your time spent sitting in traffic worth anything? How about the extra smog you're releasing into the atmosphere? Wear and tear on the vehicle? Not to mention the extra risk of getting into a car accident.

Here are some simple fuel-saving tips you can count on: drive slower, smoothly, and as seldom as possible. And if you can afford a hybrid, buy one.