There is a cool website (don't remember the url) where you can be part of bank CD auctions. Usually the majority of winners are banks with 500KCD's, but there is often a few people who win the final scraps with only 10K CD's. Rates were 7+% when I was looking v.s. ing's 4% For a quick safe way to put money in USD it seemed like a very interesting way to go.
don't change your lifestyle too quickly. make sure all changes pass two tests: 1) it feels comfortable 2) you think its rational.