MAYFIELD VILLAGE, OH--(Marketwire - January 21, 2009) - Family finance expert, author of the new release "Living Rich for Less," mother of seven and a former auto insurance agent, Ellie Kay shares simple, money-saving tips to help families save hundreds on auto insurance in the New Year.

Shop around: Evaluating your car insurance regularly is a great way to save. Auto insurance rates can vary from company to company, so shop around to find the best deal. For example, 2007 data shows that people who switched to Progressive reported saving over $350 on their annual premium.

Check for available discounts: Many insurance companies offer discounts if you pay in full, are a loyal customer, sign up for paperless billing, etc. For example, Progressive customers can save between 3 and 5 percent if they opt to do business with them electronically. Make sure you get all the "little" discounts available to you -- they can add up to big savings.

Higher deductibles, lower costs: Insurance is for the big stuff, not the little stuff. According to the Insurance Information Institute, raising your deductibles to $500 could reduce your Collision and Comprehensive costs by 15 to 30 percent.

Make sure your policy is up to date: If you've moved, gotten married or bought a home, check with your insurance company -- you may be eligible for lower rates.

Insure Your Home's Actual Value: Many home values have decreased in the last year; make sure you are not over insuring it. Reevaluate your homeowner's policy every year and make sure your monthly mortgage payment is for its actual value instead of an inflated value, you could save $300 per year.

In the accompanying video, Ellie shares more tips for saving money on both auto and homeowners insurance. To learn more, visit www.progressive.com