Armando Martinez, a travel-agent liaison at Carnival, is still carpooling with coworkers from Kendall, saving about $85 a month in

gasoline. He has even

downgraded from a high-speed Internet connection to dial-up to save a few extra bucks. He wants to buy a house.

HOUSING HELP

``Owning a home is very hard nowadays in Miami,'' says Martinez, 25, who has thought about moving.

To help new employees deal with higher housing costs, Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale is renovating a block of apartments within walking distance of the hospital to serve as temporary housing for newly hired nurses. It is also considering offering extra dollars, as part of a signing bonus, that could be used as a down payment for a house.

In the short term, there isn't much relief for South Floridians who feel the big squeeze. Manuel Lasaga, head of Stratinfo, a Coral Gables economic research firm, says there is no doubt that the storms and subsequent repairs this season have sapped consumers.

``We're all feeling our pockets a little more empty,'' Lasaga says. ``That will be a negative for South Florida.''

HOW PRICES ARE PINCHING

* Gasoline: You're paying twice as much as you did just two years ago.

* Electricity: Your bill will go up 18.5 percent or more next year.

* Home insurance: Since 2000, most premiums increased at least 50 percent; some have doubled.

* Homes: You need about three times the median income to afford the median-priced S. Florida home.

* Inflation: It is running nearly 50 percent above the national rate.

For more on your costs of living, see Page 27A.

* Check out Florida Power & Light energy- and money-saving tips such as cooling your home at 78 degrees, replacing AC filters each month, and turning off fans when you're not in the room. Take a home energy survey online for more tips. FPL's tips are on herald.com; click on Today's Extras.

* Carpool to save on gasoline. Ride-sharing information is available on herald.com; click on Today's Extras.

* To find cheapest local gasoline options: Miamigasprices.com or www.gaspricewatch.

* Have a hurricane mitigation inspection done on your home to certify that you have storm shutters, hip roof and several other measures that can reduce damage and qualify you for discounts. Information at www.floridawindincentives.org and www.ibhs.org and check with your insurer.

* Look for bundled packages for phone, cable, wireless and Internet access that offer discounts for subscribing to several services from one provider. Information at www.bellsouth.com and www.comcast.com.

* Keep your driving record clean to keep auto insurance rates in check. Comparison-shop for the best rate, too.

* To help manage healthcare costs, enroll in a flexible spending account if your employer offers it.