Yesterday, FatHeadDog’s chief financial officer (husband) opened the mail to find correspondence from American Express that they’re raising our credit card interest rates, with an explanation that sums to “that’s the cost of doing business.” My off the bat response–”Let’s call and ask them to lower it. If not, see ya later American Express.”

If you didn’t already know, you can call your credit card companies to ask for a lower rate. In fact, more than 75% of people who call to ask for a lower rate are successful on the first call, according to financial author David Bach in his new book “Fight for Your Money: How to Stop Getting Ripped Off and Save a Fortune.”

Here’s how: Take any of your credit cards that are carrying a balance, flip them over, and call the number on the back. Tell them that you want an interest rate reduction or you’ll take your business elsewhere. Before you call, know the rate you’re currently paying and the kind of rates that other banks are offering. (Bankrate.com is a great source for comprehensive lists of interest rates from credit card companies across the country.)

If the first person you talk to won’t do it, ask to talk to a supervisor. Be aware that there are often many levels of supervisors, so if the first supervisor doesn’t give you what you request, ask to speak to that supervisor’s manager.

Even if the credit card lords are only able to shave off a few points from a high interest rate, it will make a difference. If you have a $5,000 balance, even a 3% rate reduction saves you $150 a year.

What happens if they won’t negotiate? Ask to have the account closed. This will trigger a transfer to the customer retension department–the final stop of customer service whose job is to talk customers out of canceling their accounts. It’ll likely work, and once you get one card down, I bet you’ll find it such a rush that you’ll press onward for all your cards. No? Just me?

Do dishes in the tub. When you need to wash lots of dirty dishes fast (especially after a big Super Bowl party), pile them in the bathtub and fill it with hot soapy water. Return later, drain the tub, turn on the shower to rinse, and move everything into a laundry basket for drying.

De-stink the fridge with coffee. Just place a bowl of fresh ground coffee on the shelf. In a few days, it’ll absorb all odors. Then you can discard.

Clean your pipes with antacid. Plumbing is plumbing, right? So drop three antacid tabs and a cup of white vinegar into the clogged sink. Wait a few minutes and turn on the hot water. The gurgling will be gone.

Nuke the microwave. Add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of baking soda to 2 cups of water. Boil it in the microwave for 5 to 10 minutes at the oven’s highest power. The cleansing steam will permeate every stain, and all you’ll have to do is sponge it away.

Polish copper pots with beer. Although it pains many greatly to waste perfectly good beer, it’s an acceptable trade-off when facing hours of scrubbing. Simply soak your sullied copper pots in beer and then wipe clean. Beer’s natural acidity will restore the original shine.

Use power tools. To help clean out those hard-to-reach places in your car, clear everything out and open all doors. Then blast dust and crumbs out with a leaf blower.

Source: vocalpoint.com

There are some things that even in these tight times are still worth the investment. Experts at Vocalpoint.com say smart spends include…

Postage stamps. Sure, automatic bill pay saves time, but it’s an easy way to lose track of your spending. Over time, you can lose touch with how much things like cell phones and video rentals are costing you. To avoid “bill creep,” settle up with old-fashioned paper checks and stamps. While you’re writing out the payment, ask yourself whether the service is really worth it. Tip: Be sure and purchase the “forever” stamps, that are valid for the current postage stamp rate, even if you purchased them when they were cheaper.

Fruits and vegetables. Eating well can save you money in the long run by keeping you healthy, so don’t scrimp here. If your budget is tight, rest assured that frozen and canned varieties offer up just as much nutrition (often, more!) than fresh choices. That’s because they’re preserved at the peak of freshness, while some fresh produce might travel pretty far before it even hits your grocery store. The best bargain with fruits and veggies is what you’ll actually eat. For some people, this might mean spending a little more to buy precut, packaged varieties rather than letting fresh buys go bad before you get around to eating them.

Exercise. If you’re forced to let your gym membership lapse, don’t give up exercise altogether. The more active you are, the more energy and overall health you’ll have. Truth is, you don’t need anything other than your own two feet and a decent pair of sneakers (discount-store variety is fine) to stay fit by walking.

Prescription meds. Stopping the use of some antidepressants can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms, and quitting statin drugs can make your blood “stickier,” increasing your short-term risk of heart attack and stroke. If you can’t afford your meds, be honest with your doctor—it’s not an uncommon concern. Your doctor may be able to prescribe cheaper generics or even supply free samples to help for a while.

Little indulgences. You don’t have to go on an expensive vacation to get away from it all. Your local library has lots of free music, videos, and books. And just a small squirt of shower gel can fill your bath with bubbles. Or treat yourself and your significant to some at-home “room service” with this breakfast recipe: Halve a grapefruit and segment it with a knife so that the individual sections can easily be removed with a fork. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Broil for a few minutes to crystallize the top, and serve. It’s deliciously sweet and sour. Imagine you’re at the Ritz-Carlton.

Source: Vocalpoint.com

Ask friends/relatives to save unwanted coupons for you from the Sunday newspaper. Diapers, formula, razors, frozen dinners.. whatever you purchase frequently, ask friends and family to swap coupons for which they’re looking.

Chances are, you’re not alone in cutting coupons. In June 2008, a Nielsen survey of 50,000 consumers found that nearly one-third used grocery coupons once a week or more.  In December 2007, just one-fourth of those surveyed were clipping coupons at that rate.