With the cost of food and gasoline going up and up and up, people are looking for any place to save. You know the obvious places, but there may be other places to look. Consumer Reports Money Lab dug deep into the family budget to uncover them.

Many people are feeling the financial pinch these days, but Consumer Reports found you could cut your spending by 500 dollars a month without radically changing your lifestyle.

You might be able to drive down your car costs by an average of 65-dollars a month by finding cheaper auto insurance.

"The Internet makes comparison shopping very easy," said Greg Daugherty of Consumer Reports. "In most states you can go to your state's insurance department and see what different insurers there are charging for their policies."

Next, pull out your life-insurance policy. Premiums have dropped dramatically since the 1990s, so if you have an old policy you might be better off replacing it. Optimizing your life insurance could save you another hundred and ten dollars.

And while we're talking about life insurance - regular exercising can pay off. Once in better shape, get re-rated for a lower premium.

"A 40-year-old man with a one-million-dollar life insurance policy could save 50 dollars a month by getting his cholesterol down 30 points. He could save 65 dollars a month by losing 50 pounds and getting down to normal weight. And if he quits smoking, after three years he'll save 165 dollars a month," Daugherty said.

Shopping smarter for food can net you another two-hundred dollars a month. Try less-expensive brands. Stock up on staples like cereal, pasta, and canned goods when they're on sale. And cut back on prepared foods.

Consumer Reports Money Lab says other places to try to cut costs: your talk time. Consider bundling your phone, cable, and Internet services. And if you routinely pay ATM fees, it's time to shop for another bank. You want to look for a national one with ATMs where you need them.