8/6/09

If you drive a gas-guzzling SUV because you occasionally require the extra room, consider downsizing to a smaller car and only renting an SUV when you need one. Discount travel sites like Priceline and Hotwire may not let you choose the car rental company by name, but they will let you choose the type of car you want to rent. With low prices, you'll always have an SUV ready to go when the situation arises.

8/5/09

If you use the garbage disposal, use cold water. It's energy efficient and will help speed up the process. Cold water will help solidify grease and oils, making the disposal work more efficiently. And remember, to keep the disposal clean and fresh, run ice and lemons through it. The ice will help sharpen the blades and the lemons disinfect odors.

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.