Many of you are turning over a new money-saving leaf in 2009, so why not begin your money makeover with the things under your sink? You might already have some of the products that can be used as various cleaners, and what you don't have can be purchased for little money. Mixing your own household cleaners is cheaper than buying name-brand products, and in its February issue Consumer Reports has made an easy to follow list for which products can be used for different areas of your home.

• Ammonia: "Add one pint of rubbing alcohol to one half cup soapy ammonia, then add enough water to make a gallon. Pour into spray bottles, use to clean glass."
• Baking soda: "Use it to remove stains from tile, glass, and china; clean inside the fridge; remove baked-on food from pots and pans."
• Borax: "A freshener and deodorizer in laundry."

See four more cheaper household cleaner solutions when you read more

We're starting to switch gears to 2009, but last year was a big one and 2008 is hardly a distant memory at this point. A Gallup poll asked Americans who they admired most in 2008 and the results are varied and interesting.

For the seventh year in a row, Hillary Clinton was ranked as the most admired woman, and Sarah Palin ousted second place incumbent Oprah Winfrey in the 2008 list. Barack Obama was voted the most admired man for the first time: In fact, Gallup notes that Obama is the first president-elect since Dwight Eisenhower in 1952 to top the list.

Most Admired Men, 2008 Admired Person Percent of Vote Barack Obama 32 percent George W. Bush 5 percent John McCain 3 percent Pope Benedict XVI 2 percent Rev. Billy Graham 2 percent Bill Clinton 2 percent Colin Powell 2 percent Nelson Mandela 1 percent Bill Gates 1 percent The Dalai Lama 1 percent

See the Most Admired Women of 2008 when you read more

As much as we try to avoid it, sometimes we can't escape bringing our work with us when we're away from home. Most recently, my work came with me on a trip to Los Angeles, but the most inappropriate place my work has been was a camping ground in Northern California (believe me, my friends gave me plenty of flack about this one). Many of us have traveled during the last month or so, and I'm curious if your job managed to make it along on your holiday. Where has your work been?

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Almost every big bank made headlines last year, and it looks like we can expect one bank to stand out as the bank to watch in 2009. You all voted Bank of America as the best commercial bank of 2008 and the experts seem to agree that it's number one. While the process of purchasing Merrill Lynch began in September, the transaction was made final on Thursday, making Bank of America the biggest bank in the US and ending 94 years of independence for Merrill.

Bank of America's assets now include brokerage, credit card, investment banking, mortgage and wealth management operations, and a sturdy base of deposits. Chief Executive Kenneth Lewis, named Banker of the Year last month for the second time, said, "We are now uniquely positioned to win market share and expand our leadership position in markets around the world." Still, the expanded bank will face challenges in 2009 and beyond, as Lewis plans to cut at least 30,000 jobs to save $21 billion by 2012.

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"You've got to get up every morning with determination if you're going to go to bed with satisfaction."
—George Horace Lorimer

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