Some people will do just about anything to save money．And I am one of them．Take my family's last vacation．It was my six­year­old son's winter break from school, and we were heading home from Fort Lauderdale after a week long trip．The flight was overbooked, and Delta, the airline, offered us $400 per person in credits to give up our seats and leave the next day．I had meetings in New York, so I had to get back．But that didn't mean my husband and my son couldn't stay．I took my nine­month­old and took off for home．

    The next day, my husband and son were offered more credits to take an even later flight．Yes, I encouraged — okay, ordered — them to wait it out at the airport, to “earn” more Delta Dollars．Our total take: $1,600．Not bad, huh?

    Now some people may think I'm a bad mother and not such a great wife either．But as a big­time bargain hunter, I know the value of a dollar．And these days, a good deal is something few of us can afford to pass up．

    I've made a living looking for the best deals and exposing（揭露）the worst tricks．I have been the consumer reporter of NBC's Today show for over a decade．I have written a couple of books including one titled Tricks of the Trade: A Consumer Survival Guide．And I really do what I believe in．

    I tell you this because there is no shame in getting your money's worth．I'm also tightfisted when it comes to shoes, clothes for my children, and expensive restaurants．But I wouldn't hesitate to spend on a good haircut．It keeps its shape longer, and it's the first thing people notice．And I will also spend on a classic piece of furniture．Quality lasts．

    One night last February, seventeen-year-old Duffy drove home1 a winding road, he saw a 2light thrown against the tree. “I knew it wasn't the moon”, he said. “I drive this road 3and I notice little things 4”

    Duffy stopped his car and got out to 5Below him far down in the deep valley 6a broken car with its headlights on. Thirty minutes 7a man had driven off the edge of the road, which has no guardrail（护栏）. His car fell and8over, landing on its top more than two hundred feet 9

    Duffy 10to call for help, then returned and got down to reach the 11driver. Snow covered the valley and the temperature was below 12After struggling back up the cliff（悬岸）, Duffy 13his jacket and shirt and wrapped the injured man in time, along with the blankets from his 14.

   15deeds are starting to become16action for Duffy, the oldest of seven children. When he was 12, he17his ten-year-old brother from drowning（溺水）. Two years ago, his three-year-old sister 18rat poison（毒药）, and Duffy cleaned out her mouth, made her drink milk to protect her 19and called doctors.

    “We have tried to teach the children good 20and it looks like we have got some reward for it,” his father says.