Resolve to try these money-saving tactics in 2009

— -- The custom of making New Year's resolutions dates back more than 4,000 years, when the Babylonians started the year by returning borrowed farm equipment.

You could continue that tradition by resolving to return your neighbor's leaf blower. Or here's a better idea: Resolve to take some simple steps that will save you money. Some suggestions for 2009:

•Order your free credit reports. You're entitled to a free credit report every 12 months from each of the three major credit bureaus. You can order credit reports, either online or through the mail, at www.annualcreditreport.com.

Don't be misled by other websites purporting to offer free credit reports, says Evan Hendricks, author of Credit Scores and Credit Reports: How the System Really Works. These companies often require consumers to sign up for credit monitoring or other services — for a fee — to receive a credit report.

Checking your credit reports is critical this year, says John Ulzheimer, president of educational services for Credit.com. Interest rates on home mortgages and car loans have dropped to record lows, but you need spotless credit to qualify.

Once you receive your credit reports, review them carefully for omissions that could hurt your credit score. For example, if you've been making regular payments on a loan, and the loan doesn't appear on your reports, contact the lender, Ulzheimer says. Otherwise, "You're not getting credit for good credit management," he says. "These days, you need every good account on your credit report you can possibly muster."

If you find an error, such as an inaccurate account balance or an account that doesn't belong to you, contact the credit bureau. All three credit bureaus provide a way to dispute information on your report. Ulzheimer also recommends contacting the lender that supplied the inaccurate information.

And what about negative information that's accurate? "There's not a whole lot you can do except compensate by doing things right," Ulzheimer says. That means reducing your credit card balances and scrupulously paying your bills on time.

•Submit claims for your health care flexible-spending account. Flex accounts allow workers to contribute pretax dollars to pay for unreimbursed medical and dental expenses. At most companies, you're required to use the money by Dec. 31 or forfeit the balance. However, most large companies also give their employees until March 31 to submit claims for expenses incurred before the end of the previous year.

But there's no reason to wait until March to get your money — especially if you have holiday bills to pay. You can also speed the process by submitting the right documents, says Scott Keyes, a health benefits consultant with Watson Wyatt.

If you made a co-payment, send in the receipt, Keyes says. But if you made a payment that was put toward your deductible, or you have co-insurance, wait until you receive an Explanation of Benefits from your insurance company, Keyes says. That's the document your flex-account administrator will need to process your claim, he says.

Without the Explanation of Benefits, Keyes says, the flex-account administrator has no way of knowing how much of the cost was covered by your insurer. Suppose, for example, that you went to your doctor in December, paid $200 for the service, and were reimbursed by your insurer for $100. Your Explanation of Benefits will show that your actual out-of-pocket cost was $100, Keyes says.

•Set up online bank and credit card accounts. These services, which are usually free, allow you to pay bills electronically, monitor your accounts for suspicious transactions, and create electronic alerts that will remind you when bills are due.

An online account will also help you check bank account balances — an important feature if money is tight. In 2008, the average bounced-check fee was $28.95, according to Bankrate.com.

•Avoid ATM fees. Can't bear the thought of giving up your daily cappuccino? Here's a resolution that's easier to keep: Use your own bank's ATMs.

The average ATM surcharge — the amount banks charge non-account holders for using their ATMs — was $1.97 in 2008, according to Bankrate.com. Most banks also charge a fee when their customers use another bank's ATM. The average amount of that fee was $1.46 in 2008. That works out to $3.43 — or the equivalent of paying nearly 7% interest on a $50 withdrawal.

Sandra Block covers personal finance for USA TODAY. Her Your Money column appears Tuesdays. Click here for an index of Your Money columns. E-mail her at: sblock@usatoday.com.