3/13/09

Got a spare change jar? Bring your change to any Coinstar machine (www.coinstar.com), and you can donate your change instantly to a variety of nonprofit organizations, including the World Wildlife Fund and the American Red Cross. You'll also receive a receipt for tax-deduction purposes for your spare change gift.

3/12/09

Instead of buying all new clothes when updating your wardrobe, consider hiring a tailor to update some pieces instead. A good seamstress can alter pants, skirts, shirts and jackets to be transformed from boxy to a more modern, form-fitting silhouette instead. Tailoring can be a great way to rescue expensive clothes, especially if you've recently lost weight, too.

3/11/09

Buff your scratchy CDs with just toothpaste and an old toothbrush. Be sure to use a creamy paste, not gel, and rub the scratches out by running the brush from the center out -- not around the CD. Be sure to clean the CD well with warm water and dry with a lint-free dishtowel. This works great on DVDs, too.