Right now there are a lot of newspaper headlines blaring about a "Sharp Rise in Winter Heating Costs Forecast." While that headline is good for selling newspapers, it isn't really true. Clark believes the real story is that just a fraction of us will see potentially big increases in what it costs to heat our homes. Here's his reasoning: Less than 10 percent of us heat with home heating oil, which will be up about 25 percent in price. Then there are about five percent of us who use propane, which will be up about 15 percent in price. The vast majority of Americans --about 60 percent of households -- use natural gas, which may at the most have a 10 percent increase in price. Finally, there's more than a third who heat with electricity, which will have no noticeable increase in price this winter. So unless you're in the minority and use imported oil or propane, you'll be relatively safe from huge heating expenses this coming season.

Natural gas, if you recall, was very expensive when the supply was disrupted following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. But then it stabilized. Now we're having a mild hurricane season so far, so that bodes well for price. It's important not to be passive and feel like a victim when you hear the Department of Energy is expecting heating expenses to skyrocket. There are many things you can do to reduce your energy bill. Try using CFL bulbs instead of traditional incandescent ones and you'll save $30/year with every bulb you replace. You can also weather-strip your doors and windows to make your house less drafty in winter and cooler in summer. One of the best and easiest ways to save money is to use a programmable thermostat. And be sure to insulate your attic too. Visit EnergyStar.gov for more ways to save cash during the winter heating season.