With gas surpassing $4 per gallon, service companies are more than feeling the pain; they're passing price increases on to customers. Done properly, most customers will understand the added cost. Done on the sly, most will be unhappy.

Angie's List surveyed more than 1,700 service companies across the country to gauge the effects:

• 85 percent say gas prices have affected their bottom lines.

• 60 percent are passing costs on through fuel surcharges or basic service rates.

• 43 percent say their customers understand why rates are going up.

• Only 9 percent of customers responded angrily to the higher bills.

Our advice to members is to keep communicating with your service company so you're not surprised, and be flexible. If you can wait for service until the company can consolidate trips to nearby customers,  you'll come out ahead in the long run.

Other advice:

• Insist on itemized charges related to fuel costs so you know exactly what you are paying for. 

• If you'll be charged a trip fee just for the estimate, find out if that cost will be taken off your final bill if you choose that contractor for the job. 

• If you have an emergency service need, be smart in your hiring decision. Getting your issue resolved now -- even if you have to pay a fuel surcharge -- could still save you money in the long run.

•  If you're just getting started on your project, add fuel cost questions to your list of things to ask about, and don't be afraid to negotiate.

*1,719 service companies responded to our survey

While experts say going green can add up to 5 percent to the cost of your project, the payoff is worth it. Green remodeling can lead to energy savings, possible tax credits, and a healthier environment, and you can start small.

Finding a green contractor requires the same attention to detail and research as hiring any other professional for your home. The contractor should be able to explain more than just the “green” approach, but also the benefits to you and your home.

On Angie's List, special eco-friendly icons appear next to contractors that have obtained green certifications in their industry.

1. Determine the energy efficiency of your home with an audit. An audit can help you assess how much energy your home uses and evaluate what measures you can take to improve efficiency. Contact your utility company to see if they offer free or discounted home energy audits.
2. Install low-flow showerheads, faucets and toilets. Low-flow faucets reduce water consumption and the cost of heating water by as much as 50 percent.
3. Update your water heater. Water heating can account for 14 percent to 25 percent of the energy consumed in your home. A tankless water heater provides hot water only as it is needed. A solar water heater can be used in any climate.
4. Energy Star Appliances: If your appliances are more than 10 years old, you can most likely reduce your utility bills by replacing these appliances with high-efficiency models.Cut energy consumed by your appliances by buying Energy Star models (www.energystar.gov). They meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and U.S. Department of Energy. Also, size your appliances to your needs. Dishwashers and refrigerators work more efficiently when they are full. If your appliances are usually only half full, consider smaller models.
5. Buy water-based paints with low or no volatile organic compound levels (VOC): The less glossy the paint, the fewer VOC’s it contains. VOC’s are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids and include a variety of chemicals; some of which may have short and long term health affects.

Last year, the average American wedding cost $30,000. For most of us, that's a big investment. Taking a team approach to budget planning and spending offers young couples a great hands-on example of the lifetime of give-and-take ahead.

Traditionally speaking, wedding planning has been the bride's domain, either with professional or family and friends' help. But today, many view their wedding day as an opportunity to showcase themselves as a couple, and that means the groom is getting more responsibility, and more say-so, when it comes to decision making.

Check Angie's List to find the best wedding planners, caterers, photographers or entertainers and consider these tips to save money and avoid wedding day disasters:

• Some newly married couples say they're skipping the tradition of embossed, heavy linen card stock and sending less expensive invitations -- or even e-vites.
• Others are skipping tuxedos in favor of similarly colored suits or themed outfits for the groomsmen. They're putting the savings toward an open bar, entertainment at the reception or the honeymoon.
• Regardless of the budget and whether the groom is more actively involved than past tradition has dictated, brides still want full control over the gown, and most grooms are OK with that.
  • Grooms are more likely to leave the ceremony planning to the bride and take on the reception, which generally takes up 75 percent of the wedding budget. Wedding planners say the groom's influence is helping begin a shift from the classic dinner-dance to themes and features like:
  • Casinos where guests fete the couple then turn to a night of roulette, craps and poker
  • Karaoke where guests can get their croon on
  • Signature cocktail fountains rather than champagne in addition to an open or cash bar
  • Big screen televisions to broadcast a big game that might have otherwise competed with the big day
  • Photo booth or video stations where guests can offer their congratulations and record their presence
  • Buffets featuring the couple's favorite foods rather than sit-down chicken or steak affair
  • Cupcake towers instead of tiered wedding cakes

Money-saving tips:

• Get married in the morning, on a Friday or Sunday or during the winter. These are non-peak times for events, so  you’ll likely find better prices on everything from catering to location rental fees.
• Plan your wedding close to a major holiday and take advantage of churches and reception halls that are already decorated.

Weddings can -- and should be -- fun, but the planning of the big event is considered a high-pressure event for anyone involved. If the idea of handling every aspect of a $30,000 project is too much, hire a professional to take on that stress so you can enjoy both the lead-up and the big day itself. Sources like Angie’s List make finding a reliable planner easy – something you or your partner could take care of.