7 ways to make a day off pay - work & wealth
Essence

Despite the puttering pace of the economy, you can rev up your personal finances with some mouse clicks and a few phone calls. Designate a day, log on to the Internet, and shop around for lower bank fees and higher interest rates on your savings and investments. Follow this guide and you'll generate big bucks

1 GO FOR BANK

Does your bank offer the best deal? Check out bankrate.com, and compare savings rates and checking-account or ATM fees for banks in your region. Better yet, if customer service isn't a high priority, look for deals at many Internet banks. They typically have low or no minimum balances and let you earn interest on regular checking accounts. Bankrate posts a list of the best Internet banking deals regularly, or you can go directly to netbank.com ([888] 256-6932) or wingspan.com ([888] 736-8611).

Potential savings: up to $400 a year by eliminating excessive fees.

2 CUT AND SAVE

Take out the scissors and reduce your plastic power to one or two cards. "If you carry a balance, look for lower interest rates," says Eleanor Blayney, certified financial planner and principal of Sullivan, Bruyette, Speros & Blayney, a financial-planning firm in McLean, Virginia. "If you pay your bill in full, look for a low annual fee," she adds. Visit cardtrak.com or ramresearch.com for help in navigating the credit-card jungle.

Potential savings: between $300 and $500 a year by reducing your monthly payments and lowering your interest rate.