8/4/09

Reduce, reuse, recycle and ... repair? This is the fourth "r" that many of us have long forgotten. When a TV, vacuum, or kitchen appliance breaks, the normal reaction is to throw it away and buy a new one. But sometimes a simple repair will fix your broken appliance and make it almost as good as new. When something is damaged, look in the phone book for local businesses that can mend it. Many chain stores also have repair centers to help you with everything from computers to lamps. These fixes will also save you money: On average, repairing a broken item costs significantly less than buying a brand-new one.

8/3/09

Take a few seconds to clear out the clutter in your medicine cabinet. If you haven't used a beauty product in months, either A) try to start using it up, or B) wash it out and recycle the packaging. All outdated prescription medicine should never be flushed down the toilet; it can contaminate the water supply. Instead, mix it with used coffee grinds and place everything -- the medicine and packaging -- in a plastic bag and toss into the trash. When in doubt, ask your pharmacist.

Potluck dinners are fun because the host of the party doesn't have to stress out and make something for a gathering of 20. So when you bring your famous pigs-in-a-blanket to your next potluck, try storing them in a bamboo steamer. Steamers are available in cooking supply shops and have two or three tiers that stack right on top of each other. Fill each tier with your appetizers and cover it with the bamboo lid. Carry the whole thing to the party; the steamer comes apart and each tier becomes an instant serving tray. Later, you simply stack it back up and take it home.

8/2/09