ATLANTA -- For most of us, the last 48 hours on Wall Street have been a reminder it's time to get serious about cleaning up our own finances.

Consumer Reporter Kim Fettig looks at practical, real life ways, to put hundreds of dollars back in our pockets and it can be as easy as picking up the phone.

It's hard to control what happens to our money on Wall Street these days, but we can control how much money we keep in our wallets starting with looking right inside our homes with our monthly bills.

At the Equifax headquarters in Atlanta, Personal Solutions President Steve Ely said we need to start going back to our mailboxes

“A lot of people bank online and they just don't pay attention to anything they get in the mail from their bank,” said Ely.

It’s a mistake that left Marylynn Cothram with extra fees and interest she didn't know she was paying.

“So I call them up and say ‘what do I have a bill for?’ They say ‘a $39 monthly fee and you didn't pay the monthly fee so we tack on this extra charge.’ I said ‘what? I didn't charge a thing,’” said Cothram.

Cothram could have been saving more than $39 a month.

Cash and Credit Clean-Up Rule #1:

Pay bills online but don't forget to read the mail or open the .pdf file online and read the fine print.

“Now is the time to pay attention to that because they are making changes to accounts and you need to be sensitive to that and read the fine print,” said Ely.

When a new garbage/recycling company offered people in an Alpharetta neighborhood lower rates to switch service, home owners like Sue Traub used it as bargaining power.

“Everyone is looking to keep their business at this point so I think it is worth making a phone call and trying,” said Traub.

One phone call and Traub got her current garbage carrier to lower the rates and drop the fuel charge. Traub’s savings were $160 a year.

“I'm saving money. I'm very happy,” said Traub.

Cash and Credit Clean-Up Rule #2:

Bargain! Companies need your business.

Tired of the rising energy costs? One phone call to Georgia's largest power provider and CBS 46 discovered we can put money in our pocket just by letting Georgia Power control our air conditioning use during peak hours of the day during the summer.

It's an automatic $20 to the customer and a $2 credit every time they flip the switch.

We know our customers are having problems with all their bills. As you said the economy is tough right now,” said Carol Boatright at Georgia Power.

Georgia Power is also offering up to $525 in rebates for customers who switch from gas to energy efficient electric products like a highly insulated electric water heater.

“If you not only go to these programs, you will get the rebates, but you will also see a decrease in your power bill,” said Boatright.

Cash and Credit Clean-Up Rule #3:

Call your service provider and ask for rebates and special offers.

Fettig’s final rule for this week’s Cash and Credit Clean-up is the bad economy has resulted in a lot of companies claiming they can clean up your credit and finances.

But there are plenty of free and reputable services.

www.equifax.com

www.georgiapower.com

www.cccsstl.org