The bad news? Taxes are almost due. The good news? Some restaurants and retailers are trying to soften the blow with a few freebies and special savings.

The Learning Channel's "Extreme Couponing" show clued me into a new hobby: Dumpster diving for coupons. Of course, it takes a bit of finesse to make the most of your adventure, so here are a few basic rules.

Are you stuck in a grocery store rut...always hitting the same supermarket without comparing prices? Surely there can't be that much difference between the big guys, can there?

If extreme couponing is a game, stockpiling is the championship round. Timing is everything. You collect lots of coupons and wait for the in-store sales to use them, so you get multiple discounts.

Prices on many consumer products are either creeping or galloping upwards, fueled by the rising cost of gas and most food items. At the same time, dozens of products declined in price. Here's a look at items that are going up...and several that are sinking fast.

A frugal friend had bought a dual-flush toilet conversion kit to offset an the expected increase in his water bill. It cost about $20 and he planned to install it the next morning. I had to admit this was a great idea, but would it really save money?

It amazes me how quickly a house with only four people goes through TP. Such quick turnaround means plenty of empty, unloved and seemingly useless cardboard tubes. The entire situation reeks of waste (no pun intended).

The best baby shower gifts are thoughtful, unexpected and, most importantly, safe. You want a gift that considers the unique needs of expecting parents, stands out from the rest, and will protect infants no matter where they go.

Dollar stores have gone gangbusters as consumers search for what seems to be an ever-shrinking pool of true deals. The trend is so popular "Dollar General" plans on adding 600 stores across the U.S. this year.

Will America finally get on the alternative-fuel wagon when gas skyrockets to $10 a gallon, as some predict? Just maybe it’ll change our viewpoint on hybrid and electric cars, solar energy, green living and shopping online.