11/14/10

If there is the latest gadget, must-have bag or splurge item you are dying to buy, try the 30-day test before buying it. Simply make a note in your calendar allowing yourself 30 days to buy the item you covet. Giving yourself a window of time to re-think a potential purchase can actually help you cut back from buying something you'll regret. All it takes is 30 days.

11/13/10

As the weather turns cooler, it's always a good idea to start refilling bird feeders to help our feathered friends. But this is also a good time to scrub and disinfect your feeders by soaking them in a mixture of one part chlorine bleach to 9 parts water. Let them soak for a few minutes, clean with a scrubber and then rinse. This will kill any harmful bacteria that may make them sick.

11/12/10

Charge electronics during the day to save energy. Leaving personal electronics -- cell phones, smart phones, iPods, laptop computers -- plugged in all night wastes energy because the batteries fully charge before you wake up. By recharging these items during the day, you can see when the battery is juiced and then unplug it without wasting energy.