Admit it. Many of us let our frugal muscles atrophy until the price of gas and food made us exercise the right to shop around, pay less and delay purchases. For those of you new to the savings game, here are seven lucky tips to make up for the premium at the pump and pantry.

Hire Checkbook. Now. Before the price of gas and food made the word "frugal" fashionable again, Checkbook.org was quietly and expertly providing one of the best money-saving services in the Twin Cities. The nonprofit puts out a magazine twice a year that rates local service providers such as auto repair shops, gyms, electricians and video repair shops (in the current issue, now on newsstands at Barnes & Noble).

As much as I like Angie's List, Checkbook gives a much more accurate picture of companies that charge less. (I hire companies that Checkbook check-rates for high quality and low price.) Knowing which carpet cleaner, locksmith, mover or roofer to hire can save you headaches and hundreds with each service. A subscription is $34 per year for two issues, but you can get immediate access to previous reports with a subscription at www.checkbook.org. Call 651-646-2057 for back issues or subscriptions. Estimated savings: At least $400 per year.

Shave your cable: Want to know how a cheapskate (that would be me) handles a cable upgrade? Comcast's basic cable costs about $16 a month but since a low-priced introductory digital package got me hooked on the high-definition channels and the info guide from the HD cable box, I now pay an extra $7 a month for the HD channels and set-top box rental. Mind you, this is not standard cable that costs about $50 a month for more than 60 channels. Basic is only about 30 channels. Be forewarned: Many readers have told me that Comcast staffers don't want to acknowledge that basic exists, so you may have to ask for a supervisor. Remind the person that the federal "buy-through provision" requires cable companies to offer the el-cheapo basic plus, if desired, premium channels without an upgrade for an extra amount. Estimated savings: $400 per year or $35 per month.

Cut the phone cord: About one in eight households has only cell phone service, no land line. If your budget needs a trim of $20 to $50 per month, consider cellular only. If you want to make a gradual switch, try the cheaper VoIP service that runs through the broadband connection Comcast offers. T-Mobile just started offering it for $10 per month if you already have its cell phone service. You can keep your same land line number, but you get free long distance, call waiting, caller ID and other features. Caveat: Ask for a money-back switch if you're not happy. VoIP voice quality isn't as good as land line yet. Estimated savings: $300 to $500 per year.

Put less coin in the laundry: Save only the dirtiest loads for warm and hot water. Wash everything else in cold water. Consumer Reports likes Tide Cold Water detergent. Line dry if possible, but I set the timer for 20 minutes and air dry after that. That also eliminates the need for dryer sheets. If you're buying a new washer, choose a front-loader, which uses less energy and water. If you buy washers and dishwashers with a temp boost, you should be able to turn your hot water heater to 120 degrees. Estimated savings: $80 to $170 per year for 33 loads per month, according to Xcel Energy. Savings vary based on dryer time and whether you have gas or electric appliances.

Going, going, gone on a trip: When the "staycation" near your home turf is over and you need a serious getaway, Priceline.com and Hotwire.com are a natch. Lest you think I've lost my edge recommending sites as common as Google, here's the tip. Both sites require bidding, but lower, rejected bids may lock you out. Go to BiddingforTravel.com or BetterBidding.com to check accepted and rejected bids to help you determine a successful bid amount. Shop Smart magazine also recommends LuxuryLink.com for bargains at five-star resorts and luxury cruises. Savings: $1,400 on a four-night stay at the Castello di Velona in Montalcino, Italy, via LuxuryLink.

Steer your cart to Aldi and TJ's: It's been four years since Aldi dropped anchor in the Twin Cities, two years for Trader Joe's. Few shoppers know that they're owned by the same German company, but even fewer seem to know what good deals Aldi offers. With 19 stores in the metro area and one in Hudson, nearly all of us have one nearby. Both offer mostly private-label merchandise, but even Wal-Mart rarely beats Aldi's prices on milk, eggs, produce and meat. Expect to save 20 to 40 percent over the competition. So you want organics? You're out of luck at Aldi, but Trader Joe's private-label prices save about 30 percent compared with co-ops and mainstream supermarkets. Sure, you can quibble. Some of the fish at Aldi comes from China and some of the produce isn't at peak freshness, but for families struggling to make ends meet, this should be the first stop. Check www.usa.aldi.com for locations. Stores do not publish phone numbers. Checks and credit cards are not accepted. Savings: $150 per month for a family of four or $1,800 per year.

Coffee's on: Read any money-saving column from the last decade and one of the "Ten Ways to Save" has always been to take the Starbucks monkey off your back. Apparently, people are finally heeding the advice. The coffee chain is closing 600 stores. Meanwhile, McDonald's has begun selling its own premium roast coffees (espresso, cappuccino, lattés, mochas), heavily advertised on TV and priced at 25 to 30 percent less. Estimated savings: $300 per year for daily drinkers.

What did I miss? Call in or e-mail your newly acquired or tried-and-true savings tips.

John Ewoldt • 612-673-7633 or jewoldt@startribune.com. His articles are online at www.startribune.com/dollars.