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En español | * LIST * | * SLIDESHOW * Photos * * * 1 of * PHOTO BY: Peter Dazeley/Getty Images 1. RAISE YOUR DEDUCTIBLE Boosting the deductible on a homeowners policy from $500 to $1,000

could save you 25 percent, according to the Insurance Information Institute, or $307 off an average $1,228 policy. * * * 2 of * PHOTO BY: Juice Images / Alamy Stock Photo 2. CLEAN WINDOWS

CHEAP Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle for a solution that leaves windows sparkling. Some experts also add a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Save $4.50 or more by not

buying window cleaner at the store.  * * * 3 of * PHOTO BY: Getty Images 3. SKIP DRYER SHEETS Instead, cut a sponge in half and soak the pieces in a container holding 1 cup fabric softener

and 2 cups water. Wring and toss one into each dryer load. Replace liquid every 3 months. Save: $8 per 80 loads. * * * 4 of * PHOTO BY: Francesca Yorke/Getty Images 4. MULCH FOR FREE Google

your county name and “free mulch” to see if it (or free compost) is offered. Save $3.66 per 2 cubic feet of mulch or $4.97 per cubic foot of compost. * * * 5 of * ADVERTISEMENT * * * 6 of *

PHOTO BY: Getty Images 5. GET CHEAP CABLES Expensive electronics cables don’t carry signals better than cheap ones, which hold up fine for home use. Get a $10 HDMI cable, not a $30 one, and

save $20. * * * 7 of * PHOTO BY: Perry Mastrovito/Getty Images 6. USE THE SAME INSURER Companies often charge up to 15 percent less if you buy both home and auto policies from them. You can

save over $100 a year on insurance costs.  * * * 8 of * PHOTO BY: David Young-Wolff/Getty Images 7. USE GENERIC PET MEDS Yes, they exist! For example, Heartgard Plus costs $43 to treat a

large dog for six months. HeartShade Plus, a generic version, has the same active ingredients for $20. Save $23. * * * 9 of * PHOTO BY: Getty Images 8. GROOM YOUR OWN PUP You can spend $70

at a dog groomer. Plus you have to make an appointment and take the time to go there. Learn to do it yourself—YouTube has instructions for many breeds.  * * * 10 of * PHOTO BY: Getty Images

9. GET A PUPPY AT A RESCUE SHELTER Rescue a dog for $300 or less (sometimes free). A purebred Labrador retriever can cost $1,500. Save at least a $1,000 on your new best friend.  * * * 11 of

* PHOTO BY: Getty Images 10. GET IT FIXED FOR FREE.  At Repair Café events nationwide, volunteers help fix a variety of household items that folks can’t fix themselves. Go to RepairCafe.org

 to find an event near you. You could save $100 by fixing that old lamp. MORE 99 WAYS TO SAVE 13 WAYS TO SAVE ON UTILITIES 10 WAYS TO SAVE ON FOOD & GROCERIES