According to a study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, broadband Internet saves the average family $8,800 a year, or about 13.5% of everything they spend.  That's up from last year, when the Internet saved us $7,700 a year, or 12.2%.    It's because you save money by going online to compare prices, you can shop from stores all over the country instead of just locally, you save on gas money, and you get special discounts and coupons online.     

Here are 10 areas where we save money online:

#1.)  You save $2,497 in entertainment costs . . . which is close to a 50% discount.

#2.)  You get a 20% discount on travel . . . saving $1,658.

#3.)  You save $1,740 in housing costs . . . or 13%.  Think about when you're looking online for houses or apartments.

#4.)  You save $994 on food . . . or 25%.

#5.)  It reduces your clothing costs by $1,046 . . . or 60%.

#6.)  When you buy a car . . . which obviously you don't do every year . . . you save about 1.5% on the purchase price by doing research online.  That's about $444.

#7.)  You save $175 by NOT buying newspapers.

#8.)  You save $161 in gas.

#9.)  You save $110 . . . or 33% . . . on non-prescription drugs.

#10.)  And you save $46 in postage, since you pay bills online.

(Internet Innovation Alliance)