Unless you’re richer than Warren Buffett or have been living in a cave for the past six months, you know that times are tough and getting tougher. Saving money is probably a top priority around your house these days, just as it is at mine.

So to help you do that, we’re kicking off a new feature on the Consumer Reports Money Blog today. It’s called “Tightwad Tod,” and will be written – mostly – by me, Tod Marks, for whom the section is named.

Now odds are you don’t know me – we write without bylines at Consumer Reports, after all – but for nearly 20 years I’ve been finding the deals and exposing the scams in every area of your spending, from food to clothes to travel to real estate and more. And that nickname “Tightwad” didn’t come loosely. Even around here, where the place is crawling with deal-finders, I’m known as someone to go to for advice on how to get more for your money every time you shop.

With the launch of Tightwad Tod, we’re kicking that mission into overdrive. Every day, I’ll be posting on the news that affects your pocketbook, sniffing around for great buys, challenging offers that sound too good to be true, and heaping shame on the scams and ripoff artists that abound out there.

I’m also asking for your help. We’re looking for your best tip on how to save money, and also for help in identifying any really bad deals that should be exposed. If you’ve got an idea, please write to me at tightwad at cro.consumer.org. If we publish your tip, or develop a posting from your idea, we’ll send you a nifty “I’m a Tightwad” T-shirt – by the cheapest possible mail, of course – that you can wear to impress your friends or hide away forever, as you choose.

So I hope you’ll join me in spreading the Tightwad message. Remember: Being a Tightwad doesn’t mean you’re a cheapskate. It just means you spend your money wisely, so you don’t get fooled and have more to spend on the things you really want. So please let me know how you’re stretching your dollars, and I’ll pass along the best tips and tricks that we develop here. Together we’ll make it easier for all of us to get through whatever may lie ahead – and hopefully even have some fun along the way!