Ok, so everyone is a little more focused on saving money in a down economy. Pretty much everywhere I look, people are wondering what they can get for “less” or just generally looking for the best deal.

And when you are buying a house, sometimes I feel like people look in all the wrong places to try to cut $10 off their monthly mortgage payment.

I can’t tell you how many people agonize over whether-or-not-the-should-lock-or-float their rate — and when the ask me, I just tell them that rates could go up, down or stay the same — and then what I think will happen, but I never offer a “sure bet” when it comes to interest rates.

I am a little too wise for the “I know what interest rates are going to do tomorrow” game.

And one question that rarely (if ever) gets asked by someone I am working with is “do you know of any way that I can save a few bucks on my monthly payment?”

But if they did ask… here is what I would say:

Take the time to shop around a little bit for the cheapest insurance quote that you can possibly find.

I can’t tell you how many times I ask someone if they have shopped for home insurance and they say “no, not yet…” and then they just contact one company and go with that company.

I am shocked – SHOCKED – at how different insurance policies can be from one company to another — and in today’s economy where everyone seems to be trying to make their dollar go farther…

A little effort can go a long way.