Heat Wave Got You Down? Try These 5 Ways to Stay Cool

Yeah, we know. When it comes to summer misery, it isn't the heat, it's the humidity. But for residents of the Northeast this week, the difference is academic: The mercury has soared into the nineties, blasting the area with some of the hottest temperatures of the year. At the same time, humidity levels are topping 50 percent, leaving the I-95 corridor feeling -- in the words of meteorologist Alex Sosnowski -- "like a virtual sauna bath." In fact, according to the heat index calculator, the combination of high temperatures and high humidity are leaving the area feeling like it's 100 to 110 degrees.

As with any time when the mercury's rising, some standard warnings apply: don't leave kids or pets in cars, be sure to drink lots of water, avoid coffee and alcohol, and stay inside as much as possible. If you can, try hanging out in the mall, public library or other air conditioned places. Beyond that, though, there are a few other ways to stay cool without spending a lot of money. Here are five of our favorites -- and if you have any more, be sure to let us know!

Bruce Watson is DailyFinance's Savings editor. You can reach him by e-mail at bruce.watson@teamaol.com, or follow him on Twitter at @bruce1971.