"World News with Diane Sawyer" to Air Special Weeklong Series of "Real Money" Reports Beginning July 15

Imagine finding hidden money you didn't know you had. During a special weeklong series of "Real Money" reports on "World News with Diane Sawyer," ABC's Paula Faris crisscrosses America in search of easy and inventive ways families can cash in by making small changes at home. "Real Money" week begins Monday, July 15.

The broadcast will cover the following topics:

  • Americans pay $225 in bank fees every year. "World News" highlights a free tool you can download today that helps to insure that you never get pinged with a penalty fee ever again and shows you how to earn 33 TIMES the national interest rate on your checking account.
  • Americans spend over $130 billion to go to the dentist annually. Roughly half of Americans lack dental insurance, nearly 4 times the number without health insurance. "World News" profiles a free service that negotiates prices with your dentist, and can lower your bill by 30 to 50%.
  • Every year, Americans spend $36 billion to get their cars fixed, but like gas prices and prescription drugs, auto repair costs vary wildly from mechanic to mechanic. 66% of drivers think they have been ripped off by a repair shop. "Real Money" tunes up your wallet - saving you 40% on your next car repair by making mechanics fight for your business.
  • The average family spends $2,200 on energy each year. "Real Money" shows you the easy 5-second change you can make in your home that can potentially save you up to $400.

The "Real Money" series gives viewers information they can apply to their own lives in tangible ways. Since launching the series last year "World News" has helped 16 families keep over $125,000 in their pockets. In March, "World News" profiled Joyce Ann Huston of Las Vegas who has been a musician her entire life - she is one of the 26% of Americans who say that they or a family member have struggled to pay medical bills in the last year. She owed $25,000, but after learning from "World News" about assistance programs available at not-for-profit hospitals she was able to reduce that bill by $18,000 ( Watch). In February, with the help of ABC News, one family learned they could lower their monthly prescription drug bill from $20,000.19 to $1,252.28 - saving them $18,747.91 ( Watch). And in January, "Real Money" saved the Barry family from Marshfield, MA $1,400 on their annual cell phone bill ( Watch).

ABCNews.com/WorldNews will have additional tips and resources throughout the week. Viewers can share their ideas for the "Real Money" series by writing in here.

"ABC World News with Diane Sawyer" airs at 6:30 p.m., ET on the ABC Television Network. Michael Corn is the executive producer of the broadcast. Follow Diane Sawyer and the "World News" team online: @DianeSawyer; @ABCWorldNews; facebook.com/DianeSawyer; facebook.com/WorldNews.