9/24/10

Getting to know your neighbors is more than just a great way to stay friendly; it can also lead to friendly borrowing. The next time you need a power washer, mulcher or tiller for your home or yard, instead of running to the home improvement store, ask your neighbor instead. Sharing expensive, infrequently used tools is a good way to save money and avoid buying more stuff you barely use.

9/23/10

Giving a fresh coat of paint to a piece of furniture is an easy way to update it or to take a flea market find from drab to fab. Instead of tinting new paint, you should check out the mistinted paint section at your home improvement store. These are labeled "oops" paints, but can still be beautiful colors. Plus, they are sold at a fraction of the cost of custom-tint paints you order yourself.

9/22/10

If you're not in a rush to get somewhere, consider going 55 mph instead of revving up to 65 mph. Just reducing your speed a tiny bit can improve your car's fuel efficiency by as much as 10 percent. If you drive at 75 mph, not only may you risk a speeding ticket, but your fuel economy drops by a whopping 25 percent, too. That's a sure way to use up a lot of gas fast.