Do just one thing
MORE THAN FOOD NEEDED
Your local food bank may need more than just food for donations. Among the most in-demand and in-need items are personal care items. These are things like toothpaste, shampoo, toilet paper and deodorant. If your local food bank does need these, try to take advantage of special sales at the drug store when you buy one and get one free. Keep one for yourself and give the free one to charity. Keep in mind all items need to be brand-new with an intact seal or original packaging.
CRUISE SLOWLY THROUGH TOLLBOOTH
If you commute a lot for work, one easy way to save money, time and gas is to invest in an automatic payment device for your car for tolls on bridges and highways. In the Northeast, these devices are called EZ Passes, which allow you to go through tollbooths and pay via a synced credit card. This saves time, and you earn discounts on your tolls, but you also save gas: By cruising slowly through a tollbooth instead of coming to a complete stop, you save a significant amount of fuel over time. It’s an investment to make your daily commute a little bit greener.
NATURAL WAYS TO CONTROL FLEAS
The Humane Society of the United States warns that toxins found in flea treatments can harm or even kill your pet, so finding natural ways to control fleas is important to the health of the furry members of your family. Prevention and common sense can go a long way. Vacuuming carpets, rugs and furniture where your pet hangs out, along with washing his bedding in hot water regularly, can capture and kill fleas. And real lavender essential oil can also help for dogs: Add some to a natural flea soap and let the mixture sit on the coat for 10 minutes during bath time. Rinse and repeat.
DRY PULP FOR PLANTS
Many people are juicing fresh fruits and vegetables at home to create delicious and healthy beverages. But what to do with the dry pulp from all that juicing? One idea is to semicompost it in your potted plants. Simply rake the top of the soil of your plants and sprinkle the dry mixture into the soil. Rake again until it is fully incorporated into the soil. Very quickly, the organic mixture will break down and become beneficial mulch for your plants. They’ll thrive when you deliver great nutrition to your plants via juicing.
MAINTAINING DOGS’ TOYS
Yes, your dog’s favorite toys need to be cleaned periodically. They spend a lot of time in mouths, outdoors or just lying on the ground picking up germs and bacteria. When you’re ready to clean them, inspect them first. Are they falling apart or brittle? It may be time to dispose of the toys, since small pieces that break off can be a choking hazard. Then ditch using detergents or bleach to clean them; those products can leave a harmful residue. Instead soak the toys in a white-vinegar-andwater mixture, then run them on the gentle cycle in your washing machine.
OPTOUTPRESCREEN.COM
Tired of getting unsolicited offers in the mail that want to sign you up for a new credit card or insurance? One way to opt out on these mailings is to register online at the official Consumer Credit Reporting Industry website. There you’ll have the option to opt-out from all mailings for five years, or permanently. Be sure to register twice if your billing address is different from your home address, so you can stop mailings at both addresses. To opt out, just visit optoutprescreen.com.
ASK BEFORE DONATING
Donating used items to charity is a great way to find a new home for your old things, get a tax deduction and help a worthwhile nonprofit raise funds. But not everything can be donated to charities, so it’s best to ask before you drop off. In general, there are four categories of goods that are very difficult to donate and should either be recycled or sent to a landfill. Mattresses and box springs, for example, are difficult to donate, since it is illegal in most states to refurbish or resell beds, for sanitary reasons. Used electronics have become very difficult to give, since prices have come down and functionality is constantly and rapidly evolving. It’s best to take old electronics to stores like Best Buy, where they are collected and recycled.