According to a recent study, the comparison site Confused.com says, there are significant differences in auto insurance quotes based on the words people use to similar jobs. For example, calling yourself a journalist can give you a quote that is 33% lower than the one you'd receive if you identified yourself as a news reporter, and if you're a TV announcer you will pay about 18% less than a broadcaster. Lest you think such discounts only apply to jobs in media, be aware that a builder will pay 17% more than a bricklayer to insure the same car.

Confused.com managing director Debra Williams stresses that there's a difference between rephrasing your job title and being dishonest about what you do, however. She told reporters, "Job titles do provide a grey area where the quotes can be 'massaged' or legitimately exploited by the consumer, but most other areas of quote criteria are a great deal more rigid and should not be manipulated in the same way."