Guest Author - Cate Brizzell

Memorial Day is the traditional kick-off to summer, no matter where you live in America. With fuel and food prices heading upwards, just like the temperatures, why not try to get a little savings in while you kick back and flip burgers?

Here are ten ways to save during the holiday weekend:

1. Check out sale flyers or websites and hit the stores early. A quick trip to www.sears.com has a gas grill for $70 off and a patio set $150 off, Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day weekend only. Flyers will appear in Friday paper, as well as weekend editions, so make your list, check flyers, and get in the stores early to get the best deals on stuff you'll use all summer.

2. Don't buy anything you'll need later in the season. Going away at the end of the summer? Wait to purchase vacation items until after July Fourth sales are over. You'll find clearance racks at 50% to 75% off. Think you'll need a new lawnmower next year? Start looking for a decent replacement at reduced prices in late July and early August. But beware--if you procrastinate too long, you'll miss out. Because of seasonality, most stores sell out their stock. If you delay in order to wait for super-savings, you could miss out on the model you're looking for.

3. Plant a vegetable garden. If you've never done it before, the key is to start small. Use containers for herbs or a couple tomato plants. If you're looking for a few more vegetables, start a small plot. Keep your veggies spread apart, as the plants will tend to grow not just up but out as well. You'll only need three to six plants of each variety to keep your family fed.

4. Read up on how to can and preserve veggies and fruits. Now you'll be able to eat that Memorial Day garden produce all winter long!

5. Do fall and winter cleaning chores now. Now is the time to have your chimney cleaned, your furnace inspected, your air ducts cleaned and your other fall and winter services completed. Because these services aren't usually booked through the spring and summer months, you'll have no trouble getting a convenient day and time, and you might find you end up paying less! Ask for an "early bird" discount or special rate.

6. Fertilize your lawn. If you haven't done so by Memorial Day weekend, get that fertilizer down. Your grass will grow thicker and longer, and this will prevent you from having to water it as frequently. Your water bill will thank you (and so will your lawn, especially if it's a long, hot summer).

7. Draw your drapes. If you have blinds, shutters or drapes, draw them during the daytime, especially if no one's home. This will keep your home cooler and save on your air conditioning bill or electric bill. If you don't have drapes or blinds, consider investing in some, especially for windows that don't face the curb.

8. Replace old or inefficient air conditioners. Check for Memorial Day sales to replace those worn-out air conditioners. Even if they're functioning "just fine", you'll save tons on your electric bill. Not only that, you'll find they're quieter and do a much better job than those ten year-old units you've been lugging up from the basement every year.

9. Have your central air conditioning system serviced. The best time to do this is in early spring or late summer, before companies are booked to the gills, but if you haven't done so by Memorial Day, you really should make sure your system is functioning as cleanly as possible. Ask for ways to make the system more energy-efficient.

10. Purchase your gas in the morning, top off when your tank is half-full, and only squeeze the trigger on the pump halfway. I picked up these three little tidbits on a TV morning news show! Apparently doing these three things affects air levels in your gas tank, which affects your mileage, saving you 3 to 4 miles per gallon over the long-term.

Now, take your savings and go buy some sunscreen! (On sale and with a coupon, of course.)