Ford - Escape :: 2002 - Making Creaking Noise?

For a while now, my 2002 Ford Escape has been making a creaking noise. It started with the steering, or so I thought for a while. I checked the power steering fluid and it wasn't really low. Nevertheless, at one point, when there was a little bit of room, I added a bit of fluid with "stop squeaking juice" in it. That only barely worked.

As time went on, though, the whole car began to creak. If I were to make the sound outloud, it would remind me of a hee-hawing mule or someone bouncing on old bed springs. This has continued to get worse -- and seems at its worst when it is very cold. It happens when I go over speed bumps (yes, even slowly!) or turn in any direction or just go around sharp turns in parking lots, etc.

I am guessing that the original sound in the steering is separate from the other sound and it is just coincidental that the two sounds have been happening at the same time. I also don't know if this info has any bearing, but lately when I'm idling, I'm smelling a burned oil smell, but my oil is not low and I've noticed no leaks. My gas pedal is sticking badly (I have to jam it down sometimes to get the car to move forward) but I've had that happen on and off over the years and have just gotten the throttle body cleaned. I've put it off a little longer than normal this time, which I think is why it is so resistant now. But I suspect it has nothing to do with the creaking. Does it?? Or could the probelm maybe be the shocks? That occurred to me today.