More Americans are paying more of their health care costs out of pocket every year because they lack insurance, have higher deductibles and co-payments, or have chosen a Health Savings Account plan.

There are ways they can save money without jeopardizing their health and there are steps they should take to ensure they're getting the best value for their dollars, says physician Angel M. Garcia (www.DoNoHarmDrs.com), an internist who has been in practice for more than 25 years.

Garcia, author of Do No Harm: Saving Our Health-Care System, says patients themselves are the first line of defense in an industry where increasing tensions have created new stressors at every level.  "No physician is beyond becoming burnt out," he says. "Physicians who are working mechanically, who are no longer interested, committed and enjoying practicing medicine can be a danger to their patients."

"I've heard many patients excuse their doctors by saying, ‘Oh, he's just burnt out.’  While such loyalty is kind, the issue is one the patient should talk about with their doctor.  "You could just say, 'Hey, Doc, you seem tired. Are you OK?'  You may be surprised how much your doctor appreciates your concern."

Garcia offers these simple ways patients can save money and ensure their health care dollars are well spent:

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With all the hoopla about TLC's first season of "Extreme Couponing," it's no wonder Season Two is eagerly awaited by many fans.  Starting Wednesday, the maniacs of the supermarket aisles take to American TV screens once again to show shoppers how it's done.

Thanks to a bit of a sneak peak, Coupon Sherpa offers practical advice based on a selection of Season Two topics.

1. Shelf Clearing

No matter what the extremists say, clearing a shelf of every item is just plain rude. Sure it's okay to go for big bargains, but it's also important to remember the lesson we all learned about "sharing" in nursery school.

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More people than ever are clipping coupons for their supermarket trips, but they’re often not saving as much as they could, says Toni House, author of How to Reduce Your Weekly Grocery Bill to $85 Per Week – Or Less!.  "You can easily shave $5 to $20 off your weekly grocery budget with a minimal investment of time," says House. "Cutting your bill just $10 a week will save you $520 over the course of a year.

"Taking a couple of extra steps to ensure you can use all the coupons you clip will save you more money – and protect your investment of time in clipping them."  How can consumers take advantage of coupons without becoming consumed by them?  Let us count the ways!

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What is Superpoints? 

The Superpoints Network is a collection of sites where you can win and earn Superpoints that can be redeemed for great rewards.

How can I earn Superpoints? 

To get the most out of the Superpoints Network, tell everyone you know about our sites using your special referral links. If you recruit someone to join Superpoints, you become their “sponsor”.  No one else can sponsor them.  If you recruit someone to join, you get 25 Superpoints when they reach the Basic member level.  A limited number of invites are available so use them wisely.  You can get more invites when one expires or when someone uses it to sign up.  You can also get more invites when you increase your member level.

Are there other ways to earn Superpoints? 

To earn more Superpoints, you can watch videos, complete offers, and win with the “Super Lucky Button”.  You have a certain number of clicks per day.  Click the Superlucky button in your account each day to see if you win any Superpoints or prizes.  Gold Members and above win when their friends win, too!  Get more clicks everyday by increasing your member level.

How Can I Get Started? 

Keep an eye on my website and Facebook page.  I will be posting new invites as I receive them on a regular basis. You can sign up through those special referral links. Remember, it is invite only, so sign up NOW!

I have more special invite links for YOU!  Simply email me at [email protected] to get your free invitation link!

Thanks to steadily increasing cotton and labor costs, fashion manufacturers are cutting back on both quality and extras. Instead, they're using inexpensive tweaks to con shoppers into believing they're actually getting more for their money -- thus the new slang term "con-flation." It looks like parents aren't buying it, however. The National Retail Foundation released a study in late July indicating back-to-school shoppers plan to spend less this year across the board.

According to the study, "Parents are actually taking inventory of last year's items, asking kids to...try on those 'old' jeans, and check if the tennis shoes still fit."

The Labor Department reported clothing prices rose 1.2 percent in July, the third straight increase in the last year. In 12 months, clothing costs rose 3.1 percent, the biggest yearly increase since July 1992.

Shopper pragmatism is one way to beat the system; another is to use cost-saving methods to reduce back-to-school budgets. Here are six recommendations.

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Return policies for some merchants are more complex than income tax laws. Buy online and you'll spend umpteen hours working your way through phone trees and waiting on hold to talk to a customer "service" representative. If you're lucky, you'll get a refund. Otherwise, it's a store credit from a store you may not wish to patronize again.

Humorously, many of these merchants claim to offer "hassle free" returns. Some retailers, on the other hand, genuinely believe in making the process as pain-free as possible. FreeShipping did some research and came up with the following top 10 online return policies.

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