Bank fees, telephone charges, the price of coffee; all expenses you can cut down on to save money, and it's easier than you think. Here's how:

• Take this to the bank – To avoid ATM fees, plan stops at ATMs in your network or switch to a bank that's either part of a free network or reimburses service charges. Also, call the bank that issues high interest credit cards and ask for lower rates. If you have good credit, they might consider it.
• Hold the phone – Cut out phone extras that you don't use often, such as call waiting, caller ID, call forwarding and three-way calling–on your land line and on your cell phone. You might even want to consider getting rid of your land line altogether. Use low-cost providers of directory assistance (got to love 1-800-GOOG-411). Also, cut back on long distance charges and try using your computer or internet connection to make phone calls. You can find services on the web that offer this for free or for a low monthly rate.
• A less taxing situation – Instead of waiting for a large tax refund each year, adjust your withholding allowances so you keep more each month and put it to work in a savings or investment vehicle. Check with your tax advisor what's in your best interest.
• Make it yourself – Buying coffee every day can cost $500 or more a year. Instead, get high-quality beans, grind them yourself and bring fresh coffee with you to work or brew it in the break room. Stop buying all those bottles of water or cans of soda from machines or convenience stores, too. Rather, buy a case on the weekend and bring it to work, or visit the water cooler on your floor, or even reuse an empty bottle of water by filing it up with tap water. Same with lunches–make'em yourself and save the $5-$10 a day you'd spend eating out.
• Entertain yourself – Do you really need hundreds of channels or a premium movie channel? Switch to basic cable and rent movies. Better yet, get them at the library or share a movie night with friends.

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A property appraisal helps determine how much you can borrow, since the property serves as collateral for the loan. If the appraised value for the house you want isn't high enough, you may have to make up the difference with a larger down payment or renegotiate the sale price with the seller. Here's what you should know:

• Leave it to the pros – An appraisal is made by a qualified professional, generally chosen by the mortgage lender. You can also find one yourself by contacting one of the professional organizations, such as the Appraisal Institute or the American Society of Appraisers.
• What's your type? – The appraiser may look at your home from one, or both, of two perspectives. In a Sales Comparison Approach, the appraiser will evaluate how your prospective home compares to other properties of similar size, quality and location that have sold recently. In a Cost Approach, the criteria is what it would cost to rebuild the home.
• Sharpen your reading skills – Appraisals are very detailed reports, but you might find a thing or two to your advantage if you get a copy (you're entitled by law to receive one) and read it over. First, you'll see details about the property you're interested in, along with side-by-side comparisons of three similar properties.
• Your appraisal is low. Now what? – If the value is not what you were hoping for, you can ask the lender to override the estimate or request that a new report be made with another appraiser. If you can show that the appraiser overlooked an important feature of the home or that a better, more relevant or more recent comparison should be made, bring this to the lender's attention.
• What's your LTV? – The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is the amount of your loan divided by the estimated value of the property. This is the figure that determines how much the lender will extend to you.
• Who pays? – Most lenders pass the cost of home appraisals to you immediately, so be prepared for a charge in the $200 to $500 range.

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