Next, research details about the second phase of the Cash For Appliances program.

In Illinois, the second phase will begin on April 22, 2010 and include rebates on appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, air conditioners, etc as long as they are ENERGY STAR qualified.

After that, browse through stores to begin shopping for these appliances.

You will see an ENERGY STAR logo on any of the products that are eligible for the rebate. You may be surprised how many appliances are eligible.

Now, figure out how much your rebate will be in Illinois for purchasing a new appliance.

According to the program guidelines, retailers will offer a 10-15 percent rebate as long as the appliances are ENERGY STAR rated.

Once you purchase your new appliance, consider recycling your old appliance and getting a second rebate.

Recycling the old appliance is NOT required to get the first rebate, but you can get an additional $50-$100 for doing so.