Replace satellite with HD Radio

But what if you subscribe to satellite radio? Does paying for radio present a good value proposition for you?

Many people apparently think so, as the two satellite radio companies that recently completed their merger, XM and Sirius, have been adding subscribers at a healthy clip despite a down economy. The newly merged company will have about 18 million subscribers, up from a combined 15 million a year ago.

In the case of satellite radio, we review and give you less-expensive listening options:

Go with HD Radio. High-definition digital radio is still in its infancy but allows conventional AM and FM stations to transmit digital signals. Reviews indicate it has a much higher-quality sound and allows broadcasters to transmit multiple signals, such as music and a talk programming, on the same frequency. It is free...There is no subscription fee, but you'll have to buy a new radio, able to tune both analog and digital broadcasts. That will set you back at least $100, whether for the car or home.