Cut your spending by $500 per month: the consumer reports Money Lab shakes loose a bushel of savings hiding in everyday spending. Here's where to look and the average savings you might be able to find.

Find cheaper auto insurance

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$ 65 Annual surveys of CONSUMER REPORTS readers have shown that many have stayed with the same auto insurer for 15 years. Depending on your profile and where you live, you might be able to save hundreds a month by shopping around. (In all the categories listed, the monthly savings shown are Money Lab estimates based on what average consumers spend. Your actual savings will depend on your circumstances.)

For example, a married couple without violations or accidents but with a driving-age son in Los Angeles can save $380 per month on standard coverage by switching to a lower-cost auto insurer, according to data compiled by the California Department of Insurance. But a retired couple with no violations in Fargo, N.D., can expect to save only about $30 per month by switching insurers.

How to do it. Start at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' Web site, at www.naic.org, and click on NAIC States & Jurisdictions to find your state's insurance department. Most provide comparative premium quotes based on standard customer profiles. If your state doesn't, you can get quotes from insurers by phone or over the Internet. You can also compare premiums from multiple carriers by using independent Web sites, such as www.insweb.com, www.insurance.com, and www.insure.com.

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