Cool Savings on Snow Removal -- Savings Experiment

Winter is here and with the temperatures dropping, you should be prepared in the event of a snow storm, but how can you remove snow without getting buried by the costs?

Our experts went to several big box retailers and compared the total cost of a shovel, a car scraper and rock salt. Kmart was the most expensive at $49.96, while the supplies cost $40.92 at Home Depot. Walmart and Lowes were close in price, but Lowes offered the most savings with a total of $32.94 for the three items.

In this case, though, it's not about saving money -- it's about saving time. While snow removal supplies are cheapest at Lowes, buying a basic tarp will help you clear the frozen flakes fast. A tarp is large enough to cover most cars, and usually costs between $8 and $15.

All you need to do is throw one over your vehicle before a storm and use bungee cords to keep it secure. After the snowfall, you can easily remove the tarp and watch the snow slide right off. That's a big convenience for a very small price.

So, before your area becomes a winter wonderland, gear up for snow removal using these great tips. You'll save both time and money.