Bring a reusable, stainless steel coffee thermos to your regular barista the next time you fill-up on a skim latte with an extra shot. Some stores will even give you a discount for bringing the thermos. Added bonus? Your hot drink stays hot longer and since most coffee mugs are designed to be spill-proof, you won't splatter that mocha latte all over your shirt.

An idea: store hot macaroni and cheese in a thermos to enjoy a warm lunch at work.

Ditch the paper towels! Pick-up microfiber cloth towels to use all around the house. Thousands of tiny little fibers literally grip and hold onto the dirt and bacteria. The best part? They are machine-washable, so you can use them over and over again. Even if you just use plain tap water, the microfiber towels will pick up germs to help you disinfect countertops and other surfaces. Find some microfiber love at methodhome.com.

1/8/09

When the old-fashioned incandescent lightbulb burns out yet again, choose a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) to replace it. They use up to one-tenth of the energy (translation: savings on your electric bill) and last up to five times longer (less moments risking your life to change that ceiling fixture!). If the bright, white light from the CFL is too bright for you, consider replacing your lampshade with a darker one that is more opaque; it'll help diffuse the light.

1/7/09