New York ( CNN ) -- If saving money in 2010 is on top of your list , we have some simple ways you can cut costs . 1 . Your cell phone . Cell phones are a big expense for a lot of folks . The cost of an average plan is $ 65 per month or $ 780 a year , according to Myvalidas.com . Chances are you 're overpaying . Consumer Reports says about two thirds of people did n't use half the minutes they had available . So make sure you take a look at the minutes and texts you 've used in the past six months and compare that to your plan 's limits . If you 're not even close to maxing out , it makes sense to shop around for other plans . Switching could save you up to $ 300 a year . Billshrink and Myvalidas.com are two Web sites that analyze your current bill for errors , help you recover money from overcharges and compare your current plan with other plans that may help save you money , depending on your usage . And here 's something you may not think about . Let 's say you have an unexpected life event ... maybe a birth , a death or an illness . Your cell phone usage is likely to spike . But rather than pay an exorbitant overcharge for a single month of use , ask your carrier about letting you switch temporarily to a higher minute plan . Then switch back when your usage abates . 2 . Car insurance . The average premium on car insurance is about $ 1,800 per year , according to Insurance.com . But there are ways you can whittle down that bill . First , auto insurance companies want to know how safe you are . It 's not only how safe you are on the roads . They also want to know how stable you are as a person . The longer you 've held the same job , the higher your education level , the fact that you own a home -- that all counts toward what kind of risk you represent . The safer you are , the less money you 'll pay in premiums . So , if you 've bought a home , gotten your master 's degree , if you 've found a job you 've been with for over a year , make sure you let your insurance company know -- and ask to be repriced . You could save up to $ 750 a year , according to Insurance.com . Here are some other discounts you do n't want to leave on the table : A low mileage discount could save you $ 100 a year . This is a great option if you drive less than 10,000 miles a year . If you have a good student , cut down on those insurance costs with a good student discount . That could save you $ 300 a year . Raising your deductible can yield you $ 200 to $ 400 a year . And shopping around before your current insurance policy expires can save you $ 250 a year , according to Insurance.com . 3 . Entertainment . If you have old CDs or DVDs or books you do n't want anymore , trade them for new stuff online . Check out swapadvd.com and paperbackswap.com . If you 're looking for cheaper seats to a concert or sports event , check out zebratickets.com . This site aggregates prices from different ticket retailers . Did you know that your AAA membership can get you more than roadside assistance ? You can get discounts at retailers like Target.com , Pearle Vision or Sears.com . CNN 's Jen Haley contributed to this report .
Consumer Reports says many people do n't use half their phone minutes . Car insurance can go down if you 've made life changes that make you safer . Internet sites allow you to swap CDs and DVDs instead of buying new ones .